A big part of belonging to a writing group is to support each other in growing & developing as writers, but we're a sensitive lot, so how do you help, without damaging that fragile confidence? Here's some thoughts I garnered:

Critiqueing Criteria

Five Basic Critique Group Rules - Respect Each Other

Never forget you’re there to support each other.

Start your feedback with a compliment.

Critique the work, not the writer.

Don’t Defend Your Work. Not even a little.

Don’t mess around on your phone while a writer is reading their work.

From http://www.yellowbirdeditors.com/editing/five-basic-critique-group-rules/

The Nitty Gritty – Subjective Points to Comment on

Any points of confusion, rephrasing if needed to clarify a section.

More description if needed to visualize the scene, or perhaps less description.

More human interaction if needed.

Tension may be sagging or too prolonged.

More or less action may be needed.

Pacing Problems: Does the story drag or race too quickly at particular points? Do you feel bored overall, or at certain points?

Character problems: You may not care about a character or their situation. You may not feel a character’s personality, motivation may be lacking for their actions, characters may not have goal/mission/purpose in the story, they may not be learning or changing. Characters may not be distinguishable from each other.

Things may seem implausible, e.g., this would never happen in this unique story world, or a character, as developed, would never do such a thing.

Plotting problems: Events of the story may not flow logically, they may not be compelling enough.

Say what emotions you feel as you read. The author may not have intended to evoke those emotions. The author may ‘describe’ the emotions of the character but you, as the reader, can’t feel them.

Dialogue problems: Stilted, too obvious or ‘on-the-nose’, not fresh or unique enough, all characters sound the same, distracting use of dialect, slang, or cursing.

The command of the language, skill or quality of the writing or phrasing; ineffective word choices or repeated words; spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors.

Unintended changes or inconsistencies in Point of View or in past/present tense.

Also mention things that you love about the piece or that seem to work very well:

· Portions that are phrased beautifully

· Characters you love to love, or love to hate

· Sections that held your attention or had you spell bound

Add your own criteria for comment as you read through the piece.

Say what works for you and what does not.

From http://www.slonightwriters.org/page-1124948

Nuneaton Writers' Circle

Giving Good Critique