Writing Critique
On reviewing others26 total reviews
Comment from Begin Again
Bravo! Your words bounced off the walls of my mind and then bounced again. I too have recently returned to writing after many tragic years in hiatus dealing with life. I too appreciated the constructive advice and thoughts. Maybe it's my aging process but I couldn't stop from taking exception to someone who gave me a 3 because of my choice of font. I'm not kidding! I was told that it stopped the reader from even reading my story. It's a new jungle out there and I'm not sure how adventurous I am. Thanks for sharing. Smiles to you!
reply by the author on 10-Jan-2021
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Bravo! Your words bounced off the walls of my mind and then bounced again. I too have recently returned to writing after many tragic years in hiatus dealing with life. I too appreciated the constructive advice and thoughts. Maybe it's my aging process but I couldn't stop from taking exception to someone who gave me a 3 because of my choice of font. I'm not kidding! I was told that it stopped the reader from even reading my story. It's a new jungle out there and I'm not sure how adventurous I am. Thanks for sharing. Smiles to you!
Comment Written 10-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 10-Jan-2021
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Your kidding!!!! because of font! It should have been advise only. I got advise on my font with my first posting. By the way, someone said if I outlined and pressed control + I can increase the font, I am told and a control minus decreases it.. 20/22 is what I usually use now. Most writers are helpful, and as a punctuation challenged writer, I get correction not slammed by most with a couple of exceptions.
You can mute a writer. I did one when she gave me 4 poor reviews for my grammar. I saw it as rewriting. One bad review was one thing but 4!
I am glad you are turning to writing as a comfort and do not be discouraged by unreasonable rating for font or even punctuation.
Thank you for the rating.
Regards,
Mary
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Thanks for your encouragement, Mary. I've one girl who haunts me with her 4-star reviews because of a comma. I'm also often told how great the story was but she gives me a low grade. Confusing! Smiles to you from Carol
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If she does it often mute her.There are so many helpful writers here.
Mary
Comment from Judy Lawless
You have spoken out on behalf of many writers on here, even some of the top writers. Honest critiquing is encouraging and useful, only if it points out the good as well as the areas that need work. Otherwise, new writers give up. Unfortunately, there are some on here that think reviewing means pointing out only the errors. Don't let them destroy your confidence! This is the only work of yours that I've seen, but I plan to look for more. From what I see here, I think you have great potential.
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2021
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You have spoken out on behalf of many writers on here, even some of the top writers. Honest critiquing is encouraging and useful, only if it points out the good as well as the areas that need work. Otherwise, new writers give up. Unfortunately, there are some on here that think reviewing means pointing out only the errors. Don't let them destroy your confidence! This is the only work of yours that I've seen, but I plan to look for more. From what I see here, I think you have great potential.
Comment Written 09-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2021
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Thank you Judy for your kind words of encouragement and review. It is truly appreciated.
Regards
Mary
Comment from Alli Johnston
I for one think you are a beautiful writer and sometimes the lower reviews or a stroke of their own ego, and should be taken with a grain of salt. I have been on here for a very short time and have had a low rating or two without any reason given and I have gone back through and tried so hard to figure out what I did wrong I wasn't able to find anything. Remember you are your own biggest critic
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2021
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I for one think you are a beautiful writer and sometimes the lower reviews or a stroke of their own ego, and should be taken with a grain of salt. I have been on here for a very short time and have had a low rating or two without any reason given and I have gone back through and tried so hard to figure out what I did wrong I wasn't able to find anything. Remember you are your own biggest critic
Comment Written 09-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2021
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Thank you Alli for your kind thoughts and review. If you get a low rating you deserve a reason. Admittedly sometimes if you are not careful it defaults to a 4. I did not notice once and the writer asked me why the low rating. I apologized and changed my rating.
Comment from Jay Squires
I flat-out love this piece of introspection on the strange world of ego and editing on FanStory. You seem to have very little of the first (at least its inflation) and if I'm not wrong, you crave the second. There are some excellent reviewers here on FS. Consider yourself gifted if you ever get a review from "Turtle-who?" She offers page after page of a line-by-line extrapolation of your piece. And done brilliantly!
Here' something I want to point out before I forget it:
"However, months of isolation with someone who wants to talk history for hours, even days, will drive someone to drink or writing." [Something I've learned over 65 + years of writing is that if you want to emphasize something, Isolate it. So, consider giving "or writing" a sentence of its own. "...will drive someone to drink. Or writing." To me, that really gives the sentence or the whole paragraph a pop!]
You'll find the grammar police always out on patrol, protecting our sweet neighborhood from any who would pollute it with an errant comma or, God Forbid, a double negative. So, give them a donut for their hard work.
By the way, your husband sounds brilliant. I'd like to have coffee with him--for about ten minutes.
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2021
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I flat-out love this piece of introspection on the strange world of ego and editing on FanStory. You seem to have very little of the first (at least its inflation) and if I'm not wrong, you crave the second. There are some excellent reviewers here on FS. Consider yourself gifted if you ever get a review from "Turtle-who?" She offers page after page of a line-by-line extrapolation of your piece. And done brilliantly!
Here' something I want to point out before I forget it:
"However, months of isolation with someone who wants to talk history for hours, even days, will drive someone to drink or writing." [Something I've learned over 65 + years of writing is that if you want to emphasize something, Isolate it. So, consider giving "or writing" a sentence of its own. "...will drive someone to drink. Or writing." To me, that really gives the sentence or the whole paragraph a pop!]
You'll find the grammar police always out on patrol, protecting our sweet neighborhood from any who would pollute it with an errant comma or, God Forbid, a double negative. So, give them a donut for their hard work.
By the way, your husband sounds brilliant. I'd like to have coffee with him--for about ten minutes.
Comment Written 07-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2021
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Thank you for the review and kind thoughts. I also want to thank you for the suggestion. Yes, he is brilliant. What is funny even if I am in the bathroom, he will stand outside and continue with his lecture.
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It has to be trying. It seemed indelicate to mention, but I'm going to anyway. Did he have the condition when you married? I thought it was diagnosed in childhood.
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It was diagnosed in childhood but at that time you were separated out as unusual.I think it makes him special.
He is a gentle soul
Comment from Leann DS
I couldn't agree with you more! I think someone gave me a 4 star one time for not including a photograph with my writing. I was like... What?! But, it's OK. I too appreciate corrections and constructive criticism, as I am here to learn and become a better writer. Your essay was fun to read and I laughed a couple times too!
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2021
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I couldn't agree with you more! I think someone gave me a 4 star one time for not including a photograph with my writing. I was like... What?! But, it's OK. I too appreciate corrections and constructive criticism, as I am here to learn and become a better writer. Your essay was fun to read and I laughed a couple times too!
Comment Written 07-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2021
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Thank you for your review and comments.It is appreciated. A 4 star for no picture is not constructive but being nasty!
Mary
Comment from RetroStarfish
What an excellent essay about the art of editing. As you know, art can be subjective. I enjoyed reading your work immensely. Sometimes I read a piece on this site and I struggle - do I give it a 4 because I don't feel it is well written, even when there is nothing wrong wrong with it? Or do I bow to pressure and expectation and give a 5 to a pedantic story that is not to my taste.
You've turned this idea on its head by looking at the art of reviewing. And, it is an art. Well done! Well written too! You've used all the senses, as in this excellent sentence:
'...a turd is a turd (repeating again) so much so, the smell comes off the page.'
No struggle here. You deserve the 5.
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2021
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What an excellent essay about the art of editing. As you know, art can be subjective. I enjoyed reading your work immensely. Sometimes I read a piece on this site and I struggle - do I give it a 4 because I don't feel it is well written, even when there is nothing wrong wrong with it? Or do I bow to pressure and expectation and give a 5 to a pedantic story that is not to my taste.
You've turned this idea on its head by looking at the art of reviewing. And, it is an art. Well done! Well written too! You've used all the senses, as in this excellent sentence:
'...a turd is a turd (repeating again) so much so, the smell comes off the page.'
No struggle here. You deserve the 5.
Comment Written 06-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 06-Jan-2021
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Thank you for your input on this subject.I truly appreciate your insight and thoughts
Regards
Mary
Comment from patcelaw
I am glad you came to F?S and that you are writing and critiquing other writer and enjoying the critiques of other, May your writing in the new year be blessed, Happy New Year.
Patricia
reply by the author on 05-Jan-2021
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I am glad you came to F?S and that you are writing and critiquing other writer and enjoying the critiques of other, May your writing in the new year be blessed, Happy New Year.
Patricia
Comment Written 05-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 05-Jan-2021
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Thank you Patricia for your support and review.
Happy New Year
Mary
Comment from lancellot
In everything there will be extremes, neither is good, but they are to be expected. Getting the low review with no feedback is bad, but so getting empty praise and fiver when your work is full of errors and confusion.
We get both here. Just try to think of it like this. For every negative review you get that you do not deserve, you will two or three positive five star reviews that you do not deserve, where the reviewer didn't read your post.
The point is to filter out what you can and have self-confidence in your work. Be honest with yourself and you will always grow.
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2021
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In everything there will be extremes, neither is good, but they are to be expected. Getting the low review with no feedback is bad, but so getting empty praise and fiver when your work is full of errors and confusion.
We get both here. Just try to think of it like this. For every negative review you get that you do not deserve, you will two or three positive five star reviews that you do not deserve, where the reviewer didn't read your post.
The point is to filter out what you can and have self-confidence in your work. Be honest with yourself and you will always grow.
Comment Written 04-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2021
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Thank you Lancellot not only for the review but for the support. It truly is appreciated.
I do agree in giving empty praise. If I cannot understand or do not like a writing. I pass it over as what I may not see, others better read than me will give it the review it deserves.
Mary
Comment from thaities, Rebecca V.
I think you hit the nail on the head in this post. Commas are my downfall. My goal with each post is to get no errors from any reviewer. I used to gets scads, but this week I finally only got one! It was about hyphens. I've had lots of help from reviewers, and I try not to make the same mistake twice. Loved your post. I can relate.
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2021
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I think you hit the nail on the head in this post. Commas are my downfall. My goal with each post is to get no errors from any reviewer. I used to gets scads, but this week I finally only got one! It was about hyphens. I've had lots of help from reviewers, and I try not to make the same mistake twice. Loved your post. I can relate.
Comment Written 04-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2021
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Thank you Rebecca, I agree we love the support and help. I have so many reviewers who are shiny stars themselves catching my errors. I try to catch myself to and have learned quite a bit. Sometimes, I cannot see the error because I have the writing in my head.
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Same here!
Comment from Ronni
Hi dear Mary,
Your point and dismay is well taken to task and question of
those kind of perfection obsessed reviewers, who give lowest
critiques, and grammatical or technical flaws in their reviews,
but offer no constructive comments or suggestions, which
if they were as aware and versed in the site's Guidelines for
reviews and ratings, as they are in fault with certain words
or expressions, they would be more helpful and respectful of
writer's work, than trashing and belittling it to sound authorative.
Never mind the bashers of your work, and just keep on writing
anyway and all the more edified and appreciative of those reviewers
who do take time to suggest, encourage and compliment your
work and effort, that is what I learned and can relate to you with.
Tanks for sharing dear....keep writing!
Best wishes always, Ronni
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2021
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Hi dear Mary,
Your point and dismay is well taken to task and question of
those kind of perfection obsessed reviewers, who give lowest
critiques, and grammatical or technical flaws in their reviews,
but offer no constructive comments or suggestions, which
if they were as aware and versed in the site's Guidelines for
reviews and ratings, as they are in fault with certain words
or expressions, they would be more helpful and respectful of
writer's work, than trashing and belittling it to sound authorative.
Never mind the bashers of your work, and just keep on writing
anyway and all the more edified and appreciative of those reviewers
who do take time to suggest, encourage and compliment your
work and effort, that is what I learned and can relate to you with.
Tanks for sharing dear....keep writing!
Best wishes always, Ronni
Comment Written 04-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 04-Jan-2021
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Thank you Ronni. Your comments mean so much to me.
It is appreciated very much.
Take care and stay well.
Regards,
Mary