Saturday, June 18, 2011

Article on Critiquing other Writers' Work

While I was wasting time on twitter today, I found this very good guidelines for critiquing other writers' pieces as well as in turn receiving critique on your own.. At Pens Without Ink we do a lot of workshops and I thought this might be helpful in the future. Although, I think we've done a fine job thus far.
Click for FULL ARTICLE by Sylvia Dicky Smith

Guidelines that might help your group be the most effective:

1. Remember to comment on the TEXT, not the author.
2. Remember to speak from your own perspective.
3. Give honest feedback.
4. Always give positive feedback at the first, middle and last of the critique.
5. Honor the author’s own voice. Do not try to make their writing sounds like yours.
6. Remember to keep the writer’s work and the conversation of such private.
7. Remember to consider the goals of the writer and include that in your feedback.
8. Don’t be nitpicky, but be specific.
9. Allow time for other’s comments.
10. Remember to keep a sense of humor.

Guidelines that might help when you are receiving critique:

1. Remain open-minded
2. Don’t argue or defend your writing. Do ask for clarification. (“Help me understand what you mean.”)
3. Be open to receiving feedback.
4. Identify to the group what you type of feedback you seek for any particular submission. (ideas, line edits)
5. Do not bring your ego to the meetings.
6. Remember to keep a sense of humor.
7. Learn to accept praise as well as criticism
8. Remind yourself why you are there.
9. Remember, feedback is just one person’s opinion. If it doesn’t fit, let it go. HOWEVER, if you receive the same feedback from more than one person be sure to pay attention to it and consider what they are saying.
10. Pay attention to those comments you receive over and over again. Learn from them and self correct.

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