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A
List of "Don'ts" to Keep in Mind
For Critiquing Others' Writing
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Don't rewrite the story. Just take it on its own merits and
work with what is there.
Don't
make personal remarks, criticize, or judge the other person.
Stick to the merits and clarity of the writing and to the types
of feedback requested.
Don't
compare the work to that of published works, either good or
bad.
Don't
talk about it in terms of your own life and experience.
Don't
judge the work or say that you don't feel qualified because
you hate this particular genre. Craft and technique transcends
genre, and any of us can be helpful to another writer regardless
of topic.
Don't
interrupt other readers. This is not a discussion but a one-at-a-time
giving of individual feedback.
If someone
has already hammered away on one topic, don't repeat it, though
if you have something new to add, please do so.
Don't
ask the writer questions or expect explanations about any aspect.
The writer won't discuss the work at all until the very end.
Don't
spend time analyzing or interpreting symbolism, meaning, etc.,
though you may want to mention mixed metaphors or symbols that
clash.
Don't
suck up and give false hope. Be honest in your assessment, but
remember that each piece of writing is A Work In Process. You
may see it again and find that the comments made and ideas shared
have helped the author turn out a really knock-out piece.
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