So many articles on critique groups and the major support they can offer a struggling writer tend to focus on all you can gain from your participation. But it’s equally important to give as good as you get—or even more.
A while back, one of the members of a critique group I’ve been involved with for several years sent this message to our group:
“Your passion for writing, the care you take with each piece (each WORD!), and your companionship on this literary journey that can be both joyful and utterly frustrating at times has enriched my life. For that I am grateful!”
This group uses the “sandwich technique” to critiquing members’ pieces. That means sandwiching any actual criticism or suggestions for improvement between two slices of positive feedback. It’s a great formula for “packaging” your message to a fellow writer.
The positive feedback, if expressed sincerely, cushions the weight of criticism and makes it easier for the writer to truly listen to and accept the suggestions being made. And there’s always a kernel of value in any piece of writing. It’s important to seek it out in a way that supports your fellow writer. The thoughtful suggestions of others has moved my own writing to another level, made me re-think my approach to my message or story, or encouraged me to continue despite my own doubts about the worthiness of a piece I’m struggling with.
A good way of approaching your critique of another’s work is to consider the piece as a whole. I find that nit-picking small details, such as spelling, word usage, punctuation and the like is less helpful to me than feedback that gives me a sense of the reader’s response to the piece. Comments such as “I can’t visualize this scene. Can you provide more detail?” or “I feel that the story bogs down at this point, possibly because you’ve stepped back from the main character’s perspective” or “You’re so good at dialogue, but there’s nothing here that reveals how these two characters relate to one another. Having them talk to each other might help to bring these characters to life as well as provide some relief from the description that’s necessary to the story but seems to slow the action” provide suggestions for directions the writer might take in improving the writing.
It’s hard for the novice writer to “put their work out there” for others to take potshots at. By focusing on what you can offer to your fellow writer rather than on your trepidation at having your own work critiqued can make you a truly valued member of your critique group.
