191 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
191 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
# Critique Areas Reference
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This is a reference guide for common areas to examine when critiquing fiction. **This is not a mandatory checklist** - use your judgment about what matters for each story.
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## Plot & Structure
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**What to examine:**
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- Story structure (three-act, episodic, etc.)
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- Cause and effect chains
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- Pacing (too slow, too fast, uneven)
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- Scene purposes (what changes in each scene?)
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- Setup and payoff
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- Plot holes and logic gaps
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- Stakes and tension
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- Beginning hook, middle momentum, ending resolution
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**Common issues:**
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- Saggy middle (lack of momentum)
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- Rushed ending
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- Scenes without purpose
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- Deus ex machina
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- Convenient coincidences
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- Stakes not clear
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- Characters know things they shouldn't
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- Timeline inconsistencies
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## Character Development
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**What to examine:**
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- Character motivations (why they do things)
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- Consistency of personality and voice
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- Character agency (do they drive the plot?)
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- Complexity (flaws, contradictions, depth)
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- Character arcs (growth, change, resistance to change)
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- Relationships (believable dynamics)
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- Distinct voices (can you tell characters apart?)
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**Common issues:**
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- Reactive protagonist (things happen TO them, not driven BY them)
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- Flat arc (no change or growth when one is expected)
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- Inconsistent characterization
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- Characters acting for plot convenience
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- All characters sound the same
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- Unmotivated actions
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- Sudden personality changes without explanation
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## Pacing & Flow
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**What to examine:**
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- Scene momentum (does story move forward?)
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- Chapter pacing (fast/slow appropriate to content?)
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- Transitions (smooth between scenes/time?)
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- Balance (summary vs scene, action vs reflection)
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- Dead space (sections that drag)
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- Chapter hooks (end on tension/question?)
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- Information reveal timing
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**Common issues:**
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- Slow opening
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- Info dumps
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- Repetitive scenes
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- Lack of scene variety
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- Uneven pacing
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- Flat momentum
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- Scenes that neither advance plot nor develop character
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## Dialogue
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**What to examine:**
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- Naturalism (sounds like real speech)
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- Subtext (characters don't always say what they mean)
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- Character voice (distinct per character)
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- Purpose (moves plot/reveals character/builds relationships)
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- Info-dumping (exposition disguised as dialogue)
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- Tags and beats (attribution clear?)
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**Common issues:**
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- On-the-nose dialogue (too explicit)
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- Info dumps in conversation
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- All characters sound the same
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- Unnatural speech patterns
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- Too much exposition
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- Unclear who's speaking
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- "As you know, Bob" syndrome
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## Prose & Technical
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**What to examine:**
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- Sentence clarity and variety
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- Show vs tell balance
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- Filter words ("saw", "heard", "felt")
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- Passive voice (excessive use)
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- Word choice (precise, appropriate)
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- Purple prose (over-description)
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- Repetition (word choice, sentence structure)
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- Grammar and technical errors
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**Common issues:**
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- Telling instead of showing
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- Filter words distancing reader
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- Monotonous sentence rhythm
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- Unclear action/description
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- Excessive adjectives/adverbs
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- Weak verb choices
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- Confusing pronoun references
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- Repetitive sentence structures
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## Audience & Genre Fit
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**Genre-Specific Considerations:**
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**Fanfiction:**
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- Canon adherence vs divergence (as intended)
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- Character voice matching source material
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- Reader expectations for ships, battles, favorite characters
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- Update frequency and chapter hooks (if web serial)
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**YA:**
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- Protagonist age-appropriate
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- Pacing fast enough
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- Romance/relationships age-appropriate
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- Coming-of-age themes
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**Literary Fiction:**
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- Prose quality high
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- Thematic depth
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- Character complexity
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- Subtlety over explicit
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**Web Serial:**
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- Chapter hooks and cliffhangers
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- Consistent posting structure
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- Reader engagement hooks
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- Pacing for serial format
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**Traditional Publishing:**
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- Opening hook strong
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- Pacing professional
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- Meets genre expectations
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- Marketability
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**Fantasy/Sci-Fi:**
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- Worldbuilding clear but not info-dumpy
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- Magic/tech systems consistent
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- Lore revealed naturally
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- Balancing exposition with story
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**Thriller/Mystery:**
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- Pacing maintains tension
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- Clues planted fairly
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- Red herrings work
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- Satisfying resolution
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**Romance:**
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- Relationship development central
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- Chemistry between leads
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- Satisfying romantic arc
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- Genre-appropriate heat level
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## Universal Craft Principles
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These apply regardless of genre:
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**Emotional Resonance:**
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- Reader can connect with characters
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- Emotional beats land
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- Stakes feel meaningful
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- Tension exists
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**Clarity:**
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- Reader can follow what's happening
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- Scene goals are clear
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- Action is comprehensible
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- Transitions work
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**Consistency:**
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- World rules stay stable
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- Character abilities don't fluctuate randomly
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- Timeline makes sense
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- Tone remains appropriate
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**Purpose:**
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- Scenes have reason to exist
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- Details serve the story
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- Nothing feels arbitrary
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- Reader trusts the author
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---
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**Remember:** This is a reference, not a prescription. Some stories will have issues not listed here. Some listed issues won't apply to certain stories. Trust your judgment.
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