The essential task as a sympathetic critical responder is to help the writers help themselves.

Treat all writers and their writing with respect, and try to see the writing from the writer's perspective even as you provide critical feedback from a proficient reader's point of view.

Try to keep conferences efficient and limited in focus—identify two or three aspects of the writing—provide the critical feedback or instruction required, then send the writer off to apply what he or she has learned.

The first stage of the conference is to determine from both the writer and the writing in front of you what the writer has done well and what he or she could do better. Call attention to aspects of the writing which are commendable and effective and encourage continued application of these particular virtues.

You need to assess what you can do in the limited time available which would be the greatest service to the writer. Prioritize the aspects of the writing which most require revision for the piece of writing to succeed.

Identify a weakness or fault and explain as precisely as you can why it should be revised; then both explain and show how to revise it. Let the writer revise other mistakes of the same kind in the piece of writing; do not edit the writer's work, but enable the writer to edit his or her own writing.

Finally, do not suggest corrections unless you are certain that the writing is incorrect or unless you can make a very clear and convincing case for making the change—typically, there will be much in the writing that warrants constructive feedback unequivocally, so you don't need to clutter the conversation with arguable differences in authorial preferences.