Want a Critique?
I know how hard it is to find someone to give your story a good critique. In the interim while my writing contests are being revamped, possibly afterwards as well, I'm putting the offer out there for doing critiques for people. You can send me your work, and I'll share my thoughts. I don't plan on charging for this service. They're thoughts, and thoughts are free. I figure I'll hit the same areas for my critiques as what I did for the writing contest. The exact critique can be done loosely from the following or in a list of sorts if you like. It's up to you, and yes, there will be explanations and examples given for each. The "why" is always the most important detail to any critique. I don't promise to be nice, but fair. I'll point out strengths and mention areas that need improvement equally. There's bound to be both.
The starting critique criteria (copied from the contest page) follows.
- Dialogue: Is the dialogue engaging and realistic? Does the character’s personality come through as individual through what he/she says?
- Setting: Is there a balance of detail – just enough and not too much? Can the reader feel they’re in the room with the protagonist?
- Senses: Does the story description involve the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and feel?
- Transitions: Are the sentences and paragraphs transitioned well? Is there a fluid, seamless plot, or are different ideas more awkwardly presented? Are plot changes as fluidly transitioned?
- Plot Elements: Does the story involve some nice elements to make this story memorable in the way of time, plot twists, defining moments, et cetera?
- Character Development: Do the characters have an arc? Do they learn something, become different, or grow as a person as the story develops?
- Emotional Quotient: Does the reader learn to care about the protagonist and support characters? Does the reader learn to dislike the villain if there is such a character present?
- Suspense/Anticipation: Is there a build up in suspense or anticipation leading towards a satisfying climax/anticlimax?
- Completion: In general in regards to beginning, middle, and end of the story’s plot, does the story feel satisfying and whole, or are there subplots left open? Is there unfinished business that needs to be addressed?
- Pacing: Does the story feel rushed, or does it flow along at an appropriate speed (fast paced for an action adventure or slower for a drama)?
- Grammar: Is the grammar well enough done to present this story as a professional piece? Some personal style is allotted; for example, incomplete sentences are done as an intentional style at times, but grammar needs to be followed past exact designed styles.
- Punctuation: Is the punctuation well done? Some personal style is allotted; for example, dashes are used differently by different authors, but punctuation needs to be followed past exact designed styles.
- Spelling: Is spelling respectable? Some intentional misspelling is allotted for more modern text; for example, urban dictionary spellings are acceptable in some cases, and slang can be used in dialogue where it fits, but otherwise and most of the time, general spelling needs to be given its proper due.
- Sentence and Paragraph Structure: Is the sentence structure clear and easily understood or repetitive and run-on? Are paragraphs well balanced or too long and badly organized concept-wise?
If you've special attention you want me to give to different story elements, let me know. Also, if you just want a general thought, nothing too finite, then I can just share a paragraph of what I feel you need to work on and what you're doing well. The above criteria doesn't need to be applied.
I do work mainly in a Word program on a PC, so files you send to me should be in Word or RTF format. Files particular to a MAC won't work well. I have Wordperfect, but I haven't used it in a while. I can also open epubs of course, but I don't have a Kindle or other specialized eReader, just my PC and a PC tablet. I will buy an iPad one day, but I'm not there yet. You can use my contact email below to send me thoughts or concerns, also used to send me the story you'd like critiqued. I look forward to hearing from you!
I do work mainly in a Word program on a PC, so files you send to me should be in Word or RTF format. Files particular to a MAC won't work well. I have Wordperfect, but I haven't used it in a while. I can also open epubs of course, but I don't have a Kindle or other specialized eReader, just my PC and a PC tablet. I will buy an iPad one day, but I'm not there yet. You can use my contact email below to send me thoughts or concerns, also used to send me the story you'd like critiqued. I look forward to hearing from you!