tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post7207149789827264355..comments2024-03-28T11:16:30.313+02:00Comments on Thoughts from Botswana by Lauri Kubuitsile: Careful CritiquingLaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-36099971188870375222009-08-11T09:44:54.711+02:002009-08-11T09:44:54.711+02:00Excellent points. I always look for the elements I...Excellent points. I always look for the elements I like first and start a critique from what really works for me and then I give my impressions and only suggestions for improvement, nothing stronger. But I also like to say why something works or doesn't work for me, which I think can be quite helpful.daoinehttp://www.hearwritenow.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-46167406595868199442009-08-11T08:00:17.869+02:002009-08-11T08:00:17.869+02:00Great advice Lauri, as always. I recently read a p...Great advice Lauri, as always. I recently read a piece in a workshop that I thought was appalling and when asked what I thought about it, I held back. Diplomacy & tact are the key I guess, as well as honesty.Maxinehttp://slamup.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-70993347130053397962009-08-10T22:31:03.847+02:002009-08-10T22:31:03.847+02:00I definitely agree with the end on a positive note...I definitely agree with the end on a positive note advice. I try to start and end with something positive. It is tricky critiquing a partner or friend. It's a bit less tricky for me as a freelance editor. I can be a bit more direct since the author is paying me to do just that. But even then, I also note positive things.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-9957565077179741282009-08-10T21:45:55.574+02:002009-08-10T21:45:55.574+02:00I don't think I would want to critique a good ...I don't think I would want to critique a good friend's work. You just don't know how they'll take criticism, and that could ruin a friendship. Luckily for me, the writers that I'm friends with don't write fiction so they don't ask, they're professionals. But, I have exchanged work in writer's groups and so forth, still... I try to be gentle. What's hard is when you've been handed absolute dreck and can't think of a GOOD thing to say, so you feel obligated to at least find something positive to say. Who wants to shoot down another person's hopes and dreams? Not me.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-66548965733562524302009-08-10T17:46:25.177+02:002009-08-10T17:46:25.177+02:00Jude- I know critiquing is always a give take thin...Jude- I know critiquing is always a give take thing. You must critique others if you want them to help you out but somwetimes it backfires. <br /><br />Selma- Of anyone I know- you're indeed a softy. Whenever you've commented on my writing I've felt I was just about in line to win a Nobel Prize. I think, Selma my dear, you are better for the first one, the calming of bruised egos.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-60546243536532141492009-08-10T12:25:11.090+02:002009-08-10T12:25:11.090+02:00I agree with the softly softly approach. A lot of ...I agree with the softly softly approach. A lot of effort has gone into most manuscripts. I suggest rather than tell. And I always accentuate the positive!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-77138170132829551752009-08-10T11:55:52.059+02:002009-08-10T11:55:52.059+02:00Lovely, Lauri! I could have written these words my...Lovely, Lauri! I could have written these words myself. And what you say is so true. Critiquing a fellow writer's work can be very tricky!Jude Dibiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11858743689152487491noreply@blogger.com