Checklist For Critiquing Fiction
A Systematic Approach for Evaluating Manuscripts
Writers are good at their craft, that of writing. However, that doesn’t mean that they can always provide objective and constructive feedback as a matter of course. Whether seeking or providing critiques a simple checklist will help to clarify expectations.
Critique Partners
Finding a critique partner is relatively simple. There are many online writing forums, often genre orientated, where other writers are willing to ‘swap’ manuscripts for feedback. A critique partner doesn’t need any particular professional qualifications or to have been published. What they do need is an interest in reading. Whilst it might be useful that they are familiar with the genre, this is not essential either. Sometimes a fresh and novice eye can pick up inconsistencies and areas for development.
Critique Checklist and Guidelines
There are many different styles of reviewing but following a simple framework can help to formulate feedback which is thorough, constructive and consistent. This is especially important if feedback is gathered through a group rather than one individual.
- Opening Line and Title – Did they grab the reader? How did they fit with the whole story? Were they attention grabbing?
- Conflict – is their enough conflict (external and internal) to move the story on? Was the conflict clear? Was the conflict resolved or replaced by the end of the story?
- Plot – Did the story flow well. Was the plot clear and believable? Did the story start in the right place?
- Setting – Was there enough or too much description? Did the descriptions help to set the tone for the story? Were they consistent and accurate of the time/place?
- Characterisation – Did the characters appear real? Could the reader empathise or dislike them? Were the characters accurate and consistent? Did the main character undergo some change during the story? Were there too many too little characters?
- Dialogue – Was the dialogue believable, understandable? Was there enough dialogue to move the story on? Could you ‘hear’ the dialogue? Does each character have a unique voice?
- Point of View – Was it consistent? Were there enough/too many? If the POV changed, would the reader be able to follow?
- Show and Tell – Was there a good balance of show and tell? Was there enough detailed description where needed?
- Grammar and Spelling – Were there many errors or common mistakes? Was there an overuse of any particular grammar symbol e.g. exclamation marks? Were there any clichés? Were these appropriate or overused?
Critique Feedback
The checklist above provides a loose framework from which feedback can be developed. For the receiving writer it is important that an honest appraisal is provided in a professional manner. Critique partners should therefore describe or highlight scenes, paragraphs they liked and why as well as pointing out things that don’t work so well. The feedback should be clear and precise and constructive rather than critical. It is always easier to point out what is wrong, with a bit of thought; suggestions for change can be helpful.
Writers are unable to evaluate their own work with enough objectivity and distance. Good feedback can add so much value to a manuscript, helping the writer to polish his work to a standard, which will move it from the slush pile to the top of the editor’s desk.
Feedback
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Critique Checklist
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