At some stage in the writing process, most writers want feedback on their work. But not all kinds of feedback are productive.
Here are some tips on how to organize a helpful critique and how to get the most out of feedback on your work.
How to Write a Critique: The Critiquer's Role
As a critiquer, your job is to understand the writer's goals and help the writer achieve them.
Every writer has a different voice and approach. It is sometimes tempting to change someone else's piece to make it more like something YOU would have written. Instead, help the writer produce the best possible version of what THAT WRITER is trying to write. Consider the piece on its own terms and help it fulfill its potential.
How to Write a Critique: Before the Critique
Before preparing a critique, we suggest reading the piece several times, taking notes on each reading. Each reading will give you different insights that can benefit the author.
With each reading, you will have a better perspective on the piece's structure, but you will be in a worse position to judge the unfolding of information and to identify points of confusion.
How to Write a Critique: Suggested Critique Format
Below is a format that we have found to work well for giving critiques.
How to Write a Critique: Do's and Don'ts
How to Write a Critique: The Author's Role
We suggest that the author try not to talk at all during an oral critique except to ask clarifying questions at the end (if the author didn't hear or understand something, he or she can ask the critiquer to repeat or expand on it).
There is a natural tendency for authors to try to explain their work, particularly if they see that the critiquer has not understood it the way they intended. But the author's responses can influence the direction of the critique. The critiquer can end up commenting on the author's explanation of the work, rather than what the author has actually written. The critique can even turn into a debate.
How to Write a Critique: Advice on Receiving a Critique
If you're on the receiving end of a critique, focus on listening and understanding the feedback you receive. You don't have to agree with it. You won't have to follow any of the suggestions you're given.
In fact, some of the suggestions you get are likely to be not-so-useful. You will have to sort them out from the useful ones and make your own decisions. But save this sorting-out for later. Otherwise, the sorting-out process will interfere with your ability to listen. And you'll probably do a better job of sorting out the good advice from the bad if you take some time first to digest everything.
Take careful notes on ALL the feedback and ask questions if there's something you don't understand. Don't argue with the critiquer or defend your piece. Don't even try to explain it.
After the critique, we suggest taking a break before you try to sort the feedback out. Getting a critique can be hard. Relax a little afterwards. Go out with some friends; watch TV; get a good night's sleep. It will improve your perspective.
This break might last twenty-four hours or a couple of weeks -- however long you need to get some emotional distance on the process. Then take a fresh look at what you've written. Reread your notes on the critique.
Which suggestions do you agree with? Which ones do you want to ignore? If you're not sure about a suggestion, do some experimental rewriting. Try it out. There's no risk. If you don't like the result of the revision, you can always trash it and go back to the original version.
Remember: you're the author. You're the one in charge here.
If you're not part of our e-mail group yet, you can join it for free to get writing tips and ideas.
Get advice on organizing a writing partnership
Check for open creative writing courses.
Friend us on Facebook and join the discussions there about how to write a critique and other topics.
Return from How to Write a Critique to the Creative Writing Ideas blog