Writer’s Critiquing
For several weeks I have been critiquing other writer’s
manuscripts. I have broken my critiquing style into a neat and easy process and
I am here to share with you my dummy proof process.
1.
Formatting Issues- First and foremost, by using
the track changes/balloon revision software in Microsoft word…I highlight the
whole manuscript and put it in Times New Roman, Size 12 font. Anything other font
is unacceptable and distracting.
2.
In the first few paragraphs, if I feel no
connection with the M.C. or there is literally, no conflict…then I leave a
comment out to the side asking the writer WTF were they thinking but in a more
tactful sense.
3.
That is when I intertwine any grammar, tense,
and spelling issues into the manuscript. And anything that I find that is confusing or
inaccurate.
4.
WORDINESS- If you are trying to tell me
something, but the way you explain it is confusing and it pretty much sounds
repetitive, then I am going to shoot you down.
He
was crazy and I’d had enough. Angry and now very tired, I tried to break free,
but he clinched his hands tightly around me. He was playing games and I didn’t
find it funny at all.
The
writer just said the same thing in three different sentences. We understand
that he or she is aggravated with this guy…so say it using less words…less is
more.
He was crazy and I was tired of playing his
games, but he clinched his hands tightly around me.
5.
Dialogue Tags- I get so aggravated when I see unnecessary
dialogue tags…I use to do the same thing but quickly realized that this is the Achilles
heel of all writer’s. When is it proper to use dialogue tags? How often should
you use them? I.E.
“I’m mad at you,” Jodi said.
“It’s your fault,” Kyle said.
“No, it isn’t,” Jodi replied.
“Yes, it is,” Kyle responded.
This is so annoying. When two people
are responding back in forth in a dialogue, you only need to establish the
person speaking, once.
“I’m mad at you,” Jodi said.
“It’s your fault,” Kyle said.
“No, it isn’t.”
“Yes, it is.”
Now, if there are
three or more, that can be confusing. But it’s important to identify the speakers
and make sure that the dialogue flows and that you begin each person’s dialogue
with a new paragraph.
6.
Not using enough description or using too much-
using too much description can take away from your story, remember less is more
unless you are describing something specifically for a reason via it has an
importance later. Not using enough, I once started reading a fantasy manuscript
and I couldn’t wrap my head around this fantasy location. If I am reading a
fantasy YA manuscript, I need someone to describe it to me, I should be able to
smell, hear, taste, and feel where I am reading about.
7.
Flow- How does your manuscript flow? Too fast?
Too slow? Just right? After attending a writer’s conference, I learned that in
the first two pages of your manuscript you need to have conflict, the first
five pages another conflict, the first ten pages another conflict. Conflict is
what moves your story at a steady pace. If your story is lacking conflict, then
it will drag along for the reader. If it doesn’t then it should be exciting and
awesome.
8.
At the end, of this critique—If I don’t feel
connected to your plot, or if it is too heavy on dialogue, lacking dialogue,
lacking description or I don’t hear the
voice of your M.C. in my head, then you have an issue and I will clearly tell
you what is wrong and the reason for my disconnection.
I’m sure I am missing something,
but it seems like I got everything covered. I hope you all enjoy!
