Useful Phrases For Your Critique*

[Leanne]

A critique without a rationale is no critique at all, it is just an uninformed opinion.

Here is a very brief list of some catchall categories one can use that they may find helpful if they have difficulty trying to put into words what they want to convey:

It (this word, this phrase) is disruptive to the reading (in other words I had to pause to figure out what it meant)
It (usually a phrase) was unclear (I could not extract any meaning from it)
Did not appear germane (seemed to have nothing to do with the the rest of the poem).
Forced cleverness (seemed more about using clever metaphors, or phrases, than saying something vital about the topic)
The format used did not seem the best for the topic (using iambic tetrameter with rhyming couplets for a serious topic)
Lack of clarity or confusion caused by poor grammar/tense/ punctuation.
Spelling errors.
Unintentional or unnecessary ambiguity.
Overly vague (not giving enough information for the reader to make sense of the poem)
Excesses use of obscure, and undocumented allusions.
Use of archaic or rarely used words when more common words would do just as well.
Allowing the form to be detrimental to the content through such things as forced rhymes, or phrasing/syntax that has nothing to do with the poem, or is out of character.
Trite or cliche phrasing (unless part of the character's way of speaking, or for some other intended purpose to illustrate a point).


Just a start but some may find these useful.

*With thanks to Erthona

[Keith]

Thanks Leanne this helps, should stop me rambling

[kclexydylis]

These tips are helpful;it's polite to use mild phrases when critiquing peoms.Thanks Leanne.

[Word Weaver]

I am extremely anxious at critiquing and this comes as super helpful!! lol Thanks Leanne!

[Leanne]

Please don't be anxious -- just be honest. If you like or dislike something, say so, but always with a reason. We don't all have to critique in the same way (and it's really much better if we don't).

[maximumjake]

All great suggestions.

[zahrakh]

Thank you so much. I am trying to leave useful critique, hoping to learn more

[Leanne]

Good on you for making an effort -- that's all we can really ask

[billy]

what she said

[SimikPK]

Am I allowed to post poems/critique here in the serious even if I am new to the site and have very few posts?

[milo]

Am I allowed to post poems/critique here in the serious even if I am new to the site and have very few posts?

You should post at the level you are able to comment. If you are willing to invest the time and effort toward serious comments on others' work than you are free to post in serious.

[Leanne]

Am I allowed to post poems/critique here in the serious even if I am new to the site and have very few posts?

Indeed -- what milo said. Serious is the forum that tends to get the least critique, because it takes the most effort -- but those efforts are appreciated, because people who post in Serious generally take critique well (i.e. not personally) and respond to suggestions with considered edits. Personally I find the Serious forum the most rewarding as a poet and as a critic.

[SimikPK]

Am I allowed to post poems/critique here in the serious even if I am new to the site and have very few posts?

Indeed -- what milo said. Serious is the forum that tends to get the least critique, because it takes the most effort -- but those efforts are appreciated, because people who post in Serious generally take critique well (i.e. not personally) and respond to suggestions with considered edits. Personally I find the Serious forum the most rewarding as a poet and as a critic.

Thanx guys, I will give it a try. With the critique first, and when I happen to write sthg own, with that as well.

[brandontoh]

Am I allowed to post poems/critique here in the serious even if I am new to the site and have very few posts?

Indeed -- what milo said. Serious is the forum that tends to get the least critique, because it takes the most effort -- but those efforts are appreciated, because people who post in Serious generally take critique well (i.e. not personally) and respond to suggestions with considered edits. Personally I find the Serious forum the most rewarding as a poet and as a critic.

Thanx guys, I will give it a try. With the critique first, and when I happen to write sthg own, with that as well.

I actually feel quite weird critiquing most of the time, since there's always this lingering fear of stating something inaccurate or nonsensical. So far it seems to be working out well though, and I've learnt a lot from both giving and taking despite my very limited knowledge. Just take the plunge when you're ready!

[ellajam]

Indeed -- what milo said. Serious is the forum that tends to get the least critique, because it takes the most effort -- but those efforts are appreciated, because people who post in Serious generally take critique well (i.e. not personally) and respond to suggestions with considered edits. Personally I find the Serious forum the most rewarding as a poet and as a critic.

Thanx guys, I will give it a try. With the critique first, and when I happen to write sthg own, with that as well.

I actually feel quite weird critiquing most of the time, since there's always this lingering fear of stating something inaccurate or nonsensical. So far it seems to be working out well though, and I've learnt a lot from both giving and taking despite my very limited knowledge. Just take the plunge when you're ready!

I'm always ready to get it wrong. I'm just a reader reading at my own level. Sometimes my comments help and sometimes they are useless. If critiquing wasn't a requirement of the site I probably wouldn't have done it but it's great how it pushes me to read to the best of my ability.

What's the worst that will happen, someone will think I'm nuts or dopey? Wouldn't be the first time.

[billy]

going off your feedback it's a yes. that you asked is another yes. once you've 5 posts as required you can post anywhere. if it's an obvious novice poem we may move it to mild crit, but that's only in extreme cases.

Am I allowed to post poems/critique here in the serious even if I am new to the site and have very few posts?

[Lizzie]

Thought I would share this. I've been struggling with my words lately in critiques and went looking for advice. It hasn't been bumped in a while, so thought I'd share.