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A Tutorial On Giving Well Rounded Critiques

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CyganAngel Away on the wind~ from Arcadia Since: Oct, 2010
Away on the wind~
#26: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:48:12 PM

Edited out for rudeness.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:58:26 PM by CyganAngel

There are too many toasters in my chimney!
QQQQQ from Canada Since: Jul, 2011
#27: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:48:20 PM

Anyways, Leradny has hit it on the mark. These guidelines can surely help — as a So You Want to page.

EldritchBlueRose The Puzzler from A Really Red Room Since: Apr, 2010
The Puzzler
#28: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:48:35 PM

What is a critic? What is an editor? Which is preferable to improving the writer's word craft?

Can the writer simply go over their grammar mistakes on their own? Should we be upfront about what we see are supersized problems in a story?

Descriptive or prescriptive?

Has ADD, plays World of Tanks, thinks up crazy ideas like children making spaceships for Hitler. Occasionally writes them down.
Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
#29: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:50:17 PM

You can offer immediate solutions while pointing out the good parts. Also, "easier on the critic" makes it seem like you're advocating laziness.

BetsyandtheFiveAvengers Since: Feb, 2011
#30: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:50:26 PM

I know that I am new here, but this forum surprises me sometimes. One day I read a thread in which people brainstorm, talk about things, help each other when a premise seems too vague or a trope needs to be played with. In others, people start to argue over nothing. The meaning of critique...really? If somebody has the courage to post their work here, the people that are interested in reading it should offer to help the person out if they need it, like the do on every other thread. I don't understand why this is so hard.

edited 15th Apr '11 7:50:52 PM by BetsyandtheFiveAvengers

CyganAngel Away on the wind~ from Arcadia Since: Oct, 2010
Away on the wind~
#31: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:52:17 PM

Edited out for rudeness.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:58:40 PM by CyganAngel

There are too many toasters in my chimney!
Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
#32: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:53:40 PM

"I found the dynamics between John and Coraline to be complex and realistic, though you relied too much on dialogue. I'd say put in more references to their body language."

QQQQQ from Canada Since: Jul, 2011
#33: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:53:59 PM

@Betsy: That town in Northern Ireland — "is" it "really" Derry or Londonderry? People fight over things because they have conflicting pictures of what "is" in the world. I believe I made a thread for this enigma here.

It is the difference between:

"I liked the conversation between Coraline and John."

and

"I noticed that you have a habit of using single apostrophes instead of speech marks."

Does the first one help in any manner other than assuaging the receiver's feelings?

The first one assures the writer that she did something right. You can be more specific in this manner, and say if you liked the quirky personalities which shine through, or the elegant manner of speech, etc. The second critical part also helps the writer improve his grammar, and fixes up ze mistakes.

edited 15th Apr '11 7:55:57 PM by QQQQQ

CyganAngel Away on the wind~ from Arcadia Since: Oct, 2010
Away on the wind~
#34: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:55:13 PM

Edited out for rudeness.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:58:52 PM by CyganAngel

There are too many toasters in my chimney!
Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
#35: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:55:55 PM

You just seem to assume that positive = simplistic.

CyganAngel Away on the wind~ from Arcadia Since: Oct, 2010
Away on the wind~
#36: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:57:36 PM

Edited out for rudeness.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:59:03 PM by CyganAngel

There are too many toasters in my chimney!
Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
#37: Apr 15th 2011 at 7:59:07 PM

The first part helps by affirming the audience reaction.

chihuahua0 Since: Jul, 2010
#39: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:00:25 PM

So, does your OP apply to a critque, or a review?

Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
CyganAngel Away on the wind~ from Arcadia Since: Oct, 2010
Away on the wind~
#41: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:01:35 PM

Alright, I guess.

There are too many toasters in my chimney!
QQQQQ from Canada Since: Jul, 2011
#42: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:02:02 PM

It helps with critiques as in the thread title. The principles also might help with writing a well-rounded review. (Though I think critiques and review mean the same thing.)

Cakman READ THE 13TH SAGE. from whence he came. Since: Feb, 2010
READ THE 13TH SAGE.
#43: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:02:32 PM

Gotta agree with Cygan Angel on this one. While I myself tend to be more of what Leradny is saying, to expect it out of everyone is asking far too much. When you are asking someone to critique your work, you are asking for one of two things:

  • Asking for an evaluation of the good and bad

or

  • Asking for what needs to be done to make it better

While you could be asking for both, the average forum poster simply does not have enough time to worry about your feelings. I know that seems harsh, but as long as a person is not flaming you, their critiquing still stands. I know from first hand experience that I have read stories that are all-out messes that I have to work hard to find a way to put it in a semi-neutral light. That's just me, though. If someone is comfortable with being caustic, then more power to them. They should be polite about it, but there's no need to coddle.

Edit:

QQQQQ, as for your Coraline example, why does the critiquer need to let the writer know they did something well? Isn't the point of criticizing to criticize? As long as it's constructive, it should be welcomed with open arms.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:04:38 PM by Cakman

My only goal in life is to ensure that Mousa dies of a stress-induced heart attack by the age of 23. READ THIS
chihuahua0 Since: Jul, 2010
#44: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:03:26 PM

So, let's go with Give A Well Rounded Critique, with Give A Well Rounded Review as a redirect.

I have to take a shower now.

Cakman READ THE 13TH SAGE. from whence he came. Since: Feb, 2010
READ THE 13TH SAGE.
#45: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:04:51 PM

Can I come?

My only goal in life is to ensure that Mousa dies of a stress-induced heart attack by the age of 23. READ THIS
Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
#46: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:04:56 PM

Now stop being so passive aggressive. This thread is supposed to emphasize the fact that "phrasing critiques/reviews/whatever in a neutral manner rather than focusing solely on the negative or positive is less likely to start flame wars or hug-boxes, and still allows for improvement on the part of the writers."

Is there anything wrong with that?

QQQQQ from Canada Since: Jul, 2011
#47: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:05:32 PM

to expect it out of everyone is asking far too much.

Why? There's no limit for helping.

you are asking for one of two things:
  • Asking for an evaluation of the good and bad or
  • Asking for what needs to be done to make it better

What about helping the writer write better? Why not both of these two things, and then some?

QQQQQ, as for your Coraline example, why does the critiquer need to let the writer know they did something well?

Because if they overlook them, then it suggests to the writer that these parts are not worth mentioning. Drivel.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:07:51 PM by QQQQQ

CyganAngel Away on the wind~ from Arcadia Since: Oct, 2010
Away on the wind~
#48: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:05:41 PM

Thank you, Cakman.

  • 100 bonus points to you.

There are too many toasters in my chimney!
BetsyandtheFiveAvengers Since: Feb, 2011
#49: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:06:06 PM

@Lerandy: No. It was a good idea. And for what it's worth, I apperciate that you took the time to write out the tutorial.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:06:40 PM by BetsyandtheFiveAvengers

CyganAngel Away on the wind~ from Arcadia Since: Oct, 2010
Away on the wind~
#50: Apr 15th 2011 at 8:08:41 PM

Edited out for rudeness.

edited 15th Apr '11 8:59:26 PM by CyganAngel

There are too many toasters in my chimney!

Total posts: 165
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