What to Do With Book Feedback: How to Know What to Take—and What to Toss
Writers often feel overwhelmed when receiving feedback. Someone tells you a character didn’t work for them, a plot twist fell flat, or—confusingly—that they loved a scene you were planning to cut. What do you do? Take their advice? Stick to your vision?
Feedback can be frustrating, contradictory, even disorienting. But it’s also one of the most powerful tools in your revision toolkit—if you know how to interpret it.
Two Rules to Keep in Mind
Here are two simple guidelines to anchor your thinking:
- Focus on why the person gave the feedback—not just what they said.
- Two people should agree there’s a problem—and one of them can be you.
We’ll explain both in more detail. But first, let’s talk about how to approach feedback with the right mindset.
Resist the Urge to Burrow
Your first instinct when someone critiques your work might be to shut down or get defensive. They didn’t get it, you might think.
That’s normal. Writing is deeply personal. You put time, energy, and care into a scene, and hearing that it didn’t land can sting. But the best writers learn how to sit with that discomfort, then set it aside. They approach revision with curiosity and clarity—not just emotion.
This means being willing to delete beloved scenes, scrap plotlines you were excited about, or revise characters you feel like you know. The goal isn’t to bend to every comment—it’s to see your story with fresh eyes.
Don’t dig in. Don’t dismiss. Breathe, take a walk, pet a dog—and then look again with objectivity.
Not All Feedback Is Created Equal
At the same time, just because someone says something doesn’t mean they’re right.
Let’s say a reader tells you there wasn’t enough romance in your story—or too much. If you’re writing a psychological thriller, and they mostly read cozy romance, their expectations might not align with your genre.
Or maybe they say, “This subplot doesn’t work,” but you realize they misread a crucial detail two chapters earlier. The problem might not be the subplot—it might be clarity.
Your job is to evaluate the validity of feedback, not just the volume.
You can’t ignore feedback simply because it rubs you the wrong way—but you also don’t need to follow every suggestion blindly. Use your judgment. Nobody knows your story better than you.
There’s No Single Right Version
Writers often tie themselves in knots trying to find the perfect version of their story. But writing isn’t a math problem—there’s no single “correct” solution.
You could keep that scene. Or cut it and communicate the same emotion elsewhere. Either path could lead to a strong book.
Instead of chasing perfection, chase progress. What will make your story better—clearer, tighter, more emotionally resonant?
Aim for improvement, not infallibility.
Focus on the Why, Not the Fix
Most readers mean well when giving feedback. But the notes you receive often come in the form of solutions, not diagnoses.
For example:
“The ending didn’t work. The hero should’ve defeated the villain instead of failing.”
You might feel pressure to rewrite the ending so the protagonist wins. But take a step back.
Ask yourself why the ending didn’t work for them.
Maybe you were trying to subvert the hero’s journey trope—your protagonist fails the final battle on purpose. But the reader didn’t realize it was a subversion. They expected a classic victory arc.
In that case, the problem isn’t the ending—it’s the setup. If you clarify the story’s tone and trajectory earlier, the current ending might land perfectly well.
If you’d taken the surface-level note at face value, you might have undone your own vision. By focusing on why the note was given, you can uncover the real issue—and fix it at the source.
Let Consensus Be Your Compass
One of the most helpful guidelines when considering feedback is this:
To make a major change, two people should agree there’s a problem—and one of them can be you.
This gives you a kind of internal-external check. If you love a scene but three readers say it’s confusing or slow, that’s worth another look.
On the other hand, writers often worry about things that aren’t actually problems. Maybe you think your twist was too obvious, or your villain too thin. But if multiple readers say it worked for them, trust that.
When feedback aligns, it’s a strong signal. When it diverges, look deeper—but don’t feel pressured to act unless you also see the issue.
What About Conflicting Feedback?
It’s common to get conflicting feedback. One person says the pacing is great, another says it drags. One says the villain is compelling, another says they’re flat.
This doesn’t mean your book is broken. It means people are reading it differently.
Look for patterns beneath the surface. Are readers misunderstanding key context? Are certain emotional beats being misread? Often, clarifying one earlier scene or line of dialogue can resolve the disconnect.
And if the feedback really is subjective? That’s okay. Not everyone will love the same things. You don’t need consensus on everything—just on the parts that matter most.
Bonus Tip: Never Erase
When you do cut scenes or rewrite sections, don’t delete them forever. Save them in a “Deleted” folder.
You might reuse a line of dialogue later. Or a setting description. Or you might find that scene does belong—just two chapters earlier than you thought.
Think of it like a creative archive. Just because something doesn’t work here doesn’t mean it’s useless.
What If You Don’t Have Enough Feedback?
At this point, you might be wondering:
“How am I supposed to find several people to read my book in the first place?”
That’s exactly why we built Inkshift.
Inkshift is an instant manuscript feedback tool. Upload your draft and get a detailed critique—covering plot, pacing, character, prose, and more—in just minutes.
If you’re ever stuck and need a second opinion (or a third), it’s here to help.
Try it free with up to 10,000 words.
And if you’re looking for more traditional critique support, check out our guide to finding the right critique partner.
Final Thoughts
Feedback is one of the most powerful forces in shaping a story—but only if you know how to use it.
So remember:
- Don’t panic. Most feedback is well-meaning, not personal.
- Don’t follow every suggestion. Evaluate the why.
- Don’t ignore patterns. Two people = a sign.
- Don’t chase perfection. Chase clarity.
- Don’t delete. Archive.
And above all, trust yourself. You’re the author. Feedback is a tool—not a verdict.
If you need a smart, fast critique when you’re stuck, Inkshift is here to help.