Sharing Knowledge Of The Written Word. Forum A GUIDE TO WRITING CONSTRUCTIV..

A GUIDE TO WRITING CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIQUES
You may find it useful base your critiques on the headings below, at least to begin with. Some may prefer to split a story into sections and suggest which elements work and which need further work at each stage. In the end, consider the kind of feedback you yourselff require.

CHARACTERISATION: Do the characters seem real, or are they recognizable stereotypes, and is this a problem in the context of this particular story? Are the characters’ motives logical and necessary to the story? Are we meant to identify with any characters, and if so, do we?

DIALOGUE Does the dialogue seem realistic? Can the reader imagine real people talking as the characters do? Does the dialogue add to the story, or distract us from it?

SETTING: Does the story have a context and place that is convincing and alive? Is the reader able to visualise each scene?

POINT OF VIEW: Is the POV consistent, or does it leap in the middle of a scene? Is the POV appropriate – do we get a clear enough picture of the principle character’s inner drama – or too much? Could the story be told fmore interestingly from another POV?

DEVELOPMENT: Does the story develop organically, without the reader noticing, or does the narrative make sudden leaps or get stagnant? Does the reader get confused at any point?

PACING: How deeply is the reader drawn into the story? How long does the story take to set up? Is the reader drawn into the story from the beginning? Which is most appropriate for each particular story: non-stop action or character development?

MECHANICS: At the outset, some writers experience trouble with the mechanics of expressing their fiction in words. Story, paragraph and sentence structure are all slaves to the flow of a piece. If something is amiss, the reader will experience the lack of flow immediately. A critique of a later draft can be invaluable in pointing out some of the specifics that are impeding the narrative flow.