There’s nothing worse than asking for feedback and only getting crickets or grammatical tweaks in return.
You’ve poured time, energy, and sweat into developing these scenarios. Make it easy for your reviewers to give you really usable feedback that takes your scenario to the next level by providing feedback prompts.
Here’s what I use:
Language tweaks
Each organisation I work with has their own language, jargon, and shorthand.
Writing as an outsider, sometimes I’ll phrase things that don’t land right. I ask clients to point these spots out, and tell me how an insider would say it instead.
Lines
Has a line been crossed?
Perhaps I’ve included an element that is in some way incompatible with the rest of the scenario. Maybe I’ve stumbled upon an off-limits topic. If a line has been crossed, reference to it will be removed.
Veils
Have I gone too deep into uncomfortable territory?
A scenario needs to meet the audience where it is, and help them stretch but not break. If a scenario takes an uncomfortable issue too far, it can be scaled down or pushed into the background.
Yes and
Does this bring something else to mind that, if mentioned, would strengthen the plausibility of this future?
My first draft might not go far enough. Asking for where they see the next logical step in the subtext can strengthen the narrative arc.
Get specific
Where have I spoken generally about something specific to your world?
Have I spoken broadly about something that brings a specific example to mind? This can make the scenario more tangible and real for people encountering it for the first time.
What about you?
What other ways to you ask for specific feedback on your scenarios?
I’d love to hear from you if you try these out!