Feedback to Final Draft: Embracing & Implementing Revisions

As writers, we all struggle with receiving feedback. Whether criticism comes during the idea-generation process, midway through a draft, or as the edits on a final piece, it can feel scary. 

But, feedback is supposed to be helpful! It isn’t just about improving your work—it is also about growing as a person and making the revision process a little less daunting. Embracing this can transform suggestions into powerful tools for your personal and creative growth, as well as your future writing. 

Why We Fear Feedback 

It’s no secret that feedback can be intimidating to even the most skilled writers. This usually comes from fear of negative responses and allowing oneself to be judged by another. When you put your work out into the world, in the hands of other people, you’re opening yourself up to criticism, and that can make anyone feel vulnerable. 

However, it’s important to remember that feedback is subjective, and comes from perspectives outside of your writing process. While their insights can be valuable, everyone is only able to reflect on their own experiences. Balancing their advice with your own vision helps you incorporate useful suggestions while staying true to your personal voice and goals.

Another reason we often shy away from feedback is because it forces us to confront our weaknesses. Of course, no one likes to hear that they’ve made a mistake. It can make us question ourselves and this discomfort can make us defensive.  

Acknowledging your current abilities is key, though. All writers have room to grow, and knowing that allows you to view feedback as a stepping stone rather than a setback. Embracing your strengths and weaknesses helps separate your self-worth from your work without derailing your confidence.

Additionally, every writer has had bad experiences with feedback. It’s inevitable to face harsh criticism or vague comments that cause more frustration than motivation. But these encounters, though painful, teach us how to differentiate between constructive and destructive feedback. 

The “Right” Feedback

Constructive feedback is specific, actionable, and focused on improvement. It tells you what’s working, what’s not, and how you can make things better. This kind of criticism helps writers refine their craft and build on their strengths without fear or anxiety. 

That being said, receiving only appraisal and no notable suggestions—while not destructive—is not constructive to the writing process. No work is perfect, and receiving something to review is better than nothing. Constructive feedback always provides useful and substantial insights needed to refine and elevate your final product.

Nevertheless, it’s important to be intentional about all feedback. Seek out people you trust to be constructive and ask clarifying questions. Their insights will be more meaningful and viable if they know your objectives and if they have your best interests in mind. Similarly, taking note of all given feedback can be eye-opening to patterns in your writing. 

Even with suggestions that you don’t agree with, sit with the “why” and imagine what your writing would look like if that feedback was implemented. Consider the perspective of others and how their insights might be helpful with other projects. 

Alternatively, destructive feedback tends to be vague, overly critical, and not very helpful. It focuses on what’s wrong without offering any solutions, which can make writers feel discouraged and less motivated to improve. It’s a skill to recognize the difference, so that you can focus on the feedback that will help you grow.

It’s also crucial for all writers to learn that they can respectfully reject feedback, especially if it’s unnecessarily harsh, not aligned with their vision, or doesn’t make sense in the context of their work. Being able to discern which feedback is helpful and which doesn't allows you to maintain your creative integrity while still benefiting from constructive input. 

Remember: feedback is a tool, not a mandate, and it should guide you, not dictate your journey.

From Feedback To Revision 

Usually, incorporating feedback into revisions is hard—that’s because it’s not just about fixing small mistakes. Unlike editing, where you might correct a few typos or clean up some sentences, revision means rethinking your written approach and structure. You might have to change big parts of your work, and that can feel overwhelming.

When we put a lot of effort into something, we get attached to it. So, when someone suggests we need to make big changes, it can feel like they’re saying our work isn’t good enough—or worse, that we’re not good enough. This emotional connection makes it tough to see feedback as positive or helpful. 

But, feedback is crucial because it offers an objective perspective that helps identify areas needing improvement, which the writer might overlook in their own work. Suggestions are insights from others’ points of view, only enhanced by their personal experiences. The best approach to integrating feedback is to create a clear, actionable plan for revisions. 

Revising: Your Mindset

Revision through feedback is also made easier if you have the right mindset—specifically, a growth mindset. This is the belief that your abilities can be developed through effort and learning so that you see criticism not as an attack on your abilities, but as an opportunity to learn. It also highlights continuous improvement over proof of excellence, to encourage a focus on growing, rather than needing to be perfect from the start.

To do this, actively challenge your beliefs about your abilities. Start by viewing setbacks as opportunities rather than failures and celebrate your progress, no matter how incremental. Also try to regularly reflect on your experiences, identify areas for improvement, and set achievable goals that push you beyond your comfort zone.

Self-confidence is important in a similar vein and is built in the same practices. All writers should remember that feedback is about the work, not about them as a person. Separating your identity from your work helps to maintain this critical self-esteem and allows you to view other’s suggestions and criticism objectively. 

Finally, and most importantly, be sure to be kind to yourself. Using feedback and starting revisions can be tough, and it’s okay to feel frustrated or overwhelmed at times. 

Always give yourself credit for the effort you’re putting in. 

Conclusion 

Learning to understand and accept feedback is a journey, but it’s one that’s well worth the effort. Revisions can be challenging, but they are a natural part of every creative process.

Confronting the fear of feedback is an opportunity for growth. By viewing feedback as a chance to learn and develop, rather than a critique of your abilities, you become more receptive to suggestions and more willing to make changes that will ultimately enhance your writing skills. And, if you can approach it with a growth mindset, then you transform feedback from a source of anxiety into a valuable tool for improvement. 

By focusing on the benefits of feedback and continuously striving to develop your skills, you can turn the revision process into a powerful tool for achieving writing excellence! 

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About the author: Cassell Presnell is a writer and poet from Charleston, South Carolina. She is currently a rising Junior at Miami University of Oxford Ohio, studying Creative Writing and Psychology with a minor in Rhetoric. After graduation, she hopes to go to law school and write books. Cassell is super excited and grateful to be working with Writer's Workout this year! To learn more about her, visit her new website: https://presneck.wixsite.com/cassellpresnell