Two Types of Feedback We’re Looking For:
- Literary analysis
- Writing review & critique
Think of it as a book club discussion but for each other’s writing. Respond first as a reader—what moved you, what intrigued you—then as a fellow writer/critic—what worked? What didn’t work?
You’re not expected to provide a deep literary analysis or a line-by-line critique (unless you want to!). A few thoughtful comments on what you enjoyed and what could be improved go a long way. You must engage with both literary analysis and writing critique in your feedback, but the depth of your critique is up to you.
Levels of Feedback Depth
Each group can decide how in-depth their critiques will be, but here are two general approaches:
Quick Feedback (Light Analysis) – If you’re short on time but still want to contribute:
- A few thoughtful sentences on what worked well.
- One or two areas for improvement.
- Think of this as a reader’s reaction rather than an in-depth review.
In-Depth Critique (Detailed Analysis) – For those who want to dig deeper into craft and structure:
- A paragraph or more of feedback, analyzing characterization, themes, structure, and prose.
- Optional: Line-by-line critique on sentences, flow, and stylistic choices.
- If you’d like this level of critique, let your group know at the start of the session!
Writers can specify what level of critique they prefer (e.g., general impressions vs. detailed critique), but all feedback must still touch on both literary analysis and writing critique.