Reflections on “Constructive Critique”

All the screenwriting classes I teach have some sort of workshop component to them, where participants are invited or depending upon the course expected to post pages for peer review. Here is what I post at the beginning of every one of my courses about “constructive critique”:

A professional screenwriter knows how to give and accept critiques on written material. This is called constructive critique. What that means for this course is two-fold: I expect you to give honest feedback on your classmates’ writing assignments. A second and equally important element of constructive critique is that I also expect you to provide creative suggestions as to how to possibly improve the material.

The goal is to create a positive evaluative environment. This does not mean everything you say about your classmates’ writing has to be spunky and upbeat. As I say, I expect you to provide honest feedback. If something doesn’t work for you, then as a professional, it is your responsibility to convey your thoughts.

Posting the comment “It sucks” does not qualify as a constructive critique. Why? Because you haven’t specified what you perceive the issue/problem to be. Honest feedback not only requires honesty from you, but also some specific evaluation of the material in question.

Now I understand none of us likes to be criticized. But please get this point: Criticism is not the same as criticizing. It is, rather, a critique, one person’s honest assessment of the material, not the writer.

So a writing mantra: “Always critique the material, not the writer.”

That’s that about honest feedback. But we don’t leave it there. As part of constructive critique, I expect you to do your best to follow up your assessment of the material with creative suggestions as to how to make the material better. This is critical in part because it helps to ensure a positive evaluation experience in our online classroom, and also forces you to become a better critical thinker.

It’s simple to take pot shots at material. It is not nearly as easy to come up with creative suggestions to make the scene, story, or characters work better.

Robert Towne, screenwriter extraordinaire who wrote Chinatown, among many other scripts, made this comment: “In rewriting what you have to be able to do is read a piece of material, say what’s wrong with it, know how to say what’s right with it, and then be able to do it yourself. That’s really what it comes down to. Some people say what’s wrong with something, some people can even say what’s right with it, and some people can do all three. But, you know, the more things that are required, the fewer people can do it. I think I can do it.”

A big reason to engage in constructive critique is so that you can learn to do all three.

And so yet another mantra. Regarding constructive critique: “Say what’s right with it, say what’s wrong with it, then say what you’d do to make it work better.”

It is important that each one of you engage in active constructive critique on every assignment. Your feedback will not only benefit your classmates, the process of formulating your opinion will improve your own creative understanding of screenwriting.

However you do it, connect with other writers. Good ones. Create a writing group. Commit to reading each others’ pages and provide a constructive critique. You’ll help them. They’ll help you. Everyone will become less ‘precious’ with their work. You will be learning how to accept critiques of your material, lock in on the good ideas, then implement them in rewrites.

If you can’t find other writers, consider taking one of a Screenwriting Master Class course. Great workshop environments and literally dozens of writing groups have emerged from my classes.

A great opportunity starts Monday, July 8 with my Prep: From Concept to Outline workshop. Work out your story with the benefit of my feedback and that of writing peers in a positive evaluative environment.