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2,953 Public Reviews Given
3,697 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
Honest. I give my overall impressions, let you know what worked well for me and what didn't, and when that happens, I like to try and offer suggestions--totally up to you if you want to take any notice; it is your writing, after all. I am just glad to have the opportunity to read and review. I rarely think anything is perfect, so please do not request a review if you value ratings over review content.
I'm good at...
...being interested. I take time over reviews. My reviews are intimate, informal and honest. They aim to help, offer insight, and celebrate the graft of craft. I love commas. Punctuation is a personal passion.
Favorite Genres
Comedy, supernatural horror, sci-if, fantasy, thriller, detective, slice-of-life, history.
Least Favorite Genres
Dystopian glumness, romance, personal.
Favorite Item Types
Scripts. Fiction. Essays, especially academic
Least Favorite Item Types
Free form poetry. Other than that, little offends.
I will not review...
Unless previously agreed, novels and chapters are a no go with me. I am sorry to say that I haven't the time.
Public Reviews
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26
26
Review of Google It!  
Review by Acme
Rated: E | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



I found this interesting essay via the 'Read a Newbie' section of WdC. I am glad I stumbled across it. It is a well-presented personal account of how technology, and specifically how we use search engines like Google to source information, has had a profound impact on learning and research. There is also a brief visit to how this appears to have caused psychological changes in the retention of information, too, but I could have done with a few more academic sources backing this up or countering it to really get into this side of the argument. That said, one of the joys of reading this essay is that the author has gone to the trouble to cite sources--invaluable in creating a strong academic article rather than just an opinion piece *Thumbsupl*. I try to steer clear of questioning whether a writer has 'cited right', as I was brought up old-style Harvard, and there are numerous acceptable citation styles these days, do I won't even attempt to discuss this, except to say I am a fan of page numbers, wherever possible, simply for ease of chasing down references when I want to go deeper.

There are areas which would benefit from proofreading and subsequent editing, e.g., the period and new sentence missing here: "At the time Google didn't exist it was msn or yahoo, but I didn't automatically turn to that I would still seek out a book.". Once a fresh pair of editing eyes have been cast over this essay, it promises to make for a very good essay, indeed *Smile*

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27
27
Review of The Dinner  
Review by Acme
Rated: 13+ | (1.5)
Hi maplephobia }

Welcome to Writing.Com!

I saw this short story listed on the 'Read a Newbie' section of the site and was quite taken aback by the brief description "the most ugliest stupidest writing you will ever see". Well, it isn't. Sure there are places you can concentrate on in future edits, but your fantasy tale of demonic dining has some interesting interactions and characters.

Taking time to present your work will reap benefits. On WdC, writers often leave a double return between paragraphs and when characters speak to make scrolling easier on the eye and to keep their place. The usual rules of separating paragraphs so that bite-sized chunks of related sentences will help, too. When you go to edit a piece, you can run a helpful spell check to ensure you reader's experience is a good one and your meaning is clear. Pronouns, such a 'I' should be capitalised. Ellipses (. . .) come in threes, and often denote an omission; using two could just look like a period typo.

As for WdC formats, it will be worth your while to consider the following:
The Rating System, allows readers the comfort of knowing what it suitable for them to read. We have a lot of younger readers here, so anything alcohol-related, such as the character's drunkenness, means you should change the rating to 13+. The brief description gives you a chance to hook a passing reader's attention, so whilst yours grabbed mine for different reasons, it is often better to relate the information here to your story's plot. Similarly, WdC gives you the option to choose 3 genre types. It is worth using these as readers often search for items to read based on their genre preferences.

I think you have a good start here. It will appeal to a lot of readers if you take time to proofread and edit.

Write on and take care,
Acme


*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
28
28
Review by Acme
Rated: E | (1.5)
Hi Timespylit ,

Welcome to WdC. I hope you enjoy it here; there are lots of good groups to support you, and I noticed you write a lot of poetry, so make the most of your time here by saying hi to fellow poets. If you review, people will often extend the courtesy of returning the favour *Smile*

WdC has a lot of tools available to you. The little cog image above your work (to the right) gives you access to numerous editing tools, including a spell check. Whilst the rebel in me thinks creative writers should have the freedom to present their words as the like, there can be a detrimental effect to your readers' enjoyment of your work, if they have difficulty understanding you. The WdC spell check gives you choices, and you can often look at definitions, too, to avoid using the wrong word or a homophone.

You obviously have great passion for what you want to convey, so I do hope you take time to proofread, edit and make revisions.

Write on and take care,
Acme


*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
29
29
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: E | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!


Welcome to WDC! I

It is good to see you using all the site tools that will attract readers to your poem, and the genre choices will help people to search for your item.

This is a romantic poem for the lovelorn. The long 'prose' of verse one reveals sadness, which is beautifully contrasted by the hope in the final verse. Nice to see a Romantic poetry tool being used with the references to nature, and the clever twist in retrospect to the word 'leaves', when you go on to liken the emotions evoked to those of the writer/artist.

Favourite bit:
I’m sad but happy because
that's what we have to feel when we write


There is a part of me that ached for a little more direction from you via punctuation. Not in the first verse, but after the first line in the second verse. Your choice entirely, but I was not sure how to 'hear' it in the lines to follow.

Great start to your writing here. Looking forward to reading more *Smile*


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30
30
Review of Crystal's Charms  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


A haunting tale of a woman's sad path away from hopes, dreams and ambitions, this shortie is rich in vivid imagery, wide and wild vocabulary (a real delight to a reader's ear), but ends a little abruptly. A little time spent investing in the narrator's reaction to the loss of a loved one could give this story the ending it deserves.

What are my favourite parts?

The poet in you oozes into your prose. I love it. I am a bad poet, but find that getting out my poet's tool box reaps rewards when those tools are employed elsewhere. Here is one such treat that tickled my fancy, reminding me of some of the fabulous far-out moments in Fear and Loathing:

Like a butterfly in mid-July, she tested her brand new Burgundy red velvet transporter and sailed over the cotton candy clouds that occupied her mind.

And this titillating triple example of alliteration:

its delirious demands into the fragile fabric of her psyche, until the broken boundaries of mortality set her spirit free

What are my suggestions?

Fabulous and haunting as the snapshot of Mary Beth's dabbling with drugs was, the promised story of the opening paragraph did not seem to conclude: I had a beginning and a middle with no end *Sad* Where was the narrator's story? When and how did the relationship fall apart? How did both parties feel? The narrator feels just that: a narrator, not a player in the story. Maybe these things could be visited by concluding the tale?

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31
31
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: E | (3.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


This is a moving and imagery-rich first person portrait of a personal journey toward (and with) God. This short story is presented in an unusual form of poetic prose. The passion and depth of feeling experienced by the narrator is fostered by the intimacy of an evangelical 'witness'. Time spent proofing and editing will really benefit this short story, and will be worth any effort made *ThumbsUpL*

What are my favourite parts?

I read verses in the bible, sing psalms, too...never have I thought I was reading poetry, which now seems a bit silly of me. Why? Well, because this particular story might be set out in verses, but with a literary ancestor like the bible, crammed with stories in verse form, I have to acknowledge that the typical structure and form associated with story writing is not necessarily the traditional way that I took for granted.

What are my suggestions?

It might be worthwhile to proofread specifically for punctuation and typos. More than one of the verses are single sentences. These could benefit from either being restructured into smaller ones, or by throwing in a few more commas (appropriately, of course), to give your reader a bit of mental breathing space.

I was driven out of Egypt that I had longed for = 'the' Egypt?

Repetition is fine, if there is a purpose for it, but outside of poetry it is often more beneficial to widen vocabulary. There are a lot of 'but now's as well as all these 'promises':
promise of a land flowing with milk and honey = repeated three times, and then these:

promise of an approaching storm

promising horizon

Promised Nation


'Just', 'had' and 'that' can often be superfluous, so have a check to see if each one needs to be there. Had and has are often employed as tense modifiers, too, so worth scrutinising them.

Allegory and biblical imagery is used far more than direct description. This does mean it is a little hard to relate to the personal side of this spiritual journey. If the writer can consider presenting the facts, acts and reactions of the narrator's experiences in conjunction with the biblical imagery that drives the spiritual journey, I think the story will be richer for it.

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32
32
Review of Which is Easier?  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: E | (3.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


I like how this essay on writing for children is described by the author as a meditation . Reflective practice can be a very useful evaluation tool in any profession, so why not writing? When I think of an essay, I don't automatically expect the same approach to the structure and delivery of it as to what I would typically expect from the delivery of a reflection, meditation or opinion piece. There is room to tighten the presentation of ideas, the structure and expression. The aim of most essay writing is to encourage engagement with ideas. I was engaged. You got me thinking.

What are my favourite parts?

It has to be your voice. I was fascinated by your passionate musing to self, and sometimes direct to reader as confidant. Informal, conversational tone and language do not often sit well in essays (well, not academic ones, although I know quite a few academics who have a very clear and passionate narrative voice behind their articles and books), but as soon as I regarded this write as more of an opinion piece, dressed up as an essay, I got it. I particularly enjoyed this:

I have never met an author of children´s books who did not absolutely love children´s fiction.

What are my suggestions?

Chances are, people will want to read this item because they are interested in writing for children. Some of these people may already have started writing for children and will already identify with some of your assertions; I sighed with relief that I wasn't a literary snob, but was a little crushed to come under the politically correct label. Some of your readers will belong to one of these, or Isaac Asimov's, groupings; do you really want to potentially alienate your readership by calling them names? (The irony of that question being a bit PC is not lost on me.) Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy strong, even controversial, openings to essays, especially if, after grabbing my attention, they engage in debate and academic-style argument, but there lies the issue for me: I don't know if this is a pure opinion piece, explaining why you think the way you do by only citing sources that agree with your conclusions, or, if you do really want to engage in the debate but this write is in its early draft stages. If it is the latter, perhaps a little less alienation of other ideas and a few more counter-arguments from recent journal articles and seminal works may make for a more rounded argument.

Many years ago, Asimov wrote an excellent essay in which he suggested several differences between writing for children and writing for adults, but then proceeded to dispense with each of them. In this essay, we´ll use that as a guide and add my own two cents. = as Asimov's original essay is being used as a guide, why not reference it so that those who want to look further into your arguments can do so? Who is the 'we'? You and Asimov? Are you directly addressing your reader?

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33
33
Review of There Is No God  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: 18+ | (3.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


I am a sucker for a troublesome musing and was pleased to see a potentially controversial opinion piece entered into the Anything but... contest. Your title and brief description lead potential readers to understand exactly what they may be getting into. If that doesn't, the big red letters, establishing your position in the opener soon will, and I for one thoroughly enjoyed a refreshingly swift setting out of stall. I hunkered down with a grin on my face. Simple is best, so folks say. A simple approach was effective in not only establishing where you were coming from, but also in providing a strong, well-articulated narrative voice. I like that in an essay, and, if other readers like that, too, I think they will enjoy this author's approach to essay presentation.

Yes, there are some slightly dodgy grammar issues (mostly around pesky punctuation issues and sentence structuring, which I will point out later), but a good rant is a good rant, whether you agree with the opinion or not. Time spent editing will be of benefit to your readers enjoyment of this thought-provoking write *ThumbsUpL*

What are my favourite parts?

Readers don't necessarily have to agree with your opinion to enjoy this well-structured and thoughtfully presented opinion-piece; Well, just look at me: a practicing Anglican Catholic who used to work for the Church of England and self-confessed super-fan of His Nibs; I had a thoroughly enjoyable time being made privy to a logical argument, presented in a delightful way with real depth of feeling and some pretty good arguments. Here's one I liked:

For me, once my body ceases to operate, there will be nothing, which presents no horrors for me, although I know many people find such an idea difficult to deal with. Arthur Schopenhauer, the German philosopher, said, "After your death you shall be what you were before you were born." I can't disagree, although I do feel a little sad if n years of experience need to disappear down the gurgler of time.

Of course, I would rather like to go back to God. I have a childhood, vague remembering about 'the Orange'--a place, a colour, heaven? Who knows? But it works for me, and that's the point, isn't it? Not everything works for everyone. There are no right or wrong answers, only our opinions, built on our understanding, knowledge and experience. Opinion pieces, like sermons from a pulpit, offer insight and guidance based on the deliverer's understanding, knowledge and experience. We may not all be religious, nor acknowledge gods or a God, but we all human, and as such, we are more than the sum of our parts. I loved the way your article got me to pause, take in another's perspective and think. A good opinion piece should stir the reader to think *Thinker*

What are my suggestions?

This is an opinion piece, and one of the most enjoyable parts of it being one was your very informal approach to a conversational style of writing--perfect to hear your voice. The only issue with that is the compromise made with writing rules for grammar and punctuation. As your train of thought builds up steam, there are a few fragmented sentences littered along the track. Add to that a number of conjunctions starting sentences and misplaced commas where periods should be and your write could get derailed. Sure, it is old-fashioned to balk at the idea of a conjunction starting a sentence, and I am hard-pressed to think of a writer who doesn't slip a few ands and buts in as sentence starters, but when a writer breaks that rule a lot the reader may start to wonder if they know their craft. My suggestion would be to proof with fresh eyes and see if you need all those sentence-starting conjunctions, edit specifically for punctuation, and ask a friend to read it aloud, noting where they may stumble over sentences.

Even though this is not an academic paper, I do like sources. I think if you have gone to the trouble of popping quotes in to back up your argument, it is worth the time to pop in corresponding in text citations and bibliography. After all, your article could inspire readers to read on, researching your arguments further. You do this once, but it would be a better presentation of your text to do it throughout: Harvard, APP, whatever reference style you like, would make a positive contribution.

You do cite rather a large direct quotation from Bertrand Russell. Do you need all of it? If you think the answer is still yes, then do consider its presentation: it's practical to differentiate direct speech from things pointed out in speech (when we emphasise and stress certain words and phrases with quotation marks), so most style guides advocate use of single quotation marks for one expression and double for the other. Also, when the speaker carries on to a new paragraph, do not close speech mark punctuation on the old paragraph, but do open them again on the new paragraph.

This is a nice opinion piece. Tweaked a little in editing, it could make a very good one *ThumbsUpL*

On a more serious note, I was rather disturbed by one point you made away from your central argument, which, as a right-thinking, unbiased, tolerance-loving, open-minded individual, even I couldn't swallow:
there is no Santa. *Shock2*

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34
Review of Tanya  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


This tale of bullying could have become a victim of its own subject matter, but, no, this is an inspirational, uplifting tale of winning when others view you as a loser. There's little that satisfies better than a successful underdog, and the bad guys getting their comeuppance, and this tight write delivers those feel good and just emotions in just the right way. It also proves the cosmic point that what goes around, comes around...it just might not be the victim dishing out the just desserts.

What are my favourite parts?

As a Brit, I felt at home from the off. Perhaps I should worry about that. The mix of abuse and comedy was well balanced. Comedy is not only a great way to alleviate dramatic tension, but makes your characters more human-- I should say here, that the sparkling dialogue did a great job of developing the characters and adding authenticity to your storyworld, too *ThumbsUpL*

What are my suggestions?

A strange suggestion, perhaps, but the Englih flavour was spoiled a little by some US imposters (using 'math' instead if 'maths', for example).

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35
Review of Endure the Night  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: E | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


This is a beautifully descriptive and inspirational story. There are places where a refreshed pair of editorial eyes could do with a proofread tour. If only you had created it in August: it would have made a smashing entry in this month's official WDC contest. Sport is always an interesting reading topic for me, as I think it tends to reveal the most intimate portraits of human resilience and endeavour. Once polished, this story of one man's last gruelling miles in extreme running is sure to prove popular with a variety of readers *ThumbsUpL*

What are my favourite parts?

A few observant creatures caught its figure; an animal toned with muscle and a lanky build with sprouting hair all over its chin and parts of its cheeks. Its body was soaked in sweat with traces of steam evaporating off its pale skin. Its pupils were dark and brown and dilated, as if it was on an adrenaline rush. It did not take a long time for them to conclude that it was in fact, a mad orangutan.

They were wrong.
It was Wes Bascomb, ultrarunner.


What are my suggestions?

It may just be something a little lost in translation between different speaking English tongues, but I faltered a little in some places with your phrasing and word use. For example, these places:

Like a phantom shrouded by the shadows of the night, his presence was merely an estimated suggestion than a calculated reality.
Like a phantom shrouded by the shadows of the night, his presence was more of [or, 'more like'] an estimated suggestion than a calculated reality.

His legs moved like a unicycle—endless in motion -- unicycle's peddles, or, unicyclist?

may result in the destruction of your very own mind and souls. -- typically, a soul is singular.

Over thousands have tried and failed to conquer the mountains that lay between Squaw Valley and Auburn to conquer this trial of miles. -- lie? Also, repetitious word use can indicate places in your prose that may benefit from more variation in vocabulary.

Check with a site Moderator (WDC members with blue cases), but I think you may want to increase your reader rating, due to some of your simile and metaphor references, which do include those related to alcohol. Don't worry about being 13+ rated; you'll still get lots of readers, and your content is aimed at a maturer readership, anyhow *Smile*

E: Everyone
All Ages
This rating signifies that the content of this item is intended for everyone of all ages. There are absolutely no references to sex (other than gender), drugs, alcohol, violence, cursing (of any kind), derogatory names or any combinations thereof


Wes’ contrails was so immense that it frightened off the nighthawks -- should contrail be pluralised, when you are referring to Wes's vapour trail?

They have all fled from their branches -- there are a couple of places, like this one, where tense shifts muddy the flow. Might be worth your while to proof specifically for tense shift issues.

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Review of I Can Hear You  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: E | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


First person narrative is a good way to create intimacy with the reader, as well as being apt for this flash prose piece about a comma patient. A little time polishing this on the editor's bench will benefit this lovely little write.

What are my favourite parts?

What pleasantly surprised me was the full and vivid nature of some of the descriptions, from beneath the closed lids of the patient. This richness was created by engaging other senses, such as smell, sound and touch:

I can't open my eyes but I can see the shades in front of me lightening. I hear a young voice say good morning to me. I can smell her freshness in the perfume she is wearing, and the clean smell of her presence. It must be a new day, the start of a new shift. She is gently touching my arm and telling me that she will freshen me up. Thank God for an angel like her. She shares her words aloud, though she knows there will be no response to them. She gives me the benefit of the doubt and I ponder for a moment to think if she knows how monumental that is to me right now.

What are my suggestions?

You have an intriguing title, a powerful illustration and a good brief description, but could attract more readers if you use all 3 of the genre descriptions available to you.

There are some formatting issues that need resolving: the line breaks between paragraphs fluctuate between single and double returns, which can be a little jarring, as most online readers scroll down. There are typos, too, so it would be worth your while to revisit to edit for things like this:

are âbout the same. What does that mean , I wonder

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Review of The Swings  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
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This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


This is a delightfully creepy little vignette. There's nothing quite as exciting and slightly dangerous than amusement parks, where thrills can be so easily combined with spills. Not really long enough for me to get invested in the plot or get to know and care about the narrator, but a shocking little thrill, all the same.

What are my favourite parts?
I liked the description of the swallows believing the small amusement park was just built for them. It served as a nice bit of foreshadowing for the narrator's experience. I also liked the use of repetitious vocabulary that mimicked the motion of the swing.


What are my suggestions?

I love commas. I sprinkle them like seasoning over a page. That said, even I felt mentally asmathic with all those little pauses for breath peppering this lovely bit of prose. House styles vary, and punctuation is a very personal thing, but, generally, see if a sentence can survive without some of the commas in it. I needed all 4 of those commas in the preceding sentence, so that my writing voice went up and down the way I wanted it to inside your head, but I checked first, and I could have dropped two... Can you live without some?

Screaming kids with anxious faces, would all gather 'round. We'd all watch in hurried anticipation, under the burnt turquoise sky.

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Review of THE WAITING ROOM  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: E | (3.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?

This is an emotional vignette on waiting and the anxiety it brings. Hospital waiting rooms are a limbo land that give me an understanding of what it might be like to be Schrödinger's cat. That stretched out moment before any test results are delivered leaves the waitee with a foot in two worlds, and it is drawn well in this short story. There are places where the narrative, descriptions, and dialogue could benefit from attention on the editor's bench to polish this little gem and make it gleam.

What are my favourite parts?
You infected me with the anxiety of the protagonist by cleverly building tension and pace through sentence structuring and the intimacy of the POV. Nicely done *ThumbsUpL*

What are my suggestions?
You have 3x genre fields, and to attract more potential readers it is best to use them all; 'Other' and 'Activity' don't really tell us much about what you have written.

Show feelings, rather than announcing them; it adds depth and richness to your writing, enhancing your readers experience:
It had the feel of a children's waiting room, the type of room I had sat in with the children, when they were young. Was this designed to give a feeling of cheerful optimism? [...] But never with this overwhelming feeling of fear. I was quite sure it was a feeling that united all its occupants.

It is also worth considering widening your vocabulary where you notice repetition of the same word (there's a lot of 'feeling' going on).

There are a couple of places where your punctuation around dialogue is incorrect. Refer to a style guide, or, for a quick, if irreverent, reference, you could look here "Invalid Item

Parenthetic commas work in pairs. If you don't include one, readers often have to re-read the sentence to gain clarity, which jolts them out of your story-world; I was watching as Catherine Thompson and the young women I assumed was her daughter, passed me to go back to their seats.

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#398524 by Writing.Com Support

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39
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: E | (4.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?

A compelling tale of deception in appearances, told well. A final polish to show it off in resplendent glory is all that is needed. The author does a very good job of painting the characters with a few deft strokes, and this is best seen in the sketches of the supporting cast of parishioners.

What are my favourite parts?
The imagery used in descriptions of character and setting enhanced the themes of greed, corruption and vanity showcased in the plot. Lovely writing.

What are my suggestions?
You list the intro as 'Non-E', but it appears to be suitable for everyone, so you may want to consider changing this in order to create more opportunity to find readers.

There are not many places I can make suggestions, as this is a tight write with good attention to spelling, grammar and syntax. It is a lovely read, insofar as it is easy on the eye, allowing me to sit back, dive in and submerge myself in the story world. Spell checks don't pick up all typos, so look for little mistakes: she watched as Raul Alvarez crouched and place the warm revolver into the grip of the dead man. I do like to be a little more useful in my suggestions, though, so here are some nit-picking comments:

Look for repetitious word use, as it is often a good indicator for where you can add richness to description through widening vocabulary.

His voice was deep and soothing with just a tinge of an accent. Father Alvarez' voice rose and fell with a pure poetic cadence.

I did get the feeling I was being told things, rather than discovering them. Readers like to feel clever, or at the very least, rewarded for "getting it" (the story and characters, that is). We think we are doing all the work, investing out emotions and reasoning into the writer's world, when, in reality, all the hard work is down to you. With that in mind, look for places where you could work harder, by showing rather than telling. There are a string of commonly used words that an editing writer can consider to be red flags, such as superfluous adverbs an words like 'felt': Discreetly, she looked back to where sister Virginia stood [...and...] Father Alvarez felt good.. Some writers balk at the thought of extra work, but in your case, you often go on to show more than you've told, anyway, so I think the bulk of your workload will be having the courage to take your scissors out and cut redundant words and phrases.

I have to say that the suggestions above really are me working as hard as I can to offer helpful suggestions. This story is a near to a perfect 5 star rating as I have come across. A real treat for me. Thank you.


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#398524 by Writing.Com Support

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40
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?


An Eeyore, dour and dispondent vampire's portrait is painted well in this sanguine story of doom. I don't feel particularly cheerful after reading it, but that is the point, I fancy. There are some places where this would benefit from further development and an examination of authenticity in the fantasy world created, but on the whole it is a tight little write, and enjoyable too.

What are my favourite parts?

Zombie apocalypse has been done to death (pardon the pun), so it was refreshing to see a vampiric one. I enjoyed the snap fragments of your own take on vampire lore and the setting up of that universe. This was very comfortable on the eye, with little for me to point out about spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. I mention that here in 'favourite parts', because reading a well polished piece of writing is somewhat of a treat in itself. Thank you.

What are my suggestions?

Your title and brief description are good and should entice readers in, but as you have 3 X genre field options, using all of them may attract more readers.

I think you have a great opportunity to show both Amanda and her mother's characters more fully, as well as the pressures of being different and the stresses that causes, if, right at the beginning, you do explain Amanda's story world via dialogue, instead of simply writing, I listened to her soothing voice as she explained that we were vampires.

ASR may not be the best rating for this, as some of the themes and imagery is a little disturbing, like the exsanguination and decapitation of a child. Consult a moderator or site guidance as to whether this should be a 13+

I was a bit confused that Amanda did not dispatch Sally at the mass murder scene at the park, as the narration prior said Amanda hoped she did not need to kill Sally. The suspension on my belief harness gave way at the point that Amanda decided to relocate them both instead. What would it take for Amanda to have to kill Sally?

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#398524 by Writing.Com Support

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Review of The Legacy  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
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What are my overall impressions?


I was so pleased to see a script entry in the contest. As much as I love your poetry and short stories, this is a side of you I haven't read too often *Smile*. Also, I know it is the Anything but Poetry, but you wouldn't believe the amount of short stories entries I get. Don't get me wrong, short stories are welcome, but I can't believe WDCers don't make the most of showing off Sigs they made, angry letters to bank managers, reviews they are proud of, or blog posts! So, yes, a real treat to get some dialogue going!

The one act play is evolving. It used to be a description for plays that were typically 15mins-1hr, and not quite long enough to warrant an interval. With lots of writing comps out there, vlogging, YouTube home video, etc., attention spans are down and immediacy is up. Now a one act play can be anything from a minute to an hour. Fine, but I am old school, so to me this would be classed as more of a sketch. But what's in a name, right? A rose would smell as sweet *Wink*

This sad scene turned humorous shows the delightfully strong and interesting character of the character who isn't there: Grandma is at the centre of the story and the plot's drive and pivot. Cleverly done. There is some room to explore her relationship with her family through shared memories, if you ever thought of revisiting this write, which would mean you would have further opportunity to develop Joshua an Rebekah's characters more, as they pretty much feel less like characters in their own right, and more like one-dimensional divices to deliver the plot and punchline.

What are my favourite parts?
The plot. The pivot. The punchline. You know I love your humour. I know I love your humour. Everyone should read your comedy writes and come to know and love your humour. You have a gift, my friend. Your personal bio says a day without laughter is wasted; I rarely waste a day if a visit to your port has been a part of it.


What are my suggestions?
The Victorian-looking setting really threw me when the characters started speaking so informally to each other. Whilst contractions in speech can create intimacy with characters, it can be best to question them in some dialogue. Were we that familiar with speech back then? I thought. Maybe so, but not in most people's imaginings (think Sherlock Holmes or even Wild Wild West). I even felt a little shocked by Bek as a pet name. Perhaps that's just me being the English fuddy-duddy that I am, I tried to argue with myself, because it made me question the authenticity of the world the characters inhabited. I could feel my brow wrinkle--I didn't buy this story world... Then it hit me (over half way through) that when you set the scene as [Victorian looking], you actually meant [scene looks Victorian but is set in modern times. A young couple, dressed in modern contemporary clothes enter]. You should consider clearly establishing the scene in any re-write to add clarity on period *ThumbsUpL*

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#398524 by Writing.Com Support
42
42
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: 18+ | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*

This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!


Hello, my friend of the pen *Smile*,

It's been a while since I've been around these parts, and I fancied a bit of noir. Imagine my smile when I stumbled into a familiar port!

It's great to see a 2007 write with an edit date of 4 years later. Revisiting old writes and giving them a tickle with the feather duster is always a good thing. I think it's a smashing exerciseuu to look over old works, if only to see how far you've come and how much you have developed since then. Some of my writes raise an eyebrow as well as a smile! Could be worth a look see again for punctuation:

Chicago, the windy city, where dark secrets lurk in the back alleys and wise guys rule the hood, I sat alone in my office, as I have done many nights after closing. This very nervous woman barged into the room


Your dialogue really sparkles. It took me right into the mood of the piece and drove the tone and pace. You first person narrative does this, too. Here's my favourite example: I took another gander under the side of the blinds. Then I opened them more daringly as I noticed the goons were no longer waiting by the lamppost. This is not a good sign. They could be in the building already. Yeah, if I were an optimist, I'd say, they gave up, got bored, took off. But I ain't no optimist, I'm just a small potatoes gumshoe dick, out to make a buck and spare my jaw from some cheating husband's pummeling. And there it is: your trademark comedic core--subtle, for sure, but comedy doesn't have to be overt and when woven into a character's personality, it lends them a 3-D, flesh and blood aspect. Nicely done.

Lou Ryan is a great character. I like the accompanying art work *ThumbsUpL* His voice really fleshes him out, thanks to the first person narrative. The only thing to watch here is tha that can challenge you in representing the other characters as fully. My suggestion would be to carefully reveal these secondary characters more fully through Lou's observations and interactions with them, principally via dialogue and description. So, for example, instead of Lou referring to Gloria as 'the dame', you could use other descriptors.

Be careful of tense shifts; there are a couple like the one that follows:
I didn't want to disturb the dame she looked so peaceful, but this is some serious business about to come down.

So, yes, there are still some places to polish, but ultimately this is a cracking action/comedy/noir piece that I enjoyed. Thank you for sharing *Smile*

A real treat to visit WW. Thank you for the hospitality of your port.

*Star* Thank you for sharing your work! Write on and take care *Star*

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#398524 by Writing.Com Support
43
43
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: ASR | (3.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
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This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?

This was originally written to a prompt and I am guessing a romantic prompt. That said, the comedy shines through, so if the original contest you wrote this for is ended, I suggest you change the 'contest entry' genre field for 'comedy'. Everyone loves a bit of romance, so this short story should appeal to a wide readership here on WDC. The story could use a polish with some editing. There are some issues with storyworld reality that might jolt a reader out of your tale; such as the protagonist arranging a date for the next morning and then spending the next couple of hours--presumably the same evening--doing her make up. Maybe that says more about me... I didn't think about it until just typing this review, but maybe some women practice their make up before events? Anyway, I digress. Sorry. My overall impression was enhanced by the surprise ending. You packed a lot into this little write.


What are my favourite parts?

I thoroughly enjoyed the comedic element of the protagonist moving from telling herself 'it's only coffee...' to imagining all sorts of date scenarios that spurred her on to clean the flat, buy some flowers and pick up some steak for a potential dinner for two. How she managed this before morning coffee, I don't know, but it brought a smile to my face.

What are my suggestions?

Whilst this may have been originally written for a writing prompt, if that was for a contest/writing exercise that has now ended, you will attract more readers by telling them more about the subject of the story itself in the brief description field.

It can be useful to both you and your readers to proofread specifically for punctuation typos; there are a number. I will give you some examples below. Check your dialogue. The comma after speech, where you go on to let the reader know who said something and how they said it, goes inside the quotation/speech marks, and it is always a comma when relating to this. If action follows, use a period, but do not use a period if you are still directing the reader about who said what:

"Old enough to enjoy drinking a cup of coffee with a customer". His reply was.

"Old enough to enjoy drinking a cup of coffee with a customer," he replied.

Questions should be ended with a question mark.

"How old are you anyway",

"How old are you anyway?"

Commas can do a lot, but they cannot take on the role of a period:

I had just asked this man out, what was I thinking

Becomes: I had just asked this man out. What was I thinking?

Proofread too for spelling. Not all spellchecks will pick up on incorrect words, because they recognise them in their own right, e.g, 'cloths' instead of 'clothes'.

Taking some time to proofread, edit, and--now that it is not in a contest demanding 500 words--flesh out/possibly expand, will work wonders for your readers' enjoyment of this unexpected romantic tale.

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44
Review of The 16:49  
Review by Acme
In affiliation with Write On This...  
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
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What are my overall impressions?


This short story/flash fiction grabbed my attention, took me swiftly into the story world and delivered a satisfying morsel in a short space of time. We never know what the stranger who passes us is going through, and we seldom ruminate on it, but that's the beauty of the artist and writer: they pick up the disregarded little bits of life-litter and re-present it to us to look at in a different light. In this case, that's exactly what the narrator does.

What are my favourite parts?
Life is often likened to a journey, so the train setting for the characters' journey was apt. It served as an extended metaphor of sorts; the different scenes of industrial and pastoral landscapes flashing past (our work and play); the ignoring of such scenery in the tragic portrait of the troubled youth, caught up in his own isolated experience; the role of narrator as passenger/observer, impotent to act and unable to steer from the track's path before them, only able to study and understand. Nice.

What are my suggestions?
It's always hard to develop empathy with characters in such a short write. I barely found an emotional connection to the troubled young man, whilst I did for the narrator. After all, this is the narrator's story, not the suicide's. If you are looking to develop the write, you could either look to strengthen that relationship between the narrator and the reader, or employ some more room to flesh out the young man. I suggest the former, as the underlying theme of people struggling without notice (by family, friends and professionals) is emphasised by the lack of strong character development and connection with the young man. He is a tragic side note.

Welcome to WDC, BTW. Should have said so sooner! You may notice that a lot of writers use similar formatting: a double return after paragraphs and, where appropriate, dialogue. This can be really useful in an online writing community for readers; readers mostly read from the screen, so such spacing is a great way to find your place when scrolling *ThumbsUpL*

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#398524 by Writing.Com Support
45
45
Review of My Favorite Bison  
Review by Acme
Rated: ASR | (3.0)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
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What are my overall impressions?

I loved the thoughtful inclusion of pictures to enhance this non-fiction account of your favourite Bison. Good presentation of work really enhances a reader's enjoyment of it, so it will benefit your work if you proofread for punctuation, grammar, spelling and general typos, of which there are a lot. Time spent presenting your work well will make this heartwarming tale a little gem.


What are my favourite parts?
I’d slide down beside Billy, grab a handful of hair and swing onto his broad back. We trotted, cantered, and galloped a little bit. It was fun and I hadn’t forgotten he was a wild animal. I was always ready to bale out if necessary. Riding a real buffalo gave me an amazing rush. I think he wanted me on his back to be close to me. He never once bucked, and that could break my bones or he could stomp me to death with his large strong legs with razor sharp hooves. I knew better and paid attention to his moods. I felt like I was riding a giant Brillo Pad.
Your action scenes are full of vivid imagery, good tone and pace. I particularly liked the one above, because your narrative seemed so intimate; the way you rode has obviously left a lasting impression on you and that comes through well *Thumbsup*


What are my suggestions?

There may be a formatting issue your end (it could be mine...), but the end of the piece isn't the end of the piece: there's a huge chunk of blank text box right to the very bottom of the page where the site's review box lives. This may discourage some people from leaving a review.

This may be a British thing, but the 'Adult' genre tends to be associated with sexual content. It may not be the same in your part of the world, but I thought you may want to know as you may want to make the most of the genre selection options to maximize your chances of better targeting your intended readership.

It pays to take time out to proofread for typos. The less there are, the more your reader will enjoy your work. Here are a few examples, but please check for others:
He arrived on a mild Saturday at the Animal Forest in june Capital J for June.

I spent a lot of time withhim with him

brisly bristly

...and other native animals. someone gave Fowler... Capitalise at the start of a new sentence.

such a large animal can cover a the of ground Clarity of meaning is lost here.

nonverbal and scent-oriated non-verbal and scent-orientated

One good tool here at WDC is a Spell Check. It's always worth your while to run one.


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#398524 by Writing.Com Support


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46
46
Review of A Perceived World  
Review by Acme
Rated: E | (3.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
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What are my overall impressions?

The subtitle does a great job of acting as a blurb for potential readers and sets the scene for this fantasy romance. This short story starts with action and hooked my imagination. Dragons. Where would traditional fantasy be without them *Bigsmile*

This story could be the start of a much larger piece. It sets the scene for an epic adventure of self-discovery and battles (inward and without). The seeds of romance are sown and some fascinating characters are hinted at as up and coming antagonists to the story. It's a good start to what could be a great story.


What are my favourite parts?
She shivered as she imagined the feel of its serrated teeth sinking into soft flesh. Gnawing on fragile, almost sickly, bones Wonderful, gruesome imagery *Thumbsup*


What are my suggestions?
You may notice that on WDC most writers leave a double return space between paragraphs. This is because it is easier on a reader's eye; when readers scroll, good spacing can help them maintain their place and find it again quickly.

Your title is the first thing a reader sees, so it's best to proofread for errors here:
Percieved
Perceived

Use of metaphor really enhances your imagery and serves to draw the reader in. You do this well, but there is room for where you can take it even further. For instance, where you find yourself describing things vaguely (eg., she felt), you can edit to describe the physical reaction of your character:

The dragon thrust its wings straight down, stealing Meeka's breath, as it began a swirling surge that took them higher and higher. Flapping its wings continuously, it made them travel faster until everything blurred and it felt like they were being drawn in by another force within the atmosphere.

“I think you have the wrong person. I cannot help you. I need to get back to my brother,” she pulled at her arm desperately but the man would not let go.
When using an action tag, be sure to end speech with a period or enhanced period (question mark or exclamation). A comma is only used when the tag tells the reader how the speech was spoken or who spoke it.

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47
47
Review of The Hospital Room  
Review by Acme
Rated: E | (3.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
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What are my overall impressions?

Nice presentation to this dramatic short story. You may want to capture a potentially wider readership by making the most of WDC's genre fields (you can use all 3). The choice of first person narrative means that you have fun throughout this with several writing styles. Most noticeable is the tendency toward stream of consciousness writing, much favoured by Virginia Wolf. The use of it in the first paragraph helped set pace and tone as well as establish narrative direction. The whole piece is like an intimate reveal to a friend in conversation, rather than a treating the reader as a voyeuristic observer. This works well, adding drama in subtle ways, as well as easy room for development of the piece as a monologue.

Compelling reading to the end, with a very human 3D protagonist, but work is needed in editing, specifically with regard to tense and punctuation.

What are my favourite parts?
Your turns of phrase are delightful and descriptive. Loved the use of simile here and the imagery created:
Angie is a small girl. She is only as big as a hand full of minutes. Blonde hair, from a box and pink eyes, from a box. She wears more make-up than anyone I know. Her hair grows fast too, so one day it's short and next month it’s long. Irritating since mine grows like a cactus.


What are my suggestions?
Due to some of the themes raised and the physically violent internalised frustrations of the narrator, you may want to consider changing your content rating, especially as there are references to sex and drugs. Approach a Moderator for further advice or "Content Rating Support

Proof specifically for punctuation use. There are some places where a friendly comma would come in handy for subclauses and assisting conjunctions where they join two independent clauses. Also of note is a slight over-use of exclamation marks when the doctors reveal their diagnosis. One is enough. The added question marks aren't needed, either, as you've done all of the narrator's questioning of the situation in her dialogue.

You may find it beneficial to proofread separately for tense shifts; there are many that go from present to past. This can jolt a reader out of the story-world, especially in a short story.

*Star* Thank you for sharing your work! Write on and take care *Star*

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#398524 by Writing.Com Support


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48
48
Review of The Split Fare  
Review by Acme
Rated: 13+ | (3.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
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What are my overall impressions?

I'm a sucker for a horror tale, so your title and subtitle drew me in. Nice use, too, of a spooky image to add that little label that says you care about how you present your work.

This is an enjoyable horror tale that displays the battle between good and evil externally and internally. A little time spent editing will only enhance it.

What are my favourite parts?
There's a nod to M R James in the introduction, with the use of informal intimate reveal, like a confession to the reader alone, along with the language choice and vocabulary. This sets the tone, pace of the story well, investing the reader, making them a confidant. It is something you continue throughout the story, and these intimate, first person narrative glimpses into the thoughts of the narrator are beautifully wrought, if a little conflicted with the dialogue used.

What are my suggestions?

I was soaked to the bone, having had walked two blocks before spotting the cab. 'having had' is redundant, suggest removal of superfluous 'had'. Also, Welford is mentioned, and as this threw me a little, because of the British flavour to the narrative, as I thought you might mean Welford-on-Avon. Whilst I'm not sure if there is a commons there, common land is still very much in use in the UK. If this is the case, and your story is UK based, we wouldn't mention 'blocks' as we simply don't have them here, unless they're tower blocks ('half mile' or something similar), and there are also a couple of other areas where the American references are stronger than the British. You may need to be clearer about which side of the Pond this story is set.

I often proofread for tense, as a shift in tense can jolt a reader out of the text and storyworld.
I never saw her approaching the cab and likewise, determined by her reaction, suspect she hadn’t initially seen me either, because we both were given a subtle fright. suspected

but none the less, I acknowledged my dreadful luck for being caught in such a predicament nonetheless

The horror, I fear, is destine to remain, at least until my last breath. destined

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49
49
Review of Taffy  
Review by Acme
Rated: E | (4.0)
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What are my overall impressions?

Thank you for submitting an essay to the contest. Whilst it felt more like an article, I like to read pieces with an editorial feel to them and enjoyed reading this one. This is a delightful musing that many will be able to relate to.


What are my favourite parts?
I found joy in creating new ways of describing old ideas and expressing emotions. It filled a need in me and I was forever looking for classes to take, contests to enter, magazines and newspapers at school to work on, and stories and poems to write. It was a part of me. And the words flowed freely from my pen. They slid like liquid and oozed into place. It seemed effortless. Writing was my dream.
And a dream shared by many! What particularly stands out about this part is the conspiratorial sharing of self with the reader, the lovely imagery and the use of long and short sentences to control the reader's pace. Also of note is that final sentence, where the 'was' past tense adds that anticipation that what is to follow may sully the dream... Ace *Thumbsup*


What are my suggestions?


But my pen was still. And the house was too quiet. And I didn’t know how I could [...]

Whilst it's no longer unconventional to use conjunctions to start a sentence, it's best reserved for occasional use to have impact. So many sentences in swift succession using the device can lead to narrative mental breathlessness. If this is not the effect you intended, you may want to consider revising it.

Personal style rules an editorial piece, but you may want to consider more orthodox punctuation here:
My thoughts start out as all thoughts do. Simple. Unoriginal. Bland.
My thoughts start out as all thoughts do: simple, unoriginal and bland.


*Star* Thank you for sharing your work! Write on and take care *Star*

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Review of Looking  
Review by Acme
Rated: E | (2.5)
*Star* An Acme Review *Star*
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **
This rate and review is offered in the spirit of assistance. Please feel free to ignore any, or all suggestions. This is your work, and I'm just happy to have had the chance to review it!



What are my overall impressions?

This is a short, contemplative vignette, capturing a dream and dealing with loss of a loved one. I'm sure many readers will relate, as sadly, we've nearly all lost someone close to us at some point in our lives. A bit of time spent editing for format, punctuation, spelling and grammar will enhance your reader's enjoyment of this story.


What are my favourite parts?
There are some lovely descriptions in this shortie. I particularly enjoyed the following, which painted a smashing picture in my mind's eye:
Rolling hills, butterflies, this was the most beautiful place that I have ever seen. The air was clean and crisp and the sun tingled my skin.


What are my suggestions?
Double spacing, or, as is common here on WDC, leaving a double return between paragraphs, can help a reader follow your work without difficulty. Most readers tend to read direct from scrolling down the screen. Whilst this story isn't particularly long, it still helps to format your work so that your reader does less work, allowing them to enjoy your story more.

Proofread for punctuation and grammar errors, as these, too, can distract a reader. Here are just a couple of examples (proofread to catch the others):
But tonights dream was not the same as the past ones. tonight's

I often would call out her name. Wanting to scream in pain. Use a comma instead of a period after 'name', followed by lower case start to the subordinate clause.

An ellipsis is made up of three period marks: two are too few and could be misinterpreted as a period with an extra one acting as a typo.


*Star* Thank you for sharing your work! Write on and take care *Star*

*Star* If you would like to reward this review *Star*
please donate any gift points to:
GROUP
RAOK Upgrade Brigade Group  (E)
RAOK (Random Acts Of Kindness) helps members by Upgrading them.
#398524 by Writing.Com Support


*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!.
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