 Short Stories: January 31, 2007 Issue [#1517] |
  Short Stories
This week: Edited by: kelly1202
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| Reviewing Tips for the Short Story |
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Today I'm going to be focusing on Reviewing the Short Story. It’s a wonderful feeling for an author to receive a review that is constructive and hopeful, yet at the same time will help him/her improve their story.
Giving a in-depth review takes some time and is not something that should be rushed through. If you are going to take the time to give a review, please make sure that it is helpful, yet encouraging at the same time. There’s no need to bash a writer and rip their work apart.
When I do a review, I usually read the story not once, but twice. The first read through, I focus on the story itself. The second read through, I focus on :
Format – is the story set up in a format that is easy for the reader to read? Are their paragraphs separated by an extra line break?
Plot - Did the title and opening paragraph seize your attention and want to make you read more? Did you like the story? Was it engaging? Did it make you laugh, cry, what emotions did it stir, if any? Was the plot unique? Were there parts of the story that were flat?
Setting-Was the setting adequately shown? Could you picture the scene before you? How's the imagery and description in the story? To little or to much?
Structure/Mechanics- Was the sentence structure tight, fresh, and highly specific? Was it varied , or did they use all short or long sentences? Are there places with choppy sentences that could be reworked? Look for superfluous words [that, just, even, very] are just a few words that add nothing to any sentence in which they're used. Look for repetitive words. Passive sentences. Is the author 'telling' more than 'showing'?
Characters-Are they well developed? Can you connect with them? Are their actions and dialogue plausible?
Overall Thoughts-Would you recommend it to others?
If you have suggestions for the author, then by all means, please list them. Sometimes a helpful suggestion will paint a clearer understanding for the author.
These are things I try and incorporate into my reviews and they are things I like pointed out to me as well.
Thanks for reading and I hope you've found this newsletter helpful!
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kelly1202
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scarlett_o_h says: Excellent Newsletter with some very good advice and writing tips. Keep up the good work.
BriBo  says: Very helpful...I am going to definitely try the "observing and recording" technique - thank you!
Brian
katherinerose says: Just had to let you know how much I enjoyed this newsletter,am always afraid that too much description will be like "telling" instead of "showing". Lots to learn in my case, as I am only a beginner writer. Thank you.
jspinelli says: Excellent newsletter, Kelly! Thanks for adding one of mine to the showcased items.
I enjoyed the topic you chose this week. It is so true that most writers are sensory driven, often observing things that 'normal' people do not. Coupling those real-time sensory perceptions with imagination is the key to good writing. Write what you know, and then make it even better.
writeone says: Thanks so much for a great newsletter. I edited a friend's story the other day and I said, "The depth is in the details." And that is so true. As far as sitting and watching people, I do it during church (Yes, bad me) but I come up with interesting character sketches. Jotting down dialogue in bits and pieces, however, is harder. I'm a journalist by trade and I want to get it completely right. Difficult to do. Easier to just make up. Thanks again!
Wren says: Thanks for a very good newsletter, Highwind. I interrupted my reading of it to go back and add detail to a piece I'd just posted.
jroland says: loved your newsletter, Kelly! The topic you siezed on is one I haven't seen covered before, probably the most important yet overlooked aspect of any story: details. You've given me, and I'm sure others as well, some useful hints for making details come alive to the reader. Many thanks
billwilcox says: Good job Kelly. I love to describe things with words you don't normally see describing other words...like, 'a shelf full of sleeping books'.
patheral says: Great newsletter about details! I have the opposite problem. When I begin a story, I cram it with *too many* details. Then begins the editing process of taking out what's not necessary.
dusktildawn says: What a great Newsletter, Highwind. I tend to watch and listen to my surroundings for just this purpose. I'm swamped with papers containing names of strange towns I've seen/passed when traveling, to unique names of people and being an eavesdropper on too many conversations (shhhh). Now, if only I could figure out a good filing system for it, I'd be set!
irisjustwrite has granddogger says: Fabulous way to gather information and develop ideas (sitting at the bookstore coffee shop). I've always said that I enjoy going to the airport even when I'm not traveling -- there is so much to see and so many possibilities to imagine. I never thought to go soley to observe and take notes. I'll have to give it a try. Great article! Wonderfully fun suggestion for getting the creative juices flowing. Thanks!
Thank you to everyone who submitted comments. I greatly appreciate the feedback!
kelly1202
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