Every author has different needs. You must learn to identify your needs and seek appropriate feedback. Knowing your weaknesses will help you move forward effectively and find success. The following guiding questions will help you seek feedback to improve your work.
Do you spin your wheels in the beginning? Many would-be authors talk about writing a book but are clueless as to how to start. They need feedback support during the early stages to move forward with their projects. Some don’t recognize a good idea when they find it. Some have too many ideas and need help sorting through them and choosing the ones that have merit. A writing class or a writing coach may provide the feedback that will help you gain needed perspective to move forward with a project.
Do you struggle to create a first draft? Some authors know what they want to write about, but after writing a few chapters, they stop. Joining a critique group may give you the needed structure to create a first draft. Some find feedback at NaNoWriMo. The National Writing Month project brings together published and unpublished authors worldwide to write 50,000 word first drafts. Many coaches and peers are available during this project to offer feedback to help you move forward.
Do you tend to start projects but never finish them? Perhaps you can get through a rough draft, but you can’t bring your project up to a professional level. You may need editorial feedback or copy editing. A critique group can also help you move your work forward to get it to market. Think about why you are not moving forward with your projects and choose the appropriate feedback.
Do you get too close to your work and can no longer see it objectively? Some authors write a book but they don’t move forward beyond early drafts. This author often needs expert advice. Nothing will break down a lack of objectivity faster than paying an expert to offer content editing. Sometimes, an author may also receive valuable advice by paying for a critique at a conference.
Do you struggle with grammar, spelling and punctuation? Don’t think you are a hopeless cause just because you struggle with these skills. Paying a copy editor to clean up your manuscript may be the thing that you need to move forward. AuthorHouse offers this type of fee-based service, as does Scripted.com. You may wish to try feedback from manuscript editing software like Auto Crit Editing Wizard.
Are you a novice with the publishing business? You have written a book but you are unsure about marketing concerns like cover art, back cover copy, and marketing messages. Consulting with marketing professionals will offer feedback that will help you solidify plans and use your time most efficiently.
I've actually written three books. Two fiction and one about my life in the navy. I was not a good sailor and I was told to turn it into a film/tv script, which I am having a go at the moment. It is basically a black comedy.