If someone likes writing as a hobby and wants to improve their skills, should they receive feedback on the stories they’ve written so far from their friends and family or from a professional writer ?

Good luck getting advice or feedback from professional writers.

As a hobbyist writer, you’re also less likely to bump into professional writers anyway.

Professional writers typically don’t give out editorial advice (except perhaps on and off in a place like Quora). Either they’re busy on a job or their pet project, or they want to get away from it all at the end of the day.

I mean, I’ve been in publications work for 40+ years. Other than my office, Quora is the only place I discuss or write about anything about printing, writing, language, and copydesk work.

Thing is, editorial feedback involves heavy workload even for professionals. So forget about getting any worthwhile feedback from amateurs or outsiders like friends or family (unless they’re not amateurs).

What you should do is join the Writers Guild. You don’t have to be a professional or published author to join it. WG runs regular surgeries on writing.

Writers Guild of America (WGA)

Writers Guild of America West (WGAW)

Writers Guild of Great Britain (WGGB)