WTF: The Wrong Way to Critique

So, I've been needing a bit of a fantasy/sci-fi break and have strayed to the other forums in Writer's Digest Critique Central. I really need to stop doing this. The main reason being that there is a certain critiquer out there who needs to be smacked upside the head.

 I'm sorry, but there is a correct way to critique things--even things that you do not like--that will spare the writer's feelings and offer encouragement, even if the overall review was not complimentary. This person has no ability/desire to do that. He/She comes off spiteful, not helpful, excusing themselves with the phrase "I'm brutally honest." Writers want honesty, yes, but they don't want brutality (at least, I don't).

 But what really gets my goat is when this person has the nerve to be offended/insulted when a writer does not respond to his/her critique. Perhaps it's just me, but when someone offends me or trashes my work, I keep silent because there are just so many things that I could say that would lower me to their level. Right? Right.

Now, I am not saying this critiquer did not have some valid points. He/She did. But they came off the wrong way. That being snotty and demeaning. This person was NOT critiquing MY work, by the way, but someone else's, and I was still offended on behalf of the other writer. And when the critiquer brought in a "friend" to slam the author for not responding, that's beyond inexcusable. Critique forums are to offer help and encouragement to other aspiring authors, people, not to demean them for whatever reason.

The sad thing is, this sorry excuse for a critiquer probably scared that writer off. And that writer's work was GOOD. Rough, yes, but there was a lot of potential there. (And I am blissfully happy that this person stays away from the forum I frequent, because I can only bite my tongue for so long.)

So let me pass along a tip to anyone who has decided to offer their opinion on the piece. Look for the positive as well as the negative. Just saying something like "I liked this description here" or "Your character is intriguing" can turn a frown upside down, even if you follow it with the pitfalls of the writing.

Frame the negative, please. Begin with what you liked/appreciated and then delve into what you weren't impressed with. Sign off with another positive. Do this, and you will give the writer a feeling like they're not the nasty stuff on the bottom of your shoe, but also a dose of much-needed honesty.