Welcome to MM, Gene.
What are your literary goals here at MM?
One has to start somewhere when it comes to critiquing another's work. There are many tips posted around our site, and you'll surely find many more elsewhere. I guess one of the best places to start is to be honest and courteous. Always look for the positive(s) and offer feedback.Be constructive. Do not only point out what you find wrong in the piece, offer suggestions on how to improve it. Be diplomatic, critiquing is subjective and may hold different interpretations for different readers. Try not to belabor a point. When in doubt, ask for clarification. You may not be the only one who does not understand something within the piece.
Critique as you'd like to be critiqued. Avoid personal antagonistic remarks, focus on the piece, not the writer and keep the goal of improvement in mind.
What is the message in the work? Has the writer adequately conveyed his/her message within the content of the work? Does this message have the same meaning to the reader as it does to the writer? Words on a page can be very striking and pretty, but do they make sense? Are they the 'right' words to use to convey the intended message?
What is the IMAGE of the work? Does the work set a mental picture in the reader's mind? Does the imagery presented reinforce and compliment the message of the work?
Is there a RHYTHM to the work?Is there a pleasing flow to the work as you read it? Do the sounds of the words (if meter is employed) compliment each other from line to line, thought to thought ? Do the transitions impede the flow? Punctuation can play a part in the rhythm as well.
Welcome!
~Cleo