Giving and receiving feedback is a crucial element to being a writer, and not everyone knows how to give or receive constructive critisism. Here are a few tips.
Positive Feedback
First, start by giving the writer some positive feedback. What did you like best about the story? Even if it is poorly written or on a subject in which you have no interest, there is something good about the piece. Maybe it is only a particular sentence or a phrase that you like, but at least that’s something positive.
Make Suggestions
Next, discuss elements of the story that could be improved. Unless a story has been critiqued once or several times, there is probably at least one element that could be improved. Maybe there are inconsistencies with the character’s personality. Perhaps the pacing is off and more time needs to be spent on one scene rather than another.
In rough drafts there are often typos and misspellings. Unless the writer has specifically asked for help with this, or the errors are so bad that they impede your ability to focus on the story, do not dwell on small mistakes like typos. They can be corrected in later drafts.
You can also ask the writer questions about her/his intentions with the story. Asking questions is especially useful when you critique parts of a novel. You may not be sure where the story is going yet, but by asking the writer questions like, “Does Doug end up falling for Mary?” will help the writer focus her/his intentions. You could also suggest where you would like to see the story go, such as saying, “I hope Mary moves back to Seattle instead of marrying Doug.”
Give Encouragement
At the end of a critique, give some encouraging words, like, “I'm looking forward to reading more!” or “Keep going with this!” Reiterate the positive aspects of the writing. It can be daunting to have others read, analyze, and criticize the writing that you have put your heart and soul into. Keep this in mind before becoming overly critical of a piece of writing.
On the other hand, giving all positive feedback without any suggestions is just as unhelpful. Also, do not be afraid of contradicting what another critiquer has said. It is the writer's job to sort through all of the criticism and take or leave what she wants.
The key to a great critique is finding the balance between positive and critical feedback. You want to be helpful but you also do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings. It may take some time to find that balance, but just like with writing, it will get easier with practice.
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