How to properly critique a story is something I've wanted to address for a while but Proser and hotgrits on the messageboard went ahead and addressed it. I'll post the highlights below, but you should go read the whole thread.

The onus will always fall on the writer to communicate the story. If the reader is lost, it's usually the writer's fault. However, it's the responsibility of the critic (a different role than 'reader') to discern the intent of the author, if at all possible. What is important about the story? What is the author trying to do? They seem like simple questions, but the casual reader rarely addresses them. There is a difference between reading something and offering an opinion, and the extra effort that critical analysis requires. The writer shouldn't make things too difficult for you, but a quick skim of the material doesn't qualify you as an expert, either.

. . .

It's also easy to nitpick, to find inconsistencies, to punch holes in arguments. Trust me, I do it all day, every day. But if you do that for too long, you become inured to the high spots--the well-crafted sentence, or the unique insight. I'm not saying this should turn into the happy-feel-good-writer's-forum, but I think it's a better approach to be actively searching for the merits of every story, even when greatly outnumbered by the flaws.

. . .

Always start with simply reading. Read the submission for entertainment, as you would a book or story for which you have paid. It is only then that you can give a pure critique. If you sit down to read something with the intent of offering feedback first, you are missing out on the most important reason people read in the first place. After you have read the story, jot down ideas/thoughts/reactions. Then go back and consider it with a critic's eye.

. . .

For those critiquing, two things will necessarily follow the more you offer critiques. First, you will gradually learn how to offer clean, concise feedback. Second, the more feedback you offer, the closer you will get to being your own best critic thereby strengthening your writing. One day you may not have the benefit of a free workshop and at that point you will be glad you participated in this one.

. . .

If you take away nothing else, apply this: read all the critiques offered on all the stories. I guarantee you are making some of the same mistakes as other writers. Know how I know? Because the same advice is offered on submission after submission and it certainly isn't for lack of trying to find something new to say.

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Is there anything we're missing in this article? Hit POST REPLY in the How to Critique a Story Thread to join the discussion on the messageboard

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Posted by Ben Corman at 9:22 PM

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