By
Rene Penn.
Is
this your first time critiquing someone's work? No worries. You got this.
People
with little or no critiquing experience may doubt they're up for the task. The
truth is, you don't have to be an expert to critique someone's work.
Think
about the last time you were blown away by the first few pages of a book. Or
when you noticed that a movie dragged in spots. Or how you were disappointed by
a book's ending. All of those times, you were critiquing, even if you
didn't realize it.
As a
critique partner, you'll learn to recognize moments that give you pause—like dialogue
that needs to be trimmed or a character that falls flat.
You'll
revel in great bits of prose—where a description heightens your senses, or a
plot twist leaves you breathless.
And you'll give feedback with the
same confidence you have as a reader in a bookstore or a movie-goer at a
theater.
If
you consider these eight tips as you critique, you’ll be on your way to
critiquing like a pro.
1. Do
acknowledge an unfamiliar genre
Some
of us gravitate toward reading and writing in a certain genre. If you’re
like me and read and write a lot of romance, you may not feel as comfortable
critiquing a thriller or sci-fi piece, for example.
When
I receive critique partner invitations related to unfamiliar genres, I may not
accept them. But if I do accept, I also send a message disclosing that their
chosen genre is out of my wheelhouse. It's good to be up-front, then the writer
can decide how he or she wants to move forward.
2. Do
read the whole piece first
When
you receive a piece to critique, resist the urge to add comments on it right
away. Your thought or question may be addressed as you read further.
Make
mental notes along the way. Then once you're done, go back to the top—maybe even
let your thoughts brew for an hour or more—then enter your comments and
feedback.
3. Do
cater comments to the kind of feedback requested
Is
the writer asking for high-level feedback, plot feedback, or line-by-line
comments?
As
you go through your critique, keep those specifics in mind. If you're not sure
what the writer is requesting, you can send them a message. They'll appreciate
that you're asking for clarification.
4.
Don't be rude or sarcastic
I
know you won't, but I have to include this "Don't" anyway. When it
comes to written critique feedback, it's good to have a sensitive approach.
Tone can be hard to decipher without a voice or body language attached to it.
Re-read
a comment before sending it off. Put yourself in the recipient's shoes. If the
tone can be misconstrued as negative, rewrite it in a way that's constructive—and
with less, uh, unintended bite.
5. Do
point out hiccups
There
are times when I read a line or paragraph in a story that trips me up. I may
not be able to articulate why, let alone how it should be fixed. In those
moments, I try to identify how that part made me feel, and I communicate that to
my critique partner.
Example:
"I felt a hiccup here. I'm not sure if it's the pacing or not. I wanted to
point it out, because it seemed to interrupt the flow of the story, especially
compared to the previous sections."
6.
Don't forget the positive feedback
You
can't go wrong with a critique sandwich.
If
you picture a regular sandwich as bread-meat-bread, a critique sandwich is
positive feedback-constructive comments-positive feedback. Follow this format
to ensure that you’re delivering good stuff along with your critique. And by
the way, words of encouragement make a great condiment.
7.
Don't wait too long to respond
Partners
on CritiqueMatch do a great job of critiquing quickly. Since it's something
I've appreciated when I want to hear feedback on my piece, I work hard to
follow the same turn-around.
If it
takes longer to critique a piece than you anticipate—that is, longer than the
date the partner requested—it’s good to send a message to help manage their
expectations.
8. Do
glean gems from your critique
I may
write a constructive comment for someone and realize that I need to take a dose
of my own medicine. I've even noted that revelation so my critique partner
knows they're not alone.
Critiquing
is a two-way street. Not only will you refine your editorial eye as you
critique, but you'll also sharpen your skills as a writer.
It's
like exercising a muscle. The more you hit the gym, the better results you
get. So lace up your sneakers, grab the foam roller that looks like a
giant noodle, and let's get to it.
-------------
About the Author: Rene Penn
Rene writes fun, fast-paced, rom-com-inspired romance and women’s fiction. She
also blogs about her writing journey and latest cooking attempts at www.renepenn.com. When she isn't writing, she likes to go on walks with her
husband, scours the internet for delicious recipes, and despite her allergies,
dreams of owning a cute dog someday. 
