Giving And Receiving A Good Critique

Giving And Receiving A Good Critique

While trying to organize my thoughts on how to present this topic , I ran across a pretty good set of steps for giving a good critique.

Click this link to review: Seven Steps to a Good Critique by: Trish Anderson

While giving critiques can prove to be an “emotional experience” given the personal nature of poetry, try to remember that being honest in a critique is the best way for any writer or reviewer to improve.

If an author did not intend for a poem to be read and understood, he/she would not be presenting it on a public poetry site. It would be kept hidden in a file on their pc or tucked away in a personal notebook under their pillow.

Poets post their work to be read, and poets write for - poets.

I personally have some absolutely stunning writes, and by the same token on a grander scale, I have some really terrible writes too.

I have read poems by Longfellow that I have simply swooned over, and others that left me less than satisfied.

I have struggled through understanding Chaucer and Shakespeare; loved and hated both for different reasons just as I have read some remarkable writes on NeoPoet and some not so great writes too by the same authors.

I guess what I am saying is that we don’t always hit the mark. There are days when we just are not at our best, or we didn’t touch our audience. Perhaps we are trying too hard to hit a prompt, or count the meter, or get the syllable count right. When it is forced, whether it be rhyme or free verse, a reader can tell and the write just isn’t up to par. These are the times when a good critique should be welcomed and worked with.

A poem isn’t always “amazing” just because the poet usually writes well. I am always appreciative of suggestions for improvement. Sometimes I agree and sometimes I do not, but either way I find it a compliment that a reader took the time to read my work and offer an opinion. If nothing else, it gives me a clear indication of how my work has been received.

This is why constructive feedback is so critical. However, your presentation of that feedback is crucial. Always keep in mind that the poem is made of words, not of the person. Take the personal side out of the critique and always offer a suggestion or suggestions for improvement.

The worst thing a reader can do is give a gushing review of a so-so poem. That helps no one. Sometimes, it is better not to offer a critique at all if you can find nothing redeeming in the write. This can happen as there will be times when you read a poem and it simply hits you the wrong way. No matter how you read it, you can’t make sense of it or it hits your negative emotional side.

If you are unable to critique on the structure and mechanics of the poem you may find it best not to offer a comment or critique at all. It will be rare that someone comes back and asks why you didn’t comment on a poem of theirs that you read.

If you are willing to give a critique, you too should also be willing to accept a critique. Try not to take the suggestions personally when you read what may be deemed as “negative” feedback. Don’t automatically pull your poem from the site because of one critique or comment. If you plan to get published, you will receive a lot of rejections before you get that one taker. It’s the nature of the business.

Read the critique you just received and see if the suggestions for improvement will work in your poem. If they do, and they seem to make the write better, then use them. It is no more than any good editor would do. Try to remember that the poem is still your poem. You did the work, you had the thought, the idea and the presentation. If someone else offers a suggestion to make YOUR WORK read a little smoother, consider it. It is quite a compliment.

But, also remember that just because you receive a critique with suggestions for change, it doesn’t mean you need to make changes. Never re-write your poem to please another. If you said what you meant to say, then stick to your guns. If the suggested changes work, by all means, but if the suggestions change your initial intent, then you may not want to make the changes.

However, you may want to think about how your message is coming across. Ask yourself why the reader came to the conclusion he/she did? There must be a reason, and perhaps your message was not clear.

Most of all, you should enjoy writing as a creative outlet, and keep in mind that different people will like different things. Remember, it truly IS all about the poetry - and ONLY about the poetry. ~Pamela