I have been giving this blog post about four days' worth of thought. In that thought process, the (paraphrased) words of a respected member in my fiction critique group kept coming to mind: "Keep it concise. You don't need the extra." So on that note, I will.
Bringing him up is also a perfect segue into what my mind has been mulling upon over these past few days. Looking at the various comments the many members of this group have left in the margins of my manuscript, my mind naturally started sorting the "useful comments" from the "garbage comments." Now, this normally takes two or three readings of all the comments, because the first read-through is highly biased and askew. Out of a natural protective instinct, with perhaps a touch of vanity, every writer thinks any criticism short of "Stunning!", "Great!", "Beautiful line!" is a personal attack on one's intelligence and talent, and therefore belongs in the "garbage comments." Then sanity returns, with a heaping slice of humble pie, and one starts to see that for the most part, one's editors - by profession or by strong coercion - may actually be onto something.
Some, however, are not.
And that's when I decided that there ought to be rules that all critics should follow - whether they be of a literary, academic, business management, or stay-at-home parent persuasion. (Hey, even children want to be told nicely that there is a better way to tie their shoes than the current method they might be employing).
Here they are:
- Make sure that all criticism is positive. Meaning, don't be a jerk. You might think what has been written is idiotic. You might think the writer is an idiot. You might think he or she comes from a long line of idiots, all missing a chromosome or two. But don't say that. Instead, try pointing out what doesn't work for you, and how it might be improved. For example, instead of saying, "Not everybody from Boston drops their 'Rs', so get rid of the accent in your characters' narrations because it's super annoying, stupid, and overly-generalized in the assumption" try "Though the mood and implied understanding of a character can be enhanced by having him or her speak with a Boston accent is a useful technique, its overuse can prove to be a point of distraction, thereby taking away from what the character really is trying to say." Essentially, the same thing has been said, but the latter helps the writer see what can be a problem or area of concern for the majority of the readers, and not just a mean attack from one disgruntled (and probably jealous) critic.
- If you are going to provide criticism, be sure it enlightens, not befuddles, the writer. In looking through some of the notes on my story's margin, somebody actually wrote "WTF?!?" near a sentence. I was confused as to what prompted such a reaction, plus the use of both the interrogative and exclamatory marks, that I strongly resisted the urge to write back "WTFU!" Was it that my word choice for that particular sentence didn't resonate? Or could it have been that the whole paragraph seemed out of place? Was this criticism grammar related, or emotionally based? I had no idea, and therefore had not choice but to place the comment into my mental garbage pile. Maybe the critic has a good point - but to which point, exactly, it's impossible to guess. And quite frankly, I just don't have the time to be guessing. So please, be clear when critiquing.
- Unless you are in an English Grammar Class, don't be nit-picky with the grammar of a writer's first draft. Because let's face it, if this is a piece from a creative writer, chances are the author knows his or her grammar pretty darn well. He or she isn't looking for the errant dependent clause or split infinitive when presenting a first or second draft to you, but rather, if the plot makes sense, if the characters ring true, if the emotions and conflicts are suitably displayed and explained. That's what the writer is looking to find from you. If he or she wanted it otherwise, s/he would have stated so from the onset.
Well, there you have it. Should you ever be in the position to be a critic, I hope you find these little tips helpful. And should you ever be in the position to critique my drafts, hope you commit these tips to memory. I really just don't know what to do with a "WTF?!?".