by Suzan L. Wiener
www.inkthinkerblog.com — Have you hurt a writer’s feelings inadvertently by saying something when you only meant to be helpful? Here are five tips to avoid that problem.
- Always start off your critique by saying something positive about the work. No matter how poorly you might think of the writing, there is a way of writing an encouraging remark, such as “I can see that you have given thought to your story, but…” This way, the writer won’t feel defensive.
- When you write a critique, read it as if you were receiving it instead of you writing it. This way, you will see where you can improve the tone of something you have written. Even if you feel it is an honest assessment of the writing, you can word it in such a way as to not attack the writer personally.
- Don’t be afraid to give your honest opinion of the piece. Keeping it to yourself won’t be of any help if he/she wants to improve their writing, which most serious writers want to do. No one should be afraid of frankness. In fact, they should welcome it. You can always be tactful, even if you’re saying something less than positive.
- Be specific in your feedback. Saying “This stinks” is meaningless. Of course, the writer will know you don’t like the piece, but it won’t make him stop and think about why you don’t like it and he won’t be able to make the right changes without knowing what the problem is.
- If you think the work has no redeeming value whatsoever, it might be a better idea not to give it a critique. Trashing it completely isn’t the right thing to do. You won’t feel good about it and neither will the writer. Remember, the fact that the author bothered to take the time to write, makes him/her worthy of respect.
- Don’t feel that the first critique you do has to be an epic. One paragraph is plenty to start with, and then you can build it up as you gain more experience in critiquing.
For more tips on critiquing, check out these resources:
- How to Deal With Critiquing, by Rich Hamper
- Critiquing: A Gift You Can Give, by Angie Dixon
- Share Your Work at Absolute Write Water Cooler
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Suzan L. Wiener has had numerous articles on writing, stories and shorter pieces published by many major publications such as Canadian Writer’s Journal, MetroSeven, The Writer’s Ezine, Verses, Complete Woman, Mature Living, Mature Years, Reader’s Digest, and the Saturday Evening Post.
Although this article was published by Kristen King, the original author retains all copyright and should be contacted for reprint requests.
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