The Review Club Forum Helpful Writing/Critiquing Too..

I borrowed this from an online writing program, because I think it asks some great questions that can help flesh out problems in anyone's writing. It is designed to help with critiquing others, but I was thinking of it more as a tool for critiquing my own writing. As far as that goes, since it requires mostly a series of yes/no answers, it may be a nice shortcut for critiquing as well. Just wanted to pass it on.

Characters � the people in the story

� Are the characters interesting? Sympathetic?
� Are the characters dimensional, or one-note?
� Are the characters well drawn? Are you able to "see" them?
� Is there enough character: action, dialogue, appearance, thought?
� Are the characters distinctive, different from each other?
� Does the protagonist have a strong desire?
� Does the protagonist grow or change?

Plot � the sequence of events

� Is the plot interesting? Dramatic? Is a good story being told?
� Is there enough conflict?
� Does enough "happen"?
� Is there a logical flow to the plot?
� Does the story move forward? Does the tension increase?
� Is there a strong enough climax?
� Are any parts of the plot unnecessary? Are any necessary parts missing?
� Is exposition provided effectively?

Point of View � the viewpoint from which the story is told

� Is the right POV used (first person, third person, etc.)?
� Is the POV too "close" or "distant"?
� Is the POV consistent throughout the story?

Description� the way things are described

� Are the descriptions effective?
� Is there too much or too little description?
� Do the descriptions utilize the senses? Are they specific?
� Are adjectives and adverbs overused? Are the nouns and verbs strong enough?
� How is the use of figurative language (metaphor, simile, etc.)?
� Are cliches being used?

Dialogue� what the characters say

� Is there too much dialogue or not enough?
� Is there enough use of "scene"?
� Does the dialogue sound natural?
� Is the dialogue rambling?
� How is the use of "stage directions" � the staging of the dialogue scenes?
� Does the dialogue reflect the characters?
� Is the dialogue too "on the nose" � where characters always say what they mean?
� Are the tags (he said, she scolded, etc.) unobtrusive?

Setting � the place and time

� Is the story grounded enough in place? In time?
� Is there too much or too little setting description?
� Does the setting enhance the emotion or mood of the story?

Pacing � the manipulation of time

� Are there sections that should be cut, or moved through more quickly?
� Are there sections that should be slowed down?
� Are there too many flashbacks?

Voice � the "sound" of the narrator

� Do you find the narrator's voice appealing or off-putting?
� Does the voice sound natural or affected?
� Is the voice consistent throughout the story?

Style � the stylistic choices

� Are the words consistent with the narrator's voice?
� Are the sentences and paragraphs too long or too short?
� Is the writing too wordy, or too spare?
� Are there any style choices that distract you from the story?

Theme � the underlying meaning

� Does there seem to be a point to the story?
� Is the theme too heavy-handed?
� Is the theme dramatized by the plot?

Brent,

That rocks SO much.

-cc

Thanks for posting this!

::biggrin::

Excellent tool. I'll definitely have it by my side when reviewing. Cheers!

Brent, that's neat. Thanks a lot :)

Since CC mentioned it, I just wanted to bump this back up top one more time for anyone who didn't see it. I can't take credit for coming up with it though. Only credit for stealing it from some unknown person who did.

Its very good. Short and concise.

Here's another little list you might find complementary. I got it from the internet somewhere:

Vonnegut's 8 rules for the short story:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things � reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them � in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Vonnegut qualifies adding that the great writers break all these rules except the first, and that great writers tend to do that.

Enjoy

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This is excellent advice, some of the best I've seen. Thanks.