Review your reviewing skills

To some, the power of the red pen is mightier than the sword. But in actual fact, reviewing someone else’s writing can be a challenging task.

First of all, there’s a tricky balance to strike between what is actually incorrect and what comes down to matters of personal taste. Secondly, if you don’t review thoroughly and efficiently, it can take many rounds of edits to get to the final draft. And don’t forget, there are feelings at stake!

Our top tips below should make the reviewing process smoother for both the writer and the reviewer.

1. Be positive
   Every piece of writing will have strengths – so make sure you tell the writer about them. That way the writer will know what’s working well and keep up the good work. Also, it will make any constructive criticism easier to swallow.
2. Allow enough time for edits
   Ensure there’s enough time between you receiving the draft and the deadline for the writer to make any necessary changes (which could be substantial). Even better, ask to see an outline of the draft at an early stage and approve that before the writer gets started.
3. Don’t proofread
   If you’re responsible for giving feedback on a piece of writing, don’t try to proofread at the same time. Looking at too many things at once can be distracting and inefficient. (However, if you do need some advice on proofreading, check out our ‘Ten tips for better proofreading‘ blog.)
4. Be helpful
   The most unhelpful comments a writer can receive are along the lines of ‘this is wrong’ or ‘don’t say this’. Always give alternative suggestions and an explanation as to why.
5. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
   H.G Wells once said, “No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else’s draft.” But an overactive red pen can be very counter-productive. Remember that another writer is never going to produce exactly the same writing as you would. And that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Make sure the changes you suggest are justified and not based on your personal dislike of something.