Guidelines for Nonfiction Critiques

 Carol Benedict

11 years ago

As I mentioned on my previous post, Guidelines for Writing Fiction Critiques,

the most important guideline for a critique is to give an honest, constructive,
and polite assessment of the writing. All comments should be about the words
written, not about the person writing them.

Here are the steps I follow when doing a thorough critique of nonfiction:

1. Overall Impressions:  Evaluate the work as a reader.

a. Content: Does it open with something that captures your attention and
makes you want to keep reading? Does the pace seem appropriate for the type
of information being covered? Can you clearly identify the subject or main
idea? Is the main idea supported by evidence, anecdotes, interviews,
viewpoints, or some other method?

b. Audience: Is it clear who the target audience is for the book, article, or
essay? Is the tone, language, and reading level appropriate for that audience?

c. Format: Is it following standard submission guidelines for that type of

work, or is it tailored towards guidelines of a specific market? Is it organized
logically, so the reader can follow the development of the topic or progression
of the events?

  

2. The Mechanics:  Evaluate the work for structural strengths and

weaknesses.

a. Structure: Were paragraphs and sentences appropriate in length for the

type of information presented? Would varying their length add interest or
adjust the pace more effectively? Does the choice of words feel appropriate? Is
the information presented in a way that the target audience will find easy to
understand? Does the conclusion summarize the main points effectively, or
bring the work to a satisfying end?
b. Grammar: Are there obvious mistakes in grammar and spelling? Are there
too many clichés in the narrative or dialog?

c. Extras: If there are sidebars, charts, graphs, pictures, or other supporting

documents, do they support the premise, theme, arguments, or hypothesis?
Are they formatted properly and annotated in the body of the work?

Story Elements: Setting and the Sense of Taste

Many writing-related books and blogs I’ve read suggest using sensory elements to make the setting richer and
more realistic. The toughest one for me to convey in my writing is the sense of taste. I’ve included scenes
where characters were eating, but have been stumped as to how to describe the tastes without making it seem
like a deliberate writer’s ploy. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a foodie, and absolutely hate cooking, but tastes are
normally not something I think about—which makes them awfully hard to write about.

Yesterday 2 of my sisters and I spent the day sorting through the remaining items in our mother’s house,
deciding what was worth donating, what should be discarded, and what we would keep to use ourselves—or
save as mementoes of a woman who had impacted our lives more than any other. Afterwards, we went to the
Cracker Barrel restaurant where each of us had taken our mother on many occasions. The sights, the sounds,
the entire setting of that restaurant brought back memories that are precious to me, but the tastes were what
reminded me most of my mother. I experienced firsthand how much emotion certain tastes can trigger, and
how food really can have an important role in our lives.

All 3 of us chose chicken and dumplings as our main course, with cornbread to go with it, simply because
that’s what my mom always ordered at Cracker Barrel. I even ordered lemonade and country green beans (not
together!) in honor of her. As we ate, we compared our meals to the ones Mom had prepared for us as children.
Her dumplings were heavier, somewhat doughier, but had a similar taste. I recognized the flavor of lard on the
green beans; my mom always and only used lard as a flavoring. She saved the bacon drippings in a pink can
next to her stove, and used it in beans, mashed potatoes, and gravies. It wasn’t until we all left home, and my
dad died, that she started using store-bought cooking oils (Crisco), and that was only because she had no one to
cook bacon for.

Memories of her will always be with me even though she is not; and though I may not be any better at
describing tastes in my stories, I know that dumplings and green beans will forever remind me of my
childhood and my mom.

What foods or tastes carry special memories for you? Which of the 5 senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing,
vision) is hardest for you to include in your writing? Do you agree that including tastes or descriptions of food
in a story helps convey emotions or can have special meaning, or does it seem unnecessary to you?

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Story Elements: Setting and the Sense of Taste

Many writing-related books and blogs I’ve read suggest using sensory elements to make the setting richer and
more realistic. The toughest one for me to convey in my writing is the sense of taste. I’ve included scenes
where characters were eating, but have been stumped as to how to describe the tastes without making it seem
like a deliberate writer’s ploy. Perhaps it’s because I’m not a foodie, and absolutely hate cooking, but tastes are
normally not something I think about—which makes them awfully hard to write about.
Yesterday 2 of my sisters and I spent the day sorting through the remaining items in our mother’s house,
deciding what was worth donating, what should be discarded, and what we would keep to use ourselves—or
save as mementoes of a woman who had impacted our lives more than any other. Afterwards, we went to the
Cracker Barrel restaurant where each of us had taken our mother on many occasions. The sights, the sounds,
the entire setting of that restaurant brought back memories that are precious to me, but the tastes were what
reminded me most of my mother. I experienced firsthand how much emotion certain tastes can trigger, and
how food really can have an important role in our lives.

All 3 of us chose chicken and dumplings as our main course, with cornbread to go with it, simply because
that’s what my mom always ordered at Cracker Barrel. I even ordered lemonade and country green beans (not
together!) in honor of her. As we ate, we compared our meals to the ones Mom had prepared for us as children.
Her dumplings were heavier, somewhat doughier, but had a similar taste. I recognized the flavor of lard on the
green beans; my mom always and only used lard as a flavoring. She saved the bacon drippings in a pink can
next to her stove, and used it in beans, mashed potatoes, and gravies. It wasn’t until we all left home, and my
dad died, that she started using store-bought cooking oils (Crisco), and that was only because she had no one to
cook bacon for.

Memories of her will always be with me even though she is not; and though I may not be any better at
describing tastes in my stories, I know that dumplings and green beans will forever remind me of my
childhood and my mom.

What foods or tastes carry special memories for you? Which of the 5 senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing,
vision) is hardest for you to include in your writing? Do you agree that including tastes or descriptions of food
in a story helps convey emotions or can have special meaning, or does it seem unnecessary to you?

February 27, 201314 Replies

5 Novel Annoyances
Rest assured that this is not just a rant, though it is a personal opinion post. There are plenty of writing-related
things that annoy me, so I’ve restricted myself to those. I’ve also limited my list to things I noticed in
traditionally published books, so some agents and editors apparently weren’t bothered by the things that made
me cringe.

1.  Quirks.

I keep reading about the necessity to make our main characters recognizable, identifiable, etc., and having a
personal habit or quirk is touted as one way to go about that. But please. Use those quirks in moderation or you
will annoy your readers and make them hate your characters rather than identify with them. Here are a few
quirks I’ve encountered that have been used enough to become cliché:
Rolling the eyes . Some characters do it so often that I end up rolling MY eyes. Even worse is when more than
one character does it. In a book I read recently, it seemed that someone rolled their eyes in every scene. I still
enjoyed the story, but it was distracting enough that it inspired this post.
Raising one eyebrow. That may be a unique talent, but it has been overused in books. And every time I read it,
I feel challenged to attempt raising a brow of my own. I can’t actually do it, and I know I can’t, so it’s really
annoying to read about characters doing it so easily.
Twirling her hair around her finger. Lots of people do that, so how original is it?
 

2.  Deus Ex Machina.
God directly intervening to solve a problem the protagonist couldn’t possibly have figured out, especially
when the protagonist doesn’t show any signs of a close relationship with God, is cheating. I want to be able to
figure out what happened based on clues in the story, not witness a miracle (actually, I would like to witness a
real miracle), but unless the story involves miracles as an integral part of the action, don’t end with one.

 3.  Explaining the ending.

Ending with page after page of people talking about what happened earlier in the book, even explaining things
to minor characters who appear out of nowhere asking personal questions they are not entitled by manners or
relationship to ask, is unbelievable. It is obviously a means for the author to reveal what happened in the book
—in case the readers didn’t, or couldn’t, figure it out. This is a violation of the basic writing mantra of “show,
don’t tell.” A good resolution will tie up loose ends, but shouldn’t have to explain the story.
 

4.  Stupid protagonists.

If the main character repeatedly makes bad decisions, doesn’t use common sense, or behaves like an idiot for
no apparent reason, in my opinion she/he is stupid. (A time or two is excusable, as no one likes perfect
characters.) We all do dumb things occasionally, but unless it’s a comedy I want protagonists to be people I
can respect—even if I don’t like them. When stupidity is the basis for the story conflict, it feels weak and
contrived. A good plot won’t need contrived behavior to keep it going.
 

5.  Poor editing.

I love words. I adore sentences that flow smoothly through my mind, leaving a vivid picture behind. But when
words are misspelled, or the sentence structure makes it difficult to understand, I’m drawn out of the story and
into reality. If I wanted reality, I wouldn’t be reading. So let me enjoy the world you’ve created—edit your
work carefully. If you need help editing, get it.
 

What type of things pull you out of a story? What is your number 1 reading-related annoyance? What type of
character quirks do you think are effective, and which ones do you consider annoying? Can you think of any
“stupid” protagonists that are not annoying? Do you have any quirks?

February 6, 201312 Replies

4 Habits of Productive Writers

I have habits, some good some bad, which structure my life and determine how I spend my day. For example,
every morning before I get out of bed I pray. As soon as I get up, I straighten the covers and pillows so the bed
will be ready and welcoming when I need it again. Next I turn on the coffee, feed the cats, and sit down to read
my favorite blogs. From that point on, I’m usually at the mercy of whatever life throws my way.

One activity I want to add to my list of habits is writing. Oh, I write every day—lists and letters and reminders
—but that’s not the kind of writing that will achieve my dreams. Like millions of others, I aspire to complete a
novel. A good novel. To do that, I need to improve my writing habits. There are many changes I could make
that would probably help me be more productive, but my research suggests that there are certain habits that are
essential for someone who hopes to make writing a profession. I read many suggestions, but the following 4
seem the most crucial to me.
 

1.      Read everyday
Read a wide variety of books, not only for pleasure but also to analyze what works and what doesn’t.
Immersing yourself in the written word will add to your knowledge, increase your vocabulary, and improve
your understanding of how language is used.

2.      Learn new things

You’ve probably heard the advice to “write what you know.” The wider the range of your experiences, the
more realistic you can make your writing. Often it’s the little details that you include that help readers visualize
a scene. Enrich your life and acquire a goldmine of information to use in your stories by stepping out of your
comfort zone and trying new things.

3.       Make writing a priority

Productive writers work a regular writing routine into their lives. The amount of time devoted to it varies
widely, but there needs to be a commitment to writing. Continually placing writing at the bottom of your
priority list makes it difficult (or impossible) to achieve success as a writer.

4.      Finish what you start

It’s common to work on more than one project at a time. A problem arises, though, when writers skip from one
manuscript to another without ever finishing what they start. Or when they try to attain perfection, or avoid
failure, by working on one project for years…and years…and years, and never submit it. At some point you
have to say it’s as good as it’s going to get, and send it out.

 
 
Are you satisfied with your writing habits? What helps you be productive, and what interferes with your
productivity? Do you make an effort to learn new things in order to add spice and authenticity to your
writing?
January 31, 201311 Replies

A New Year Dawning

As 2013 begins, I hope to move forward in areas where I have been lax, such as writing blog posts. I’ll
maintain the writing-related focus of this blog and, while I make no promises, I plan to post a minimum of
once a week.

I’m at a crossroad in life and am not yet sure of what I want to do. Sort of like my cat.

Safety first!

He’s kept indoors 99.9% of the time and when let loose outside never ventures beyond the safety of the deck.
He nibbles on the grass growing next to it, but won’t step out of his comfort zone to see what he could see. I
don’t want to be like him.

I want to jump off the deck and wallow in the grass, figuratively speaking. I want to revel in whatever the new
year brings me; to do things I’ve never done before—in reality, and in my writing.
 

Looking for adventure!

Look out world; here I come!

 

What about you? What are you hoping to achieve in 2013? Are you setting specific goals or making any
changes? Are you looking forward to anything special this year?

January 2, 20136 Replies

4 Ways Jigsaw Puzzles Relate to Writing

My latest addiction is TheJigsawPuzzles.com. As a child I enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles with my mom and
grandmother, but with an active family and 5 cats I’ve never had a safe spot to lay out the pieces of a
traditional puzzle in my own home. Problem solved! With virtual puzzles, I don’t have to worry about losing
pieces or keeping tiny feet from destroying hours of work. And puzzles can be a lot of work.

Putting together jigsaw puzzles may seem a wasteful use of time to some people but it has helped me get a
clearer focus on my writing goals. Here are 4 analogies I’ve noted regarding jigsaw puzzles and effective
writing techniques.

1. Working on a project I truly enjoy makes it easier to get through the difficult parts.

Whether it’s a puzzle or a story/article, if I’m not interested in the subject matter and hit a rough patch, it’s
tempting to quit. External motivations such as money or praise from others may help, but the internal
satisfaction I get from doing something I enjoy is often the primary factor in achieving my goals
 

2. Having a clear idea of the big picture helps tremendously.

I choose puzzles that fit my mood, and sometimes they involve lots of colors and unfamiliar subject matter.
Having a picture of the completed puzzle to refer to as I work helps me organize the pieces and determine their
approximate placement when I get stuck. The same holds true with my writing. I’m not a strict outliner, but
knowing the basic story and key plot points or talking points helps me stay focused on the end result.
 

3. Breaking the project down into smaller components keeps it from being overwhelming and provides
structure for areas that may be ill-defined.

The larger the puzzle the harder it feels, but there are ways to make things more manageable. Putting together
the outside pieces first is very helpful, providing a framework and a place to start building connections as well
as reducing the number of loose pieces I have to deal with. It hints at what goes in each area, so when I’m
sorting through the remaining pieces I have a general idea of where they may belong.
When an idea or scene doesn’t seem to fit what I’m currently working on, setting it aside until the writing
project is further along may help clarify where it should go. In the same way, formulating the beginning and
end of a chapter, scene, or paragraph helps determine what is needed in the middle.
 

4. Knowing the basics of how things work and customizing the process to fit my needs increases the likelihood
of achieving my goals.

Each puzzle site I’ve visited operates in a slightly different way, and it took a while to learn how to navigate
them comfortably. The online site I like best lets me see a picture of the complete puzzle as I work, has a
button that lets me automatically separate the edge pieces from the others, has a timer I can use to pace myself,
and lets me choose how many pieces I want the puzzle to contain and the style of the cuts. By customizing a
puzzle to fit my interests and abilities I don’t get overwhelmed with something I’m not capable of handling.
With practice, my skills improve and I’m able to take on more complex puzzles. I’ve also learned how to
upload my own pictures and turn them into custom puzzles to share with friends.

The process of becoming a successful writer requires an understanding of how the writing and publishing
process works, and also requires some customization to meet our individual needs.  Each of us has different
experiences and skills, so our roadmaps to success may follow different routes.  Being aware of our strengths
and weaknesses can help us figure out where we need additional help to achieve our goals, and we can work on
those areas first in order to maximize our chance of success. When writing, knowing where to look for help
with grammar issues, being aware of the proper format for the type of writing we are doing, and understanding
how to use the basic features of our word processing program will make writing projects less stressful and
more professional in appearance. Understanding how agents and editors expect us to submit our work to them,
and following their guidelines, will give our submissions an advantage over our less-knowledgeable
competitors.
 

Do you enjoy working jigsaw puzzles? What is your favorite way to “waste” time? What writing resources do
you recommend for people who might be struggling down the road to success?

October 27, 20128 Replies

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