Writing Critique
On reviewing others26 total reviews
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
I agree, Mary. You make several valid points. The main one, I believe, is to politely offer edits when the reviewer notices they are needed. Too many rate on their preferences rather than the style the author selects. Personal preferences should not lower a rating. Reviewers should offer suggestions when a score of 4 or lower is given. There is place to include them possibly or just skip the work. Thanks for sharing an informative, well-written post.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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I agree, Mary. You make several valid points. The main one, I believe, is to politely offer edits when the reviewer notices they are needed. Too many rate on their preferences rather than the style the author selects. Personal preferences should not lower a rating. Reviewers should offer suggestions when a score of 4 or lower is given. There is place to include them possibly or just skip the work. Thanks for sharing an informative, well-written post.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 03-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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Hi Jan
Thank you for your comments and review. My personal preference is to skip the work if it sails over my head or I do not like the piece. There are others who have a better understanding of the work, and their comments would better serve the writer.
Thank you again and stay well.
Mary
Comment from robyn corum
Mary,
I thought this was a marvelous post! It's one that needs to be up on the front page from time to time so that every writer has a chance to see it.
I hope I haven't been rude to you - sounds like me!
Thanks a bunch!
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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Mary,
I thought this was a marvelous post! It's one that needs to be up on the front page from time to time so that every writer has a chance to see it.
I hope I haven't been rude to you - sounds like me!
Thanks a bunch!
Comment Written 03-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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Robyn you are one of my favorites. You were not on my radar. A critique you gave me weeks ago surprised me but did not disappoint.
Robyn rude? Never!
Mary
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Whew! Thank you!
Comment from country ranch writer
OurFan Story family is one fantastic place to be long to.
Often all of us help and encouragement all the time. Do not be upset by the low scores because they don't count enough to hurt you.
many are first time reviewers who don't know what we write bout. Stay strong!!! The
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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OurFan Story family is one fantastic place to be long to.
Often all of us help and encouragement all the time. Do not be upset by the low scores because they don't count enough to hurt you.
many are first time reviewers who don't know what we write bout. Stay strong!!! The
Comment Written 03-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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Thank you for your kind words. It is very much appreciated.
Mary
Comment from lyenochka
So glad that you have had a generally good experience here, Mary! We all get those kinds of reviews now and then where it's not helpful, nitpicky and misses the point of the post. You don't have to follow them. Often, I find it's a new person and they think they are doing their best to critique. Don't worry, most of us are here to cheer each other on.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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So glad that you have had a generally good experience here, Mary! We all get those kinds of reviews now and then where it's not helpful, nitpicky and misses the point of the post. You don't have to follow them. Often, I find it's a new person and they think they are doing their best to critique. Don't worry, most of us are here to cheer each other on.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 03-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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I know that as you are one of my treasures.
Thank you for the review and kind comments.
Mary
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💖💖
Comment from LisaMay
I think your posting makes valid points about the impact of people's critiques. Attitude is revealed quite quickly in reviews - have they done it for a quick money grab; to show their own knowledge; to talk about themselves; to put you down; to raise you up with encouragement; and/or to suggest improvements, etc.?
I think also the attitude of the person who receives the critique is crucial to how their feelings are impacted. Are they self conscious newbies? Brash know-it-alls who can't accept another point of view? Ready and willing to take suggestions on board? Confident in their ability already? Able to brush off perceived criticism? Overly sensitive? The reviewer does not know the personality characteristics of the person they are reviewing and can easily make a miss-step. Their own personality can come though loud and clear - generous or miserly, thoughtful or slapdash, helpful or a knocker.
In reading a review we have to try not to be upset by it if it does not feel supportive. It is just one person's opinion. It may be true, it may not be. Equally, if someone gushes praise of our work, it may deserve it, it may not. It's an opinion.
Some reviewers concentrate on punctuation because possibly they are not skilled at commenting on how a story could be improved. Good punctuation and eliminating spelling errors is crucial to presenting a finished story. Too many writers appear to not have proofread their stories before posting them.
Personally, the content of a story and how it is expressed is far more important than being error-free, however, when it is riddled with errors it shows a lack of attention and knowledge of the basics, and just plain checking of work.
I didn't intend to write an essay myself!!!!
I was a bit concerned by your last line: 'Then we both get the lower ratings.'
Does that mean you do 'revenge reviewing' and mark their writing down? I hope you don't mean that but that is what it comes across as to me. Maybe that line needs to be reworded.
I think your posting deserves a 5-star rating, but there are several punctuation amendments to be made to improve it.
Your opening paragraph feels awkward. It could be rearranged to read better:
Before I joined FanStory in August 2020, I had never been a writer. However, months of isolation with someone who wants to talk history for hours,(add comma) even days,(add comma) will drive someone to drink or writing.
with open and sincere encouragement, and ('and' is unnecessary) for which I am most grateful
...a lower rating for the smallest infraction, (add comma) like using 'that' (add quote marks) twice in a paragraph, (add comma) or a missing comma.
...who I am in my writing, (add comma here) or if perhaps (remove comma from here) my opportunities differed from theirs.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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I think your posting makes valid points about the impact of people's critiques. Attitude is revealed quite quickly in reviews - have they done it for a quick money grab; to show their own knowledge; to talk about themselves; to put you down; to raise you up with encouragement; and/or to suggest improvements, etc.?
I think also the attitude of the person who receives the critique is crucial to how their feelings are impacted. Are they self conscious newbies? Brash know-it-alls who can't accept another point of view? Ready and willing to take suggestions on board? Confident in their ability already? Able to brush off perceived criticism? Overly sensitive? The reviewer does not know the personality characteristics of the person they are reviewing and can easily make a miss-step. Their own personality can come though loud and clear - generous or miserly, thoughtful or slapdash, helpful or a knocker.
In reading a review we have to try not to be upset by it if it does not feel supportive. It is just one person's opinion. It may be true, it may not be. Equally, if someone gushes praise of our work, it may deserve it, it may not. It's an opinion.
Some reviewers concentrate on punctuation because possibly they are not skilled at commenting on how a story could be improved. Good punctuation and eliminating spelling errors is crucial to presenting a finished story. Too many writers appear to not have proofread their stories before posting them.
Personally, the content of a story and how it is expressed is far more important than being error-free, however, when it is riddled with errors it shows a lack of attention and knowledge of the basics, and just plain checking of work.
I didn't intend to write an essay myself!!!!
I was a bit concerned by your last line: 'Then we both get the lower ratings.'
Does that mean you do 'revenge reviewing' and mark their writing down? I hope you don't mean that but that is what it comes across as to me. Maybe that line needs to be reworded.
I think your posting deserves a 5-star rating, but there are several punctuation amendments to be made to improve it.
Your opening paragraph feels awkward. It could be rearranged to read better:
Before I joined FanStory in August 2020, I had never been a writer. However, months of isolation with someone who wants to talk history for hours,(add comma) even days,(add comma) will drive someone to drink or writing.
with open and sincere encouragement, and ('and' is unnecessary) for which I am most grateful
...a lower rating for the smallest infraction, (add comma) like using 'that' (add quote marks) twice in a paragraph, (add comma) or a missing comma.
...who I am in my writing, (add comma here) or if perhaps (remove comma from here) my opportunities differed from theirs.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 03-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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Thank you for your corrections. First I agree that a novice writer can get their nose out of joint on a rating.
Thank you for the corrections. I will also reword as my intent is not revenge rating but not truly interested in reviewing the writer's work.
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It is always interesting to check out the reviewer's work and see how 'perfect' they are. Often it is a disappointment, yet they set themselves out to be experts.
Comment from Bill Schott
Well, here's a six to use as a pressure bandage and keep you alive until the next good review arrives.
Most members are either not qualified to help make your writing better, or cannot justify the time to help you rewrite an essay.
Pointing out over-used words, redundancies, and punctuation errors does have value, as even the greatest story loses its gleam when easily correctable usage or grammar errors build up.
We all do it, sometimes with such frequency we seem like we're acting out and challenging reviewers to critique until their eyes bleed.
Your prose sounds terrific. Get mad at reviews, but remember: If they are right, they're right.
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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Well, here's a six to use as a pressure bandage and keep you alive until the next good review arrives.
Most members are either not qualified to help make your writing better, or cannot justify the time to help you rewrite an essay.
Pointing out over-used words, redundancies, and punctuation errors does have value, as even the greatest story loses its gleam when easily correctable usage or grammar errors build up.
We all do it, sometimes with such frequency we seem like we're acting out and challenging reviewers to critique until their eyes bleed.
Your prose sounds terrific. Get mad at reviews, but remember: If they are right, they're right.
Comment Written 03-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 03-Jan-2021
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I agree Bill. Corrections and pointing out punctuation and errors are to be treasured. What my beef is critiques that do not even mention the story, if it needs more development, is ok or sucks.
What I get is not comment at all. A lower rating for this. Low rating for using "that" twice. No suggestion even that I reword it. No comment on the story.
He must have seen something in me that he trusted that I would not run away
