It’s likely that every reader will have a different reaction to your book. And combining all those responses into real recommendations can feel like an impossible task.

The key is to turn those disparate comments into real feedback that will help you improve your story. To do that, you need to be able to analyze and evaluate your reader feedback without becoming defensive or avoiding it altogether.

Ultimately, the best way to do this is to write your own analysis of your feedback using the techniques of reader response theory. In this type of analysis, students write an essay in which they make a clear claim which they support through analysis of the text. They often use a three way connection (text to self, text to text, and text to world) but can also incorporate personal anecdotes and opinions if appropriate.

It’s important to keep in mind that when you receive feedback, it can be very emotional. That’s because your book feels like an extension of yourself. It erupted from inside you, and so hearing that it’s not perfect stings. This is why it’s so crucial to have beta readers who will give you honest feedback that will help you hone your story and improve it. And be sure to thank them for their time and effort with a signed copy of your book or a mention in the acknowledgments!