How much criticism is too much to give a writer? Is there such a thing?
This question always comes up in writer’s forums, particularly for those who are participating in a writing contest involving peer feedback. How do you go about offering an anonymous critique to an unknown writer for a piece that was written and submitted within a time crunch? Do you take it easy and focus on positives? Or should you comb through it and scrutinize every possible aspect? If a happy medium exists, is it fair to aim for that?
Let’s approach this specifically from a contest entrant point of view. Being able to receive varied feedback on a piece of writing is a selling point for peer-review contests. And although part of the goal is to advance to a win or at least gain honorable mention, the statistical reality for that outcome is less than half a percent in most cases. In the meantime, you’re expected to read and offer feedback on your fellow entrants’ stories while you await the result for your own entry.
So consider this: For the money you paid to enter the contest, what quality feedback do you expect to receive on your own piece when the tournament is over? Are you making comments that are on par with that expectation when you are reading others’ work? You might be only one out of ten readers who make the effort on any given entry. Really. In one contest, I had a reader offer a blanket statement, “There were a couple of spelling errors and grammatical errors,” which seemed suspiciously like the person was just filling the text box in order to move on. There were no examples given as to where the so-called errors existed in the piece (By the way, the story in question had zero typos and this was the only reader in the tournament who made that statement).
And don’t assume the above example is unpalatable just because it is a criticism or “negative” in tone. I’ve had a reader give me a rave review, but then sum it up with, “I love the humor. All it needs is just a little extra polish; it’s a lot of fun.” Great, but this reader didn’t take the extra step of outlining examples of what worked and what didn’t. What is meant by “a little extra polish” here? So even though this blanket statement is “positive,” it is still just as… uhm… helpful as the previous comment. I don’t know about you, but I’m not looking for validation or to inflate my ego. I’m looking to improve my writing.
So, yes, you should make an effort to give something of substance. And whenever possible, pull from the text to highlight what you’re talking about. Give ‘em the goods. Explain and offer examples. Do not hold back. But what if you consider yourself a novice writer? What do you focus on when providing feedback?
If you’re new, that’s okay. You are commenting as a reader, not necessarily as an expert on writing. Your point of view will be unique and valuable to the writer as long as you’re truthful. Was there something that confused you? Anything in the scene that turned you off or excited you while reading? Was the ending too predictable or out in left field? Don’t withhold a constructive comment if you’ve got one to share. Although some readers might overlap in a specific focus or aspect of the writing, the way you word your feedback might just be the golden ticket the writer needs in order to get over the stumbling block toward a new breakthrough.
Have you received any critiques on your writing? Do you ever waffle on offering feedback to others? Please share your thoughts and anecdotes below. Stay tuned for my next blog post. Wanna get it in your email inbox? Subscribe to stay informed of my newest articles, story reviews, updates, and more.
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Pauline Shen 