Giving Feedback That Works: How to Help Your Writer Succeed

Hiring a skilled writer is just the start. The real magic happens in the collaboration, and feedback is the bridge that brings your ideas to life.

Even the best writer in the world can only do so much without clear, constructive feedback. Whether you’re working with a freelance content creator, an agency, or an in-house team, knowing how to give feedback can be the difference between frustrating rewrites and flawless final drafts.

Here’s how to give feedback that actually works – so your writer can do their best work, and you can get the content you’re really after.

Why Is Feedback Important?

Writers aren’t mind readers. Even when you provide a brief, there are often unspoken expectations – about tone, style, structure, audience, or purpose – that only surface when a first draft hits your inbox.

Feedback is the bridge between your vision and your writer’s execution. Even the most experienced writers rely on your input to understand your goals, preferences, and audience needs.

Here’s why thoughtful feedback matters:

• It Brings Clarity: You might know what you don’t want, but your writer needs to understand what you do want. Feedback helps close that gap.
• It Improves Results: Constructive feedback leads to stronger content. Each revision brings the piece closer to your ideal outcome.
• It Saves Time: Giving clear direction early on reduces the need for multiple rounds of rewrites and back-and-forth emails.
• It Strengthens Collaboration: Honest, respectful feedback builds trust and makes your writer feel like a valued partner, not just a wordsmith for hire.
• It Shapes Long-term Success: Over time, regular feedback helps your writer learn your voice, understand your brand, and anticipate what you need with minimal guidance.

Put simply: better feedback = better content.

Bad or vague feedback, on the other hand, leads to frustration on both sides. You might feel like you’re not being heard, and your writer might feel like they’re shooting in the dark.

Use Comments, Not Just Edits

It’s tempting to rewrite things yourself, especially if you’re short on time or used to editing. But if you change everything without explanation, your writer misses the chance to learn what you’re looking for. You’ll end up stuck in the same revision loop.

Use tracked comments to explain why you’re suggesting a change. That way, your writer can apply the logic elsewhere, and you’ll likely need fewer revisions in the future.

Example:

“Swapped ‘health issues’ for ‘chronic conditions’ – that’s more aligned with how we describe our services.”

Give Feedback Promptly

Timely feedback keeps the momentum going. When feedback is delayed:

• Writers may forget their thought process behind certain choices
• Your content calendar could get derailed
• Revisions become more rushed and less considered

Set clear turnaround expectations on both sides. Even a quick “I’ll review this tomorrow” goes a long way.

What Should You Include

1. Revisit the Brief

Start by checking whether the writer followed the assignment brief. It sounds obvious, but mismatches in tone, style, or format are often rooted in different interpretations of the original instructions.

Ask yourself:

• Does the content match the intended audience?
• Is the tone in line with your brand or publication?
• Has the writer included the key messages or sections you outlined?

If something’s off, don’t just say, “This doesn’t work.” Be specific about where the content veers off-course. And if the brief was unclear or incomplete, take a moment to clarify your expectations going forward. A quick debrief now avoids repeated misunderstandings in future drafts.

2. Positive Highlights

Before diving into what needs fixing, call out what went well. Did the introduction draw you in? Is the structure easy to follow? Was there a great example or metaphor that really stood out?

Pointing out specific strengths serves two purposes:

1. It shows your writer what to repeat and lean into next time.
2. It builds confidence, motivation, and trust – especially helpful if you’re also giving constructive criticism later on.

You don’t need to overdo it. A sentence or two of targeted praise makes a big difference.

“I really liked the subheadings – they made the content easy to scan and gave it a nice flow.”

“The tone in this section is perfect – friendly without sounding too casual. Let’s carry that through the rest of the piece.”

3. Constructive Criticism

Now for the improvements – but keep it respectful and focused. Start with the bigger-picture issues like:

• Structure and flow
• Clarity and logic
• Relevance and accuracy

Once those are addressed, move on to style, tone, and surface-level details like grammar or phrasing.

Be careful not to overwhelm your writer with a wall of red pen. Prioritise the changes that will have the biggest impact, and explain why they matter.

“This section feels a little off-topic – I think it shifts away from what the reader came here to learn.”

“Could we revisit this stat? I think we need a source or clarification on the timeframe.”

4. Specific Suggestions

Saying “It’s not quite right” or “Can you make it better?” is vague and unhelpful. What exactly doesn’t feel right? Is it the structure? The tone? The choice of examples?

Pinpoint the issue and explain why it doesn’t work for your goals.

Vague feedback is frustrating for everyone. If you say “this part doesn’t work,” your writer is left guessing what you mean – and you might not love the rewrite either.

Here are a few clear ways to frame your feedback:

• “The tone is a bit too casual – could we make it more professional?”
• “This section feels a little too long; can we tighten it up?”
• “Our audience is mostly healthcare professionals – can we include more technical insight here?”
• “We need a stronger call to action at the end. Right now, it just sort of trails off.”

The more specific you are, the better the rewrite will be.

• “Consider expanding on this point with a case study or stat.”
• “Could we lead with this benefit instead? It feels more compelling.”
• “Try breaking this paragraph into two – it’s a bit long for mobile readers.”

You don’t need to rewrite the content yourself. Just suggest the direction you’d like to see, and trust your writer to shape it from there.

5. Questions That Invite Collaboration

Some feedback is better framed as a conversation starter. Instead of issuing commands, ask open-ended questions that invite your writer to think, reflect, and bring their expertise to the table.

Examples:

• “Would a bullet list help make this section more digestible?”
• “What was your intention with this paragraph? Could we make that clearer for the reader?”
• “Is there a way to make this example feel more relevant to our audience?”

This kind of feedback encourages collaboration and mutual problem-solving, especially valuable when you’re shaping a new format, voice, or messaging strategy.

6. Style and Voice Feedback (If Applicable)

If your brand has a specific voice or editorial style, now’s the time to assess whether the piece aligns. Is the tone too formal? Not formal enough? Does it sound like you?

Rather than simply labelling the tone as “wrong,” describe what you’re aiming for:

• “Let’s make this sound more conversational – like we’re speaking directly to the reader.”
• “We usually avoid using first-person in this series – could we revise the intro to match that?”
• “This feels a little corporate. Our audience tends to respond better to relaxed, friendly language.”

If you have style guides, past examples, or voice pillars, share them! Writers love a good reference point.

Final Thoughts: It’s a Two-Way Street

Writers want to do great work. Most take pride in what they create and genuinely want to get it right. Clear feedback helps them improve, grow, and deliver exactly what you’re after.

So next time a draft lands in your inbox, think of your feedback as a collaborative tool – not a critique, but a bridge between your vision and the final result.

When done well, feedback doesn’t just improve one piece of content. It lays the groundwork for a smoother, more productive working relationship – and better results every time.

Let’s Create Content That Works – Together

If you’re tired of content that misses the mark or writers who need endless direction, let’s change that.

I specialise in creating health and wellness content that connects with your audience, and I value feedback as a tool, not a hurdle. Whether you have a detailed brief or just a loose idea, I’ll work with you to shape content that reflects your voice, supports your goals, and saves you time in the process.

If you’re looking for a writer who understands your vision, listens carefully, and brings the right balance of initiative and collaboration, I’m here to help.

Reach out today via email or book a free discovery call – let’s chat about how we can make your next project your best one yet.

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