What to Expect from Professional Critiques of Your Writing (Q&A)

Getting feedback on your work is the fastest way to strengthen your skills and improve your writing.

But you can’t just take feedback from anyone (even though everyone will have an opinion about your writing once you get published).

And you have to be able to differentiate between the subjective feedback (which you may or may not want to use) and the objective feedback (which you should seriously consider using).

So, where do you find someone who can offer worthwhile critiques on your work? What traits and skills should your critic possess? And what should you look for in the critique itself? The Q&A below will answer these and other questions for writers who are ready to have their work critiqued.

Professional Critiques Q&A

What is a critique?

A critique is an evaluation of a piece of writing. A critique can be provided verbally but is more helpful if it’s written. A critique can address mechanical issues (grammar, spelling, and punctuation), but critiques usually focus on word choice, sentence structure, plot, characterization, transitions, themes, and just about every other aspect of writing (and storytelling). Most of all, a critique should point out the strengths and weaknesses in a piece of writing in an effort to help the writer understand what is and is not working. Its ultimate purpose is to provide feedback that the writer can implement to strengthen the piece and his or her writing in general.

Where can writers find people to critique their work?

Most writing workshops include critiques. Many writing courses also include critique sessions (check with the instructor if you’re not sure). You can find writing classes at community centers and colleges and online. Writer’s groups are another excellent venue for exchanging critiques (note that critiques are almost always an exchange). To find workshops, classes, and writers’ groups, check with your library, local bookstore, community publications, and search online.

What traits and skills should a critic have?

First and foremost, the critic should be well read. If you write in a genre, you’ll do better with a critic who is well read in your genre. Some writers like to get feedback from readers, not writers. However, writers can read objectively and have the added benefit of understanding writerly challenges and they should also be able to discuss the work in literary terms, so you may find that a fellow writer is your best bet. All critics should possess excellent writing skills, even if they are not writers. They need to be knowledgeable about language and grammar and if you’re working in fiction, storytelling.

What’s the difference between proofreading, editing, and critiques?

I’ve written an article outlining the differences between proofreading and editing. Editing deals with word choice and sentence structure. Proofreading focuses on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Critiques look at the piece in its entirety and focus on the content or what’s happening in the piece. Are there plot holes? Character inconsistencies? Is the action too fast or too slow? Is the story believable? Is the message clear? Critiques take editing and proofreading a step further with feedback that addresses the overall strengths and weaknesses in a piece and includes recommendations for making improvements.

Sounds like critiques are pretty subjective.

The most effective critiques are actually objective because they provide logical reasons for each assessment. For example if a critique says a particular word isn’t working, it should also say why. The word might be vague, superfluous, or used incorrectly. “I don’t like this word” is subjective. Many critiques will deal with subjective issues too (“this character is annoying,” for example). The most astute critics will acknowledge which portions of their own feedback are subjective, but ultimately, it’s up to the writer to determine which bits of feedback to apply during the next revision and which bits can be cast aside.

How will critiques help me?

If editing and proofreading are included in the critique, it will catch mistakes and typos that you may have missed (do note, however, that your piece should be well polished before you submit it for critique). The critique itself will provide information about any problems with consistency or issues that are repeated throughout your work (for example, weak transitions between scenes and paragraphs). This is to help you identify and eliminate any detrimental writing habits. Finally, the critique will include suggestions for improvements that you can make to the piece. This could include anything from ideas for making a character more realistic or making a scene easier for readers to visualize to suggestions for better word choices. The critique addresses a single piece of writing but the feedback you receive will be applicable to your future projects too. They will make you a better writer by showing you how to see your work from a different perspective.

Can I ask the critic to look closely at certain elements?

Absolutely. If you’re struggling with character development, by all means, ask the critic to focus on giving you feedback about your characters (or any other element that you want to address specifically). Most critiques will address the piece holistically and look at as many elements as possible, but focusing first and foremost on the basics. For example, when I do a critique, I address grammar, spelling, and punctuation first. If those elements are solid, I move on to word choice and sentence structure. Then, I get into the nitty gritty and look at character, plot, themes, imagery, setting, musicality, etc. If I’m critiquing a piece that has a lot of mechanical problems (spelling, punctuation, etc.), I may not get to the deeper stuff. My philosophy is that your critic should help you build basic writing skills first and foremost and venture into more complex areas progressively. So, your first critique may not make your piece of writing publishable. Remember, the primary purpose of any critique is to take your writing up to the next level.

Have you ever had your work critiqued in a group setting or by a professional? Did it help you improve your writing? Have you provided critiques to other writers? What was the experience like for you? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.