The Concept of Honest Critique ~ column~

The Concept of Honest Critique

What is honesty?

Honesty means
there are no
contradictions or
discrepancies in
thoughts, words, or
actions. To be honest
to one’s real self and
to the purpose of a
task earns trust and
inspires faith
in others. Honesty is
never to misuse that
which is given in
trust.

Honesty is more than being truthful. An honest person can be counted on to express feelings openly and sincerely. He or she refrains from lying, cheating, or stealing. It is also about not being hurtful or condescending. 

Honesty is a clear conscience "before myself and before my fellow human beings." Honesty is the awareness of what is right and appropriate in one’s role, one’s behavior, and one relationship. With honesty, there is no hypocrisy or artificiality which create confusion and mistrust in the minds and lives of others. Honesty makes for a life of integrity because the inner and outer selves are a mirror image.

Yesterday, I was subjected to the most self-opinionated rudeness in the guise of ‘honest critique’. I was accused of writing erotica and breaking contest rules. I was spoken to as if I were nothing more than a bug beneath the feet of the contest host. And I was TOLD to go away and re-write my poem and then re-submit if I wanted critique from her.

This infuriated me and I was terribly hurt.  The poem in question 

http://allpoetry.com/poem/2757642

met all the criteria of the contest and was dedicated by me to someone in her final

days on this earth. But that is beside the point.

What I want to do now is talk about the concept of honest critique without causing offence. To start with, I would like to put forward a few ideas and suggestions that will help aspiring poets and mature writers alike in the critique process.  I chose the letter 'I' to do this to remind us all that poetry is subjective and so is a critique. What one person may love may leave another cold. I have posted poems in a few different genres and received rave reviews by some and have had my work ripped to shreds by others. Remember when you critique the work of others to always be constructive and positive. Rather than say something offensive and hurtful, say nothing at all. When you express how you feel about a person's work, be careful to state 'I feel...' and 'I think...' rather than to say 'This poem is...' etc.  Offering unsolicited critique can be very hurtful, and I will go so far as to say it is downright rude unless you are a critic by profession. It is just simple good manners to show respect and not insult others, especially when they have done nothing to harm you personally.

When you do make these statements, always substantiate your words. For example - 'I felt that this poem could have been more effectively rendered by...' or 'I would suggest that you...' Always ask yourself the question 'How have I added value with this critique?' Critique should always add value. Your intention should never be to hurt the feelings of the poet. It should be to encourage, to educate and to inspire.
And remember too, that even the WORST piece of writing is of value to the author. And there is some good in everything. We need to find that tiny fragment of good, cup it lovingly in our hands, and praise it. Only then can we know in our hearts that we have done the right thing.

CRITIQUE

You're pleased with the poem, and you don't need poetry analysis to know it's good. But have you checked — got a colleague to read it through, asked a tutor, presented the piece at a poetry workshop? Readers are perverse creatures, and will cavil in strange ways. Anticipate. Criticize the piece yourself, in your own time, from all angles, before wounding remarks bring you up short. This is a very similar process as the one in creative writing. Remember that evaluation is not a handing down of judgments, but a slow acquisition of essential writing skills.

When you examine a poem you could use this checklist to help you to critique and provide constructive feedback
(Please scroll down):

Insight
A poem will often give us insight into a person's thoughts. What does this poem tell you about the poet?


Interpretation
What was your interpretation of the poem? What do you believe the poet meant for you to interpret?


Influence, Impact
How did the poem influence you? What impact did it have upon you? Describe from your own perspective remembering that this might not have been what the poet intended.


Ideas
Comment upon the ideas used. Was the poet original?


Illustration
How well did the poet or writer illustrate his / her points? If a poet used graphics to enhance his / her poem, how well did this fit? Did the illustration enhance or detract from the poem?


Inspiration
Poetry can be very inspirational. How were you inspired by the work?


Informative
How much information was supplied? Was it enough? Was more information needed to make the poem more meaningful?


Ignite, Inflame or incite
This goes again to what kind of emotion was evoked when reading the poem. Sometimes poetry is intended to elicit a response. Sometimes the poet's intention is to incite rather than impact in a positive way.


Imagery
This is probably one of the most important factors to consider when reading poetry. When you read the words, what images do you see? How powerful and vivid were the mental images? Could the poet have painted a more vivid picture?


Imagination, Innovation
It is important for a poet to use his or her imagination and to be innovative. Use of cliches and hackneyed expressions greatly detract from the poem. Originality is the key. How effective was the poet in this area?


Impersonation
Was the poem in any way reminiscent of the poetry of another? Again this goes to originality. A poet should always strive to express naturally and should avoid copying the style of any other poet. We may be influenced by poets we admire but our work should always be our own. Careful never to plagiarize.


Inflection
How has the poet used patterns or stress and intonation in the poem? Has this been effecitve?


Inflated
Has the poet tended to exaggerate or slip into hyperbole? Sometimes this technique is used when writing comical poetry but it is important that the poet is careful not to over-ice the cake.


Idioms
Check for use of idiomatic expression. Has this worked in the poem? Suggestions?


Intellect, intelligence
Although it doesn't take great intelligence to write good poetry, a lot of thought should go into the writing or rather revision of a first draft. Sometimes when I write creatively, I let my creative mind have free rein but I will invariably go back and put a lot of thought into what my words are saying, how they will be read by others and also into how the technical aspects of the poem work (e.g. rhyme if applicable, meter etc.)


Introspective
Is the poet being introspective or does the poem cause you to become introspective? Poetry should always lead to reflection and this may lead to enlightenment.


Incomplete
One of the faults of many poets is to leave an idea incomplete or unfinished. This can be effective but it is important that the poet completes his / her work. Could the poet have completed his or her ideas better? Were words missing? etc.


Impression
The poet entices a reader with the opening line and leaves an impression with the closing line. Has the poem left you with a positive or lasting impression? The impact of some of the poetry I have read in my life has left an indelible impression upon me.

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This list is by no means complete. You could probably add your own list. Sometimes it helps to have a list such as this on hand just to remind you about what to look for. You don't need to list all your responses in a review but this is a good guideline to poetry appreciation. I only hope I have done some good posting this column.

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Now I would like to share the thoughts of someone I shall refer to as Chanti.

Happiness is a beam of sunshine.

It illuminates the shadows in even the darkest of hearts!

“ I have managed even through adverse circumstances in my life to find happiness deep down inside – almost like finding precious treasure within a dark cave. In the past I have at times blamed others for my state of unhappiness and even although the actions of other's may have caused me personal harm, blame is always counterproductive and leads to nothing but bitterness. Now, instead of looking for flaws in others, I look for potential and in this way I have been able to learn from others and have discovered what real love is about. Through tough times, in observing the possibilities in others and exploring the possibilities within myself, I have realised that there is a rainbow to be found after every storm. In facing storms (mine and those of others), I have grown and have come to appreciate everything with which I have been blessed.

I believe that happiness cannot be found in always trying to be better than others, but rather in helping others be the best that they can be and growing through the process myself. It is in becoming wealthy not in what I have in the way of material possessions but in becoming wealthy in areas that really count – wisdom (which is the application of knowledge) and in love – the love that I receive but far more importantly that which I give out.

Circumstances and difficult situations have threatened to destroy my optimism at times but I have come to realise that failure is not defeat unless I believe it is. Failure is not being knocked down but in not getting up and trying again after I have been knocked down. When I realise that every problem is simply an opportunity in disguise then the way I look at problems changes.

Success is measured in the ability to keep on getting up and in finding new innovative ways to tackle problems. When the path travelled has become difficult and resolution of a problem has taken a long time, my patience has had a chance to grow. I have come to learn that all that is worthwhile is worth waiting for. Happiness does not come from what happens in our lives but in how we learn to deal with what happens.

Failures are a normal part of life; they do not need to be disasters if I don’t let them destroy my peace. Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with conflict and to maintain a peace in spite of circumstances. Fear is the greatest enemy to peace but I try to remember that often fear is but False Evidence Appearing Real. More than 90% of what we worry never happens and worrying certainly never prevented the worst from happening. Constructive problem solving is one thing but worrying steals time, our most valuable and precious gift. To stop worrying takes discipline and determination. I have had to learn to control my thoughts and work hard at positively affirming the outcome I desire. Purpose may be birthed deep down inside, but as a seed is planted and needs to be watered in order to take root and grow, so I have had to apply myself to achieve my goals. It is, however, a work in progress and as I grow, so does my vision and thus my goals.


Happiness is my choice of attitude not my constant state of being. Happiness is something I wear on the outside; the attitude of happiness has the ability to change what I feel on the inside. It is impossible to smile and to have a happy demeanor on the outside without feeling better on the inside. We all have a choice whether to be morbid and morose but we also have the choice to live fruitfully, to love, to laugh and to be happy. Laughter is like sunshine; it illuminates your day and that of others who are touched by its rays. If we are friendly, people respond to us in a different way. A smile may happen in a flash but the memory of it can last a lifetime. It is important that we live so that our memories will be part of our happiness, drawn upon with a deep sense of satisfaction.

In everybody’s lives, there are times when sadness threatens to overwhelm and depression can creep in. We all have the capacity to weep as well as to laugh but sadness should be just for a season, just as winter is replaced by the spring.

In spite of all sadness and in spite of all pain, which all human beings must inevitably face, it is important that we believe that life is worth living, that there is a purpose to it all. Everyone will suffer hardship at some time and each can help to lighten the load of someone else. Somehow in sharing the load of another, your own burden becomes lighter. When a life is spent in the service of self, it is empty and vacuous but a when it is spent in the service of others, life becomes something of value.

This story illustrates so well how your happiness (or indeed anything in life) is determined by your choices.

In an ancient village, there was once was a wise old man whom it was reputed knew all things. It was the custom of the villagers to approach the wise old man when they had difficult questions or conflicts to resolve. One day, a local boy, approached the old man with a question. It was the little boy's intention to trick him and he had a mischievous smile upon his freckled face. With his hand outstretched, the boy asked the old man this question: ‘Old man, in my hand, I hold a butterfly – Is it alive or is it dead?’ The boy was certain that he had finally found a way to fool the wise man for if the old man said that the butterfly was alive, he would merely tighten his grip and kill it and if the old man said that the butterfly was dead, he would release the butterfly to fly away. Both ways he would prove the old man to be a fool. He could not help but chuckle with glee.

The wise old man pondered the question for a while with a smile playing on his wrinkled lips and then answered…

The answer to your question young man….lies in your own hands!”

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©crisstiena
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