FEEDBACK GROUP GUIDELINES
"Let us encourage one another..."
PURPOSE: The purpose of our feedback (critique) group is to help fellow writers improve their work and learn from reading and commenting upon other authors’ manuscripts.
General Guidelines
1. Members meet 5:30-6:30 prior to the Guild meeting in our meeting room.
2. Bring 6 copies of 200-300 words (1 page single spaced or 2 pages double spaced) on the Writers Challenge topic (in the guild newsletter) or a topic of your choice. Be prepared to read your piece. (If you do not bring a piece to read, you are welcome to sit in and listen, but you will not be able to comment.)
3. Time will be divided amongst participating members.
4. Try not to repeat what others have said.
5. Suggest a market if possible.
6. Have fun!
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When offering feedback:
Be truthful
Be kind
Be constructive (and specific)
Be encouraging
Be specific
Be sensitive
("Do unto others...")
When receiving feedback:
Be prepared and don’t take it personally-it’s about the writing, not the writer!
Be thankful
Be accepting
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Where Do I Begin?
Here are some great questions to ask of any piece of writing. First, AS THE WRITER preparing a work for critique (The better you can answer these questions, the better your piece will be!), and second, AS THE PERSON BEING ASKED FOR FEEDBACK.
Questions for a nonfiction work:
Is the purpose of this piece clear?
Does it have a theme?
Is the author’s main point clear and understandable?
Is it well structured?
Does anything need to be developed further?
Is there an introduction/conclusion?
Are there transitions between points?
Is there good use of description, anecdotes and dialogue?
Do I feel the emotion?
Is the writer passionate about this?
Is there vivid detail?
Is the argument being made a valid one?
Is there relevant interesting information?
Is there sufficient evidence?
Is the evidence accurate and fair?
Is there important information omitted?
Is this piece convincing?
Was this piece enjoyable?
Questions for fiction
Does this story move too fast, too slow or just right?
Is the plot realistic?
Are there unconvincing coincidences?
Does the ending make sense?
Is it satisfying?
Were the seeds of the ending sown at the beginning?
Is there a hook? Does the beginning catch the readers’ attention?
Is there a balance between action, dialogue and narrative?
Are the motives of characters realistic and believable?
Does the dialogue and action fit the characters?
Are you able to relate to a character?
Is there a consistent point of view?
Are there sentence fragments, misplaced modifiers or other grammatical errors?
Do the sentences vary in length?
Is there excessive use of the passive voice?
Does the dialogue seem realistic?
Does the dialogue advance the story and show character?
Is there overuse of dialogue tags?
Does this story develop logically?
Does this piece show originality?
Can you see and experience the writer’s creativity?
Are there any problem areas in sentence structure or verb agreement?
Thanks to SHEILA WILKINSON for these great guidelines!