This week: The Missing Review Edited by: Annette  
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The Missing Review
In the past weeks, I spent some time on the Public Reviews page. Reviews are one of the main reasons why we are on this site. We post our writing and hope that other members will read it an comment on it.
There are many ways to review, and all of them are the "right" way. Because just how you are a unique writer, each other person is a unique reader. That is why any review that falls within the parameters between an in-depth edit-style review or a simple review that tells you what you wrote, is a valid review. Each one of those gives you a unique view on your writing from a point of view that you can't have. Because it is the point of view from a different person.
If you are unsure and would like to have pointers on how to send reviews, read this "Guidelines To Great Reviewing" . This document will give you guidance on how to give a review that will not only help the writer, but also encourage them to keep going even if their current draft is riddled with first draft issues. You should "Enhance Your Item With WritingML" as it helps to offset your commentary in font, size, and color to make it easier to read.
I am all about "Creating Review Templates" . A template can be huge time saver for you and give you that extra time to spend more with the other author's writing rather than type the greeting over and over again. The template can also be a great way for you to know which points you wanted to hit on in any given item. A novel chapter, a short story, or a poem don't all have the same things to critique. You should load as many templates to "The Review Tool" as needed for the different types of reviews you make.
Many of us (me included) like to review through groups. Those groups reward reviews with gift points beyond those that the site gives us: "Public Review Rewards" and "Reviewing Credits" . There is nothing wrong with reviewing for gift points. After all, the gift point incentive is there to get us to review more.
There is one way to send a review that is not a review. As much as I encourage the use of a template, at the end of it, there has to be a review in there. That means, if your review is 6,000 characters big with WritingML, but the amount of actual critique is one sentence, you have shot well past the whole template idea.
When you build your template, ask yourself how much of the information that you include is needed.
 It is perfectly acceptable and usually required that you include a link to the group that you review for in your review. You can built that link into the greeting: "Hi, I am here with a review from [group name]." Or you can link the group at the bottom of your review. Do not mention the group more than once. If you do that, you are simply padding the character count, but you haven't said anything about the item you said you came to review.
It's okay to introduce yourself and why you are reviewing. "I am [username] and I'm a judge for [link to contest]" Reviews for contests look out for specific things and it's perfectly fine to have those specific requirements in the template and address each point as needed. Reviewing groups for newbies or to celebrate a site anniversary have other needs. Keep your introduction specific to the reason for your review.
Leave a little final greeting at the end. "Keep writing" works. Be careful with lengthy final greetings that end up putting the actual review text inside a thick template sandwich. Make the review about the author more than about yourself.
If you have a reviewing philosophy, you should turn it into an item and link to it at the bottom of your review like this "Robert’s Read, Rate, Review Remarks" or this "My Rating Philosophy" You should not have a review telling a writer about your reviewing style. How does that help a writer?
With all of that said: Review often, review many authors. Review poems if you don't know the first thing about poetry. Review a novel chapter if anything beyond Haiku length usually gives you hives. Review a Sci-Fi story even if you hate Star Trek. Review like your writing depends on it. Because: it does. With each piece you review, you become a better writer. 
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I received the following replies to my last For Authors newsletter "Building Characters"
flyfishercacher  wrote: Building Characters
I keep all my characters in my "Character Corral" ( a file folder on my hard drive).
They exist at all stages of development. The first time I use them they might be just a name and an identifier, e.g., "Vern, an old prospector."
Then as I reuse them over time, I get to know them better and add detail, physical description, personality, etc. Often, I seek out a photo on Google Images. When my gut shouts "That's him!" I save the photo into the character's folder and use it to write descriptions. I never use the photo directly in a story. Soon they become real friends. I've heard other writers say that. I didn't understand that at first. Now I do.
I never violate my characters. If Joe is a good guy, and I need a bad guy who is almost the same, I copy Joe's file and rename it. Joe stays Joe, the good guy, and now I have a new character, Sam, the bad guy.
The answer to your two questions is "Both". The first time a character appears in my mind, it is because I have a story need. Then as he/she grows, I sometimes get an idea for a story because I have that character. It's like watching an actor's career. The first time you see him, he has a bit part, then he grows into bigger roles until he is eventually the star of the show. He may play different parts with different names but he is still the same actor.
It is a fun part of writing that I never imagined when I started.
Quick-Quill  wrote: I wish I could say I plot out my characters. I used to then I would go down a rabbit hole of questions and forget what I was writing. Now I plot my story and have a good idea of my character’s backstory. As I go I will jot down hair eyes etc and sometimes look for head shots of what I want my character to look like. I have trouble with voice. I don’t know if building my character sheet will help give them that difference.
hbk16 wrote: The characters are important because they are the principal actors of the story. They manoeuvrer the happening and the different steps of the story by their different roles. They should be described and their speech should be well emphasized. |
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For Authors: November 25, 2020 Issue [#10409]
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