How do you choose?

[NikkiNoodle]

Since reviewing is a big part of this site I was wondering what is it about a piece of work that makes YOU want to review it?

Sometimes I will be looking through new posts to see what I can help with and be struck by something, be it grammar or spelling or pacing or whatever, but often I'll run across a piece that I'm just not interested in critiquing. It just doesn't speak to me, I guess. The funny thing is that I don't even have to particularly like a piece of writing to want to help with it, I just find myself more drawn to helping with certain pieces and I haven't done any critical thinking as to WHY. Have you? Come up with any answers?

And if you have, does it make a difference in your writing?

[Midnight_Adventurer]

Like you I just browse through the new posts and if I can identify any problems I think I can offer advice on then I'll critique that piece of writing. Although doing a full critique can sometimes be time consuming and require a lot of concentration. Then again, most of the time that particular post I could help with already has a dozen people offering advice so I leave it to them, lol.

I guess for me to take the time to critique I have to truly understand the issues in someone’s work and then feel confident enough that I know the proper advice to give them.

[J.P.Clyde]

A catching title and a nice beginning. If the beginning sentences don't grab me I move on.

[popsicledeath]

I'll review a piece I believe I can learn from or if the writer has specifically requested a critique. I believe it's paramount for a writer to learn how to sharpen their own instincts and critical eye by reading and engaging with other writers' work, taking the 'what would I do approach' and working through how to improve a draft (one isn't personally indebted to).

That said, I think I've only reviewed a few stories here, because it usually feels like the same 'advice' needs to be given over and over, and after years of it--in classrooms, writing groups, other online workshops, etc--I'm tired and just not up for it anymore, and find discussions better for me to learn, and probably for others to as well, as it's too easy to dismiss someone's 'advice' as feedback you don't agree with, whereas in a discussion one is hopefully tasked with actually thinking through all sides of a discussion point.

[VM80]

Haven't reviewed for a bit (probably should, but anyway...)

Sometimes I like to review those that I think need a fair bit of work. That takes time though, and at the moment, I don't feel like repeatedly correcting the same/similar issues found in many pieces posted.

Otherwise, something that speaks to me. I mostly look in the novel section, although short story has its moments.

[Mallory]

Like J.P. Clyde said, a catchy title is what draws me to click on something in the first place (unless the author is someone I see around a lot on the boards, in which case I'll be interested in checking out their work).

The main thing that turns me away from stories in the review room is when the author clumps everything into one giant block of text, with no spaces between paragraphs or even new paragraphs when someone speaks.

If it's other problems, like bad grammar or a boring beginning, I'll [politely] note this in the critique with general suggestions on how to do it better.

I won't fix each grammar mistake line-by-line, but I'll briefly summarize what their general problems seem to be and what the right way to do it is.

[NikkiNoodle]

I can identify with the catching title part, and I have noticed myself doing that as well. I will also read the other critiques to see if someone already addressed issues that I noticed. Sometimes I just feel the need to say, "Hey, well done you!" But reviewing certainly has made a difference in the way I see my own writing.

popsicledeath, I can see your point there, but it seems that I've noticed the same advice getting recycled more in the discussions than on the review boards (read lots, write more, don't abuse a thesaurus, the dreaded "show, don't tell," watch out for those adverbs, ect...) is that just me?

[Cogito]

I look for something that the writer has obviously put some effort into. If they say, "I threew this together last night after six shots of Tequila, and it's a rough draft," expect me to pass it by. Likewise if the first paragraph is laden with spelling errors that any freeware spelling checker would have caught.

But if it looks like the writer can assemble a basic sentence and makes an effort to spell and punctuate correctly, then I'll consider it for critique.

Sometimes I just can't get into it, and I pass it up for something that grabs my interest better. But sometimes I'll try to put my finger on why it didn't pique my interest. and respond to that.

[Heather]

I haven't written a review in a little while, but usually I skim down the list of threads first and see if there are any which only have one or two comments - if a thread has 12 comments already, I am unlikely to be able to add anything new other than repeating previous critiques.

I point blank refuse to critique anything which is a first draft, and it actually really annoys me if I have spent the time reviewing someone's work for them to go "it was a first draft anyway" - why should the reviewer take the time to go over it, if the author hasn't even bothered?

Other than that, if I have something to say about the piece, I say it. If not, I move on.

[colorthemap]

I usually pick a manageable piece(aka nothing too long)

[NikkiNoodle]

That makes sense ;0)

[A J Jaafari]

I realize I'm new here, and just learning how the site works. Still, I offer this from my limited experience: I reviewed something a week or so ago that didn't have obvious problems. It was one of those where it just didn't speak to me, and I had to sit and think for a while about why that was.

What it came down to was that I didn't know who the characters were, thus I didn't care about them. At first, all I felt was that I didn't care, but then I realized that with properly fleshed-out characters, my reaction might have been completely different. The author seemed to accept the feedback well. I would suggest that that's a very important angle to take in critiques: why wasn't it interesting enough for you to even feel like you wanted to write a critique?

A J

[Cogito]

The key thing to keep in mind is that critiquing is at least as much a learning experience for the critiquer as for the critiqued. In many cases, the writer of the piece will never even read the critique, which is why we encourage critiquing even very old pieces of writing. The Writing Workshop is the one area of the site where thread archaeology is actively encouraged.

Because it is primarily your learning experience, choose a piece of writing that is a challenge to critique. As A J just wrote about, a piece where you aren't really sure why it misses the mark for you in whole or in part, and when you don't immediately know why, is an excellent choice to critique.

At some point you will be looking at your own piece of writing, and trying to figure out why it lacks sparkle. It's easier to see ther problems in someone else's writing, but there will be those "Ah hah!" moments when you realize you have been doing exactly the same thing you are pointing out in someone else's writing.

[NikkiNoodle]

Good point, and certainly something to consider for future critiques!

[AMasonCarpenter]

Grammar and spelling Nazis aint invitered to my barbeecue. Unless of course the barbecue is being held to celebrate the release of my exciting new thriller that happens to be ABOUT spelling and grammar Nazis. People aren't computers though, syntax is nice, but we should not let a few errors crash our program. I, personally, am quite fond of sentences that wander off into the sunset like a cowboy on a horse at the end of a particularly sad western movie that you once watched with your cousins at grandmother's house while waiting for the rain to stop so you could go outside and play. I could have put another two hundred words in that one and still had room left over for a subject clause.

AMC

[Cogito]

Grammar and spelling are important, though. It is enough to warrant an immediate rejection at a submission editor's desk.

No one should be posting an excerpt for critique that isn't a clean copy, and if grammar and spelling are still the dominant attribute, it should be pointed out.

[AMasonCarpenter]

Would I be evil if I pointed out a grammatical error in that last post by Cogito?

[art]

No, not evil, but you would be displaying signs of maladjustment.:)
I choose stuff that I feel I can offer some meaningful help with. Preferably stuff that I like.

[JackElliott]

If it doesn't interest me by the first few paragraphs or I spot errors, cliches, etc., I move on.

[Heather]

If it doesn't interest me by the first few paragraphs or I spot errors, cliches, etc., I move on.Isn't the point of reviewing, that you spot the errors and cliches, and point them out to the author, so that they can decide if they would like to change it? :)

[JackElliott]

Isn't the point of reviewing, that you spot the errors and cliches, and point them out to the author, so that they can decide if they would like to change it? :)No, not really. I wouldn't invest the kind of time required to do a line edit, for example, unless I was being paid. As a reviewer, I expect the writer has polished his work to the best of his ability. Often that is not the case.

[Heather]

Well it depends what type of mistake you are on about. Is a cliche really a mistake? Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, and as a reviewer, if you think a particular thing doesn't work, I would personally think you would point it out during a review. Yes, if someone has spelling mistakes everywhere and say it's a first draft which they haven't look over, I think, why should I invest my time? But otherwise, even though the writer has worked and worked on it, there may still be mistakes which I'll point out if I find.

[Quezacotl]

If I have someone I want to say after I read it, I'll say it.
I have added incentive to do that when I want to post something though.

Ich bin ein stolzer Grammatik-nazi.

[A J Jaafari]

Ich bin ein stolzer Grammatik-nazi.

LOL! Wie schoen! Und ich auch!

I'm with most of the views I saw on this thread: grammar matters. Sometimes (happily not yet on this site) I've seen things that were so poorly written that I felt like I was beating the meaning out of it, and I just wanted to give up reading it altogether.

Worst example ever: an English class back when I was in college. We reviewed each others' rough drafts, and I was reading about how hip-hop music began in New York's five burros. That's only the most memorable error; after the first paragraph I was a little angry I had to work so hard to figure out what the author even meant. The prof was making us read and review it, though, so I had to trudge and slog and plod through the swamp of almost-english.

For balance, I expect the author didn't like my use of words he wasn't familiar with, and had just as hard a time as I did. :)

A J

[topeka sal]

Grammar and spelling Nazis aint invitered to my barbeecue.

Mason, I'm with you up to a point. I'm not a fan, especially in daily life. My bro and mother are both grammar freaks and I often find their over-concern tedious and beside the point. I'm also a fan, like you, of unconventional grammar when it works, which is something that is subjective, having more to do with the ear, I think, than any tangible rule. I guess what I object to is knee-jerk grammar correction.

On the other hand, I agree with other posters that in some cases it is an issue (especially if repeated or habitual) that needs critical attention. Fortunately, there are plenty of others who will perform grammar critiques so I usually don't. (Thanks, btw!) Instead, I focus on the larger issues (as I see them). If, that is, I have anything to say at all.

Mind, I've only written two (I think) reviews so far on this site (though many in my life). I'm slowly getting my feet wet here.

[MarmaladeQueen]

T In many cases, the writer of the piece will never even read the critique, which is why we encourage critiquing even very old pieces of writing.

That's really sad. If people take the time to critique your work, it seems the least you can do is read what they've said.

[BKlounger]

This may sound bad, I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but for me, the title is very important in selecting which story I am going to read. Obviously if the story doesn't capture my interest after a couple of paragraphs, I switch stories, but the initial selection is of creative and interesting titles.

[mammamaia]

how do i choose?

first of all, if it's fiction, it has to be violence-free, since i don't help with fiction that has any violent content...

then, it has to have at least semi-decent writing... if it's totally hopeless, i'll pass, as i hate to have to tell someone their newborn is seriously deformed and has no chance to live...

and that's about it...

[Cogito]

This may sound bad, I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but for me, the title is very important in selecting which story I am going to read. Obviously if the story doesn't capture my interest after a couple of paragraphs, I switch stories, but the initial selection is of creative and interesting titles.

You'll learn more if you take the time to analyze why the story doesn't work for you.

The stories aren't there for your entertainment. They are there so you can practice analyzing them and finding ways to improve them. Sure, you can learn something by analyzing why a particular story gr

[minstrel]

When I review, I often look for ambition on the part of the writer. I want to see someone striving to be something more than just another run-of-the-mill hack. I want to see a writer trying to use sentences and paragraphs effectively, with fresh imagery, interesting rhythm, unique style. I admire that kind of thing, but few young writers can really do it well. I know, because I was one once, and I wrote a lot of quasi-literary ambitious stuff that was laughably overdone. The whole first draft of my novel is giggleworthy because I was a kid trying to be James Joyce. I want, in some small way, to save another kid from wasting a lot of time doing that.

On the other hand, maybe ambitious kids need to write like that to get the garbage out of their systems. It sure took me quite some time - I must have had an epic case of literary constipation.

[arron89]

When I review, I often look for ambition on the part of the writer.

This. I mean, I know with enough teaching, theoretically anyone could write great fiction, but we're not writing teachers. We're critiquing pieces to give people direction so that they can improve themselves, so if there's nothing there, no spark or nothing that surprises me, it's hard to bring myself to critique it well, whereas if I can see some latent potential or rough talent, then I have no problem doing a very thorough line-by-line critique.

[AmsterdamAssassin]

I haven't reviewed on this forum, because I didn't like the responses I got on crits on another writing forum.


Grammar and spelling are important, though. It is enough to warrant an immediate rejection at a submission editor's desk.

No one should be posting an excerpt for critique that isn't a clean copy, and if grammar and spelling are still the dominant attribute, it should be pointed out.

I totally agree, but some writers become defensive, and even aggressive, in protesting why they didn't use proper grammar and spelling.


Isn't the point of reviewing, that you spot the errors and cliches, and point them out to the author, so that they can decide if they would like to change it? :)


No, not really. I wouldn't invest the kind of time required to do a line edit, for example, unless I was being paid. As a reviewer, I expect the writer has polished his work to the best of his ability. Often that is not the case.

I've chosen not to crit on forums anymore, but to exchange manuscripts with other bèta readers for crits.


When I review, I often look for ambition on the part of the writer. I want to see someone striving to be something more than just another run-of-the-mill hack. I want to see a writer trying to use sentences and paragraphs effectively, with fresh imagery, interesting rhythm, unique style. I admire that kind of thing, but few young writers can really do it well. I know, because I was one once, and I wrote a lot of quasi-literary ambitious stuff that was laughably overdone. The whole first draft of my novel is giggleworthy because I was a kid trying to be James Joyce. I want, in some small way, to save another kid from wasting a lot of time doing that.

On the other hand, maybe ambitious kids need to write like that to get the garbage out of their systems. It sure took me quite some time - I must have had an epic case of literary constipation.

If someone is only looking for validation, I tend to skip the piece. If someone says 'please be gentle', I wonder if they ever submitted their work to a professional, like an agent or editor. The publishing world can be incredibly harsh, so if you're unable to distance yourself from your work and view it objectively, you're in for a world of hurt...

[yagr]

Like mammamaia, I avoid anything with violence. Frankly, I skip alot because I simply don't understand it. That may be the fault of the writer or of me as a reader. I'm new to creative writing and many techniques are foreign to me; I wonder if, like art, one needs to develop an appreciation for some of the forms or if it is simply garbage. I honestly don't know and feel unqualified to review or critique such pieces and so I skip over them. Too, though I make both grammatical and spelling errors, I try very hard to avoid them and if I dont feel that the author has put clsoe to the same amount of effort into their piece, I simply assume that they aren't trying and skip those as well.

I was disappointed to read that so many authors skip over those pieces which are rough first drafts (Incidentally, good case here of a grammatical unknown for me. is there a comma between 'rough' and 'first'? I left it out because 'first draft' seems to be more of a phrase of which 'rough' is the sole adjective, though 'rough' and 'first' are, if I were diagramming the sentence, both adjectives. Point is, I did think about it, I just don't know.) Anyway, having never written a YA piece before, or for that matter, a creative writing piece - I am planning on forcing myself to submit something, knowing it will be horribly rough but doing so because if I wait till I know - or even think I know, what I'm doing...it will never get written. It's only by forcing myself to submit something I trust will be poorly done and subjecting myself to the critiques that I'm sure will be harsh, that I'll actually have a direction in which I can improve it. Judging from some of the comments here, I'm afraid many of the best writers will simply skip over it and I'll be left with critiques that may actually, well meaning as they may be, send me in the wrong direction.

Back to the issue at hand; I critique those pieces that:
1. I understand.
2. I feel I have something to offer.
3. Written by someone who I've seen give thoughtful responses to others, even if I have yet to be the direct recipient of those responses.

[Cacian]

I like short and fun literature to read.
Whatever mood I mean and if I understand the story and see it has something I can add then I will comment.