I really want to improve my overall reviewing skills. So a review on any of my reviews would be greatly appreciated.
Go ahead and review whatever review you feel like reviewing (preferably a review written in 2014). I really don't care what review (just make sure to tell me what review you're reviewing).
If you want a specific review to do, then I have three suggestions. There are two reviews that I feel I did really well on, and I would like to put that to the test. So a review on one of these two would be lovely...
Wool of the Prince-- Prologue and Chapter 1
Imbalance
There also was one review that I had a really hard time writing. Anyone with any experience in poetry and/or strong accents will see why if they read the piece. I would really like to know how I did in reviewing this piece. It was really challenging...
ma foraree
If you aren't interest in reviewing any of those three then just take a look at my other reviews. No matter which review you review, it will be helpful...
profile/WritingWolf/reviews
Review a Review for a ReviewingWolf
5 posts in this topic.
-
-
Writing Wolf! Timmy here.
Okay, so I chose the work on The Princes Wool. Why, I do not know. It was the first on the list and I didn't even bother to check the others. This one seemed like a good candidate, so I got cracking!
I love, love how your nitpicks had a broad spectrum. You went from grammar, punctuation, and then veered off into the style of the writer--even venturing into the plot, which many people avoid because of the potential problems of injuring the feelings of the writer. Which, I think is stupid. We are here to help the writer, not stepping on egg shells to avoid nitpicks.
Reviewing the prologue first, and then moving on to the chapter was a novel idea (no pun intended.
) that most people don't normally do, and I think it worked out splendidly. It lets you focus on the two parts individually and makes them more of their own piece, which technically they are. You reviewed and praised the parts separately, giving them as concrete of an ending as the works themselves.
Well done.
There were a few things that I would work on. Firstly, I know this may sound simple, and maybe simply stupid, but quotes. Using code on your reviews may not seem like much, and perhaps doesn't seem like you are adding much, but trust me. When you add quotes to your reviews, not only does it isolate the parts of their writing you have pulled out, but it gives your entire review what I call a professional appearance. It makes your review look like it has class. And it makes you look like you know what you are doing! I know you know code, but just in case the quote code has escaped your memory, here it is:- Code
[/quote]insert text here[/quote]
Usually I would let something like this slide
Another thing that you seemed to do a lot in the review was make excuses for your reasoning for nitpicking that part of the piece. You say, "Normally, I wouldn't do this, but... Why try to excuse your reason for nitpicking, when your reason is perfectly legitimate? Doing that almost gave your nitpick a flighty look to it because, really, you didn't think it was worth mentioning, but you mentioned it anyway. Such little things like that can make a world of difference in the eye of the reader--and receiver--of the review.
So my biggest issue with your review, and something that a lot of people may argue with me on, but I am going to say it anyway, is comments. You are not here just to render praise and nitpicks. When you write a review, make sure that you have rounded all the edges. Comment more on the story, the plot--just have a paragraph where you are talking about the characters, their exchanges, their reasoning. When you talk about the story and the character, you sound interested. Interested in their story. And it is almost like praise, and yet not like praise. It shows that you have a deep interest in their work, but you are not filling your review with plushy cuddly words. They still mean something.
Reading your review, I did get a feeling that is missing with a lot of reviews. You kept a positive tone throughout the entire review. Many reviewers, once they get past the plush of the first few sentences---or even, in some cases, the first few words--their tone changes to almost nasty, and their nitpicks seem filled with snobbishness. Your tone remained light and your nitpicks were stated with a smile. And that makes the receiver of the review listen to you with an appreciative smile. Everyone likes a nice person.
Great review, Wolf! Keep it up.
~Darth Timmyjake -
Err... I got the code wrong.
- Code
[quote]insert text here[/quote]
-
Thank you for the lovely review Timmy! I guess I really had never thought about some of the things you pointed out. It was quite helpful, I will most certainly keep your advice in mind when reviewing in the future. Thank you.
-
You are welcome! Always wonderful to review an amazing reviewer.
Sign in to reply to this topic.
Delete this post?
Are you sure you want to delete this post? This cannot be undone.