Vocabulary for Useful Feedback

Sometimes it’s hard to find the words.

At Firefly we put a lot of effort into giving one another feedback that helps us build our work from a place of power and confidence. But positive feedback, like everything else, takes work. If you’re struggling to know what to say beyond “I liked it,” here are some starting points.

Sensory detail. Does the author involve your body in the piece? Are there particular parts that you can feel, smell, taste, see or hear?

Ideas. Did the piece offer your brain something new – information, insights, a-ha’s? What were they?

Beauty. Was there something beautiful about this piece? How did it move you?

Depth / Layers. Did this piece take you under the surface of the story or issue into something profound? Where and how did they do this?

Humour. Does it make you smile or laugh? How? What parts?

Edge. Did the writer do something boundary-pushing here, expanding your sense of what writing can do or hold? How? 

Resonance / Relatability. Did this piece offer you the gift of feeling understood, or less alone? How?

Immersion. Did you feel deeply “inside” the piece, maybe even losing track of your surroundings? How did the author do that?

Closeness. Do you feel allowed into the author’s world by this piece? Did they use writing to break down some of the usual barriers between us? How?

Openings. Does the first line, paragraph or scene pull you in? 

Closings. Does the end leave you feeling satisfied, surprised or expanded, or something else?

Word Play. Does the author use words in a surprising or unexpected way somewhere in this piece?  

Suspense. Is your attention pulled forward through tension, excitement, or something else? Did it keep you guessing or wondering? 

Symbolism. Are there interesting images or symbols used in the piece? Where?

Clarity. Is the piece easy to follow and understand, in a way that worked for you? How did the author do that?

Mysteriousness. Is the piece cryptic, intentionally withholding meaning to pique your curiosity and make you lean in closer? Where?

Originality. Did the author create something completely new here, something you’ve never heard before? What parts?

Voice. Is the writer displaying a voice that is uniquely theirs? Have you heard them use this voice before? What was it about their voice that makes it feel unique?

Generous. Does the author not hold back with words, indulging in the beauty of language, and bringing a quality of bountifulness to their work?

Concise. Is the author sparing in their use of words, saying a lot in a small space?

Breaking norms. Is there something the author is offering here that transcends the expectations you bring to writing? Something maybe liberated, radical or taboo?

The unnameable. Is there something you want to say about this piece that’s beyond words? Can you communicate it in an image, sound or gesture?

Still not sure? Here are some prompts to get you started.

• One of your gifts as a writer is…

• My favourite part of this piece is…

• I’m impressed with…

• You really succeeded in…

• I don’t know if you meant to do this but…

• The first thing that struck me about this piece was…

• I learned something in this piece. It was…

• Your writing sounds a lot like… (insert writer here, and explain why the connection.)

• You’re doing something that a lot of writers struggle with here, which is…

• I can imagine this being part of… (share how it can imagine this being expanded.)

• This would be an amazing resource for people who… (share an idea for an audience.)

Do you have more? Hit us up! This is a living document — it keeps evolving through conversation, connection and growth.