Beginning

"The task is to provide editorial advice that allows for significant revision. Impressionistic responses are essential for the writer to gauge his effectiveness. Did you like this story? Would you want to read? If not, why not? Is the story too long, too short, too slowly paced, too sketchy; is its tone appropriate to its subject; is the opening the most strategic opening; is the ending satisfying?"

Critique for the very best story you can envision: is it a surprise, even if inevitable; is the sequence of scenes effective; might the story be more dramaticay rearranged, are there scenes in earlier drafts that now might be added. Are the characters fully realized, are the important characters well delineated; are there grammatical errors, awkward sentences, repetitions, confusing passages, metaphors that don't work, misspellings?

"Having one's work examined with a fine toothed comb can be exhilarating, exhausting, invigorating, inspiring. The surprise isn't that there are good writers, for we expect this, but that there are natural-born, instinctive editors. These are the individuals whose comments are eagerly sought. They may or may not be the gifted writers, but the ability to self edit, like the ability to self criticize, is inestimable for a writer. . . ."

Such a detailed review is termed line-editing, which is analogous to allowing a large magnifying glass to creep across your pages. The comments, no matter how valid may be hurtful if not proposed with the utmost care. Dr. Phil once asked a question to a husband something like this, "Do you just want to be right, or do you want to be effective?" Consider the following as a constructive guide to critiquing written work for a fellow writer, while simultaneously sharpening your own skills. The main focus is on revision, as opposed to editing. You might make 'story' notes along borders that tell as the scene changes in the story, i.e. "Exposition that tells Dorothy's living with Aunt Em." Continue each time you see a notable change of events, i.e. "A kindly conman perceives Dorothy is running away from home and plants the seed that Aunt Em needs her." These subsequent notes can reference earlier parts of the story, i.e. "The Wizard seems much like the conman from earlier."

You may ask positive questions about negative issues, i.e. "There are a lot of names used quickly. Can Holman's take over from a deceased Cobb be clarified?" Do not search for mechanical & grammatical changes unless they jump out at you. Your draft may differ so radically, that such changes waste time. Propose your corrections with a question, i.e. "Plural here" ?? "Clarify by adding 'Ralph said." ??