How can you help YWS?

6 posts
User avatar
Gender Male
Points 11542
Reviews 426
If you've ever asked yourself the question, "How could I make YWS better?", here's how: review. By reviewing, you inevitably make YWS a better place by helping out another aspiring writer. Plus, I really think the best way to improve your own writing is to review. Through reviewing, you spot the mistakes of others and subconsciously apply those lessons to your own writing style.

By the way, a good review isn't necessarily a long one. Rather, a good review concentrates on just 2 or 3 areas that the writer needs to improve upon and provides concise tips. Additionally, you shouldn't spend more than 15 minutes on a review except in rare cases (such as reviewing for a friend or fulfilling a review request). The thing is, you don't want your points to be obscured by the verbosity of your review. The more you write, the less the author will learn. Besides, each writer has their own style. What we as reviewers should do is encourage the development of that style rather than force our style on the writer.

And of course, have fun reviewing! While I may not do a lot, I really do enjoy reviewing. Just keep in mind that you're helping someone out, and that by reviewing, you have made a real difference in someone else's life. Plus, some of my favorite stories on this site are terribly written; what makes them my favorite is simply that you can tell the author had fun writing it (which in turn makes it fun to read).

Last but not least, if someone reviews your work, kiss their feet if you can! You may not always like the review, but they're really trying to help you become a better writer. You don't necessarily have to take their advice, but don't call them names either. Plus, the older you get, the harder it is to get someone to read your work. Be thankful for the opportunity while it lasts :)




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 28467
Reviews 675
I tried to think of something else about reviewing that could be added and I couldn't. This really covers everything you could ever need to know about reviewing.
Never forget who you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.




User avatar
Gender None specified
Points 72525
Reviews 1220
Why does this post give me deja vu?

But yes. Good points (as always).
Secretly a Kyllorac, sometimes a Murtle.
There are no chickens in Hyrule.
Princessence: A LMS Project
WRFF | KotGR




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 44360
Reviews 1087
Nate wrote:By the way, a good review isn't necessarily a long one. Rather, a good review concentrates on just 2 or 3 areas that the writer needs to improve upon and provides concise tips. Additionally, you shouldn't spend more than 15 minutes on a review except in rare cases (such as reviewing for a friend or fulfilling a review request). The thing is, you don't want your points to be obscured by the verbosity of your review. The more you write, the less the author will learn. Besides, each writer has their own style. What we as reviewers should do is encourage the development of that style rather than force our style on the writer.

Now that is something that I need to really remember... My reviews always seem to be stupidly long and when I'm finished, I feel like kicking myself because I never realise when I'm doing it. I look back at it then and think that I hardly helped out much and just wrote an essay... Go figure. :lol:

Nate wrote:Plus, the older you get, the harder it is to get someone to read your work. Be thankful for the opportunity while it lasts :)

So true.
I didn't know what to put here so I put this.




User avatar
Gender Female
Points 44887
Reviews 816
Definitely true!
There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
-W. Somerset Maugham




Random avatar
Gender Female
Points 12193
Reviews 275
Plus, don't start a review unless you can really help. I find myself in the middle of a review and find out I haven't said anything and I don't have anything to say. Like it if you can't find anything wrong!

A. S>



Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness
— Allen Ginsburg