Comments on: Writing Critique: Can You Handle It?

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:43:18 +0000

I’m always concerned with how writers will handle feedback, which is why I’ve basically stopped doing critiques for anyone who is not a paying client. It seems like people who pay for critiques are serious about finding the flaws in their own writing and working to improve their work. In college, my fellow students were gracious recipients of critiques as well, but those days are long gone. I do find that when people want critiques “as a favor,” they tend to accept the feedback begrudgingly, even if they’ve sworn and promised they can handle the negative along with the positive. It’s a shame too, because most fledgling writers could make great strides if they’d just heed feedback and kick it up a few notches. Ah well, that’s the way of the world, I suppose. Most people just want compliments. For those who welcome critiques, such as you and I, the world is our oyster

By: Cat Woods

Cat Woods — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:49:09 +0000

Thanks for such an awesome post.

I love giving feedback. My only concern is how the writer will take it. I was recently asked by a cyberbuddy to critique her manuscript. I explained that I could provide her with three kinds of critiques. 1)Overall content: my thoughts and feelings upon reading the story, flow of the piece. 2)Copy edit: grammar, typo’s, excess words, general structure. 3)Combine the two.

Sometimes we forget that there are different types of critiques and each one is valuable in its own right. Also, we need to determine the expectations of the critiqued before we plunge in with something they don’t really want to hear.

I always preface a critique like this by stating they should weigh my comments against what they know about writing and what they know about their manuscript. I also tell them that hearing negative feedback can be hard, but not to take it personally and that I am but one of many perspectives. Then I use the three prong approach: positives, areas that need work, then another kudos with a few words of encouragement sprinkled on top.

Most people are appreciative. I’ve only had one person get upset. He took his ms, threw a few jaded remarks my way and disappeared. I guess some people really don’t want to know…

I also love getting feedback. Any kind. Every single comment is valuable to me, even if they are from literary crab apples.
Cat Woods´s last blog ..Pacing

By: How to deal with criticism as a writer | Brad’s Reader

How to deal with criticism as a writer | Brad’s Reader — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:54:12 +0000

[...] Here’s a great post Writing Critique: Can You Handle It by Melissa Donovan over at Writing Forward. She offers some really good advice on this same [...]

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:57:47 +0000

That’s a good point, John. If a new or young writer gets feedback from the wrong sort of reader, it could do some long-term damage. A writer has to learn how to filter the feedback and separate the useful from the useless. For example, it can difficult to discern whether a particular bit of feedback is just one person’s opinion (i.e. “I don’t like this character, she’s boring”) or if it is going be the general consensus (“20 pages of description is way too much”).

By: John Clise

John Clise — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:58:34 +0000

Finding someone objective really helps. People who either support or destroy your work without any basis for it are probably folks to stay away from when seeking some review of your work. Love thos post. You really touched on a good many, very important issues when it comes to crtiticism. The anger management part is very true. Thanks for the good work. It shows a strong basis for what to look for and what to avoid when finding someone to review a writer’s work. Surely someone needing anger managment can destroy an aspiring writer’s confidence and someone who goes to easy can intill them with false confidence. None of us need that in thise competitive business.

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:23:35 +0000

@Manictastic, I agree, it’s hard to find an expert and it’s also a blessing!

@JC, Thanks!

@Jaden, Merci beaucoup!

@Michele, I was lucky to get a lot of great feedback in school. There are also some forums online but I found you have to shop around to find really good ones. My experience is that most of them are more aimed toward compliments than improvements.

By: Michele

Michele — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:37:48 +0000

Wow, Melissa, this post is filled with awesome tips and advice!

I love it when I receive rejection letters and the editor has pinpointed WHY my query/article was rejected. Only once out of the times I’ve submitted my poetry have I received any feedback to actually help. The editor critiqued my poem! She told me what was wrong with it, what I could do to improve it, and specifically where I had failed in creating a successful poem. Now, THAT made my day!

By: Jaden

Jaden — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:32:34 +0000

Superb breakdown!

By: JC

JC — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:32:34 +0000

I’ve ran into all the critics you have mentioned lol

Very good information

I voted too

By: Manictastic

Manictastic — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:20:20 +0000

You are right about the different type of commenters. The experts are the only good ones, but they are so hard to find.

By: (EMP) E-Marketing Performance » : » Team Reading List 2.14.08

(EMP) E-Marketing Performance » : » Team Reading List 2.14.08 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:42:56 +0000

[...] Criticism: Can You Handle It or Are You a Slave to Your Ego? [...]

By: Melissa Donovan

Melissa Donovan — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:26:56 +0000

@Deb, I thought about that (families that criticize) when I wrote this. I tried to use the gushing mother as an example, and not indicate that all moms or family members are like that. Hopefully that came across. It is very difficult to find a good critic, but there are lots of forums and message boards online. I know a good poetry forum… let me know if you’d like the link.

@LaskiGal, Thanks! I learned everything I know about critiques in a poetry workshop in college. In fact, I find that the method works in every area of life where you need to give someone feedback. Valuable stuff.