How do you reflect on feedback when telling stories?

feedback is important. news or fiction, the goal is to submit your best work. one thing that helps always is review. your checks are important, no doubt about that. but what's necessary is peer review & outside editing. another person's or multiple perspectives, formal or informal are key. reason being is that by the time you have finished your article, book, story, you are attached & biased. fresh eyes can catch what you might have missed, or need to expand on. for news it is imperative that your work is checked & subbed before publication. but review can very often hurt your feelings & ego. "how dare she say that about my writing" sort of thing. submit to multiple trusted sources. if they all say the same thing, then take their advice.

Furthermore, I evaluate the feedback in relation to my storytelling objectives. Does it align with my intended goals and purpose? By being receptive to change and ready to make necessary adjustments based on feedback, I ensure that my storytelling continually evolves, becoming more engaging and resonant with the audience, all while preserving the core essence of my unique style and vision. This approach transforms feedback into a catalyst for growth and refinement in my storytelling craft.

Establishing a clear purpose, message, and target audience for your story is crucial before seeking feedback. Define your strengths and weaknesses as a storyteller, guiding the feedback process. Identify the specific outcomes you aim to achieve and establish metrics for success, ensuring that feedback is not only relevant but also constructive and actionable to enhance the narrative effectively.

When it comes to reflecting on feedback in the context of storytelling, my approach is characterized by an open and adaptable mindset. Feedback is a valuable tool for growth and improvement in the art of storytelling, and I approach it with a keen willingness to learn and evolve. I actively listen to feedback from various sources, including peers, mentors, and the audience, seeking to understand their perspectives and insights. Once received, I analyze the feedback objectively, identifying recurring themes or patterns. If multiple sources highlight similar strengths or weaknesses, I consider these areas as focal points for improvement.

The reviews and comments from the audience can help in knowing not only what can be improvised but also lays the foundation for improving future storytelling skills. The feedback can be specifically asked related to what the audience loved or didn’t like at all.

The key point here is to actively 'seek' feedback. When I was looking to be promoted to senior consultant, I shifted my habits. After every presentation, I asked for feedback. For every report I wrote, I sought feedback. After every meeting, I sought confirmation that my perceived demeanor matched my intended demeanor. Seeking feedback in diverse situations truly helped me to grow.

Storytelling is not just about your audience authenticating everything you say. It is also about embracing others perspectives and thoughts. Be humble to hear from others what they intend to contribute to your story as it add up to your insights. Soliciting feedback is a very good way to improve yourself and enhance your growth. That points you in direction of your weakness that calls for improvement.

Seek diverse perspectives, yes... And also, seek relevant perspectives. Are you looking for feedback from people who can't give it? They should not be giving it? Or are simply... Not qualified to do it? Example: if I have a course and am looking for ways to improve it, who do I ask? People who went through the course or people who have opinions on courses? Do I ask people who have invested their time, energy and money into my course, or people who keep "window shopping" for any online course? Context matters. Make sure the feedback you are receiving is both diverse... AND relevant.

When reflecting on feedback for your stories, keep it simple – listen up and learn. You're done! Embrace feedback like a buddy giving tips on your favorite game. Pay attention to what worked and what didn't. But don't stop there – seek out diverse opinions, like asking different friends how the pizza tastes. This mix of perspectives helps you see the bigger picture and make your stories even more awesome.

You know your story best, so filtering the feedback is the best gift you can give your story. In the end, the “guardian” of your story’s heart and message is you, so it is critical to see if the feedback can help further your message and carry the story forward. If it doesn’t, then maybe it is not the right time to apply this feedback — keep it for another time or simple put it aside.

The best ways to listen to feedback are, 1) Do not get defensive or get into the mindset of trying to come up with an answer. Just write down everything they are saying - this enables you to listen to the feedback rather than preparing for an answer. 2) Reflect over that feedback. You don’t have to incorporate everything. Sometimes feedback may be incorrect or not relevant. 3) Watch stories narrated by other great storytellers. Are they incorporating those elements?

I'm both a screenwriter and author. Scripting trains you to work with disparate points of view. When any story is submitted for notes the reader receives it in a particular way: He/she must be critical; otherwise, they might have read it differently, and maybe not changed anything. I do 4 things: 1. Know that it's not for me. It's for the reader/audience. 2. Focus on the common denominators from people who haven't spoken to each other about the project. 3. Know that there are many ways to tell the same story and never become attached to any story path. Responding to as many notes in the rewrite as is reasonable is a fun challenge. 4. Responding to 80% of notes is fine. They rarely notice what wasn't included reading the next draft.

Feedback is crucial for growth. This article reminds me of a quote - “I think it’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better.”– Elon Musk While receiving the feedback one should listen actively, understand and reflect on the suggestions. After reflection, write down all the things which went well and a list of things where you can improve more. Then take into consideration what all steps can you implement to incorporate all the suggestions or feedback which you have recorded.

The heart of storytelling lies in the art of listening. When reflecting on feedback, silence your inner monologue and open yourself to truly hear. Every critique, every suggestion is a gift – a window into the minds and hearts of your audience. Approach feedback with humility and respect, honouring the wisdom it holds and embracing the opportunity to grow as a storyteller.

Respecting the views and feedback of the audience is essential. When you observe carefully and understand the perspective of the person giving feedback it helps in improvising your content strategy and the storytelling skills as well.

I love how the collaborative articles make reflecting critically and creatively so easy. Truth is that most people SAY they are open to feedback and do not take it personally, but, when it comes down to receiving it they get defensive and hurt. Before you ever open yourself to feedback from others you need to be able to accept feedback from yourself. Have YOU read your story back? Have YOU listened to a recording? Do you stutter? Do you use filler words? Can you get through it without having to reread? Do the words you have written sound like they are coming from you or do they sound like how you want others to perceive you? If you answer yes to all those questions, you are likely not being honest with yourself. Self Awareness is key.

This requires a certain level of maturity as a storyteller or a writer. Reflections can be difficult to navigate if one is not open to seeing the multiplicity and complexity of the story they are dealing with. Critical reflection isn't always meant to be negative, it should lead you to see deeper nuances and details of the material, accept them into your thought process, and reimagine how you want to tell that story. It takes discipline, ability to think creatively, readiness to alter, improve, repackage the material (story), with the intention that the newer version has to be better than the earlier one. Eyes and mind open, thoughts aligned, intentions clear, and with a little bit of technical discipline, you will be sorted.

Deep Dive into Feedback. Take time to reflect on the feedback you receive. Consider feedback as a map guiding you through your storytelling journey. Reflect on each comment to understand the terrain and navigate your way to more impactful stories. Analyze what specific aspects of your stories resonated with your audience and which parts fell flat to structure your stories better for the next time.

Valuing how people feel about your story is crucial. After receiving feedback, maintaining a critical yet open mindset is key. It's essential to separate personal emotions and analyze the feedback objectively. Compare it with your intentions, audience expectations, and storytelling criteria to assess its alignment. Be discerning about which suggestions truly enhance your narrative, always aiming to improve, but also recognizing when to trust your creative instincts. The goal is to make the audience's experience richer while staying true to your unique storytelling style.

Reflect on the feedback you receive with a critical eye, considering how it aligns with your artistic vision, goals, and audience expectations. Look for patterns or recurring themes in the feedback to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in your storytelling.

One of my favorite types of shows to watch are at venues that have Theater in the Round. For those unfamiliar its when the stage is front and center with seats surrounding it in all directions. It is intimate, it is vulnerable and it leaves no ability to hide. The actresses and actors either show up at their best or they improvise. The best storytellers are the ones that stand front and center and show out knowing anything can happen.

In the dance of storytelling, reflection is but a prelude to action. Armed with the insights gleaned from feedback, chart your course with strategic precision. Identify areas for improvement, craft a roadmap for refinement, and embark on the journey of iteration. With each revision, inch closer to the heart of your story, honing its impact and resonance with laser-like focus.

During the early pandemic days, I went for a haircut. My regular stylist was in quarantine, so a new one, masked, welcomed me. After 15 minutes, she recognized me. I asked, 'Where from?' She replied, 'I read one of your short stories published 7 years ago.' I was astounded and asked, 'How do you remember me?' She shared, 'Your story led me to leave journalism for a barbershop career that aligns with my true passion—hiking on weekends for the past 4 years.' The shock was real. It shows the profound impact of storytelling, inspiring actions beyond words.

Balance: While it's important to consider feedback from others, remember to trust your instincts and maintain creative autonomy over your storytelling. Resilience: Not all feedback will be positive or constructive, and that's okay. Learn to separate constructive criticism from personal attacks or unhelpful feedback, and focus on what you can learn and improve upon. Feedback reciprocity: Offer feedback to others in return, fostering a culture of mutual support and growth within your creative community. By providing thoughtful critiques to others, you can gain insights into your own storytelling and build valuable relationships with fellow storytellers.

Storytelling es narrar historias de ida y vuelta igual que comunicar es una conversación en los dos sentidos. Un momento compartido donde lo que importa es el emisor y el receptor, tanto como el que escribe y el que lee. Cada comentario e interacción es una oportunidad valiosa y reveladora sobre cómo estás transmitiendo y cómo se recibe tu historia. Tomar el tiempo de escuchar activamente cada uno de ellos y responder atentamente es también una forma de retroalimentar esa interesante comunicación que se crea con el Storytelling.

Listening is a skill. But if you can stay in a creative mindset and listen with full curiosity, you can learn a lot about what is working and what isn't. Humans can see edits or feedback as a form of rejection, which we are biologically wired to avoid. We can become defensive easily. But if you can practice controlling your emotions while receiving feedback, you can become wildly successful. Remind yourself that the person giving input is genuinely trying to help you. Thank them graciously. Feedback is a gift.

When I'm telling stories, I value feedback from my listeners. 🌹# I think that the impact of a story on people is the most important thing about storytelling. When people give me feedback, it provides me with valuable insights about how well I'm doing and how I can improve. Appreciate their feedback, my friend! Hela 🌹#