I wrote about giving feedback on other people's work in an earlier post and I stressed the need to emphasise the positive.
Over at Critters there is an article on how to deliver a critique diplomatically which puts the stress on how you give the feedback. The most important point is that unless you phrase the critique in such a way that the other person can receive it you are wasting your time.
The main thing you have to do to make a critique easy to receive? It seems that it's easier to take notice of a critique when the critter makes it clear that everything they are saying is their own opinion. So plenty of "I think" and "I feel" and "it didn't work for me" and none of "you must" and "the rules". And definitely no attacking the author!
It's a good article and I recommend it to you.
10 COMMENTS:
Great point- unless the critique is written with reaction/action in mind, it's not going to do its job, aka, help the author. I can stomach the bad if I hear about the good as well. Absolutely makes sense!
I consider myself fortunate that I have a mini-critique group that are doing this for me. It's worth a fortune in how I am able to go back in and approach changes positively, rather than feeling I 'can't do it, so why keep on'.
Good post, FH.
This is very helpful. I haven't as yet sent any of my stuff to be critiqued but of course when I do I'll have to return the favour. I personally would rather get the honest 'bad' than to be allowed to continue with something that didn't work. But I agree that it's all in the delivery. We all need to know that our efforts have something to show for them. It doesn't cost anything to be considerate.
Thanks, both of you.
Oh positive, definitely and always!
This ought to stop me appearing so mean on EE's...
Thanks for stopping by, Bee and Whirl.
I must not have done this for that theater dude. : )
Or maybe he/she is just a flake.
That does happen.
I'm glad you're getting some paying gigs coming in now.
Glad you mentioned the "sandwich" technique in the earlier post - I really believe in this.
Thanks!
Lee
Hi Lee, thanks for visiting. You've probably gathered that I love your blog!
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