The Outstanding Critique Contest

Details

This is a member-run contest. Thanks to Walter Wenger for handling it!

Critiques come in many flavors. They can address technical or stylistic elements, characterization or plotting; they can perform close readings of the text or refer to literary sources. Critiques can be long, short, detailed, succinct, humorous or deadly serious.

But there’s one thing an excellent critique always is: helpful.

What distinguishes the truly useful critique is the extent to which it makes the author open his or her eyes wide and shout "Eureka!" That’s why critiquing is so tricky—no two authors are exactly the same. What one may find insightful, another will consider unmitigated gall.

Because of this, nominations to the member-created critique contest must be made not by critiquers justly proud of their own efforts, but by authors overwhelmed by a critique’s helpfulness. If you've been incredibly impressed by a critique you’ve received since January of 2012, send Walter Wenger a PM and nominate that critique for an award. Include a link to the critique and a short statement noting why you think it deserves recognition. You’re limited to one entry, so choose a critique that's truly outstanding.

You can nominate critiques that others have received too—you just can't (obviously) nominate a critique you wrote yourself.

The more great critiques we read, the more we can follow their example, and the more we do that, the more useful we are to each other. And that’s what we’re all here for, right?

After picking the winners, we'll ask permission from the critiquer and the author to make sure they want to be included, so don't worry—as always, you can be as private as you choose to be.

The winners have been announced! To find out the who and why, be sure to check out this thread.

Prizes

Rules

• Anyone may nominate a critique, but only one nomination is allowed per member.

• Critiques must have been written since January 1st, 2012.

• Nominated critiques must be of a work publicly visible on Scribophile at the time of judging.

• Nominations must be sent to Walter Wenger via private message before July, 2012.

• All nominations will be reviewed by a selected panel of judges. Winners will be asked if they want to accept before they're publicly announced.

Submission guidelines

• To nominate a critique, send a private message to Walter Wenger. Provide a link to the piece you wrote and the name of the critiquer whose critique you wish to nominate.

• After identifying the work and the name of the critiquer, provide a brief statement explaining how this critique was outstandingly helpful.

• All comments and critiques posted to the work by the nominated critiquer will be considered as part of the contest entry. Scratchpad comments will not be included.