Writers, Tips to Give and Receive Constructive Criticism

 

By Tammy Karasek

 

If you have joined a writing group or have been asked by someone to critique their writing piece for them, you need to know—you don’t need an English degree to do a critique. If you are a writer and have learned something from a workshop or class at a conference, use it! If you read books regularly, you know if you like the flow or style of the writing, so share that with the writer.  If you like the flow of the story, the story line, or the characters, tell them why. The flip side—also tell them if you didn’t like any of those. But be kind.

 

Don’t let other people say you don’t have the qualifications to give a critique. I’ve seen it happen on more than one occasion. It’s not kind and it’s not truthful. As with all things, some folks are better at critiques than others. That shouldn’t keep you from giving your helpful tips to the writer who wants the critique.

 

A couple tips for giving the critique:

 

1)     If you are the reader of a critique, read slow and loud enough for the person or group to hear. This is great for a writer to hear their work versus only reading it themselves.

 

2)     Also, if you’re the person reading, do not stop to mark something you think needs correcting. This stops the flow of the piece, and listeners in a group may make comments about something not flowing. But it could be the reader, not the piece, that crushed the flow. Instead, lay the piece flat, and keep a pen in hand. If you see something while you are reading, mark a dot on the end of the line. This lets you know this was the line where you found something. Then, as you go back after reading out loud, you can find them and make your notes.

 

3)     Try to use the critique sandwich method: A positive comment, a constructive point, then end with a positive. Such as: This is really a funny story. There are a couple of typos I’ve marked on the paper, but I want to mention that I didn’t see the flow. You seemed to jump all around, and I kind of got lost. But I think you have a great story line. I’m not suggesting you be untruthful or add fluff in your delivery; there’s bound to be something you liked about the piece.

 

4)     Whatever you do, please do not say: I had a really hard time following along with this because I don’t like fiction (or whatever). It’s not my thing, so I don’t understand the language. I don’t know how to critique it because it doesn’t make sense to me. The point of a critique is to help make the writer’s piece stronger. Cutting them to shreds or ripping their writing to pieces will not help the writer for sure. It also may give people pause to ask you to help them grow in their craft because your critiques are harsh and don’t offer  constructive suggestions.

 

What about receiving a critique:

 

1)     While your piece is being read out loud, just listen. It may even help to close your eyes. Did the reader trip over a word or phrase? Did it sound choppy? Does the story seem to progress naturally or feel forced? It might be helpful for you to keep an extra copy of what you submitted to make your own notes on as you hear the piece read out loud.

 

2)     Do not interject comments or explanations while your piece is being read. For sure, do not argue with the person who gives the critique. If they have a question, answer short and sweet. If you have a question about their suggestion, you should ask, but be kind and don’t try to justify why you wrote it that particular way. After everyone has critiqued the piece, look at the pieces returned to you. See if there is a common thread regarding the part in question. You may have to rethink that section.

 

3)     Be grateful the person or people have taken the time to give you suggestions. I want you to see the word I’ve written a couple of times so far: suggestions. The comments from critique partners are suggestions. Some may give you misinformation. It happens. Some may try to push their opinion of how it should have been written. Compare it to what you know or have learned. If you are conflicted, reach out to a respected writer and ask where to find the appropriate way to write the part in question. They may offer to look at it or may offer a great resource book to help you get on the right track.

 

4)     My best advice I can share comes from my own experience: Whatever you do, do not let a poor or cutting critique wreck you. A critique is someone’s opinion. Some of the points may be valid and hard to swallow. But hurtful ones, degrading ones, you have permission to ignore or throw away. Before you do that, I do suggest you check to see if beyond the rough delivery, is there some truth to the suggestion. This may have to come once you’ve removed yourself a couple days from the first read through. If you to read it again later with the same feelings, throw it away. It’s not worth the trigger.

 

I hope the tips will help you see the value of a good, constructive critique. A critique that lifts the writer up, encourages, and yet gives constructive suggestions to make their writing stronger and stronger is what you, the critique person, should strive for.

 

On the other side of that, I want you to be eager to have critiques. To understand they are suggestions and you are welcome to pick and choose the ones to keep handy as you correct your piece and go on to the next. I’m not saying ignore necessary corrections only because you don’t like them though. Know the industry standard by purchasing a copy of the Christian Writer’s Manual of Style, and compare those suggestions from the critique with those in the book.

Photo by CoWomen on Unsplash 

Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, drives her passion to encourage and inspire others and show them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a “Tickled Pink” life as she believes there’s always a giggle wanting to come out!

 

A writer of romantic suspense—with a splash of sass—her debut book, Launch That Book, released in 2023. She’s published in a Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. She’s also a writing team member for The Write Conversation Blog, Novel Academy, Blue Ridge Conference Blog, The Write Editing, and more.

 

Known as The Launch Team Geek, Tammy helps authors launch their books. You’ll also find her as a Virtual Assistant for several best-selling authors, the Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Founding President and current Vice-President of ACFW Upstate SC, and Founding President of Word Weavers Upstate SC. Connect with Tammy at https://www.tammykarasek.com.