Sometimes I look at a story & think what rubbish, so refrain from commenting rather than crush someone's fragile hopes (after all sending your work 'out there' can be like taking off your clothes in public). Then I will see that others have added valuable feedback. What is the best/most useful way to approach reviewing someone else's work?
Hi Susan,
Personally I'd cope with a 'what rubbish'-type comment, though I favour constructive criticism. And some writers might like positive feedback only.
Maybe there's scope to be clear on this when sharing work. I'm aware of a poetry forum where members indicate what sort of response they prefer. In brief, it works like this:
Level 1 = Be nice
Level 2 = Be constructive
Level 3 = Hit me!
Do you think a similar system might be useful for this site?
Fliss
I would partly agree with Siew & Dan. Yes, you have to hit the author right with the truth. Of course you have to put yourself in the place of both the author and the readers.
But I feel that there is more to do before you post a comment. I believe that a comment can make or break an author. Some guys in the world are hyper sensitive and if they get a negative comment they may just stop writing whereas they might be the next Shakespeare.
I would say, you must place yourself in the place of ‘The Critic’. The Critic isn't the reader, he is an experienced person, not of course with professional qualifications but with a clear mind and knows his A, B, C's well...
If you review a story or piece of writing, just look at the positive things AND negative things. Judge them independently. I usually take 5 - 7 minutes to read a piece of writing. Though I am not experienced, I am quite well versed in the process of making of a good book, having studied and intently read a variety of books.
The few things to be followed before reviewing a story / piece of writing are:
1. Read through it carefully, don’t do it for sake of duty.
2. Point out BOTH positive AND negative points.
3. Provide "examples" of how the author can improve his piece of work.
4. Don’t be sceptical or sarcastic. You are never the best judge, the author is the best judge of his work.
5. Be aware of what you are saying.
6. If you are just an ignorant person, please don’t post a review just for fun...
7. Be honest; don’t shower the author with praises when he/she doesn't deserve it but don't be detrimental.
Well, these are my views on the topic...... :)
I seem to have written much!! xD!!
I think there are two ways to review someone else's work. We can place ourselves in the writer's shoes and try to understand why he or she crafted the plot, chose the setting, characters etc. In doing so, we can probably know why the writer did what he or she did.
After that, we place ourselves in the readers' shoes and try to feel how readers would respond to the plot, setting, characters etc.
Am I correct in saying so ? That is..to review a story / writing from two angles - the writer's and the readers'.