5 Ways to Rock A Critique

Critiquing someone else’s project can be challenging, especially in the early stages when it needs work. We may not feel comfortable offering our insights to someone else, but giving honest feedback can be highly beneficial.

As you read, consider the story elements and how they come together as a whole. Observe any weaknesses in structure and style, or ambiguous wording that impedes the reading experience or harms the interpretation of the story. How can the writer improve these weaknesses?

It’s also important to remember when offering feedback that a critique is not an edit. Resist the urge to rewrite and suggest additional resources—unless asked. Instead, include appropriate examples when needed and ask questions: What does this mean? Was this the effect you were going for? etc…

To help, here’s five ways you can rock that critique!

1. Start and end with something positive.

Sometimes this can be hard if the execution needs work or if it’s a genre you don’t like. Whatever the reason, it’s important to include encouragement in a critique and to let the other person know what they are doing well.

2. Honesty is the best policy.

Don’t shy away from pointing out issues, just be clear and concise. Even if you don’t know why something isn’t working, it can be helpful to share your reading experience with the writer. Did you find yourself re-reading passages or having to flip back and forth to keep up with the details?

It should go without saying, but avoid jokes and accusations about their intentions. Humor rarely has the intended effect when delivering difficult feedback, and most people aren’t seeking to be hurtful. Remember, we are just as capable of misinterpreting when we read, as we are at failing to communicate clearly when we write. Also, the same thing can mean different things to different people.

3. Focus on the larger issues first.

If a story has structural issues, then pointing out grammatical flaws can be more overwhelming and discouraging than helpful. Focus on the bigger items first, and strike a healthy balance between constructive criticism and encouraging compliments.

4. Make it easy to read.

Summary-style critiques are helpful, but in-line comments, and the suggest edits features are better for quickly identifying areas that need work.

5. Be open to follow ups.

Sometimes, despite our best efforts to be clear, the other person may need to ask questions for clarity. They may even want to follow up for suggestions on rewriting or additional resources for learning. Be gracious and leave the door open for them to come back to you.