What does it mean to critique a story?

Great article. I am torn when it comes to this sort of thing. It really is subjective, all this stuff. That doesn't mean it isn't useful, but by and large I wonder. Of course we all have our styles and our opinions and if I'm going to comment on your story, it's going to be through the lens of my writing style, training, influences etc.. I like that you were mindful enough to admit you might have been defensive, I think we all would be, but not everybody examines that sort of thing the next day the way you did. That, to me, is the real win.

Enjoyable read, less so an enjoyable experience for you. Well put: “It's critical but is it a critique?” The former, by the sound of it 🥺. My daughter had a similar experience in school… she refused to heed the draft feedback because it wouldn’t have been her story but that teacher’s substandard one. She was vindicated by getting a good mark🤣. You might too 😊

Oh, man! I loved this piece, Rachel! You so eloquently put to words a tension I've felt so strongly but didn't know how to navigate. That being said I obviously don't have a concrete answer to the question. But with the type of competition and "feedback" you describe I think there is a lot of subjectivity that gets injected into the "critiques". I do think it can be a hard shift in mindset though too when preparing pieces for other challenges when so much of the emphasis on Vocal is the storytelling and others it seems like your story can be "bleh" but if you write it in the desired style, bravo for you! Well that was just a lot of rambling, so sorry for the vent!

Oooh, this is a lot of good stuff to consider. It's definitely a tricky line to balance and everyone is different. Like you mention, it's especially tricky with so many different writing styles and narrative voices out there. For me the best critique has been from the people I feel care about the characters I'm working with. It's clear when someone is giving feedback for the highest good of the story/art/craft. There are a few writers on Vocal for example whose critique has strengthened my writing because it felt like they really cared about the message I was trying to convey and the effort I was willing to put in to conveying it. I think, ultimately, it's all about finding the right people who care about your work and who you're able to communicate with effectively. I'm sorry you had a crappy experience with this competition. :( Thank you for writing this piece and opening up this topic for discussion! These comments have been so interesting to read through to see what people's general attitudes towards critique are.

First, as Ruth said, sorry your experience was not quite what you hoped for. That must have been a bit of a gutter. I am looking forward to reading your piece when the time comes. My experience was different, and though I didn't get into the second round, I never expected to, the feedback felt balanced. The good was very good and the bad was not very bad. I would like to add that I share the not really knowing where the line is drawn because I spoke to Stephen about my feedback a bit and he made a good point about if more than one person is saying the same thing, for instance, it could be a genuine issue. Whereas if just one person, say, was saying it, it may be a preference thing. Some of what the more critical side said could be seen as being personal taste and preference. I guess, that's the point, when we enter any sort of challenge, either here or somewhere else, it will be down to the experience, knowledge base and also taste/preference of the critic/reviewer. If that makes sense? You make lots of great points here and although it's deflated you a little, I'm glad your spirit and understanding of who you are as a writer and your enthusiasm for your craft has not diminished. I love your writing...you love your writing. That's all that matters. Okay, the last bit more than the second to last bit. but put that in to make you laugh. :) Thank you for airing these thoughts out though, because it's important. Hope they give you a top story for this. Well done, chum!

I think this is a great article. The question is fair and it really sheds light on what most of us already know; writing is so personal; and subjective. We can learn all the rules and produce a good story with good technique and there will still be people who would do it differently. That's easy to accept, but its harder to swallow when its the basis for a critique because we can be left feeling that the only thing 'wrong' with what we wrote is that it doesn't appeal to the person offering the critique, which is really frustrating.

I feel sad, not least because Paul did the NYC Midnight competition, and his feedback was overall a positive experience. The points the critic made were salient and very helpful. It sounds like you didn't get the best people to give your feedback, and I am sorry about that. I am glad you gave them an honest review in return!

I feel your angst. Are you writing for you or someone else? If you were submitting an article for a magazine or similar, you would have in mind what was expected, but when it comes to fiction, you are writing in your voice, from your point of view, with your imagination, and microfiction magnifies the problems. When someone tells you to rearrange things to suit them, do you run the risk of losing your voice and isn't that editing. Writing fiction is art, and art is always open to interpretation, how the judges are feeling on a particular day, can affect their reasoning. My cynical mind tells me they are justifying rejecting your story. I employed an editor on a story I wrote and he immediately started telling me to change things and it made me angry, It took me a long while to calm down and take it in. I love writing, but when it comes to competitions or challenges or the possibility of publishing, the pressure of that brings out a bit of the Mr Hyde in me. I'm sure your story was good.

"It seems to me like there's a line that needs to be tread here between critiquing what is on the page and projecting what you think the story should be" There definitely is a line there and I can't seem to distinguish it. So I refrain myself from providing any feedback although it is solicited. Firstly, I feel that I should be perfect (which I'm not) to be able to give feedback. Secondly, I'm afraid I might apply my writing style to their story or project how I think the story should be. I wouldn't like it if someone did that to me so I would never do that to anyone. The only kinda feedback that I feel comfortable giving is typos, errors in sentence structures or any kind of mix up. I know I'm not perfect in those areas but I feel that this feedback has very low chances to offend a person. Anyway, as for your question, in my opinion, a person who is giving any sort of feedback should give it based on concrete facts and not their personal preference. As for your writing, never change your style to adhere to your readers expectations. Always remember that you're writing for you. Never change who you are for anyone because you gotta be true to yourself

I can't help but think that unless there are clear guidelines for any competition or submission, it will always come down to whether the person you get likes it. That is human nature. You write a story; how you want it or think it should be written. Some people have a gift for putting it in the proper sequence, using the correct words, etc. For others, there are skills to be learned in this area, but at the end of the day, success is either because it is liked or not liked by the judges.

Hey Rachel. Good on you for entering another challenge. I think feedback/ critique is helpful but it can be so subjective. I usually give myself at least 24 hours before I respond to anything - I have to go through all the phases between “idiot, you have no clue” to “hmm, maybe they have a point”. Just my opinion! Ha! Anyway good luck in the next competition - you’re a cracking writer.

It is definitely a hard thing to balance, as judges try to be unbiased, but they can definitely creep up in there. Each person has their preferences, and that's difficult, but I suppose it's just a matter of taking their opinion with a grain of salt and hoping for the best... Sometimes a hard bet. Either way, I'd love to see that competition entry once the winners are released!!

Writing Critique (including Vocal) are subjective to the interpretation and mood of the judge at the time of reading. Here is what I told my children because it is something I believe in: 'Like all advice listen to it, what you do with it is up to you.' Also 'Never respond in anger or as a reprisal, think about what you will say and how it may be recieved.' I am glad you wrote this because it is a good reminder.

A critique should help you improve, not rewrite your style! It’s about analyzing what’s working and offering insights, without forcing the reviewer’s own preferences onto your story. It’s a balance—offering constructive feedback while respecting the writer’s vision. So, stay true to your style while considering the helpful stuff!

This is why I would suck as a critic. Other than than the obvious like not hitting the prompt, the only advise I could give would be what I would have done, which I understand, is exactly what I shouldn't do. I'm very curious to see the piece, when you're able to publish.

I find that line between critique and re-writing a hard one to straddle. I think it means it’s best for me to stay away from judging and stick to cheerleading. Looking forward to your entry!

My first thought is have you critiqued your story? Or asked yourself what you would have changed if you had more time to finish to your satisfaction or if you had not simply wanted to get it done? Seems to me, critiquing takes the story and all of its stylistic considerations on its own terms and asks and examines what works well and what doesn’t. If the story did not engage the reader, the individual should determine why before offering correctives. In my mind, a critique should address generalities by examining specific instances. I had a story critiqued by a very competent editor, who simply asked why questions. Why does this character love that character so fiercely? Where is the context that causes the reader to believe that love is genuine?

Well-wrought! And thank you for this: "schadenfreude nor its sidekick Sour Grapes" You brought me true joy with that one, deep down! As to what constitutes a fair or even a good critique, I'll give you two examples from my own literary travails: The good one: Eliminate those "hads". I was using the word in all kinds of places it did not need to be, and simply cutting those out tightened up my stories a lot! Great advice! Bad one: "I would like to see..." Reflects the personal preferences of the editor and has nothing to do with the writer's narrative voice or the technique of writing. I suppose this is okay if the submission called for a specific we didn't deliver, but most of the time, when this was the feedback I got, what they would like to see was some conspicuously political or ideological trope that had nothing to do with my story or the story they asked for. There's also that irritating tendency of some to ask for more details about the setting or reactions from characters outside of a story that would be impossible to include in their desired word count. Yes, if I was writing a novel, I certainly would include that, but you wanted five thousand words and no more...

I believe that a clear line doesn't exist... it's true that we shouldn't distort our writing style, but sometimes what others perceive is different from what we mean. And this is a question we have to ask ourselves, it happens to me here too, sometimes in the comments I read things that I hadn't thought of then I reread my story and I realize that I wasn't precise or I left room for misunderstandings. Surely the judges also have their own style and project their knowledge and ideas onto the work of others, it is very difficult. But now I'm very curious to read your microfiction !