Constructive Reviewing

 

If you want to boost your own writing skills and help other writers at the same time--become a constructive reviewer.  Just as a writer is advised to read often, so must the reviewer.  Pay attention to line structure and dialogue while you're reading those good books.  You'll discover that there is more to good writing than what high school English textbooks taught you.

  Know the Rules and Know When They Can be Broken.

Before suggesting a writer cut or change a line just because it is a fragment, read the content surrounding it and see if it works. Incomplete sentences are not taboo in fiction if used in moderation.  Telling a writer to never do something (in fiction) is bad advice.  Sometimes passive writing is useful to a story. It slows down the pace after an especially intense scene, for instance.  Internal thought is present tense while exposition might be past tense.  Both of these can co-exist within the same paragraph.

Good writers know the rules and they know when breaking them improves the story.  Read and comprehend the purpose of a passive phrase before advising a change.  If the only reason you're suggesting a change is because it's a Rule, reconsider and read the passage again.

Too much polish:  Too much formality and accuracy with grammar and sentence structure creates stiffness in fiction narration and dialog.  You should write fiction the way you think, within common sense reason of course.  Have people speak as they customarily do, just leave out the uhs and ahs.  The boring filler stuff.  Use contractions.  Don’t be afraid of sentence fragments.  Don't fear ending a sentence with a preposition in dialogue.  The great masters are those who know rules are springboards into unknown territory. Don’t break a rule just because you don't like rules.  You should know the rule, and know what effect you are creating by breaking it.  Such an action should never be an accident.

The preceeding paragraph applies to writers, but the discerning reviewer must also understand when breaking the rules is done purposely and whether it works or not.  In your opinion, as always.

Acquaint yourself with international differences of spelling.  For instance, 'color' and 'colour' are both correct.  If you're not sure, look it up.  If you're still not sure, question it so the writer can check, but don't tell them it's wrong. 

You don't have to fill in the blank for each writing element listed on the review template you may be using.  You may be great in evaluating a plot, but not know what makes a full bodied character.  Don't try to fake it.  It's enough to say you understood the story, could visualize the characters or not, and so on, as a reader.  No one expects you to be able to cover everything; at least they shouldn't.  Adjust your review template to include only sections for what you know and use.

When you cross an area that is unclear, point it out and say where you became lost.  If you can offer a solution, do so.  If not, say so. 

When you find an especially good scene or dialogue, or a realistic character, point it out.  Let the writer know where the writing made an impression on you.  You don't want the writer to cut the good stuff, but if you don't show him where it is how will he know? 

You don't have to agree with other reviewers.  The point is to get varied views.  If you like a certain element, say so.  If you don't, say so.  That will give the writer some idea of what works and what doesn't.  Being honest with the writer is the most important aspect of reviewing.

Misspelled words should be included along with a copy/paste of the sentence so it's easy to find.  Poems and short pieces need no more than three or four words. You don't have to give the correct spelling if you don't want to--the writer has his own dictionary, and looking it up will help him to remember it. 

Misused words, sound-alike words, and grammar mistakes could be shown and explained so the writer can study to avoid making the same error constantly.  Do this only if you're sure you're right.

Check your own writing and ML tags in the review.  You don't want to make the same errors you're pointing out to the writer.  There are options to preview and spell-check in the review tool; be sure and take advantage of it every time. Typos happen to us all, so don't stress too much on yours or the writer's.

There is a great deal of satisfaction in reading someone's work and knowing you're helping them improve or even to get a piece ready for publication.  The more reviewing you do, the better you will become. Just as writers are advised to write something each day, so must reviewers review something each day.  Practice.  Learning to read critically is important, and you'll find yourself enjoying reviewing much more.