| Critique Guidelines
Poetry Critique Guidelines
In your view, what is the main idea or meaning the poem is trying to get across?Are there any strong images (use the five senses)? Are there areas where images could be stronger? Are there any sounds in the poem that suggest meaning, like "s" sounds showing wind, or harsh sounds like "k" that show anger or other emotions? Sounds should match meaning Does the poem use rhyme? If not, should it, or if it does, is it distracting? If it rhymes only occasionally, do you see a reason why? Does the poem have a pattern in its lines? Is the number of lines in each stanza the same, or different? Why did the writer do this? Is there anything distracting about the ways lines are arranged on the page? How are the lines spaced? Are they centered? Are they arranged along the margin? Does this make a difference to the poem? What about the spaces between words? Is there a reason for the spacing used? Overall, what did you like and not like about the poem?
Keep in mind that poets don't write for other poets, they write for readers. Even if you aren't experienced with poetry, you know what you like and don't like, what speaks to you and what doesn't.
top
Fiction Critique Guidelines
What is the story trying to get across to you as a reader? Do you get a good view of who the characters are and what their personalities are like? Are there any characters that you have too much information on because they should be more minor characters, or characters that you'd like to have a better view of? Does the plot flow logically? The story may have flashbacks, looking back at the past, but are these used at logical times? Are they helpful to you? Does the story's ending make sense? Does it get going right away or does it seem to drag?Does the story use dialog appropriately? Can you hear the characters talking, or is the dialog fake or forced sounding? Are there places where characters could be speaking? Is the dialog easy to read? Where is it not? Is the setting/place of the story described well, or is it unimportant? If it is important, are there enough details? Are there so many they are distracting? Overall, what did you like and not like about the story?
Keep in mind that there are different types of fiction with different audiences, like sci-fi, historical, romance, etc. Even if a writer's genre isn't your own, what would make you want to read the story? Writers are always looking for new readers.
top
Nonfiction Critique Guidelines
What is the main idea the writer is trying to get across? Is the writer trying to be humorous, serious, straightforward, etc? Does this emotion/tone work for the piece? Who does the piece seem to be written for? Who is the audience? Does the writer give enough details and examples to illustrate what he/she is trying to get across? Where are there good details? Where could more be given? Are there any places where the details slowed your reading or bogged you down? Does the piece follow a logical order? Are there any places where you got lost? Are there details that should be given earlier or later in the piece? What type of piece does the writing seem to be - an article, an essay, a column, a book or book chapter? Overall, what did you like or not like about the piece?
Keep in mind that nonfiction writers write for a variety of publications including magazines for articles, online columns, newspaper editorials, etc. Try to put yourself into the mind of the audience to make the best critiques.
top |
|
Meeting dates:
2008
Contact:
For more information about The Writing Place contact Linda Mulford, Programming Specialist at the library, 847-506-2628, or Moderator Susan B. Auld, 847-398-9686.
|
