  Short Stories
This week: Review Honesty Edited by: Leger~  
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The purpose of this newsletter is to help the Writing.com short story author hone their craft and improve their skills. Along with that I would like to inform, advocate, and create new, fresh ideas for the short story author. Write to me if you have an idea you would like presented.
This week's Short Story Editor
Leger~
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Review Honesty
A major part of being a member of Writing.com is getting critique on your work, networking, and giving help to others. Most members are delighted to find reviews in their email Inbox. But what happens once you open that email and read your review?
Well, sometimes nothing. There is a wide spectrum of types of reviews you'll receive in our community. Sometimes the review will merely compliment your writing and say the reader enjoyed it. Always a good thing to hear. But a good review always contains some of the good and some of the bad. Bad doesn't always mean your story is horrible. It means you need to edit. Even a book that has been published probably has edit flaws.
Writing a good review is just as important as writing a good story. There has to be a good balance between helpful comments that don't insult and praise that isn't fluff. Always try to include both in a tactful manner. The most important factor is honesty. Even if a story is technically sound and you might rate it high, perhaps there was a character that needed rounding out or a hole in the plot that bothered you. Be sure to mention that in your review.
I've gotten a huge variety of reviews in the years I've been a member here. From one line: "I like this." to hugely insulting and nonsensical paragraphs. I always try to respond and thank the member for taking the time to read my work. Some responses to my reviews have been insulting and I respond to those too. I don't engage in a flame war but take the time to explain that the review is my opinion. Some members say they want reviews but they're actually just looking for praise.
In all of the reviews, I try to glean the comments and suggestions that will help my work and ignore the emotional opinion of the reader. If they rated my item low because they didn't like the personality of my character, that's okay, an emotional rate at least tells me that I'm succeeding in creating an unlikable character. If I get a low rate because someone didn't agree with my opinion in my essay, it's okay, there are always two sides to an argument. Over time, my star rating levels out and most of my items rate pretty well.
In the end, it's always important to give your honest opinion in a tactful review. And when receiving reviews, try to remember it's an honest opinion. Keep this in mind next month when you're looking for edit help on your NaNo item. 
This month's question: What were some of the best and worst comments you've received in a review or review-response?
Send in your reply below! 
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#1663193 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Scott Porter pushed the gas pedal down a little further, and his already straining Honda tried to respond. The odometer clicked, adding another mile to its already high count. Inside the car it smelled like stale cigarettes half masked by air freshener. The whole interior needed a good vacuuming. Crumbs from hastily eaten meals lined the seams of the cloth seats. There were a few empty plastic water bottles strewn about the back seat. The tie Scott wore to work that day looked like a coiled snake in the passenger seat, and his shirt was wrinkled with sweat stains ruining the underarms.
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#1724902 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: As Lindsey walked down the dirt road, she brushed her hand across the top of the soft heads of wheat growing on the shoulder. The grain was green now, but in a few weeks, it would begin to turn amber.
She was lost in thoughts about her first week at Norrisville High School, one of the toughest in her sixteen years, when a taunting voice came from behind her, “Hey, city girl, where’s your gun? You haven’t done a drive-by in a whole month. You must miss it.”
Excerpt: There was no roasted turkey on the table that year. The preparations for the traditional dressing, scalloped oysters, green-bean casserole, and Grandma’s famous cherry cheesecake were abandoned and nonessential. The dishes delivered by solemn-faced neighbors, friends, and church members remained untouched on the kitchen counters. The Davison Family gathered, as always, at the matriarch’s house, but there was no football game blaring from the den. The TV slept, cold and silent, in the corner of the room.
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#1726464 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: I wear my “new” favorite cap all the time now, even more then I did when it was just a plain and boring, Redsocks cap, and I no longer worry about growing old, or retiring.
Excerpt: Write the best story or poem in 24 hours or less and win 10,000 GPs!
Excerpt: I only stood about elbow high to a low-rider, wheel-chaired midget and my nose was crammed smack up against the butt of a big, fat, old farmer. And every time that farmer raised his arms and bellowed, "Hallelujah", a whole swarm of the Devil's spirits would spew from his butt.
Excerpt: The solid gold chain hung around his neck. Dangling from it a single silver dog-tag with eighteen letters engraved. I barely noticed the shots whizzing by over head by the Nazi soldiers as I ran my fingers over each letter. The wind carried the lingering smell of rotting flesh and gun powder. I closed my eyes trying to fight back the tears. I laid his tag gently upon his chest, picked up my gun, and began to walk onwards.
Excerpt: The name is based off of "Skies of Arcadia". It's a virtual reality game where you put your character through hardships.
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#1722234 by Not Available. |
Excerpt: Your life has been transported into the Star Trek universe. Peers are asking you to enlist in Starfleet and join the United Federation of Planets. You can choose where you go in life and what you are going to be.
Excerpt: Sandy the dog is having a bit of a wild day..
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This month's question: What were some of the best and worst comments you've received in a review or review-response?
Below are the responses to last month's question: What are your goals for the month of November?
Bikerider  : My goal for November is to finish putting together a plot chart, outline, and continue my research for a planned novel. At the end of November I'm taking a South American cruise, which is where the story takes place. While on the cruise I hope to finish at least half, if not more, of what will be my first novel. With the preparation finished before I leave all that is left is the fun of writing.
very thankful  : My goal is to write 50K+ words and finish the first draft of my novel, When the Sun Sets on Deacon, Mississippi. I'm really determined this time.
NickiD89  : I'm not doing NaNo this year, because I'm still working through revisions of last year's resulting word vomit manuscript. In November, my goal is to write four new chapters for that WiP's "second first draft." Also, I plan to attend my first writer's conference, which I am so, so, SO excited for!
A.S. Hendra [Job-Searching]  : To finish NaNoWriMo! This is my first time participating, so I'm not sure how it will turn out. Well, we'll see this November.
Lunarmirror : My goals For November: To finish thesis properly and graduate, INSHALLAH!
J. A. Buxton : Thank you for listing the third novel in my "Home of the" trilogy in this week's newsletter.
I plan to start editing the 170 chapters during November and would appreciate any and all comments and suggestion to improve the story.
Shanachie : Instead of Nano (which is just more than my brain can handle), I sign up for Mini-Nano. It's a smaller word count and you don't have to commit to one story or plot line. I did well with it last year and I look forward to completing it again this year.
Fallser : Great newsletter on setting goals and getting into the habit of writing every day. I have just finished reading Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird" and in addition to the "get the butt in the seat", she recommends just writing one scene, or about one character and make that enough for one day. She compares it to seeing just one corner of a larger painting. Rather than get stalled by making the entire painting work, just start with a small aspect of the painting. I think this is a good way to get yourself started.
For November I hope to write every day. I am not at the point of writing a novel. I wish everyone well who does take that challenge!
KSutton working on 6th book : Dear Leger: I just had hand surgery so typing is slow. I want to thank you for putting my little short story of Ohwega and the Eagle. It is a great encouragement to me. This is a genre that I read lots of, however my first try at writing in it. I had such encouraging comments in the reviews I received that I wrote another for a contest called Tatsuwa's Cloud. Without WDC's encouragement, I would have never written either of them. I have signed up for my first NaNo and am hoping to write in the Native American vein. Again, my thanks goes out to all of WDC. Kitty
faithjourney: This is my first year entering NaNo, so I'm off to the races come November 1st! It's going to be out of this world - literally. I'm writing a sci-fi novel. Best of luck to all NaNo participants! I pray we're all winners!
Jay's debut novel is out now! : My goal for November is to accomplish the NaNoWriMo goal of 50,000 words in a month, but I would like to finish and polish a few other stories so that I will be on target for the inevitable January 2011 decision to start submitting things for publication  Man, I tell myself every year I'm going to start. (But I want to MEAN it this year! LOL)
MySharona : My first goal in NaNoWriMo is to meet the 50,000 word quota! The other goal is to write a good novel in the process. MySharona
Angelica Weatherby-Star on top  : Doing the insane!  Great newsletter btw.
Fyn-elf  : nano, nano, nano, going to Frankenmuth--Christmas Shopping if I am at least halfway thru Nano (as a treat), Nana....um.....staying sane? lol Great newsletter, as always!
teana: My Goals for November is to celebrate my birthday I would also like to get the first three chapters to my Urban Legend book completed. I am having some difficulties finding time, but am going to do my best to pick at least 15 minutes each day or longer to work on my book.
selo: This is my first year participating in NaNoWriMo, but I'm not taking any liberties - I'm going for broke, all 50k words, and though I'm terrified I can't wait.
~EL~ Happy NaNo : In 2008, I won 50k after much hardship. First, losing the computer for a couple of weeks, then getting it back just in time to type in what I'd written, and finally finishing the story just in time for verification. (What a pity that I lost this story!) My goal in November is to hit 50k as fast as I can and see just how many words more I can type, even if I have to change the stories after 50k. Then, next year, I'll try to beat that count! We'll see.
A.J. Barretts : My only goal for the month of November is to write, I've been away from the writing scene for too long. The Nano Wrimo is just the kick start I need to get back into the habit!
Thanks for all the great responses to the newsletter, I hope everyone meets their goals!
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Short Stories: November 23, 2010 Issue [#4094]
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