If your an artist, writer, or [ insert your awesome hobby of choice here!], at one point or another, you will be asked to give someone feedback. They could post their project on a forum for all to review or contact you directly; whatever the case, you will end up critiquing someone’s project.
Here are some tips on how to give someone constructive feedback without ripping them a new one. You may be asking yourself: why is it important to be tactful anyway? I mean they are asking for it, aren’t they?
Using tact is harder than being blunt, I admit that, but you have to remember that we are all human.
There is no faster way to kill someone’s motivation than telling them things like “there is nothing of value whatsoever here,” “Did you just slap that together in five minutes?,” or “It all just sucks.” You could HATE their work with a burning passion and swear up and down there’s nothing good in it–
Just remember, what looks like trash to you is someone’s hours upon hours of hard work.
So how do you fight your inner jerk?
How do you give someone helpful advice?
During my time in college, the creative writing professor had an awesome policy when it came time for group feedback. We’d read each others stories and fill out a form that had us list positive things about the story, weaknesses, and suggestions on how they could improve the weaknesses listed.
I’ve provided a generic form below:
Check out my filled out sample at the end of this post!
Critique for [ Person’s Project ]
What are three strengths?
1.
2.
3.
What are three weaknesses?
1.
2.
3.
Three ways the project can be improved
1.
2.
3.
This simple list of strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions is perfect. It allows the writer/artist to get honest feedback that they will want to incorporate because of the tactful way it forces the critic to list everything. The list can be tailored to any sort of creative project (you can list as little as 2 things or as many as 10! Whatever you decide, make sure it’s the same number across the board). It is the standard I go by when I am asked for feedback.
So how does it help you when you absolutely loathe the person’s work? How are you supposed to find X amount of strengths about something that grates your last nerve? How do you resist the urge to offer nothing but snarky remakes?
We’ve all come across stories and pictures that may not necessarily have been bad; we just didn’t like them. It’s natural. Romance isn’t my cup of tea, but I know the elements of a good story. There are certain styles of art I hate, but I also know what color schemes mix well and which ones don’t.
Art:
Mention the color scheme. Tell them how you like the way the red and golds go together or how you like the font/mood/person’s expression. FIND strengths, even if there are just two or three. Point them out.
Writing
Point out how 3-dimensional their character is, how vivid their descriptions are, or how you enjoyed bits of the dialogue. Even if it’s romance, FIND something worth praising because it’s there–you just have to look for it!
Here is a sample form for a book I hated:
See, it can be done!
Critique for Twilight
Strengths
1. The setting. I am a sucker for stories in small, yet colorful towns like that!
2. Bella’s research/and the suspense it created until she found out the Cullens were vampires.
Weaknesses
1. Bella felt like a flat character at times
2. Edward comes off as creepy. Did you mean for him to come off that way?
Suggestions for improvement
1. Give her a specific talent, or give her a feisty quirk that stands out from the rest of the characters. It’s great that she’s clumsy because it shows she is human; now she needs something a little extra.
2. I feel that Edward is overly possessive and stalker-ish to the point of needing a restraining order. Perhaps cut out the scene where he watches her sleep and goes through her things. I see how you wanted to show that he cares about her. Try having him do something less scary. What did your significant other do to show you they loved you? Try to find some examples in real life to draw from.
