How to Face A Critique

Does the word critique fill you with dread? It shouldn’t.

I have learned most of what I know about writing by receiving critiques. It started in school, when teachers graded my first early efforts. It continues today every time I seek the input and feedback of others.

All artists need feedback in order to improve their craft. Consider a piano student. Each week she goes to her instructor and receive a lesson, which consists primarily of a critique on whatever skill she is trying to master. The same goes for an athlete and her coach.

Critiques should be welcomed as a writer’s best tool for improvement. Here are some suggestions for making the most of critique sessions.

Tips for facing a critique

• Attitude is key. Start with a teachable spirit. If you are not open to feedback and willing to learn then there is no point in asking for a critique.
• Remember a critique is not an attack on you or your worth. It may feel painful, but a good critique will always help you grow rather than tear you down.
• Think of the person giving the critique as a teammate or coach, not an adversary.
• Remember, a critique is not a contest. There are no winners or losers. You are not at war and you don’t need to defend yourself.
• Listen to everything politely and without interrupting. Listening silently does not mean you are being passive, or that you agree with what is said.
• Expect to learn something. Approach every critique session with the attitude: What can I learn from this discussion?
• Even if you disagree with a critiquer’s opinions, you can still learn something. For example, you might learn that some readers will not understand a paragraph the way you meant it to be understood. That is valuable feedback.
• A good critique will cite specific examples of what is being criticized. If examples are not cited, ask for some. Example: “You say my writing is choppy. Can you show me what you mean by that?”
• When it’s practical, ask the critiquer for suggestions on how to improve. You can learn much from someone who points out a writing weakness and then shows you how to make it better.
• There are two main kind of information you gain from a critique. A) How well am I mastering my craft? and B) How well am I communicating what I am trying to say? You need feedback in both areas.
• You do not need to follow all advice you receive in a critique session. Use your best judgment. (If you receive similar feedback from several sources, you should take a good hard look at the issue. If you don’t agree, begin to ask why they think what they do and see if you can get to the root of the problem.)
• When you consider how much weight to put behind a critique, consider the critiquer’s experience, skill, and familiarity with the genre and today’s publishing realities.

Unfortunately, we have all experienced critiques that did more damage than good. It happens. Here are some suggestions to avoid non-constructive critiques and mitigate the problems they create.

Tips for protecting yourself against malicious or unhelpful critiques.

• Be suspect of any critique that is 100% praise.
• Do not expect expert advice from beginning writers.
• Do not expect good writing advice from those who don’t write and rarely read.
• Realize that someone who does not enjoy your genre will probably not enjoy your manuscript. This does not mean their critique is unhelpful, but you might need to guide them to look past the genre to specific things. For example, ask them: “Can you picture my setting?” or “Can you follow my main character’s logic?” 
• Don’t expect a helpful critique from someone with an axe to grind against you or the topic of your manuscript.
•  Learn who not to ask! When someone rips your writing to shreds, choose not to open yourself up to that pain by asking them again. Like anything in life, we need to keep wise boundaries.

Critiques are important and powerful tools for improving our craft and honing our manuscripts. May you face them with confidence and utilize them wisely.

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.