Direct answer
Include the manuscript, deadline, format instructions, content notes if needed, a short cast or context note, and a small set of focused feedback questions. Keep the packet short enough that readers actually use it.
Why it matters
A clear packet gets better feedback because readers know where to put their attention and how to respond.
A simple way to handle it
- State what kind of feedback you want this round.
- Give practical reading instructions and deadline expectations.
- Include five to eight questions tied to your current revision concerns.
Separate context from persuasion
Context helps the reader understand the assignment. Persuasion tries to explain why the book works before they have reacted to it. Keep the packet on the context side.
A short list of major names, draft status, and feedback priorities is usually enough. If a reader needs a long explanation to understand a plot turn, the manuscript probably needs the explanation on the page.
Ask questions you can act on
Avoid questions that invite vague approval. Ask where the reader felt confused, which relationship beat felt too sudden, whether the villain's plan seemed fair, or what they expected after a specific reveal.
Those answers are easier to turn into revision work than a general note that the reader liked or disliked the draft.
- Confusion points
- Pacing shifts
- Character motivation
- Ending payoff