How to give a critique

The basics of feedback etiquette

When I first started my Master’s in 2024 and joined a critique group shortly after, I was very wary of giving feedback. What if I made someone upset? What if my feedback was stupid? These and more questions kept me from giving meaningful comments in the first few sessions, where I mostly resorted to correcting the occasional grammar error or leaving a comment saying ‘Love this’ (which I still do, but now amongst other comments).

It can be difficult to critique someone else’s work, especially as a writer. We know how intimate sharing our writing can be, and how personal it can feel when someone criticises something we were proud of. But:

You can’t grow as a writer if nobody ever challenges you.

I realised I want to help others grow as much as I want to grow myself, and giving helpful comments is the best way to do that. So I stopped worrying if my comments might upset someone, and focused on helping their story reach its full potential.

Today, I am going to offer five ways to become a great critic.

So, let’s get right to it:

1. What feedback do they want?

Everyone prefers different styles of feedback. Some might prefer direct criticism, with no reactions to the text in between, while others prefer a balance of praise and critique. If the author hasn’t given you instructions, ask what kind of feedback they are looking for. This helps both of you to know what to expect, and you can save time and energy in the process.

Do they want feedback on grammar and sentence structure, on plot, or dialogue? Structural comments are beneficial for an early draft, while line-level editing might get lost in the revision process either way, and is more useful in later drafting stages.

2. Critique the writing, not the writer

Writers are looking for feedback at different stages of their writing journey, but a critique should be respectful and helpful either way. There is no need to tell someone who just started writing every perceived flaw in their work; in fact, it could be detrimental to their confidence, and one thing we do not need is fewer creatives.

Focus on the writing itself and how it could be improved. Instead of ‘You do this…’, write ‘I feel like this…’.

3. Be constructive

Reading is subjective, and so is feedback. Instead of saying ‘This doesn’t make sense’, say ‘I don’t understand this’, with a little more detail as a bonus. Be kind and professional. Tell the writer why you think something isn’t working, and if you aren’t sure, say that as well! If you have ideas on how to solve a problem, include them.

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t say what you think about a piece, but instead of saying ‘This scene is so f* boring’, consider ‘I feel like this scene slows down the pace. Maybe change…’

4. Be supportive

Unless the author explicitly said they don’t want any praise for their work, I think it is always beneficial to include the strengths of a written piece, whether it be a moment that made you emotional or a character you could relate to. Hearing positive feedback for my own writing has continuously made my day and motivated me to keep going. Only hearing the negative can quickly lead to a spiral of self-doubt.

5. Stick to the deadline

If the writer gave you a deadline, stick to it. This shows that you respect their time and willingness to share as much as they respect your feedback. Missing a deadline could affect the writer further down the line, be it when it comes to querying, submitting to contests, or juggling writing and working full-time.

If you realise you won’t be hitting the deadline, let your writer friend know, so they can adjust accordingly.

Now you are familiar with the basics of giving feedback! Whether you have friends or family who write, other authors you met online, or are in an in-person critique group, sharing work is important, and knowing how to critique it is as well.

Have you given feedback on someone’s writing before? How has the experience been for you? Let me know in the comments!