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breezy2rufus
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Just recently I have received two crits that have given unusually low ratings compared to the last 8-10 crits I've received. Their crit comments were mainly destructive, non-specific, and/or include diatribes as to good writing but were almost totally unhelpful.
I can remove one, but am still left with the other which, is low enough to effect my ratings. Not a particular problem right now, but as the rating goes up this type of thing could be a problem.
Curious by nature, I looked them up and read some of the crits they had been given. The same topics were covered in more than one crit for each. For one in at least four.
I'm not sure what to think.
Were their crits more accurate from having to sort their own work?
Are these two new ones too harsh?
Have I had several crits that were too easy on me?
Were these people annoyed and took it out on me?
Does it matter since I can remove them?
Is this commonplace? Any comment would be helpful.
Meredith Hartman
(Crits on Life's Roller Coaster)
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dholm
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Quote: breezy2rufus, Thursday, 25 Feb 2010 08:59Just recently I have received two crits that have given unusually low ratings compared to the last 8-10 crits I've received. Their crit comments were mainly destructive, non-specific, and/or include diatribes as to good writing but were almost totally unhelpful. I can remove one, but am still left with the other which, is low enough to effect my ratings. Not a particular problem right now, but as the rating goes up this type of thing could be a problem. Curious by nature, I looked them up and read some of the crits they had been given. The same topics were covered in more than one crit for each. For one in at least four. I'm not sure what to think. Were their crits more accurate from having to sort their own work? Are these two new ones too harsh? Have I had several crits that were too easy on me? Were these people annoyed and took it out on me? Does it matter since I can remove them? Is this commonplace? Any comment would be helpful. Meredith Hartman (Crits on Life's Roller Coaster) Hi Meredith, I went back to read your reviews and didn't see anything there except for helpful advice. Of course I realize you could have already removed one. I believe it is written somewhere on this site that you shouldn't take too much to heart when it comes to one review. If more than one person touches on something it is probably a good idea to go in and take a second look. It there are a lot of spelling and/or punctuation errors, more likely than not you'll get nailed in the scoring department for it. Poor spelling or punctuation makes everything harder to read and enjoy. I've been here at YWO for nearly two years and very rarely have I had a review that was deliberately mean spirited. Some get into a lot of detail about suggested changes, and others only touch on a few areas, but I can only remember one that was totally worthless in every way and I sent it straight on to Ted who was quick to remove it. By mean spirited I don't mean they told me what was wrong with my story-- in their opinion. I need to know if something is wrong because I don't want a professional to read my work until I'm pretty sure it is near perfect. If I were you I would try not to focus so much on scores because high scores are nothing more than icing on the cake. They are sweet to read, but they won't give us the help that's needed to make a story better and us better writers. Only the comments people give after reading our work will do that. Keep writing, keep reviewing for others because this helps us to learn, and I bet the story will improve and the scores will keep going higher as it does. Denna
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dancingsue
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I think Denna's advice is sound. Have a read through your reviews and make a note of common themes - I detected several with just a cursory read through. Read your piece again with these in mind, then edit. When you feel you've made significant improvements that take account of the points raised, repost as a revised version and I'm sure you'll be glad you took the trouble. Your reviewers think your story has potential, so that's excellent news. You may have to go through this process several times until you have the best possible draft and your rating should then reflect all the work that has been put into it. Good luck! Sue
the long and the short of itTriclops: a collection of forty short stories by Avery Mathers, Susan Howe and Lee Williams.
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breezy2rufus
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Thanks for the comments you two
And it's nice to know you've read the advice on the site about crits but it sounds very much like you agree with the two posts but you haven't read my work just the crits? (I hope that isn't the case since you could then NOT know if the crits were on target or not)
The thing that concerns me is the first sentance of the last but one, which says I know the idea is to be positive or something like that and then goes on to say very little about anything other than liking my dialogue and how dialogue can be helpful.
I'm not going to disbute that they were in someways helpful but that very little was.
The interesting fact is that when I went back to my file and checked for spellings and went through them. There were only the ones noted and alrights contained in speech -something that was not mentioned though there were many. That's hardly a big problem. The punctuation I cannot vouch for but most of the crits I have had have not said that it was barely readable! Nor has the writing group I attend outside this.
The point here is that it seems overly critical or others are soft?
I get the impression that you think this is par for the course and I'm new to this and over sensitive!
Thanks for your comment
Meredith
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Nestat
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Hi Meredith, Denna and Sue are only pointing out that the "harsh" review is identifying similar problems to the "soft" reviews, and I don't think there is a need to read your work for that. Quote: breezy2rufus, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 15:19The point here is that it seems overly critical or others are soft? That is a question you can only answer yourself. Each review is the reviewer's opinion, and on this site you will find many wildly varying points of view. Many of them will be brutally honest as the cloak of anonymity offers the opportunity to say exactly what you think. As Denna and Sue have suggested, try not to take what anyone says (or scores) personally. Just judge the review on whether the content helps you. (Personally, I leave it a couple of days before making that decision.) Quote: breezy2rufus, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 15:19The interesting fact is that when I went back to my file and checked for spellings and went through them. There were only the ones noted and alrights contained in speech... Did you re-read your work or only use a spellchecker? Bear in mind that spellcheckers only correct bad spelling. They will not make a distinction between wretched/retched or pronounced/announced. I'm not sure why the reviewer's picked up on "lunch" vs. "dinner", which seems very similar to complaining that someone's "cat" is now being called a "pet". But I don't get the impression that the comments were unfair, just a personal opinion delivered a little more bluntly than in previous reviews.
This post was last edited by Nestat, 01 Mar 2010, 16:36
Writing for yourself is writing for others: "My book could very well end up being reconstituted as a trestle table in a home for battered women." - Alan Partridge
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Turnip
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It's true that you can't please all of the people etc. I've had reviews that have said my work is a bucket of junk (I paraphrase) and others that were almost embarrassingly praising. Of course I like the praising ones and assign the tag 'Lone Voice in the Wilderness' to the destructive ones. However, and in common with our good friends on this post, looking at your reviews back through 2008 they share common themes about the 'mechanics' of the piece, and those issues are still there several months later (I read several pages). If you catch someone out with your first paragraph then you risk putting that reviewer in a very critical frame of mind, and that may be what has happened. I recognise several names on the reviews and I've seen their reviews elsewhere. I value their opinion and have made changes to my own work as a result. The review you have removed may have been offensive but the ones that are still posted there seem firm but it's tough love. I think you should take your writers' group to task and tell them that you want complete honesty, no mercy. It hurts so good. 
Back to my roots.
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breezy2rufus
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Hi there, I'm not sure I'm making myself, because I do get what they're saying and yes spelling and punctuation is an issue and will always be a problem. It is more I don't know how bad it is and though I have rewritten some fourteen and counting times I still cannot hone down what the problem
This about how rude/helpful the comment is... and all these have done is say it's appalling when others haven't so who am I to believe and should I go through it sencetance by sentance with a puntuation book or just keep editing. I don't even know what to look for. What does basic really mean?
Yes I get being honest and that sometimes it's brutal but being honest does not have to mean brutal and I think this was a bit far and for me largely unhelpful, if you can take more from it ... I guess it is par for the course!
As for spell check. No I didn't, I've done that loads of times before and gotten no where. I check spellings I know I have trouble with on search find, to replace. The other thing is that I've always treated speech as exempt from the correct English list as it is spoken and written it as it would be spoken. Alright as apposed to all right. Of which there are many in my work but all in speech.
Look what's in the crit is imaterial if it doesn't relate to my work and the severity of my problem. So yes I have a problem how bad? Is it insulting to have someone say so many errors for four spelling mistakes or not?
Is it insulting to tell someone it's unreadable when there aren't very many mistakes (not that I actually know becuase no one has told me what to look out for)?
Don't you think it rude to say I don't like your charater but not say why and advise against?
Again have you actualy read any of my work?
I guess I'm asking too much.
Meredith
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sulcus
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This weekend I received a review around the 100 word tally, which simply parroted back 100 words or so of my own text (and not even in quotations attributing it to me). That was it. Not a single word original to the reviewer. I asked for, and Ted duly complied, with removing it and giving me my credit back. So think yourself lucky to have received a reviewer's opinion at least...
"A,B&E", "Not In My Name" and "52FF" (flash fiction anthology) all available on Amazon Kindle"How a psychopath makes sweet love. I can get you ringside. Royal box even."
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Nestat
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Quote: breezy2rufus, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 17:39Hi there, I'm not sure I'm making myself, because I do get what they're saying and yes spelling and punctuation is an issue and will always be a problem. It is more I don't know how bad it is and though I have rewritten some fourteen and counting times I still cannot hone down what the problem Why will spelling and punctuation always be a problem?
Writing for yourself is writing for others: "My book could very well end up being reconstituted as a trestle table in a home for battered women." - Alan Partridge
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dancingsue
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Quote: breezy2rufus, Monday, 1 Mar 2010 17:39Hi there, I'm not sure I'm making myself, because I do get what they're saying and yes spelling and punctuation is an issue and will always be a problem. It is more I don't know how bad it is and though I have rewritten some fourteen and counting times I still cannot hone down what the problem This about how rude/helpful the comment is... and all these have done is say it's appalling when others haven't so who am I to believe and should I go through it sencetance by sentance with a puntuation book or just keep editing. I don't even know what to look for. What does basic really mean? Yes I get being honest and that sometimes it's brutal but being honest does not have to mean brutal and I think this was a bit far and for me largely unhelpful, if you can take more from it ... I guess it is par for the course! As for spell check. No I didn't, I've done that loads of times before and gotten no where. I check spellings I know I have trouble with on search find, to replace. The other thing is that I've always treated speech as exempt from the correct English list as it is spoken and written it as it would be spoken. Alright as apposed to all right. Of which there are many in my work but all in speech. Look what's in the crit is imaterial if it doesn't relate to my work and the severity of my problem. So yes I have a problem how bad? Is it insulting to have someone say so many errors for four spelling mistakes or not? Is it insulting to tell someone it's unreadable when there aren't very many mistakes (not that I actually know becuase no one has told me what to look out for)? Don't you think it rude to say I don't like your charater but not say why and advise against? Again have you actualy read any of my work? I guess I'm asking too much. Meredith Hi Meredith. I have read a few hundred words of your piece and my best advice would be to read it out loud. Your second paragraph has several mistakes - not just spelling, but errors of grammar and sentence structure. The first sentence doesn't actually make sense if you read it aloud, nor does the first part of the second: 'Two of her senses overwhelmed she was disorientated. She bumped from passer-by to the next, clinging to the belief that they weren’t everywhere; trying to maintain direction and not stray onto the road. He inability to be sure of anything was making her dizzy and desperate for some relief.' It might be an idea to enlist the help of an editor, but for now, reading aloud should highlight some problems. You'll find the overwhelming majority of people here really want to help!
the long and the short of itTriclops: a collection of forty short stories by Avery Mathers, Susan Howe and Lee Williams.
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Too harsh - Too soft - Retaliation Critiques?
25 Feb 2010, 08:59
