Jaye Lawrence (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} wordswoman) wrote,@ 2008-01-20 07:57:00 |
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| Entry tags: | critiques, writing |
The Well-Tempered Critique
It's writers' workshop day and I'm trying something new. Instead of approaching each story critique differently, I've put together a fiction critique worksheet to help me shape more consistent feedback on the key story elements.
This is only a rough draft, so I'd love feedback from my LJ writer friends.
Here's what it contains so far:
Author:
Critiquer:
Title:
Length: Short (<7,500 words) Novelette (7,500-<17,500) Novella (17,500-<40,000) Novel
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy Horror Other:
Any personal biases that might affect your critique of this piece? (i.e., "I'm not a fan of Lovecraftian horror" or "I don't usually like 2nd person narration.")
How would you summarize this piece?
Opening: Does it capture your interest fast enough? If you didn't know the author and started reading this in a bookstore/library, would you be inclined to keep reading or close the cover? Does the story seem to start at the right place?
Plot: Is the plotline clear? Believable? Does it feel original or too familiar? Does it give the protagonist problems to solve or just situations to react to? Are there plot surprises or do you always know what's coming next? Does it move forward at a good pace? Is the plot resolved in a satisfying way?
Character: Are characters clearly drawn and 3-dimensional, or generic/stereotypical? Do you feel you know/like the protagonist, or at least want to spend more time in his/her company? Are his/her motives clear? What about supporting characters and antagonist(s)?
Point of View (omniscient, first-person narrator, second-person, third-person, etc.): Does the POV feel right? Consistent? Is the right character the POV character or would you rather see the story through other eyes? If more than one POV, is there too much head-hopping? Does the POV ever "slip," i.e. does the story reveal things the POV character couldn't know?
Setting: Is the setting well drawn or did the piece seem to take place in a featureless white room? Is it always clear where the action was taking place? Does the setting add to the story?
Dialog: Is it believable? If you read it aloud, does it sound natural? Do characters tell each other things they already knew? Do the characters speak in a way consistent with their age, intelligence, education, temperament, etc? Are dialog attributions/tags handled well?
Conflict: Not to be confused with action! Does the story create an essential problem or struggle that the protagonist must face? Are there enough conflicts between characters, and within the protagonist him/herself? Does the protagonist resolve the conflict through his/her own actions or decisions? Is there a price for resolving the conflict or does it come too easily?
Conclusion: Is the ending satisfying? Believable? Does the story "pay off" in the end? Does the ending evolve naturally from what came before? Any unlikely coincidences or deus ex machina?
Strengths: What did you like best about this piece? What did the author do especially well? What felt original and creative? What stands out?
Weaknesses/areas of improvement: What specific and constructive advice would you offer this author for improving the piece? What was the biggest obstacle for you in enjoying or believing in the story, and how might that obstacle be resolved?
Craft/Technique: What was your impression of the writing style? Did you notice any persistent errors in grammar, usage, or spelling that jolted you out of the story? Did sentences/paragraphs flow well? Did the style and "voice" seem a good match for the material?
Author:
Critiquer:
Title:
Length: Short (<7,500 words) Novelette (7,500-<17,500) Novella (17,500-<40,000) Novel
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy Horror Other:
Any personal biases that might affect your critique of this piece? (i.e., "I'm not a fan of Lovecraftian horror" or "I don't usually like 2nd person narration.")
How would you summarize this piece?
Opening: Does it capture your interest fast enough? If you didn't know the author and started reading this in a bookstore/library, would you be inclined to keep reading or close the cover? Does the story seem to start at the right place?
Plot: Is the plotline clear? Believable? Does it feel original or too familiar? Does it give the protagonist problems to solve or just situations to react to? Are there plot surprises or do you always know what's coming next? Does it move forward at a good pace? Is the plot resolved in a satisfying way?
Character: Are characters clearly drawn and 3-dimensional, or generic/stereotypical? Do you feel you know/like the protagonist, or at least want to spend more time in his/her company? Are his/her motives clear? What about supporting characters and antagonist(s)?
Point of View (omniscient, first-person narrator, second-person, third-person, etc.): Does the POV feel right? Consistent? Is the right character the POV character or would you rather see the story through other eyes? If more than one POV, is there too much head-hopping? Does the POV ever "slip," i.e. does the story reveal things the POV character couldn't know?
Setting: Is the setting well drawn or did the piece seem to take place in a featureless white room? Is it always clear where the action was taking place? Does the setting add to the story?
Dialog: Is it believable? If you read it aloud, does it sound natural? Do characters tell each other things they already knew? Do the characters speak in a way consistent with their age, intelligence, education, temperament, etc? Are dialog attributions/tags handled well?
Conflict: Not to be confused with action! Does the story create an essential problem or struggle that the protagonist must face? Are there enough conflicts between characters, and within the protagonist him/herself? Does the protagonist resolve the conflict through his/her own actions or decisions? Is there a price for resolving the conflict or does it come too easily?
Conclusion: Is the ending satisfying? Believable? Does the story "pay off" in the end? Does the ending evolve naturally from what came before? Any unlikely coincidences or deus ex machina?
Strengths: What did you like best about this piece? What did the author do especially well? What felt original and creative? What stands out?
Weaknesses/areas of improvement: What specific and constructive advice would you offer this author for improving the piece? What was the biggest obstacle for you in enjoying or believing in the story, and how might that obstacle be resolved?
Craft/Technique: What was your impression of the writing style? Did you notice any persistent errors in grammar, usage, or spelling that jolted you out of the story? Did sentences/paragraphs flow well? Did the style and "voice" seem a good match for the material?
