Learn to be a Better Writer by Becoming a Better Critic
June 12, 2008 by John Hewitt
John’s Note: Enjoy the use of British English (I did).
Article by Kat Shann
Most writers love to receive critique of their work. Few are keen on giving it.
Last time I was part of a writing group it was obvious that some of the participants were only (half-heartedly) giving feedback while waiting until it was time for the focus to be on them and their work. The view is often that of giving in order to receive.
There are much better reasons to critique than this. When you give a well thought out, helpful, specific review to an author that author benefits from your comments. But you, the reviewer, also benefit.
The five most important things I’ve gained from critiquing are:
I can spot the common mistakes.
These are issues that seem to pop up in many pieces I review. For example: too much exposition, unbelievable dialogue, showing not telling. I see these mistakes so many times that I’m now able to quickly spot them in my own writing, and eliminate them ruthlessly.
I know I’m not the worst writer out there.
I’ve read and critiqued some writing that is just plain bad. Usually these writers are newer to the craft than me. I’ve written some pretty bad fiction in the past, but I’ve learned lessons and skills as I’ve gone along that have helped me improve. When I review pieces that aren’t yet that good I can let my fragile writer’s ego swell just a little bit for having passed this stage. Then I pass on what advice I can - tactfully.
I know I’m definitely not the best writer out there.
This is the obvious corollary to the previous point. I am never going to be the best writer in the world - if such a thing exists. I’m never even going to be the best writer that I have the potential to be. I am always learning something new. So when I find myself critiquing a piece of writing which I have nothing but admiration for I don’t get disheartened because I’m not that good. I take note of the style, the tactics, the structure and the imagery that work so well and I learn from them.
I read more, and more intelligently.
Writers are always being told to read a lot. As a reviewer I get to read fiction from a wide range of skill levels and genres, which I normally would not be exposed to. Critiquing broadens my reading, and it also deepens it. I can bring the critical skills I gain from reviewing to bear on the books I read for pleasure. Now I can see what the author of my favourite novel did to make me go “Wow!”.
I can better judge feedback I receive.
I know how much time, thought and effort it takes me to read through a piece and put all of my thoughts into a coherent and helpful format for the author. So when I receive a good critique - and by good I mean constructive and specific, not necessarily positive - I appreciate it. I respect the critiquer and their opinion. On the other hand, when someone says simply “I don’t like it” or “That was awesome” and can’t give a reason why or list a single specific thing that they liked or disliked, I’m not going to take that review to heart.
Having spent the past few months critiquing other people’s work I have gained a more critical eye, increased my confidence as a writer, and connected with other writers. I’ve sharpened my inner editor’s toolkit to such a point where I’m feeling ready to tackle the second draft of my Nanowrimo novel, which has been mouldering on my hard drive since last year.
What makes me qualified to review other people’s writing? The same thing that makes you and everyone else in the world qualified to critique: we are the readers, the potential audience.
Anyone can critique and if you want to improve as a writer I recommend that you do. Whether alone - looking at published works to learn techniques, as part of a writing group getting together once a week, or online as part of a large community, you will reap the benefits.
Links
How to’s
How to critique fiction -> http://www.crayne.com/howcrit.html
But I don’t know how to critique -> http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue%205/butidon.htm
Critiquing communities
Urbis -> http://www.urbis.com
Critters (SF&F) -> http://www.critters.org/index.ht
Critique Circle -> http://www.critiquecircle.com/default.asp
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Kat Shann is a software engineer, part-time novelist and full-time dreamer.
Kat,
I agree that critiquing is an excellent way to become a better writer. I was part of a small fiction critique group for a couple of years. I learned more and improved my writing more in that time than any other time in my writer career.
Kat, I hope other writers take your suggestion and become good critics. While my writing has benefited from participating in writing workshops and receiving critiques, it has also benefited from learning how to write good critiques. One of the best places I learned to do this is Zoetrope (www.zoetrope.com), an online writing community formed by Francis Coppola. Zoetrope offers several writing groups (e.g., novels, short stories, flash fiction) to participate in, and membership is free *except* you have to review five other submissions before you can submit your own work for review. Zoetrope provides guidance on writing a good review, and that in itself is a learning experience.
Thanks for the great post!
Marie Ann Baileys last blog post..Do you have what it takes to be a successful freelance writer?
I have a book review website that I set up ages ago just for fun and I’ve found that since my reading has become more critical, I have begun to enjoy the editing process much more. I used to completely hate editing and now (dare I say it) I quite like it.
As always, thanks for the great post!
Julias last blog post..Moving
Many thanks everyone for the comments.
Marie - I’ll have to check out Zoetrope. I’m currently on Urbis (www.urbis.com) which works on a credit system: you get points for a review, based on the length of the piece you critique and the length of review that you write, and then you spend them on other people’s reviews of your work. The quality (of reviews and of writings) is mixed, but it’s a pretty good site.
[...] Center, writing, writing critiques, writing reviews Today at the Writer’s Resource Center, Kat Shann offers a compelling argument for why writers should learn to become good critics. Kat notes that, [...]
Kat, I meant to thank you for including the links. I’ll definitely check out Urbis. And please do visit Zoetrope. They also keep a running list of where their members are being published, which is a great way to find writing markets.
Ciao,
Marie
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Learn to be a Better Writer by Becoming a Better Critic…
Write better by critiquing more. Kat Shann offers five ways she has benefited from critiquing other’s writing. Although the author is focused on fiction, seeing the benefits articulated shows that it’s appropriate for non-fiction, too….
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Kat,
These are all great reasons for writers to become better critics! Your second and third reasons are wonderful lessons for every writer to learn, because they help provide a balanced view of our abilities. It certainly helps to know that we’re neither the worst nor the best writer in the world. The former gives us confidence and helps us not become discouraged, and the latter helps keep our egos in check.
Thanks for sharing your insight!
Jeanne
Well put, Kat! In my guest article, which John was so kind to post, I tried to make your point, with much less success. It certainly strengthens your writing if you are a better reader and editor (and thinker); it makes you an even more attractive prospect to a potential editor or publisher when you save her/him the work of having to undangle your modifiers and such! As a former editor at a “little” literary magazine, I know that no matter how good something might have been, if it was written in crayon, for example (I’m not kidding; we actually had something submitted in crayon), and therefore paid no heed whatsoever to the magazine’s guidelines, it went into the rejection pile.
To the readers who maybe hadn’t thought of this, you can also get the experience to be a better editor “on the cheap” through literary magazines, newspaper publishers, and even volunteer experience (writing or compiling a newsletter for a nonprofit organization, for example, or through university classes in publishing, editing, or creative writing). Many small literary magazines are produced under the auspices of community colleges or universities, after all.
It might even be that the romance (or sci-fi or Wester or…) e-book you’ve just read comes from a small press seeking readers or editors. You never know where a critiquing opportunity–and an opportunity to grow as a writer–might pop up if you just keep your eyes peeled!
Leighs last blog post..The Music of Words and Other Matters
@ Kat,
I have been a member of many writing groups, and I am often shocked at how hard it is to get an honest opinion out of some people. I enjoy analyzing other people’s work because it gives me insight into what I look for in other people’s writing (and where I might be falling short). Thank you for contributing to my guest blogger month.