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Position:Home>Books & Authors> When you critique stories--are you harsh or sympathetic?Question: When you critique stories--are you harsh or sympathetic!? I'm a bit harsh!. I don't have a problem with telling someone if their story is bad, boring or cliched!. It's the truth most of the times!. And if the story is interesting I don't have a hard time admitting it either!.
What about you!?Www@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Harsh!. I can be brutal!. But if it doesn't work, it doesn't work!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I think I’m a bit harsh!. If a story isn’t what it should be I try to be as honest as I can, while also trying to be gentle!. As an aspiring writer, I understand the difference between constructive criticism and badgering!. If someone asks for your opinion it is to be assumed that they want your honesty!. However, I also find it beneficial to mention the high points of the story so that the person doesn’t get their feeling completely crushed!. It can't all be bad!. Basically, I’m trying to say that even though I am harsh, I don’t think it is my place to tell somebody that they suck at writing or should "keep their day job" as a few people on here feel it necessary to say!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I'm both!. If I can tell the person is really eager to be a writer, I'm harsh and sympathetic!. I don't just tell someone their story sucks!. I tell them why it sucks--only if they want to improve!. If they come on here looking for pats on the back, then I'm harsh!. I don't say anything nice about the story and I don't offer encouragement!. And I've seen tons of people on here like that!. Once you understand rhetoric of words, you can pretty much tell what people are looking for pats on the back and what people actually care about what they're doing!. I feel that we, as writers, should not have to mince our words!. Even if it means getting reported, at least we threw the writer a bone of truth!. I hate it when I go onto a question and someone posts an excerpt of their story and it's horribly written!. You have tons of people go on there and compliment the story!. It's no opinion of mine that it's horribly written!. Often times, the excerpt follow no structure and breaks so many rules of writing!. I also hate it when people post a rough draft of something!. You DO NOT post something you write five minutes ago!. It's a waste of good criticism and shows you're amateurish and not that serious!. You may be an amateur, but you do not want IGNORANCE stamped on your forehead!. Aki F!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I tell the truth!. If it's not good, I'll tell them, but not quite so harshly!. I make sure that my point gets across, but I try to do it without hurting their feelings!. I also point out some of the good things, too, so that they know what they did right and wrong and hopefully improve upon that!. =)Www@QuestionHome@Com yeah, i agree with you- harsh!. a writer doesn't need to hear 'ohmigawd your story is, like, a-mazing!'!. they need critique!. then again, insulting or belittling isn't acceptable either, and the criticism should be valid!.Www@QuestionHome@Com harsh!. it's constructive criticism after all!. and if you are all soft on them they will never learn or improve! but i also make sure to tell the truth!. i do say if something is good!!! :)Www@QuestionHome@Com |