How to Critique: A Quick Guide

It never occurred to me to come up with something like this until one member asked: how do I critique a story?

It made me wonder how confident we feel as critics, as well as writers. To read with a keen eye is a great skill to have, ensuring your own writing is tip-top and you develop your own style too.

So what's the best way to approach a work of fiction? How can you reliably comment on something restricted to no regulations or rules? The arts is always changing. Well, here's a good guide to work by if you're feeling unsure


THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN A STORY:
Opening
Does it grab you and immediately pique your interest? Openings in popular fiction tend to plunge the reader into an unknown situation. Do you feel this abides by that? Or does it go against the grain? Does it work?

Conflict
This is a MUST! You can also refer to this as a hook. Conflict is the issue, trouble, the great obstacle the protagonist must overcome... Or it might be a smaller conflict for now, who knows? What's important is something's up. If you're quickly getting bored, chances are there's no conflict.

Plot
Probably one of the hardest elements in story-writing, the plot needs to be exciting! I like to think of it as a layering process. You don't want to predict the story, so hopefully there'll be some twists. This is the chance for writers to try and be original too, so look out for that.

Setting
The power of place is sometimes overlooked by writers, so keep an eye out! Setting can make a great impact on a work and is the perfect opportunity for a writer to show off their creative flair too.

Characterization
Are the characters three-dimensional or cardboard cutouts? Be on the look out for Mary/Gary Sues! Characters can grow as a result from the plot or setting... what really creates that character? Why are you drawn to them? Or repelled from them, even? A strong reaction to a character is a good sign.

Dialogue
A crucial part to any story. Sometimes you see lots of dialogue in a story, sometimes not much. It can either be great or... not so great. Fledgling wordsmiths tend to have lots of dialogue and it may be a bit fluffy, with unnecessary flounce. Most of the time, you want a story with balanced description and dialogue when it's needed. Dialogue is also a great way to build character.

Point of View
Most fiction nowadays is written in the first person, because it's the most accessible. However a writer may choose to use third person, or maybe even second person, though that's rare. Regarding point of view, be wary of how it makes you feel as the reader. Does it make you feel a certain way about a character, or the setting? What's the writer trying to do? Be wary that the writer maintains the same point of view as well, and if they change it, does it work? Is it confusing?

Show versus tell
A controversial one, but important nonetheless. In popular fiction, the balance of showing and telling really does measure a writer's ability sometimes. Do you feel intrigued by a piece of writing? Are you kept guessing? What's the detail like? Do you feel confident enough to read on? Do you feel patronised by the writer?

Format of the text
Presentation is important. If you're looking at a wall of text, chances are you haven't even bothered to keep going. It's too much! Be aware of how the story is formatted. Nice, sizable paragraphs are likely to keep you afloat. Has the writer deviated from standard novel format? Does it achieve a certain effect? Does it work?

Grammar and spelling
Now this isn't every writer's strong point, so go easy on the nit-picking. You might find a typo or two and they're not really worth mentioning, unless it's a masterpiece and you're struggling for negatives! When explaining a grammatical error, be sure to try and be concise about it so that the writer can learn for next time and not get confused. If there's a particularly prominent error that disrupts the entire piece, don't be afraid to point it out. However, sometimes writers deviant from standard forms in order to achieve certain effects. If so, how effective is it?

Word choice
Again, a bit picky but actually quite important. Your opinions and visions are created by the words the writer chooses to use. It's the difference between a character talking or shouting, walking or running... On a more subtle level, some word choices can sound off or provoke certain meanings, so keep an eye out.

Style
The thing that separates one writer from the next! Think of the voice you're reading it in, the general tone of the text...


CRITIQUING TIPS:
1) Let the writer know what impressions you got from the story. It's not easy putting yourself in the reader's shoes, so getting honest comments is awesome!

2) Start with the positives and strengths, then move on to what could be improved. Be kind and constructive. If a piece isn't up your street, the genre isn't your thing or you're unfamiliar with something, then let the writer know. Being honest about your own preferences and expectations helps the writer too, as does talking about your own experience. Writers learn from one another most of the time.

3) Where you suggest improvements, give examples too. Often, a writer will ask "what you mean," and a point is best demonstrated with an example. Also, give examples of things you loved! Quoting your favourite line or extract will let the writer know you really did pay attention to their work. That goes a long way.

4) Consider the target readership of a piece. If you don't know, ask, or alternatively try and guess from having a read and bring this up with the writer.

5) Read other writing critiques. It gives you a better scope on what sort of things to look out for and what things to miss out in your own writing perhaps!

6) Don't be afraid to be honest. Often, writers will appreciate it big time. The literature community on dA can be a quiet one.

7) Consider whether the piece is a short story or a longer term work.

8) Get into the critiquing habit! The more you read, keener the eye.


Of course, writing isn't a science. You're welcome to add your own tips and critiquing habits below; do comment! I hope this helped~~