Answer extracted from the Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How should you give feedback to writers in the classroom?
Rather than offering direct criticism, ask questions that invite writers to reflect on their own work—prompts like "I'd like to know more about this" or "Can you tell me more about X?" shift the dynamic from judgment to curiosity. This approach, rooted in what Maggie Smith calls the "compliment sandwich," works not just in writing classrooms but in conversations with spouses, children, and colleagues.
Smith's philosophy centers on becoming a questioner rather than a critic. Instead of telling a student what's wrong, she guides them toward discovering the answer themselves through genuine inquiry. This method respects the writer's voice and agency while still offering meaningful feedback.
The strength of questioning lies in its versatility. As Smith explains in her appearance on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, the same technique applies across contexts—whether teaching students, parenting, or collaborating with colleagues. Questions create space for dialogue rather than defensiveness.
A gentle alternative to direct critique
The compliment sandwich approach softens delivery, but Smith goes further: she replaces critique altogether with curiosity. A writer who hears "I'd like to know more about this" doesn't feel attacked; instead, they feel invited to deepen their thinking. The question assumes good intent and incomplete development, not failure.
This stance is particularly powerful in creative work, where emotional investment runs high. By asking rather than telling, Smith preserves the relationship between teacher and student while still moving the work forward. The writer often discovers their own solutions—and those solutions feel like their own because they are.
Smith's method has proven effective enough that she's developed it into a full guide for writers called Dear Writer: Advice for the Creative Life, her second New York Times bestseller, which extends this philosophy beyond the classroom.
"I would like to know more about this. Can you tell me more about X?"
Maggie Smith — Poet and author from Ohio. Her viral poem "Good Bones" launched her career a decade ago, leading to the bestselling memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful. She continues to teach writing while based near Columbus, Ohio, and has authored Dear Writer: Advice for the Creative Life, a second bestseller that distills her classroom philosophy into actionable guidance for writers at all stages.
What makes this approach resonate beyond the page is its humanity. As Smith discusses in the episode, she applies these same principles when navigating difficult personal exchanges—moments that reveal how feedback philosophy shapes everyday life. This consistency suggests that questioning, at its core, is less a teaching technique and more a stance toward other people's growth.
Key takeaways
- Questions beat criticism: "I'd like to know more" invites reflection without judgment.
- The compliment sandwich softens delivery, but genuine curiosity eliminates defensiveness entirely.
- This method transfers across relationships—classrooms, families, and professional teams all benefit.
- Writers guided by questions often find their own solutions, creating ownership of the revision.
See also
What role does a poet take on when readers reach out through social media about personal crises?
Smith has become what she calls a divorce whisperer, as people slide into her DMs asking for help during difficult times. They ask her questions like "do you know a good lawyer?" and "how do you sleep at night?" seeking guidance when facing their own challenges.
How did a poem about divorce become a viral literary phenomenon?
Maggie Smith's poem "Good Bones" became a viral sensation about a decade ago, which led to her best-selling memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, where she explored the deeper personal truths that resonated so powerfully with readers.
What are the most shocking design failures found in short-term rental properties?
Leslie Jones encountered a property with carpet installed in the bathroom, which she described as against humanity. Another property had a whole beehive inside, highlighting some of the most unusual and problematic design choices in rental accommodations.