As a writer, it's easy to get swept up in the world of a story. We can feel so clearly where the characters are in the room as they dialogue and reveal more information to us. However, this level of immersion can make us take many details for granted, which is why it's crucial to get feedback. When we receive feedback, we can identify the areas of the story that may not be as clear to our readers as they are to us. This is especially important when working on a treatment, as this document serves as a blueprint for the final product.
Getting the Most Out of the Feedback
Soliciting feedback on your treatment can help you unlock its full potential and elevate it to the next level of quality. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of feedback on your treatment:
- Be open-minded: Feedback is meant to help you improve your treatment, so it's important to approach it with an open mind. Remember that not all feedback is going to be positive, but that doesn't mean it's not valuable. Even critical feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and make your treatment stronger.
- Ask for specific feedback: When soliciting feedback, it's helpful to be specific about what you're looking for. Are you hoping for feedback on character development, plot structure, or dialogue? By being specific, you'll get more targeted feedback that can help you address the areas you're most concerned about.
- Listen to the note underneath the note: Sometimes feedback can be vague or unclear. When this happens, try to identify the note beneath the note. Is the feedback really about pacing, or is it pointing to a larger issue with the overall structure of your treatment? By digging deeper, you can uncover the root of the problem and make more meaningful changes to your treatment.
- Apply the feedback: Once you've received feedback, it's important to apply it to your treatment. This doesn't mean you need to make every change suggested, but it does mean considering each piece of feedback carefully and deciding which changes will improve your treatment the most.
- Get feedback from multiple sources: Don't rely on just one person for feedback. Solicit feedback from multiple sources, such as fellow writers, friends, and family members, and consider joining a writing group or workshop where you can get feedback from a variety of people.
Feedback Can Take Your Treatment to the Next Level
Remember, feedback is a tool for growth and improvement as a writer. By being open to feedback and using it to make your treatment stronger, you'll be well on your way to unlocking its full potential. Here are a few examples of how feedback has helped other writers improve their treatments:
One writer received feedback on her character development for a treatment she was working on. The feedback pointed out that while the character's actions were clear, it was difficult to understand why she was taking those actions. The writer realized that she had not spent enough time exploring the character's motivations or backstory.
After taking this feedback into account, the writer went back and added a scene where the protagonist opened up to her best friend about her difficult childhood and how it has affected her relationships. This gave the character's actions more depth and made her more relatable to readers. As a result, the treatment was more engaging, and the writer felt more confident in her ability to create complex and compelling characters.
- Another writer received feedback on pacing. Before receiving feedback on pacing, the writer's treatment felt sluggish and slow-moving. The story seemed to drag on, and readers lost interest before reaching the end. The writer received feedback that the pacing needed to be tightened up, and that there were scenes that could be cut or shortened without impacting the story's overall arc.
Using this feedback, the writer went back and analyzed each scene, identifying the ones that were not crucial to the story and removing them. She also worked on transitioning between scenes more smoothly, ensuring that each one flowed seamlessly into the next. By doing this, she was able to create a treatment that was more engaging for readers, with a faster pace that kept them hooked until the end.
Yet another writer who received feedback on dialogue was able to make her characters' conversations more authentic and natural-sounding, making the treatment feel more polished and professional. Before receiving feedback, the writer's dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, lacking the nuance and rhythm of real conversations. During a feedback session, a reader pointed out that the characters' dialogue didn't sound like how real people would talk, and that it was difficult to fully connect with the characters because of this.
The writer took this feedback to heart and revised the dialogue, paying close attention to how people actually speak in real life. She listened to conversations around her, transcribed them, and then incorporated this into her writing. She also paid closer attention to each character's unique voice and speech patterns, making sure they sounded distinct and authentic. The result was a treatment with dialogue that flowed more naturally and felt more polished and professional, making the characters more relatable and the story more engaging for readers.
By applying these tips and being open to feedback, you too can elevate your treatment to the next level of quality. Happy writing!
Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your treatment by getting feedback?
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