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How To Critique a Short Story
Practical guidelines that you can also apply to your own short fiction
Short stories are a popular form to write, even if we’re constantly told nobody reads them! They’re not like novels — they have their own unique structure and requirements. A short story can be literary or genre, short or quite long, but more than anything, it needs to leave the reader with something to think about. Something that you could call an epiphany. But how the heck do you know if it’s working?
You may be in a writing critique group, a friend may have asked you to read their story, or you might simply have a story you want to revise. Here are some guidelines and questions to help you give constructive feedback, or work through on your own story.
Begin your critique with questions
What kind of story is it? If it’s literary, what will you expect from it? e.g. not a lot of physical/external action, more internal conflict and characterization. Maybe less closure in the ending. Some kind of moment where there is a turn, an epiphany, a realization.
If it’s genre, what will you expect from it? More action, a sense of the genre through setting, story problem, strong ending/closure. Does it feel too familiar, or has it managed to bring something…
