Thread: Help with critiquing

Sometimes we have those days where we are completely useless. Usually I try to give some good critiques during those times when I can't write smack for myself. But lately I find myself reading a piece and having nothing to offer except technical advice and corrections. It really sucks not being able to give anything more. For the first time I feel like I need a guideline for reviewing. I need to get back into it for judging the LM pieces too.

I'm doing the exact same thing! I have a long novel in a genre I don't normally read and I'm having a hard time getting away fro nit-picking comments.

Technical advice and corrections ain't nothing. At least the writer knows that he or she is being read and has some potential improvements to consider.

The other thing I'm interested in as a writer is the readers' responses/reactions to the work. Does it make them feel bored, sad, angry, illuminated, thrilled, puzzled, frustrated, eager to read more, and so on? A good reader will I think, make an effort to clear their mind before they start reading a piece for the first time. Then they will read right through, noticing the thoughts, feelings, images etc. that the piece conjures in their mind and heart. The strongest and most useful of these responses can be passed on to the writer.

There is an excellent article in this site for learning help with critiquing: Reviewer's Handbook

J.R, Foxeee, thank you, that was really helpful, and kind of a no-brainer, really. I don't know why I never checked the reviewer's handbook.

Many people, by their nature, are able to offer only technical advice and corrrections. Not everyone is capable of writing from the heart.

Nevermind.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

Many people, by their nature, are able to offer only technical advice and corrrections. Not everyone is capable of writing from the heart.

To be fair, not every piece of writing is capable of moving everyone's heart, either.

There are plenty of things I read that I don't connect with much at all. In fact I'd say it's more likely that a story will elicit a "meh" from me than some actual meaningful reaction. But that makes the writing that does evoke meaningful reactions more precious. Just because someone doesn't connect with every single thing they read doesn't mean they're soulless or something.

At the end of the day all you can do is come to a piece with an open mind, and try to enjoy it on its own terms. And if you can't do that, oh well, something will come along eventually you can do it for. And I think the "open mind" part is key as well... sometimes I'll be tired/busy/stressed/etc., and it's hard to get into a piece of writing no matter how great it is. At which point I think it's good to take a nap or eat some food or do something mindless. Recharge the batteries.

I think that's what's been going on with me. I haven't been reading pieces that 'speak' to me, and therefore have only been able to offer technical advice. But would it really be helpful to tell someone their piece isn't moving? You can't exactly pinpoint why their writing moves everyone else but doesn't get much of a reaction out of you.

You're just posting for its own sake. mwd answered all of that.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

You're just posting for its own sake. mwd answered all of that.

And you're not?

From the other perspective, I really like critiquing about the story and content, but I'm never opposed to technical advice. If I can learn from it and use that to further my next story, it's still good advice. Whether or not we all realize it, part of the reason we continue to write is to grow as writers, and add more tools to our literary utility belt.