Topic ID: 11689
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Nate
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 Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: How Do You Critique? |
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When you are writing a critique/review here at YWS, how do you go about doing it? Do you look for something specific? Is there a general structure you use for writing your critique?
For example, whenever I critique something else by someone here, or at writing.com, or back in the old days at TYWC, I always start off with something that the writer did well. Then I go into what needs to be improved, and how to go about improving. Finally I finish either with what else the person did well, or (if there is nothing) simple encouragement. Although, depending on the person's age, I would also tailor the critique.
So what do you do? |
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Myth
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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Comments/Corrections
I use green for comments and corrections--spelling mistakes,questions and things I liked/disliked.
Suggestion
Sometimes I come across sentences that are hard to swallow or can be improved by simplifying or rephrasing the sentence.
Review
This is my opinion on the whole piece including which parts I liked/disliked or things that confused me. I also sometimes add which character I liked and why. |
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Sureal
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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I'll open word and and read through the piece. Everytime I reach a sentance I wish to comment on, I'll copy/paste it into word, add italics tags and comment in bullet points.
Once I've done that, I'll add on any other comments on to the end (including the things I liked about it).
I mainly focus on the technical stuff (spelling, grammar, punctuation, flow, description, voice etc), and reserve the other stuff for the paragraph or two I do at the end.
I don't tailor my crit to the person's age, but I do try to do so towards their writing experience (I find age and experience aren't always the same).
Oh, and when I remember, I'll end it with a 'keep on writing  ' (although I sometimes forget that bit...). |
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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My critiques are normally done straight through the peice. Every time I come across something that catches my attention, such as grammer, I make a not of it in the critique. I like to quote a lot so the writers knows exactly where I'm talking about, and have a better idea of why I didn't like it. Or did like it, for that matter.
While I often pick out grammer, I do what I can to spot things in plot, characters, and structure. Things like blocks of pure dialogue with nothing physcally happening, not so much as a blink; things explained by a character that the character likely wouldn't know; characters acting out of character; and other such things. I try to find a reason for every event and also try to follow the general flow of the peice.
And I rarely ever notice the age of the auther. Age, experiance, and maturity are all seperate things. I tell it like it is, try to give encouragement, and honestly try to help.
Well that's my take, as I know some of you have seen. |
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Poor Imp
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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I usually take the thing as a whole and comment, and from there go the finer points. There's always--or nearly always--something that sticks out as intriguing or very well done, and that's always a good place to start. All else can be set against that to show where it better fits.
If it's to be reduced to formula. ^_^ It's inclined to be different with different writers and stories.
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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I find that I tend to be much pickier with stories that are very well-written. There have been stories that I have really enjoyed critiquing, 'cause I've had to think more about what is good or bad with the content rather than more general things.
I used to focus a lot on grammar, spelling, punctuation and the rest of it, but now if I see something that's wrong and comes up a lot, then I only mention it once.
Another thing... I try and find something positive about every piece of work. Like Imp said, almost everything has something that's been well done so it's a good thing if the writer knows what doesn't need changing as well as what they need to work on. |
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Griffinkeeper
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| Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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First, I read the story.
Then, depending on how bad the story is, I ritually sacrifice a certain number of cute baby kittens. A ten kitten story is rare, but I've heard of 20 kitten stories.
After the ritual slaughter, I dance around naked with the slaughtered beast, smearing its blood-soaked carcass over the computer screen.
Then, after this ritual is complete, I put the kitten in my mouth and begin chewing on it. By the time I finish a critique, I have finished eating.
How do you critique? |
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Sureal
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rosethorn
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| Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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I find "the Hamburger" method effective. Start with the good, of course. Then in with what needs improvement. Always start and end with the good though.
I don't always follow this method, but I try to. You should always be able to say something positive about a piece. Remember, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
As always,
Miss POKE |
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Caligula's Launderette
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:09 am Post subject: |
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Well, depends on how giving I am being or if I have a scanner handy.
1. My favorite way to critique is to print out the piece, then read it once through. After a once through I take out an editing pen of particulary bright color and start to critique. I go through the piece marking it up with suggestions, critiques, and such. Then at the end I make points of what they did well, what I liked, what I think could be improved, what is missing, yadda yadda yadda.Then I scan it in, and post it.
2. Most of the time, the above is harder to do, and impossible without a scanner, so another way I do it, is to copy and past it into a word document, and everything that is me is in a different color, bolded and in brackets. Bascially I do the same as the above just on the computer.
3. If I am particularly lazy or pressed for time, I will usually just type out a few sentences on what I liked, what I didn't, etc. |
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Sam
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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1. I put in some sort of greeting, which usually amounts to 'hey'.
2. General good stuff about the story is described.
3. I get very long and rambly about characters and other nuances- I don't do grammar or spelling (usually) because that stuff can be fixed by a machine. There isn't a 'Bad Character Check' on Word, unfortunately.
4. Some more general good stuff about the story...
5. And a close!
While I'm reading through I usually jot down a few notes to help with step three- the good stuff tends to stick with me longer. |
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| Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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| I focus on the prose for those writers that haven't got the basics down (or enough for the prose to go unnoticed). For others, its the ideas behind the story. That's what sells, not the prose. |
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