Reviewing
Contest entry42 total reviews
Comment from Bill Schott
I think your essay carries most members' feelings. When I first got on the site I wielded a heavy hand of low numbers and opinion. Once I realized that I was full of myself and often wrong, I approached reviewing with a more even purpose. I'm not ashamed to gather bucks and give fluff reviews for works that are the daily reshaping of a common theme. I think I know the difference between a writer who simply wants acknowledgment and one who wants some extra eyes on his/her editing and revision stages. Nice job with your essay.
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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I think your essay carries most members' feelings. When I first got on the site I wielded a heavy hand of low numbers and opinion. Once I realized that I was full of myself and often wrong, I approached reviewing with a more even purpose. I'm not ashamed to gather bucks and give fluff reviews for works that are the daily reshaping of a common theme. I think I know the difference between a writer who simply wants acknowledgment and one who wants some extra eyes on his/her editing and revision stages. Nice job with your essay.
Comment Written 16-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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I think there is so much room for variety. Other than outright spags and obvious problems, I try not to be too critical unless it is someone I know appreciates the extra eyes. I do appreciate good reviews as long as they are constructive. Thanks for reading, my friend~Debbie
Comment from GracieAnn
Debbie, this Essay On Reviewing writing prompt entry offers much wisdom and seeks to make the writing experience stronger for each participant. What you say is what if find true. Well done. All the best in the contest! :0 GracieAnn
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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Debbie, this Essay On Reviewing writing prompt entry offers much wisdom and seeks to make the writing experience stronger for each participant. What you say is what if find true. Well done. All the best in the contest! :0 GracieAnn
Comment Written 15-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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Thank you so much my friend. It is so wonderful to have such a wonderful caring community for us writer's to share.It is certainly a blessing in my life. Take care, my friend~Debbie
Comment from l.raven
HI Debbie, I agree with a lot of your views...pretty much all..If I can help I will...If I like a poem I will continue reading it...If I don't like a poem I will move on...If I know the person and there is something incorrect...I will tell them...but I won't low star them...but I won't low star because I don't like the topic...I just enjoy reading the poems...and stories...anyway....as I ramble on..LOL I love your story told...very well done...Luff Linda xxoo
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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HI Debbie, I agree with a lot of your views...pretty much all..If I can help I will...If I like a poem I will continue reading it...If I don't like a poem I will move on...If I know the person and there is something incorrect...I will tell them...but I won't low star them...but I won't low star because I don't like the topic...I just enjoy reading the poems...and stories...anyway....as I ramble on..LOL I love your story told...very well done...Luff Linda xxoo
Comment Written 15-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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Thank you, my friend. I like to be part of a supportive and learning environment. Fortunately, most others here seem to feel the same way too~Debbie
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you are so welcome Debbie...Luff
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you are always so very welcome...xxoo
Comment from Janie King
I certainly feel inadequate often times when reviewing, especially poetry. I do read each piece and give it my best try. Good luck in the contest. God loves you and I do too.
reply by the author on 15-Jun-2014
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I certainly feel inadequate often times when reviewing, especially poetry. I do read each piece and give it my best try. Good luck in the contest. God loves you and I do too.
Comment Written 15-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 15-Jun-2014
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You do a fine job. I hadn't even written a poem until 4 years ago. Learning it all has been quite a journey. Have a blessed day, my friend~Debbie
Comment from 9999pool
This is an excellent commentary on reviewing that many of us do here in Fs. The ultimate goal is to care and share and not to downplay anyone whom we think are not writers or poets and who are we to judge?
The advice given here is very sincere and genuine with a caring heart and i do believe we must justify our reviews with some comments that are both encouraging and meaningful besides the spags or the theme.
As most, if not all of us do not have qualifications as a reviewer, we at best doing some guess work with good intentions about the reviews we write.
Great write and well pen.
Cheerio, hugs, Ritchie. :))
reply by the author on 15-Jun-2014
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This is an excellent commentary on reviewing that many of us do here in Fs. The ultimate goal is to care and share and not to downplay anyone whom we think are not writers or poets and who are we to judge?
The advice given here is very sincere and genuine with a caring heart and i do believe we must justify our reviews with some comments that are both encouraging and meaningful besides the spags or the theme.
As most, if not all of us do not have qualifications as a reviewer, we at best doing some guess work with good intentions about the reviews we write.
Great write and well pen.
Cheerio, hugs, Ritchie. :))
Comment Written 15-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 15-Jun-2014
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I agree. We are at best amateurs trying to help one another. I have learned so much here, so it seems to work. Thank you, my friend~Debbie
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Welcome Debbie.
We are just having fun and trying to learn as we go along here in FS. It's a social place where like minds gather for the enjoyment of each other's writings and company in a care and share concept, :)).
Cheerio, Ritchie.
Comment from RGstar
Good points, Debbie, in regards to reviews though I would say we should change the word comments' as most reviews can go on for pages, and the depth can be deep indeed.
Never the less, we call them reviews and your summing up has a good outlook to your approach.
I think being objective is the key realizing there are more takes to a text than maybe first thought, as you have mentioned about the differences in the languages which is a good point.
Consistency is the word.
Best wishes, my friend.
Have a great day, and good luck in the competition.
RG
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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Good points, Debbie, in regards to reviews though I would say we should change the word comments' as most reviews can go on for pages, and the depth can be deep indeed.
Never the less, we call them reviews and your summing up has a good outlook to your approach.
I think being objective is the key realizing there are more takes to a text than maybe first thought, as you have mentioned about the differences in the languages which is a good point.
Consistency is the word.
Best wishes, my friend.
Have a great day, and good luck in the competition.
RG
Comment Written 15-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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Agreed. Thank you, my friend~Debbie
Comment from Bina1
I agree with your view of reviewing. I try to offer similar support. I also avoid what offends or is simply over my head! I get so much from the reading of the fine work found on this site, though afraid i don't offer as much in return. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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I agree with your view of reviewing. I try to offer similar support. I also avoid what offends or is simply over my head! I get so much from the reading of the fine work found on this site, though afraid i don't offer as much in return. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 15-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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Your writing I have read is quite good. Don't underestimate yourself. We are all still learning. Thank you, my friend~Debbie
Comment from Maureen's Pen
Dear Debbie - this is a solid work and well penned for this contest. Reviewing has so many levels to it and I too found I have learned as much from reviewing as I have from writing. I thought you did a great job on this one and good luck.
Thanks for sharing.
Maureen
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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Dear Debbie - this is a solid work and well penned for this contest. Reviewing has so many levels to it and I too found I have learned as much from reviewing as I have from writing. I thought you did a great job on this one and good luck.
Thanks for sharing.
Maureen
Comment Written 14-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2014
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I have learned most of what I know by reviewing. It is truly beneficial for both the reader and writer. If I can ask, are you having more health concerns? I wondered after reading your poem the other day. Take care, my friend~Debbie
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Yes, but I have also had to pack up and move, now unpack...all drives my MS to breaking point with pain sky rocketing. One day at a time:)
Hugs
m
Comment from paulah60
Your essay is an honest, pragmatic take on reviewing that's grounded in reality. Although ideally it would be nice to see reviewers attend to SPAGs, it's important to remember that there was a shift in the 1960s from a grammar-based curriculum to a more literary approach, as grammar was considered boring and useless. This lasted for around 30 years until educationalists realised that it was breeding a generation deficient in the most rudimentary writing skills! (in Australia and England, anyway, I don't know about the US)
I share many of your sentiments:
Like you, ' I note the spags as I see them, with suggestions for improvement.'
'If I am offended by a topic, I don't choose to review it.' Hear, hear!
'With such a diverse group of writers from around the globe, words, phrases, sentence structures and meter do not always coincide with our preconceived American jargon, and who says ours is right anyway?' An open-minded and humble opinion. We Aussies have our own unique vernacular, pronunciation, and spelling (realise vs realize; colour vs color), but I'm mindful of my transpacific contemporaries when it comes to rhyme scheme and differences in pronunciation.
And I agree with pretty much everything you've said in this well-written piece with its well-rounded approach.
Cheers
Paula
PS: For whatever reason, your font choice has defaulted to another font in the last five lines (this might be only on my comp??)
reply by the author on 22-Jun-2014
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Your essay is an honest, pragmatic take on reviewing that's grounded in reality. Although ideally it would be nice to see reviewers attend to SPAGs, it's important to remember that there was a shift in the 1960s from a grammar-based curriculum to a more literary approach, as grammar was considered boring and useless. This lasted for around 30 years until educationalists realised that it was breeding a generation deficient in the most rudimentary writing skills! (in Australia and England, anyway, I don't know about the US)
I share many of your sentiments:
Like you, ' I note the spags as I see them, with suggestions for improvement.'
'If I am offended by a topic, I don't choose to review it.' Hear, hear!
'With such a diverse group of writers from around the globe, words, phrases, sentence structures and meter do not always coincide with our preconceived American jargon, and who says ours is right anyway?' An open-minded and humble opinion. We Aussies have our own unique vernacular, pronunciation, and spelling (realise vs realize; colour vs color), but I'm mindful of my transpacific contemporaries when it comes to rhyme scheme and differences in pronunciation.
And I agree with pretty much everything you've said in this well-written piece with its well-rounded approach.
Cheers
Paula
PS: For whatever reason, your font choice has defaulted to another font in the last five lines (this might be only on my comp??)
Comment Written 14-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 22-Jun-2014
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That's weird. The font looks fine on mine. But FS does some funky things at times .Thank you much, my friend~Debbie
Comment from Preston McWhorter
Hi, Debbie,
This is great essay explaining your feelings and how you review. I cannot fault you on anything. I do not think that I ever felt your trepidation on reviewing. I do not feel that I ever represented my self as professional writer or reviewer. When I review I try to call attention to things that could be improved or that are signs of excellence. I think there is a tendency in Fan Story to think of less than 5 stars as "failure" brought on by the ranking system and "four" something other than could be improved in my opinion.
I rarely give anything less than a 5 relying on what I say in the review to stand as my judgement,
Preston
reply by the author on 22-Jun-2014
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Hi, Debbie,
This is great essay explaining your feelings and how you review. I cannot fault you on anything. I do not think that I ever felt your trepidation on reviewing. I do not feel that I ever represented my self as professional writer or reviewer. When I review I try to call attention to things that could be improved or that are signs of excellence. I think there is a tendency in Fan Story to think of less than 5 stars as "failure" brought on by the ranking system and "four" something other than could be improved in my opinion.
I rarely give anything less than a 5 relying on what I say in the review to stand as my judgement,
Preston
Comment Written 14-Jun-2014
reply by the author on 22-Jun-2014
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Thank you much, my friend~Debbie
