Discussion Tips

[Mickie]

This is one of the best explanations I found on how to review someone else's work. I found it at the Del Rey workshop, and this is the pertinent information...

How do I write a basic review?

If you are at a loss, we suggest the following model for critiques, based on a technique used by Maureen McHugh when she teaches at places like Clarion. Reviewers should write at least four sentences, one on each of the following areas:

A one-sentence summary of the submission. This lets the writer know whether or not the reviewer got the main point of the story or chapter.
Point out one good thing about the submission. Be specific. Refer to the writing, setting, dialogue, characters, or plot.
Mention one thing in the submission that you didn't like. Again, be specific.
Ask one question or make one suggestion for improvement.
This method helps guarantee balanced reviews and reminds reviewers to include something positive and something helpful.
This is not the only method or model. Different reviewers have different critiquing strengths.

Any review that provides specific, helpful feedback to the writer is a good start.

What if I can't find anything wrong with a submission?

Uh...try harder.

Even the most successful professional writers send their stories out for critique to improve their writing. If you can't find anything in a submission to improve it, then go steal a Hugo award and start engraving the submission's title on it at once.

How do I critique a writer who's better than I am?

Develop your ability to look at a submission as a reader, not a writer. Don't compare your skills to those of the author, but ask yourself, if you read this in a magazine, what would your reaction be? Which places slow you down? Which parts interested you the most? Learn to read critically.

What if I don't want to hurt someone's feelings by saying something negative?

Your compassion commends you. However...

If you don't tell writers where they can improve, they'll never get any better. By following the model we suggested above, you will always give a balanced review, with positives as well as negatives.

Several workshop members also suggest a light touch. Brie writes: "HUMOR. It's a way to get past defensiveness. Larry West, for example, may absolutely rip my stories apart at the seams, but i'm generally too busy giggling to get huffy."


What if the writing is so awful I can't find anything positive to say?

First, remember that we were all beginners once.

Second, don't try to correct everything. Pick out one specific area--grammar, dialogue, setting--and give the writer one piece of advice, one tool, that he or she can use immediately. The next time you see a submission by that writer, you'll be able to find one positive thing to say!


How can I get more reviews of my submission?

You mean aside from bribes?

The easiest method is to give more reviews. Pay attention to writers who do reviews, and then critique their work.


I really can't add anything to that, to tell the truth. However, if you can't do exactly what's in the model, then do the best you can. No one is grading here, so just tell us what you think!

Mickie

 

[JUDO]

Review of the Rules

Positive Summary: You introduce a wonderful little model, properly credited, for reviewing almost anything, including reading someone else's writing.

Negative: Then, you follow up the little model with a page-and-a-half of FAQs' text indistinguishable from the model.

Humor: It's a lot to read for instructions (especially if you're the type who likes to throw them away). Perhaps a little color coding would help identify the sub-sections and not make the instructions seem so long.

Conclusion: Mickie, you're doing a wonderful job!


- Judo

 

[Mickie]

Thanks, Judo

Actually, I was in a hurry and copied it directly into the post without bothering with html coding. Sorry. I'll edit it later, when I'm not doing ten things at once.

Mick

 

[JUDO]

Ha!

Mick -

No chastising intended. That was like a joke, see? Get it? It's a post and it looks like one of your described reviews and...awww...forget it!


- Judo

 

[Mickie]

I got it...

But you were right, so I thought I'd edit it when I get a breather later tonight. Give it the attention it deserves.

Don't worry, I'm only a little dense this morning -- oh, my, it's afternoon already! Where does the time go? Judo, you hiding it?

Mick

 

[JUDO]

Time Bandit!

"It's mine! All mine! And you can't have it! Ah-ha, ha, ha, ha,ha hahahahahaha...!"


- Judo

 

[Mickie]

Another tip here --

Read through the discussions that have already been posted. Get a feel for how to participate, and what to expect. Some people don't really want to hear what's wrong with their stories. If that's the case, you'd be better off not having your story discussed. Even the best writing can always be improved, and leave it to our discerning crowd here to find the things that need work!

Mickie

 

[dave456]

Hi, just now signed up and logged in so I figured I'd give posting a first try. Smiles to you all

 

[Quint]

Apology from a Perfectionist

Having just recently written and posted my very own Lit work, eagerly anticipated its reception, and come close to bawling at the flames, I have come to this conclusion about myself:

I have been a bitch on reviews.

I have a very high opinion of myself. I know that my writing abilities are high and my command of the English language, spelling, punctuation and grammar are just barely this side of exceptional. I also have very little tolerance for people who don't even make an effort to produce good writing.

Nevertheless, I have been unnecessarily harsh to a great many writers, and possibly crushed developing authors under my scornful thumb, all under the protection of anonymity. To my defense, I didn't have a user name of my own when said flames were sent. This is no excuse for cruel although accurate flaming. I doubt I ever commented on the good points that found their way into abysmal writing. I never tried to make lemonade out of bitter, bitter lemons.

Now I realize how much that hurts. I know that I don't deserve nothing but Step 2 (ouchies) in the reviews I receive. Every author with any degree of pride feels the same way about their works. Out of respect for the feeling that drives people to write, I should have taken more time to pat them on the back before flaying it bloody. Just because you really need work on your writing does not mean you don't have feelings.

In conclusion, I'm sorry if I sent you nothing but hateful mail, and I really am doing better now. The medicine helps.

 

[Riven___Caulfield]

I almost never post on here - I was for some reason driven by a particularly kind e-mail from Quint to look her up and thank her, and offer an answer to a question she'd asked.


But perhaps I should address the issue of this forum, first;

Feedback, positive or negative, tactful or savage, maintains a neutral value untill heard. Regardless of the speaker and their intent, their value is determined by the recieving artist, and that artist alone.

It is within the artist themselves to accept these comments, and take whatever they find with an appropriate amount of salt. If you allow people to send feedback, be prepared for all kinds.

Some people send critiques.
Some people send proclamations of love.
Some people threaten your life.

But all these comments, filtered by a mature mind amount to a genuine representation of public opinion - and that is, after all, what's most useful to an aspiring writer.

The best writers write for themselves, while planning to share.



* * *


Now, to the Quint issue;

Quint;

I appreciated your comments. To others who are reading this, despite her self-praise, she does raise valid points, produced by a clear mind.

And despite your proclaimed cruelty to others, Quint, I thought you were abundantly kind to me.

And you're quite correct, smokeSCREEN is an unattractive name. Sure as fuck doesn't make ME horny. But I would expect a writer of your calibre (which I, of course assume based on current information) would know that smokeSCREEN was not written with the vision of it being read with one hand.



I don't write sex stories. I write stories that come to me that I feel a desire to tell. I share them here at Lit because, when sex is necessary in my stories (which it invariably is - I'm a hopeless romantic and A leads to B), no one on Lit will judge me, or be squeamish. I could write about hermaphrodite zombies with coke addictions and massive sex drives, and it'd fit right in under Non-Human.

I write here for the freedom. Not to turn people on. People read my story and they get turned on - power to 'em.

smokeSCREEN's an unattractive name, that's true. It represents a major plot point later in the book. The story's not about sex, and it's not about pretty little things.

It's about lies.

The lies we tell ourselves, the realities of our weaknesses.

smokeSCREEN. It ain't pretty - but it might be true.




Sorry I took so long - thanks for your time.


-Caulfield