This little community is still quite new to me, I'm not part of a writing group and I don't have any friends who are avid writers, so the notion of critical review of others work is something I've had little practice of (save for casting a cursory eye over my step-kids' homework, something I've learnt not to be too critical of; they tend not to appreciate complete honesty). As a result I find that it doesn't come easily to me.
For those who are experts at it, and there are a few on here: is this something you find comes naturally or have you practised and developed this ability over time? Do you read everything with the same critical approach or can you read for leisure without your proof-reader's eye leading the way? I think it's a useful skill to have, and will become more so as I edit and re-draft my own work, so tips on how to improve in this would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Mark.
I learned on a creative writing MA but I'm sure any decent writing course would have given me the same skills. I'm also a member of a writers' group - and I really can't recommend joining one enough. Mine developed from the MA and we've acquired other members through Twitter and our county writers' society but local libraries are often a good place to start if you're looking to join one.
As to whether I read for leisure with the same eye? Well, sometimes! I quite often find myself admiring an author's mastery of, say, changing PoV but I tend not to read a whole book with a critical eye. If I do, it usually means I'm not enjoying the book sufficiently!
Mark, my experience came from doing an OU creative writing course, where other students' opinions on an online forum were all part of the learning process. The tutor was allowed to comment, too, but only on 10percent of the work because she/he would be the one ending up with the job of marking the story eventually. It is a very valuable way of improving your writing because your (constructive) critics are themselves writers and have no interest in rubbishing or over-praising your work unless there are good grounds for doing so. You could also no doubt join a creative writing group locally where constructive feedback was part of the tutor's teaching approach. Or you could join in here on the W&A site.