: Re: What to look for when criticizing poetry? A recent question got me thinking about how to criticize poetry well and I realized I am not very good at it. I can do themes, and that's about

I have my own three-part rubric I've used for years for critiquing any creative project:

Craft: How skillful is it? What command of the technical basics does the creator have? In terms of poetry, if it is a formal poem, does it meet all the rules? If the rules are broken, are they broken for good reason? Is it presented well, and in a way that is free of mistakes?
Creativity: Is it original? Is it fresh? Does it break new ground? Does it take risks? Is it memorable? Is it surprising?
Depth: Does it move the audience? Does it take on challenging subject material? Does it have deeper levels and layers of meaning? Is it heartfelt? Is it important or significant?

Using this rubric, there's almost always something to praise AND some valuable avenues for improvement. It's equally applicable to all art forms, and it works towards well-rounded artworks that excel across a wide variety of criteria. I've also found it to be successful in guiding people who wish to improve their art, which should be the end goal of all criticism. Remember, however, it's just as important, if not more so, to find the things that are being done well as it is to identify the areas for growth.

Load Full (0)

: A handful of gems So I'm facing an issue after many years of writing, and several unsuccessful novels. In my own estimation, all my books contain a "handful of gems" --wonderful scenes that

@Kevin153

Load Full 4 Comments

: Good characters need to be compelling, which is not necessarily the same as relatable but can be. Compelling characters have strong motivations that you, as a reader, understand; a relatable

@Kevin153

Load Full 0 Comments

: What is special in API documentation compared to general technical writing? The title says it all: what is special in Application Programming Interface documentation compared to general technical

@Kevin153

Load Full 4 Comments

: In a professional email you need to quote something from a business document. How do you write this? This is in a professional email. I'm quoting from a business document that was sent to

: Re: What to look for when criticizing poetry? A recent question got me thinking about how to criticize poetry well and I realized I am not very good at it. I can do themes, and that's about

More posts by @Kevin153

: A handful of gems So I'm facing an issue after many years of writing, and several unsuccessful novels. In my own estimation, all my books contain a "handful of gems" --wonderful scenes that

: Good characters need to be compelling, which is not necessarily the same as relatable but can be. Compelling characters have strong motivations that you, as a reader, understand; a relatable

: What is special in API documentation compared to general technical writing? The title says it all: what is special in Application Programming Interface documentation compared to general technical

: In a professional email you need to quote something from a business document. How do you write this? This is in a professional email. I'm quoting from a business document that was sent to

Login to post a comment!

0 Comments

Back to top