GIVING (AND RECEIVING) MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUES
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It’s not always easy to give feedback on
manuscripts, especially if you’ve never participated in a writers’ workshop
before. The best policy is
to try to be helpful but honest.
If you don’t like something, say so, but try to articulate why you don’t
like it. Of course, it’s also good to let someone know
what you did like about the manuscript and why.
If you are receiving a critique, try to remain gracious. Don’t panic if someone points out something they don’t like. Remember, writing is a process. Every manuscript in its beginning stages is a mixture of successful and less successful elements. Often the best thing to do after a critique is to put the manuscript aside for a few days and then look at it again with the comments in mind. You own your story. No one can make you change it. It is good to have feedback from others, though, and to consider another point of view. These things enable us to grow and thrive as writers and hopefully find a place for our stories in the larger world.
With the above in mind, here are a few tips to think about when reading (or writing) a story.
If you are receiving a critique, try to remain gracious. Don’t panic if someone points out something they don’t like. Remember, writing is a process. Every manuscript in its beginning stages is a mixture of successful and less successful elements. Often the best thing to do after a critique is to put the manuscript aside for a few days and then look at it again with the comments in mind. You own your story. No one can make you change it. It is good to have feedback from others, though, and to consider another point of view. These things enable us to grow and thrive as writers and hopefully find a place for our stories in the larger world.
With the above in mind, here are a few tips to think about when reading (or writing) a story.
- What age group do you think the story is aimed towards? In other words, what age would the ideal child reader or listener be? Preschool? Kindergarten? Grade school? What lets you know this? Do you think the subject of the story and its intended age group are a good match?
- Can you sum up this story in one or two sentences? Why or why not? How can
you identify the main characters and events? Can you sum up the overall goal of the story?
- What physical senses does the story use? Sight? Sound? Smell? Touch? Taste? How successful is the author in conveying these senses?
- Where does the story take place? Indoors? Outdoors? The real world? A fantasy world? How successful is the author in creating a sense of place?
- What is the time frame for the story? Does the action take place within a few minutes? A few hours? Over the course of a day? Several days? Longer? How does the author covey the passage of time? Do you feel it is passing quickly or slowly within the story? How do you think the author wants time to pass?
- Does this story have a central character? How would you describe him or her? What is that character’s main trait? Main problem? Main goal? Does he or she achieve that goal? How do you respond to the character? How do you think a child would respond?
- What emotions do you feel are present in the story? Curiosity? Excitement? Contentment? Love? Happiness? Anxiety? Fear? Self-confidence? Friendship? Do the emotions change from one part of the story to the next? How successful do you think the author is in conveying what the characters feel?
- What is the main action in the story? Is it big and dramatic? Small and quiet? What words does the author use to convey action? Do they work?
- Look at the beginning. Does it draw you in? How? What elements are present in the beginning? Time? Place? The main character? What do you know after the first sentence? The first paragraph?
- Look at the middle of the story. (Even very short stories have middles.) Does it keep you reading? What new images, events, emotions, does the author introduce in the middle? Do they build on the beginning?
- Look at the end of the story. Does it seem to fit this particular story? Why or why not? Does it give you a satisfying sense of conclusion? Would it make a child say, “Read it again!”? (The goal of all who write for children.)