How to Comment Guides Properly

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Purpose of this little discussion is just to point out some things about every day's comments each one of us is posting in this section. I have seen every sort of comments here, from detailed, well structured ones, to a simple "I like it" rather ******ed ones, and even some responses like "I don't have time yet, I'm gonna read it later."

Eh, sorry mate, but, why are you posting if you didn't read it yet? (This wasn't directed to nobody in particular, but I guess some of us might find ourselves in it).

Too much praise is not good, but so isn't too much criticism. If you praise someone too much (exceptions for the pieces that are really praise-worthy), the praised author will slowly develop a feeling that he already mastered the writing, and won't make any effort to improve.

On the other hand, if you write too much negative criticism on someone's work, there is high possibility that the criticized writer is just going to give up, having a feeling that he is just not made for writing.

So, here I will try to give some basic guidelines to the "proper" commenting. I quoted proper, because there really isn't a proper way to do it, otherwise all our comments would be look-a-like. On contrary, I will just try to give you some tips as I feel it would be nice to do it.

First part: Good Points & Strengths

Always start your commenting with telling something good about story. Even the worst story here has something good in it. Hack, even if it completely sucks, tell the writer that you appreciate an effort he had put into writing. Also this will help the writer to look on the following criticism of yours as a helpful rather than a personal attack on him.

Second part: General Criticism

Third part: Specific Criticism

Now all you typo-finders can have a relief. This part serves as a way to point at a certain wrong sentences and words in the story. Feel free to quote as much as you like. But just one thing. Before you start correction someone, make sure you do know the right way how to type that word or to rearrange that sentence, because just a negative comment without an advice is useless.

Fourth part: Summary

You criticism should end in a positive way. If you finish your comment with in a positive spirit,as it is more likely that way the writer will take your criticism without any personal feeling, and actually will try to improve. Even if you have ran out of all ideas here, a simple " Good luck in further writing!" can conclude the whole commenting in a positive note.

Well, this is what I think about commenting and giving criticism. This isn't some rule of how it has to be done, but rather a small guideline for all of us. You don't have to stick to it, but if this read would make some impact on the way you are commenting, that means that I have succeeded in my original intention. Feel free to add something if you think differently than I do.

Good luck in further commenting!

An idea for writing, and the basic structure came to me from the following site: Reviewers' Handbook. I suggest you to take a look at it, as it goes more in-depth than my small article.

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