The Delicate Art of Critiquing
Diana M. Raab -- September 7, 2006
At some point in your writing life you will be called upon to read a colleague, family or friend's work. This is a delicate process, because some people accept comments and criticism more easily than others.
There are many ways to critique and still remain on good terms with the writer. A good place to start is to ask the person to describe the type of critique they are seeking. For example, do they want overall comments and/or do they simply want line editing?
It's also important to know the context for the work. Is it for a particular publication or is it a small part of a larger work? If it's written for a specific market or publication, it's a good idea for you to familiarize yourself with the journal's style and review the writer's guidelines.
Author Sheila Bender, uses the "Three-Step Response" when critiquing. In the first step she writes down images and phrases that stick with her. She calls them 'velcro words,' or words that jump off the page and hold her interest.
In her second step, Bender reports on what she feels during her reading. She begins by describing her positive responses to the work. She might ask herself if the writing makes her feel good, happy, curious and/or compelled to read more. Afterwards, she examines the manuscript to see if any sections made her feel uncomfortable. Sometimes there are phrases or styles which seem awkward and out of place. A second set of eyes often picks up excessive use of backtracking, reminiscing or repetition. Backtracking and reminiscing are both fine, but not in excess.
It's not uncommon for writers to become side-tracked while writing. When reading someone's manuscript, you should not feel as if you are being battled around in different directions. You should not be confused about what the author is saying or the direction of the story.
The third step Bender calls, "The Curiosity Phase." Here she identifies the gaps in the manuscript and the areas she'd like to see elaborated. Sometimes writers have a tendency to omit certain information, either because they think they'll bore their readers or because they assume readers are already familiar with the information.
The method of critiquing you choose depends a great deal on how your own work has been critiqued in the past. We learn from those who went before us. Thankfully, I've been blessed with wonderful writing mentors and colleagues. They've been diplomatic and helpful with their critiques, usually beginning their commentary with the positive aspects of the manuscript and then discussing how it may be improved.
Beginning your critique with positive feedback immediately procures the writer's attention. I usually begin my comments by thanking the writer for allowing me to read their work. In addition to the areas Bender discusses, I also make reference to the voice because I believe voice is critical in all types of writing, whether fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Then I might discuss pacing and if the story progresses at a reasonable rate. Sometimes I comment about the subject of the manuscript.
What you need to remember when critiquing is that, even if you don't like the work, there's always something positive to say before offering suggestions for improvement. Most seasoned writers want to hear the good and the bad in the most balanced way possible. In general, writers want to know what will make the manuscript stronger and more compelling. Offering comments like "I like your writing," are rarely helpful. The more specific you can be, the better.
One of the most important things to remember is that it's an honor to be asked to read another person's work and you should treat it as such!
Critiquing Dos
- Be honest and as detailed as possible
- Discuss any passages which can be omitted
- Are the scenes set up well and move the plot forward?
- How is the pace? Varied? Fast enough? Interesting?
- Be sure to proceed with respect for the writer and preserve the integrity of the work itself.
- Is there something you didn't understand?
Critiquing Don'ts
- Try not to nitpick.
- Try not to pass judgments or impose your own likes and dislikes.
- It's best not to crush a writer's spirits with your comments.
- Critique tactfully and gracefully.