How to Revise Creative Writing and Seek Constructive Critique

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This comprehensive video lesson guides students through the critical final stages of the creative writing process: revising and seeking critique. Using an engaging narrative involving a "Storysmith Trial," the host distinguishes between surface-level editing (grammar/spelling) and deep revision (pacing, mood, characterization). The video models how to self-evaluate a draft by reading aloud and annotating for strengths and weaknesses, using a concrete example of a story about office workers Cullen and May. A significant portion of the video focuses on the social and emotional aspects of the writing process. It demonstrates how to move beyond vague praise to request specific, actionable feedback from peers. Crucially, it addresses the natural human reaction of defensiveness when receiving criticism. Through a skit, the host models the wrong way to react (dismissing feedback) versus the right way (listening with an open mind), providing students with strategies to handle critique professionally. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent anchor for a writing workshop or peer review unit. It provides ready-made definitions for literary elements like pacing and mood, while offering practical templates for soliciting feedback. The video's emphasis on "asking the right questions" transforms peer review from a passive activity into a targeted diagnostic tool, making it invaluable for English Language Arts classrooms focusing on narrative writing.