[stylist] Lack of Critiques -- Suggestions?

Wed Jun 8 16:07:59 UTC 2011

Donna, Neil and others,

I want to second what Donna said. Most times I'll start reading something 
and then put it off because I figure taking a few days won't hurt. And yes, 
somehow those days slip into more days and then weeks.

For instance, I'm supposed to be critiquing a friend's short story. She just 
graduated with her English degree, and has not focused on writing or 
creative writing at all. However, she had written this story and 
nevertheless wanted some opinion on it.

Why haven't I gotten back to it? For the same reason Donna said. I'm the 
type that I get very detailed and intense. I copy sentences and sometimes 
even paragraphs to make comments on. I can't just read through something to 
give a general comment on what I thought, on the plot, characters, etc.
That becomes very draining to me and I wind up splitting my critique into 
parts.

So, at the moment, I've decided to try a different tact. Just do an overall 
critique and then go back if I have the mental fortitude to get detailed.

One thing I'm recalling when thinking about doing a critique comes from my 
creative writing class this past semester. My professor gave us a handout 
that more or less had a list of what to look for when critiquing. He told us 
to pick and choose, that it wasn't necessary to complete the whole list.
I have to admit that I found it helpful. I would put a mark next to the 
issues that I had made comments on. It made things a lot easier.

Will this idea work? I've no idea. Maybe it will for some and for others it's 
too tedious. But I know for me I found it a good thing to fall back on when 
I found myself really reluctant to critique. Or, as Neil mentioned, a little 
selfish because the thing at hand was something that I was totally not 
interested in. And this past semester, there were two or three stories I had 
to critique that were incredibly difficult because they were stories I would've 
passed up on if I were browsing for things to read.

I've lost my point here, so I'll stop. I think when I go to my writing group 
this month I shall ask some of the older members their opinion.

Natalie

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 5:35 AM
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Lack of Critiques -- Suggestions?

> Hi Neil,
> You make many excellent points here. I know that for myself, there are 
> many
> times when I read a piece and have to delay responding to it because I 
> know
> it would take more time and careful thought than I have in me at the 
> moment.
> Then, of course, the e-mail slips lower and lower in my In Box, and I 
> don't
> get around to it for a month or whatever, when I finally decide to go back
> and clean up my e-mmail.
>
> I tried making a special folder for Writers' Division critique requests,
> which worked a little better. Then, I had to switch e-mail programs and
> never created a new folder.
>
>
> I think the whole idea of critiquing and being critiqued is a touchy one.
> We're all simultaneously reluctant to say something that would hurt
> someone's feelings and anxious to steer each other away from the pitfalls 
> we
> see in each other's writing. Talk about an approach/avoidance complex! The
> reality is though that learning to take criticism in the spirit in which 
> it
> was given is essential for the professional writer, though I wonder how
> successful people are really at it. Just because a person suggests that 
> you
> do this or that, doesn't mean that you have to make any changes at all. It
> is important, however, to give real consideration to the opinion. 
> Sometimes,
> people are bothered by something, but the solution isn't the right one. 
> This
> is doubly true for nonwriters, which constitute the bulk of our audience 
> in
> the real world.
>
> As an example, I had my sister read my manuscript. She doesn't write and
> doesn't have a lot of time for reading. After 7 chapters, she told me that
> the names of the characters were getting in the way of the story. She
> suggested that I shorten the names. I thought about this and re read it 
> with
> her concern in mind. In fact, I was using proper names far more often than
> necessary. I edited the entire book with the aim of limiting proper names.
> It wasn't a matter of shortening them but of either replacing them with 
> "he"
> or "she" or by simply eliminating unnecessary dialog tags. I think of 
> myself
> as a stickler for clarity, so I don't know yet whether I've made enough of 
> a
> difference to satisfy my sister, but I learned a lot from her comments and
> the way I responded to them.
>
>
> Donna
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Neil Butters
> Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 11:13 AM
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [stylist] Lack of Critiques -- Suggestions?
>
> Hello,
>
>
>
> Donna brought up a good point yesterday, and I think it might deserve more
> discussion. By the way Donna, you don't need to apologize; I wasn't
> offended. Besides, by my interpretation of Robert's decision, your NYC 
> Blind
> Vendor post, like the one on volunteering posted today, is acceptable by
> itself. Responses such as "Volunteerism is great. Everyone do it." Should 
> be
> posted elsewhere.
>
>
>
> Donna mentioned the lack of comments/critiques on her work. I think most 
> of
> us have a similar experience; I submitted a short story last year, and 
> only
> one person commented on it. I wonder if it would be useful to discuss the
> reasons that we don't critique other members' work very often. Maybe then 
> we
> can hit on solutions.
>
>
>
> I can think of a few reasons. Disinterest in the subject. I am guilty of
> this, although I'll never be able to comment on poetry because I haven't
> developed an appreciation for its beauty and power. Time, there never 
> seems
> to be enough. Uncertainty. How do I tell someone the writing is weak and a
> grammar course is needed? This is the mentality of, "I don't want to hurt
> anyone's feelings," (and no matter how hard I try to be constructive and
> "nice," some people just take my words the wrong way and get defensive). 
> And
> finally the selfish - He/she didn't critique my work, so why should I
> reciprocate?
>
>
>
> Now for some suggestions. Even if the subject doesn't interest you, take a
> look anyway. Writers are always urged to read writing from other genres to
> help round out their own. Perhaps members sending in their work should 
> make
> a list of things they want commented on, such as characters, grammar, etc.
> This would help the time-restricted reviewers among us to focus on what 
> the
> author wants, as well as provide novice reviewers with some guidance. And
> commenting on the writing of someone who took the time to read your work 
> is
> simply  a nice thing to do. When I sent in my story, I had previously
> critiqued the work of four members. Only one of them looked at mine.
> Finally, for the writers, maybe try discussing the comments with the 
> group.
> This might bring up more interest in the work. And remember to thank the
> reviewer. Only half the writers who I had critiqued gave me any
> acknowledgement.
>
>
>
> I realize some of these suggestions are used by some people, but maybe a
> more concerted effort would help.
>
>
>
> Any other reasons or suggestions?
>
>
>
> Neil
>
>
>
> requires .
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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