How [not] to Write a Critique

Gary Daugherty  
How to/not to write a critique: one author's opinion

1. Don’t cop an attitude

Your job is to help the writer make the story what they wish it to be, if you can, and nothing more.

Your job is not to offer opinion on what to write, or even how to write it, except where this helps the author achieve their goals. [Which implies they have told you what they wish to the story to be, which is often not the case. But more about that later.]

You should not brag: Don’t say you intend to be tough or blunt. Talk about what is on the page and to what the author wants the story to be.

You should not be arrogant: Don’t act as if doing it your way is the only way. And don’t expect the author to necessarily do what you suggest: the story is theirs, not yours, by virtue of the effort they have put into creating it, certainly a greater effort than your own.

However, do …

However, do offer all the constructive suggestions and helpful suggestions that you can, framing them as possibilities (below).

And begin on a positive note, with what you like. Too often the reviewer forgets to praise what they like. Consider this to be equivalent to saying ‘keep this,’ ‘do more of this,’ and the like. After all someone else may be telling them to cut something that you think they should not, or to change something you think they have done particularly well. Or ruin the story in countless ways. Don’t’ let them do it.


2. Offer only possibilities, not answers

You should never explicitly tell the author what to do, or even explicitly what you think they should do. Just open the door to possibility. Maybe do this. Perhaps do that. What if you did this or that? Or 'I really like the way some particular author does this for this reason [offering any additional insights you have]'.

But, do …

But, do offer examples, potential rewrites, etc. so that the author can ‘see’ what the possibilities actually are, and can (perhaps) run with something, making it their own. This, IMHO, is much better than any abstract discussion. Let the focus be on what is on the page, or might be on the page, so the author, as a discerning reader, can choose between possibilities A and B or (most likely) make up some new variation C.

Triggering their thought process is the most you should either expect or want. You do not want to own the piece.

My standard line when it comes to line comments is:

Feel free to use what you like, any way that you like, and ignore any comments you strongly disagree with.

And I say it because I mean it. I am happy to give some of my words away, but really don’t want to even know what changes the author decides to make.

It is not my story. It will never be my story. And while I may have learned something by reading it and maybe given a few words away, that is it for me. My suggestions may even be bad [more about that later], so I would rather not be held liable.


3. Offer your immediate reaction, as you read, then a more considered opinion at the end

The classic advice for doing a close read is to read the piece once to get the gist of it, then a second time in order to critique it. And don’t write comments until pass two.

However, I say …

However I say, do write comments on pass one. One of the most valuable things you can offer to the author is a commentary on what it is like to read what they have written. Sure, you may get confused on a first pass, and it may be your fault (I go back and edit my previous comments when this happens), but the author wants to know when the piece is confusing (for reasons not your fault) and wants to know your emotional reaction to what you are reading: so tell them. We are all, if we are lucky, each other’s best readers. Readers who are also writers, or aspire to be.

And also, write comments on pass two (if you choose to read it twice, not everyone does).

And, most importantly, include comments at the end that summarize your overall impressions (what you liked best, what issues you think are most important to resolve going forward, etc.) Realize, however, that your critique is only one of many, and that other people may be offering different, perhaps even contradictory, advice, so say it modestly. And make your reading suggestions (if any) here. This story by this author may be of interest to you for this reason, and such.


4. Go above & beyond

In a full up critique, one done for a class or a writers’ group, or one done for a friend as a ‘first reader,’ it is good to go the extra mile.

For this, it is good to have 1. a check list of what to look for in your critique and 2. a format that prompts for comment on all aspects of the writing.

A sample check list may be found at [Word] [PDF]

While a form for a ‘full up critique’ (typically more than is offered on Critique Circle) may be found at [Word] [PDF]


5. Bottom line

Bottom line, a good critique should:

* Make the author want to revise the story (i.e. excited to dive in again),

* Open the mind of the reviewer to new possibilities (for their own work, and for their craft—who says critiques are only for the author),

* And invite both to look beyond their own writing to work by others (e.g. published authors) that suggests new directions and unachievable goals—reading a really good writer does this (someone way better than yourself), while reading only work written at your own level causes you to stagnate.

19+ Comments

Cocopuff82

Thank you so much for sharing this, Gary. I am new here and wasn’t sure what to expect from other writers when critiquing my work or the type of critique(s) I should provide for other writers. I appreciate you!

Jan-08 at 00:38

Magewintrs

This is great advice. There’s a big difference between the critiques that make you want to quit writing and the ones that make you want to dive into revisions instantly.

I wish everyone joining critique circle was asked to read and acknowledge some basic advice along these lines. I think it would greatly improve the quality of feedback within the CC community.

I also like the resources you attached. Very helpful checklists. Noah Lukeman’s The First Five Pages was one of the first books I read on writing and I find his advice, examples and exercises so helpful.

Jan-08 at 02:50

Jacksavage

Give your thoughts as you read. It need not be difficult.

Jan-08 at 02:51

Cherrypi

Thank you so much for the advice. Now I know how to do it properly! All in all, write the critique you want to receive (unless you want to receive a critique that gives nothing but glowing praise). :smiley:

Jan-08 at 08:51

Gwyne

Awesome advice! Thank you for sharing :).

Jan-08 at 12:04

Luluo

I personally hesitate doing potential rewrite examples. It feels… presumptuous. But I certainly I have done it on a couple occasions, and for the exact reason you said. Explaining what I thought didn’t work about the original sentence/paragraph was too abstract and difficult, and it might not have come across clearly to the author.

I did feel the need to apologize for my presumptuousness on both occasions! It also felt polite to remind the authors that my rewrites were just examples, not necessarily the best way to write those sections. Author voice is important.

Jan-08 at 12:11

Imjustdru

I can dig this for sure. When I critique, I tend to look at the essential things like, spelling, grammar, usage, etc. Then use rhetorical analysis and deductive reasoning on the psychological aspects of a manuscript with references to comic books, TV, and movies.

I understand I won’t be accurate on my input, but it does have our compatriots think deeply on the emotional and psychological aspects of the story they write.

Jan-08 at 14:02

Lvocem

If CC only followed half those suggestions. Here are my own pet peeves.

There are those that are constantly telling you to show not tell, when in reality there’s a balance of the two. The same applies when using verbs like he saw, she saw. Filtering verbs can be deleted, but not all the time, sometimes that motion is necessary. Many people comment on plot, when the story more than likely is more literary, thus it can be character or theme driven.

I hate it when critters complaint that the story is too long. Hello. Most of them are writing a novel. Novels are long, not little vignettes for third graders. Also they complaint that the paragraph is too long. Again, third grader mentality. If you change the scene, create a new paragraph. If another person starts talking, create a new paragraph.

With that said, there are a lot of people that comment on the impression the story is giving them. I love that. I love to know, not just what needs to be revised, but what is working well, what is creating an impact on the reader. Sometime that can be something like, while I want to know more about this character and his actions, I feel that you are creating a sense of mystery so we keep reading, wanting to know more. Sometimes, this type of comments are the most important because they offer the writer a feeling that they are also doing something right.

Jan-08 at 14:34

Patrickmil

Lots of good points in the blog post. Thanks for sharing it.

Aside from “don’t be rude”, critiquing is just another form of art, and it takes time to get good at it, and by its very nature reflects one writer’s response to another writer’s work. It’s one response. That’s all.

Jan-08 at 15:55

Clarissak

So…avoid saying ‘you suck’ and ‘this it the worst piece of AI drivel I have seen’ or ‘I can’t stomach this anymore so I am quitting’ or ‘this is just misery porn’?

No, I didn’t just make those up…. :unamused:

Gotta have a thick skin, peoples…

Jan-08 at 16:14

Luluo

Wow! You got even worse comments than I did! Such as, “Do you have any other hobbies or interests other than writing? It’s okay to quit since you’ll never be a better writer anyway.”

Jan-08 at 16:46

Imjustdru

That’s a new one.

Jan-08 at 16:52

Imjustdru

I never looked at your material but I don’t buy it. Not even a second.

Jan-08 at 16:56

Lmglomar

Great Scott!

Jan-08 at 17:20

Rossu

Solid advice. Not all bad feedback is intentional. Most isn’t. I know I have changed a lot in the way I deliver feedback over the years. Most advice I gave when I first joined this site was bad, so this is a really good post for someone starting out. Especially about not stating absolutes. I could have used a post like this a few years ago. When I first started, I thought a lot of the rules for writing were actual rules, so I would tell people things like ‘Never begin a story with a character waking up.’ But I’ve learned that these are suggestions, and even then, those statements are too broad to apply to every story. A story can begin with a person waking up and still be an interesting and engaging opening. It depends on the content. If I could add one thing to this post, I would ask everyone not to use the Hook to be a jerk. I was very disappointed in some of the comments I saw in this month’s Hook.

Jan-08 at 17:22

Trevose

I need to remember this one…

Jan-08 at 18:15

Crazyli825

Good tips here. It’s great to see people lending insight on the critique part of the site lately. It’s often overlooked since authors are focused on writing their own stories, not necessarily how to best help others. It’s usually not intentional, but it is a different skill set to offer meaningful feedback. Hopefully, we can all improve our processes for helping others with their stories.

Jan-08 at 18:18

Clarissak

I should point out it wasn’t all on CC. Not sure which ones were, besides misery porn. That was on CC. However, it wasn’t meant, I think, to be mean but that the story was not what he/she wanted to read.

Jan-08 at 18:25

Glitterpen

Great blog post. It’s helpful to be reminded that my crits should inspire people to work more on their stories, and not give up. I love a crit that energizes me to keep going. :slight_smile:

Jan-08 at 18:40
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