‘Honest criticism and sensitive appreciation is directed not upon the poet but upon the poetry.’

(TS Eliot, 1919)

Writing can be a lonely task; we can all recognise having looked at a piece for so long that we can’t see even simple errors and have even less idea about how our work might be received by the reader. A writers’ discussion group allows us to discuss what effect a fellow writer’s work has on its readers. Giving and receiving criticism allows us to work towards the common goal of reaching our full potential as writers.

We should not feel reluctant to criticise a fellow writer’s work, for we are improving our own stock of wisdom if we can make a positive suggestion as to how a piece could be improved; and when someone identifies a weakness in our own writing, we should be able to learn from the advice. By sharing honest criticism in a group, we can all learn from each other’s failures and successes.

It is relatively easy to offer encouragement and praise, but insincere platitudes contribute nothing. It would be unhelpful not to mention if we can’t understand what the writer is trying to say, if we perceive a mistake or omission, or if we think what has been written could be improved in some other way. A few basic principles go towards making the critiquing process productive:

• Never forget that the critique is directed at the writing, not the writer.
• A piece of writing works if it makes the reader respond in the way the writer intended. If the reader is unsure how to respond, or feels compelled to respond in a negative way, then the writing could be improved. The objective is to find out why, and how it could be improved.
• We should start by saying what we like. It helps if we can say why it works. And we should always try to end on a positive note.
• All comments should be made from the point of view of the reader. Rather than say ‘you have not made yourself clear’, say ‘I did not understand the point being made’.
• We should be honest about the way a piece of writing affects us – we shouldn’t say we like something if we don’t. If we like it, we should try to explain why.
• We should not say we don’t like something unless we can also say why. If we can identify why a piece is not working, then the critics and the writer will all learn from it.
• Critiquing does not include censorship – but we should not shy away from examining the artistic merit of material that may be considered of questionable taste. Although every writer should be free to use subject matter and language of their own choosing, it is valid to consider the effects this may have on the reader. It can be difficult to ‘strike the right balance’ between realism and bad taste.
• On receiving feedback, we should try to see any criticism from the reader’s point of view. If a critic (ie reader) has missed the point of what we have written, or they can’t perceive one of our ‘darlings’ as being so lovable, it is probable that what we have written could be made clearer or more appealing. What we perceive as a brilliant turn of phrase may not have the effect we were hoping for. Even an excellent piece of writing has potential for improvement. It is counter-productive to argue with opinions offered as to how our work is perceived by the reader, but we can all learn from examining why such a response has occurred. Although we may query the validity of a criticism, we should always remember that comments made are based on the critic’s honest interpretation of – or failure to understand – what has been written.
• It is counter-productive to argue with opinions offered as to how our work is perceived by the reader, but we can all learn from examining why such a response has occurred. Although we may query the validity of a criticism, we should always remember that comments made are based on the critic’s honest interpretation of – or failure to understand – what has been written.
• We are under no obligation to agree with our critics or to act on their recommendations – but we should always be grateful and thank them for their efforts and advice. Even if we choose to disregard the advice given, we will have gained confidence through knowing that what we have written is what we intended.

Peter White