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.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
@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.
"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
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 THISSo, 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.
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 THISNow 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?
Why? There's no limit for helping.
- 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?
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

Edited out for rudeness.
edited 15th Apr '11 8:58:26 PM by CyganAngel
There are too many toasters in my chimney!