Congrats to all of you fiction writers getting published out there. For those of you running into walls, here’s help. In this series, pick up one-minute pointers from the Fiction Acquisitions Editor of a NC Indy press. Take what you need and leave the rest.

A word on critique

If you agree to critique another writer’s work, first ask what they want to receive from you—general comments or ones regarding the elements of skillful writing, such as character development, setting, point of view, dialogue, plot? Et cetera.

Agree to be quiet while the writer is reading their work aloud.

Read or listen to writer’s work with their request in mind.

This means don’t stray off to such easy distractions as how lousy their punctuation is. The rules for that are constantly changing anyway! Leave that to the editors.

When the reading is done, or when you’ve finished reading silently to yourself, offer a critique that embraces respect for others. Upon no condition is it good manners to rewrite another writer’s words. Steer clear of that faux paus. First, tell how their work is skillfully done by using the elements of good writing, such as character development, setting, point of view, dialogue, and plot. Next, report to them a few opportunities they could take to better use these elements and share your reason why.

When your critique is finished, remain quiet while the writer takes time to respond. Remember these should always be considered opinions—and everybody has one, right!

See you next time.

Happy trails!

Eddy