<b>General:</b>
The intent of this forum is to provide a place for members who desire serious, constructive critique of their work. This is not the place to get a bunch of “nice pen!†and “wow, great job!†posts. If you just want to show off your work without critique (and there is nothing wrong with that!), visit the
Show Off Your Pens forum. (See note below about posting in both forums.)
By posting your work in the Critiques Forum, you are asking your fellow penturners to point out the positive and negative aspects of your work, and suggest ways you can improve it with different design, material, finish, or technique choices.
When you receive a critique, accept it graciously. Asking for a critique, then getting upset when you receive it will significantly limit the number of responses you get in the future. Use the feedback you get to improve your work, OR ignore it and move on.
When giving a critique, be constructive. Give the kind of information you would value receiving for your own work. Offer commentary that helps the maker see the work in a new light, provides specific ways to improve it, and contributes to creative growth.
The Critiques Forum is not for general conversation. A bit of back and forth followup discussion is acceptable, but stay focused on the pen under consideration. Don’t argue with people providing critiques or dispute the validity of the feedback. If someone repeatedly provides useless criticism, the moderators will deal with it.
<b>What makes a good critique?</b>
Responses should provide some type of instructional, educational, and constructive feedback regarding the work. A critique should point out something done well, and the biggest improvement that you think can be made and why you think so.
The objective is not to point out the difference between the posted work and a museum quality masterpiece, but rather to improve the posted work. Comments should take into account the skill level of the maker. Someone's third pen deserves a different critique than a complicated custom job from an old-timer.
Remember, like everything else in life, there are good and bad critiques. A critique is an opinion, and improvements are best had when there are multiple viewpoints. Don’t critique other critiques! Focus on the posted work and your opinion of it.
<b>Tips for those seeking critiques:</b>
PLEASE post good photos. Use close-ups of specific areas if it will help the reviewers. If you post a blurry photo, the moderators may lock or delete your topic and ask you to post a better photo.
Describe the work. Include the kit manufacturer and model, plating, type of wood or other material, special techniques used, etc. Describe any specialized techniques or tools used. Put some effort into helping people understand what you’ve done and how you’ve done it.
If you’re looking for comments on a particular aspect of the pen, such as the shape, fit, finish, etc., say what you’re looking for or what you want ignored. If your skill level is not well known (perhaps you are a new member…) let us know something about your experience.
<b>Tips for those providing critiques:</b>
Don’t critique someone’s work unless you know what you’re talking about. Bad advice serves nobody. Offer critiques that are within your experience base. Nobody is standing at the door checking your credentials, but the voice of experience vastly improves the value of the critique. If you’re regularly offering critiques on complicated, custom designs, and you have nothing but straight, bushing-to-bushing slimlines in your photo album, your input will likely carry less credibility.
Remember that you are critiquing the work, not the person. Avoid personal references by talking about “itâ€, the pen, rather than “youâ€, the maker. Avoid using vague words like “niceâ€, “I like…â€, “goodâ€, or “bad†unless you can follow them with some specific supporting comments.
When you provide a critique, be clear, concise, honest, and direct, without being mean. This is not the place to flame or air personal grudges. Focus on the work under critique and be specific with your suggestions and observations.
<b>Crossposting:</b>
It's perfectly acceptable to post in both the Show Off You Pens Forum and the Critiques Forum. However, please don't upload the same photo twice. Use the "My Previously Uploaded Files" button in the photo upload box to select the same photo for the second post.
<b>Adminstrivia:</b>
Moderators will lock Critique topics after approximately two weeks. The nature of a critique is to improve future work. If you respond long after the request was posted, the maker may have long passed the point where your critique is useful.
Critiques will be archived on the same schedule as most other forums, approximately four months after the topic is locked.
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