Critiquing an author's hard work can sometimes be a stressful event. You want to help offer suggestions but may be a little afraid that you'll offend the writer?
Well, don't fret. The good news is that most of the writers on StoryWrite appreciate and request constructive criticism!
In this column, I'll be discussing the techniques and rules of a proper, constructive and helpful critique. However, I would like to note that not everyone may agree with some of the points I make and that is okay by me. I find these tips very helpful with my own ways of critiquing.
1. Read thoroughly, slowly, and carefully.
The first step to giving a critique is to read. I feel that in order to constructively review a piece of work, you must read slowly and carefully to pay close attention to detail and possible minor mistakes like typos and punctuation errors. No skimming or speed reading- or you may miss something that you could include in your critique.
Reading carefully also gives you the needed knowledge to discuss the story or poem better than if you were to skim it.
2. Be honest!!
Believe it or not, you can be honest WITHOUT sounding like a jerk! Surprising, right?
But in all seriousness, be honest through your critique. If you didn't like the story/poem, remind yourself that just because you didn't like it, that others might. I'm not saying to tell someone "you suck" because that would just be out-right harsh.
Instead try a more polite way of putting things.
For example: Don't just say "I didn't like this"- offer a different approach. Try saying-
"Unfortuantly, this was not my style. Although I may not have liked it, other people may love it since there are such a wide variety of reading tastes."
As another suggestion, following that, I would recommend finding at least one point in the piece that you did like. Maybe you liked the use of description or thought a character was interesting? Even if it's small, find it and include it with your comment.
If you didn't like anything about it at all then that is alright, too. We are all different here and not everyone is going to like something.
See how much nicer that would come out? As a writer, if I was left with a comment like that, I would not be bothered because the commentor would have stated a fact that people do have different tastes. At the same time, I would appreciate them at least taking the time to read, even if they ended up not liking it much.
Ask yourself these questions as you critique to answer for the author:
1. Does the story/poem opening 'hook' you, making you want to read on?
2. Was the plot interesting and well worked?
3. How was the characterization?
4. How was the dialogue?
5. Did the descriptions flow naturally and make things easy to visualize?
6. Did you catch any grammar/spelling/punctuation mistakes?
7. What were your reactions/thoughts overall?
8. Were you satisfied with the ending?
On a final note, don't worry about how your critique will be taken. We all want to improve our writing or most of us wouldn't be here. To writers: Remain open-minded to all critiques and appreciate any that you get.
So, get out there and start reading and commenting!
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