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1,559 Public Reviews Given
2,107 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
My reviews typically cover: initial responses, technicalities and mechanics, favorite parts, areas of improvement, and overall impression.
I'm good at...
Honesty, and finding what works versus what doesn't work. I will never give you a rating I don't think your work deserves. I am also particularly good at spotting grammatical errors and typos.
Favorite Genres
Philosophy, Steampunk, Horror, Dark, Emotional, Science Fiction, Technology, and Political Science. I'm sure there are more that I'm missing.
Least Favorite Genres
Romance, Western, Religious, and anything froufrou.
I will not review...
Chapters and Novels, unless arrangements are made prior.
Public Reviews
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301
301
Review of Summer in Sabetha  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (4.0)
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Hi Kare! I'm reviewing you today through the random reads page.

I thought this poem was sweet and I'm glad you put in the notes at the bottom. What I enjoyed most about the story within the poem was the descriptions and minor repetition of keywords. It has a strong "love" feel to it. Something I'm sure you were aiming for.

My only thoughts on correction were when I cam to stanza three. Did you mean were instead of where? I can see it going both ways, but I do have to admit my mind wandered when I got to that spot.

Thank you for sharing this with us!



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Riot
302
302
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
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*Heart* I am reviewing you on behalf of "Simply Positive Review Forum ! *Heart*


Hi Webby! I found your poem on Simply Positive's highlight. *Bigsmile*

I really enjoyed the form of this! I often have problems myself when using dashes in poetry, as they represent meter breaks. However, I think you did an outstanding job with them. The one that I enjoyed the most is the second one: I hide, it seeks. I glide--it streaks!

Overall, I don't feel like there's a lot to comment on since I couldn't find any errors. I like how it both started and ended with a question. The starting line grabbed my curiosity and the end line added to this mystery. Great job with unfolding the story! *Heart*



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Riot
303
303
Review of Crowds  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (4.0)
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Hi Kaylee. *Smile*

I like your "waffle scribble" and I'm glad you posted this. *Wink*

I think that your poem starts off really strong. It has a nice beat, just like the busy train. In the second stanza, I'm not sure if neighbors fits really well, but perhaps where you live it means more. I think the second part of this stanza is very true though. It's sadly a depiction of the city life.

The ending left a knot in my stomach. What a wickedly good end! Thank you for sharing! *Thumbsup*



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Riot
304
304
Review of My Epitaph  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (4.0)
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Hi Embe! While looking through your port, I came across a ton of poetry, but at the end of this enormous list, I found an item tagged as a short story. This review is on that. *Bigsmile*

I felt that this was very poetic. I'm not entirely sure if I'd call it an epitaph in the traditional sense, but it's definitely a lovely sounding word. What I liked best about this is how whimsical it flowed. Have you ever considered putting this into more of a solid form, like in a poem, as opposed to prose?

Some mechanical things:

Paragraph Two: Comma after paradise. *Wink* Depending on how you feel about flow (no pun intended), you might want to consider ending the sentence after open. *Right* ...the mountain burst open. I was set...

Paragraph Three: ...I flow where forests grow creating rapids and waterfalls... *Right* It seemed to me that a comma after grow would be really appropriate given the meter of the rest of the text. *Smile*

*Right* Some other very small things: In paragraph four, there should be a comma after me. In paragraph five, there's a missing period. In paragraph seven, grows should be the end of the sentence and hearted needs a comma. *Wink*

Overall, this was really pleasant to read. Thank you for sharing it!



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Riot
305
305
Review of Trumpets Sound  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (5.0)
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I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after.

Congratulations on your recent nomination to "Invalid Item
Along with your nomination, you are also receiving the Emily Bronte Fan Package!
This package includes many things, one of which is a total of 9 reviews for "Invalid Item!



Hi Winnie! I really enjoyed reading The Day of Trumpets. Although short, I felt like each stanza was crafted meticulously and thoughtfully. I especially liked the meter and flow! As far as I can tell, the syllabic count also matches, making it flawless. I'd say more, but there's nothing to improve! Excellent work!



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Riot
306
306
Review of Soon Enough  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
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I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after.

Congratulations on your recent nomination to "Invalid Item by an anonymous donor!
Along with your nomination, you are also receiving the Emily Bronte Fan Package!
This package includes many things, one of which is a total of 9 reviews for "Invalid Item!



Hey there, Winnie Kay ! While looking through your Flash Fiction folder I cam across this story. I found it to be heart breaking and incredibly tragic. Morbidly so, I think you made the right decision in its ending, as many writers don't brave controversial subjects. So, kudos for that!

I only spotted some very minor grammatical problems within this story. The first five paragraphs look flawless to me!

Paragraph Six *Right* He remembered the fresh azaleas Bess kept here, fresh cut from the little garden out back. I think the use of fresh here twice is unneeded. If I were to pick which one to cut, I would cut the second one. Also, in the following sentence, I think that have would be better worded as had. I think that the tense is tricky a little here. However, since they already have grown over, I feel it's the best usage. *Wink*

Paragraph Seven *Right* The pain came all of a sudden like a rogue storm over the gulf. With the style of everything you've written in this piece, I think instead of all of a sudden that suddenly might be a better option. It is an adjective, but I think given the sweltering emotions of this paragraph it works good! Also, in the following sentence, I believe that should be who.

Last Paragraph *Right* No grammar problems per say, but I wonder if allowing the dialog to be in a paragraph itself packs a bigger punch: "Soon enough' ain't soon enough for me, Bess." / Robert lifted...

*Heart* I really felt for Robert. As you gave insight to his feelings, I really felt sympathy for him. The metaphors were amazing, even for just a couple. Excellent job!

*Star* Thank you for sharing this story. You have a remarkable talent for taking moments in the lives of your characters and turning them into a worthwhile, dramatic read. *Thumbsup*



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yourusername
307
307
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (4.5)
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*Heart* I am reviewing you on behalf of "Simply Positive Review Forum ! *Heart*


Hello, michellekeyes! I was looking through your port and came across this file. Since this is something that has interested me, I wanted to check it out. I'm glad I did! It's very informative. *Bigsmile*

The only thing I could see to improve this delightful guide are a couple of grammatical fixes.

*Right* Edit points are available for all membership levels, however your membership will determine how many edit points are available to you. Therefore it's important to choose the edit point locations throughout the piece that will maximize the piece based on what's available for your membership. -> Edit points are available for all membership levels. However, your membership will determine how many Edit Points are available to you. Therefore, it's important...

*Right* In the next paragraph, ...you can include them at the line breaks or if you're having trouble... -> ...you can include them at the line breaks, or if you're having trouble...

*Right* Generally if EPs are available... -> Generally, if EPs are available...

*Right* ...structure can change significantly, therefore a line-by-line critique would... -> ...structure can change significantly. Therefore, a line-by-line critique would...

*Idea* Other than those minor fixes, I couldn't spot anything else amiss. Thank you for compiling this wonderful guide! *Heart*



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Riot
308
308
Review of Shine On Me  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (4.5)
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*Heart* I am reviewing you on behalf of "Simply Positive Review Forum ! *Heart*


Heya jaya - To me, this almost didn't even seem like a poem, but rather a hymn or prayer. That's not to depreciate it at it all either, because I thought it was really well done!

With poetry, there is not a specific syllabic count. However, sometimes it helps with flow and meter. The syllabic count of your poem is as follows:

8/7/8/10
9/10/12/13
12/14/12/10
12/12/15/12


While reading this, I found a couple of spots where I thought the flow might benefit from some minor word cuts.

In the second stanza/third line, I felt and could be cut. It seemed to me that in doing so, the last two lines blend in seamlessly like in the first stanza. I also thought that the third stanza was a little rough, but I completely understand the lengthier lines in conveying your point. I thought that you had a good message in the third line, but I felt the repetition of You threw the 'tempo' off. I think it'd stand really well on its own! *Wink*

*Heart* I love that you have taken care in making proper capitalizations on the right words, as well as the words you have used to create the imagery you have. I'm in love with the word 'incandescent' but sadly it's not usually used wisely. Great job on the placement!

Thank you for sharing this poem with us and congratulations on the first place win! *Thumbsup*



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Riot
309
309
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: 18+ | (4.0)
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Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.

Congratulations on your recent nomination to "Invalid Item from an anonymous donor!
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This package includes many things, one of which is a total of 9 reviews for "Invalid Item!



Firstly, I just want to say I enjoyed the descriptions and imagery in this chapter! I'm going to skip right to the mechanics since it was such a long read, but I have other things to say after that. *Bigsmile*


Some Technical Stuff

Prologue

Paragraph One *Right* Chief Inspector for The Egyptian Department of Antiquities, he required no advice regarding what should attract his interest. - This is a 'negative' sentence. Since the rest of your story is predominantly not in this style, I would suggest changing it. The problem with negativity lies within the usage of required no advice in this context. A rewrite example would be: For Chief Inspector for The Egyptian Department of Antiquities, he required little advice regarding what should attract his interest. - However, that being said, I think you could flesh this out since it's right there in the beginning. You're very good with internal monologue...

Paragraph Two *Right* Comma after years. *Wink*

Paragraph Three *Right* prophesies in this form is archaic. I'm not sure if you intended it to be that way, since it's dialog, but I thought I'd throw that out there. Prophesy would be pronounced [prof-uh-sahy] while the less archaic version would be prophecy, pronounced [prof-uh-see] - The latter is the only one technically 'proper' in action. *Wink*

Paragraph Four *Right* I think Inspector can just be man. The reason I say this, is because you do a good job at establishing his lengthy title as it is. Since it seems to be more from the other person's perspective, removing the title entirely may work easier for the reader. Normally I don't think this sentence would pose a problem, but it's quite wordy with the descriptiveness. I like how it's worded though and this was the easiest way to correct some of the stumbling. *Wink*

Paragraph 5-11: Looking good! *Thumbsup* "absurd prophecies"

Paragraph Twelve *Right* canopic seems as though it should be capitalized. Wikipedia does not make this distinction, but other sites describing these Egyptian processes do. I think, since you've made it clear to capitalize certain important words, you may want to consider this. It's a personal thing, so go with what your gut tells you to. *Bigsmile*


Paragraph Thirteen *Right* I think this paragraph needs a bit of work. I understand the passive (and perhaps negative) nature since you're describing history. The sentences, though, seem a little lengthy and overly informative. I feel like you're really emphasizing on technical terms, which I commend, but maybe you could flesh out the history a little bit more, without being so quick about it?

Paragraph Fourteen *Right* Comma after Messiah in the last sentence.

Paragraph Fifteen *Right* I think in charge would read better as in command. *Smile*


Paragraph Sixteen: Comma after years and fluid. *Wink*

Paragraph Eighteen: Comma after So far. *Wink*

Chapter One
Paragraph One: Comma after apartment. *Wink*

Paragraph Three: The belabored bleating of goats and squealing pigs added to the din, as several of the animals escaped from their pens and were chased, further congesting the paths between the various kiosks and carts filled with dates and other indigenous middle-eastern taste treats. - Wow! I love the imagery, but this is way too long at 44 words. I think you could split it up.

Paragraph Four: At the far edge of the chaotic, dust-veiled scene the flutes of squatting, sweat soaked, snake charmers hypnotized their cobras, hoods widely
spread and dagger-like fangs prominently displayed as they rose, hissing and swaying, from their woven baskets.
- Whoa! Again, I love the imagery, but you may want to cut it down a little and split it.

Paragraph Six: "Oh God, please, please make it stop," Thomas prayed, his eyes clinched tightly shut as he felt the room and his stomach slowly begin to spin. - If you take out the quotes, this is a lengthy descriptive sentence. I would suggest ending the sentence after Thomas prayed and starting a new one with His eyes. It works well! *Smile*

Paragraph Seven: The word outstanding is repeated twice closely. I think the first one might be easily replaced with remarkable or another synonymous word.

Paragraph Eight, Nine: It's appropriate to capitalize almighty given the context. *Smile*

Paragraph Twelve: Comma after considerable effort. Also, I think the comma after ten would be more grammatically correct with a semicolon.

Paragraph Eighteen: I think in the last sentence, before dark, you could put two. Like: ...emanated from two dark, widened... - Also, tawney has two meanings and is archaic, but tawny only has the one meaning.

Paragraph Twenty-Three: hospitable should have a before it and in the dialog, there should be a comma after good. *Wink*

Second to Last: burst should be bursted in the context given. Also, I would consider reworking Again he knelt before the porcelain idol, praying for relief, quickly lifting the seat and lowering his head, taking careful aim at point blank range lest he have to answer for his inaccuracy to what could have been a clone of the jolly green giant, minus the green and the jolly.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I really enjoyed the highly descriptive nature of things. I know that it's tempting to put a ton of history in right from the start, but if the readers lack the interest in the characters it can be difficult to wade through the descriptions. I enjoyed getting to know Thomas through his actions, but I enjoyed how you brought in Father Benedict's past in Hounds of Hell.

I think you did an amazing job with imagery - again! I really got a chuckle from some of it, like the mating dance of the three-legged, spastic camel.

*Idea* A minor thing: I think you might get more feedback on these wonderful chapters if you split them up into separate items or put them in book format.


Keep up the great work! *Heart*




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Riot
310
310
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: 18+ | (4.0)
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Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.

Congratulations on your recent nomination to "Invalid Item by an anonymous donor!
Along with your nomination, you are also receiving the Edgar Allan Poe Fan Package!
This package includes many things, one of which is a total of 9 reviews for "Invalid Item!




...Wow! This was quite a read. I understand what you mean about the characters. I felt particularly moved by Father Benedict. I think you did a good job with describing the young girl. The despair you described in his feelings was integrated really well into his memories of her baptism. I thought this was a really good way to tell us a bit more about him, without flat out just doing it in a boring way. Nice! *Thumbsup*


Some mechanical stufF:
*Right* Paragraph One: In the third sentence, I believe there should be an additional comma after rumbled, given its context. However, this is definitely an example for one of those types of sentences that can go either way. I merely wanted to point it out for consideration, as I personally prefer the reading of it that way.

*Right* Paragraph Five: He knelt at the altar, bowed his head and prayed, his thin hands tightly clasped by boney, intertwined fingers. - I like the breakdowns of this sentence, but I feel that if it were re-arranged a little bit it might lead for easier reading. For example, the first part describes how he's kneeling by the altar, then describes him praying, then switches to describing his hands, which then is described as intertwined with his fingers. I think if you split this into two sentences it'd be perfect! Maybe something like: He knelt at the altar and bowed his head in prayer. His hands were tightly clasped by bony, intertwined fingers as he spoke. (Or something to this effect.) Also, boney should be bony. It does look funky, but it's the correct usage.

*Idea*A couple commas seem to have gone missing in action. In paragraph six, there should be a comma after resignation; in paragraph eight after arms; in paragraph nine after child. None of these three paragraphs had anything else amiss that I could see, and I couldn't find any negative sentences! *Thumbsup*

*Heart* Paragraph 10-19 look perfect! *Thumbsup*

*Right* Paragraph Twenty: After closing the doors, Father Benedict made his way through the sanctuary and the dim, candle-lit hallway that lead to the room where the monks and an occasional traveler or displaced family slept. - 32 words is pretty lengthy for a sentence of this nature. I think that the best place to split it up would be after sanctuary, because then you could immediately start another sentence, and it would make sense. After closing the doors, Father Benedict made his way through the sanctuary. The dim, candle-lit hallway led to the room where the monks and an occasional traveler slept. (I think you can probably cut out the displaced family bit, as it seems like too much information and unneeded for your supporting descriptions.)

Paragraph Twenty-Five: I think you can cut he wondered completely out, since you've done a good job at establishing his inner thoughts already with italics. *Smile*

*Right* ...as thunder growled In the distance - I think you made a small typo with the capitalization there. *Wink*

*Right* Second to last: Comma after lightning!

I noticed that this chapter started off really strong in the descriptions and followed Benedict's movement quite closely. I know that this changed partly because of the action, but I did feel there was some of your previous descriptive behavior missing. I liked the word choice the best! I just think that I'd like to see some of the smaller paragraphs fleshed out a little more with those same great words.

The conclusion of this chapter has me hooked, because it ends it in a place where it leaves me wanting more. As a reader, I sometimes get frustrated because I don't want to stop when need a break! *Laugh* However, I do like the build up and suspense. I'm very curious as to what will happen next.

Great job! *Heart*




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Riot
311
311
Review of Small Blue Box  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (4.0)
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Hi there Kate! I'm reviewing your item "Small Blue Box. Firstly, I just want to say that I thought this was very dramatic and filled with emotion. In taking a peek at the genres you have listed though, I'm not sure I find this really all that dark. Maybe, instead, for better exposure, you might consider Romance/Love, even if it has heartbreak in it.

I really liked the descriptions you have for Joshua's eyes. I think that they were filled with good imagery and gave us a reason to like Joshua, from Carmen's point of view. My only thought about that is that it's the only information we have about him, other than knowing Carmen loves him. There are a few good places, I think, where you can really embellish a little more and pack more "umph" into this short story.

I really enjoyed how you brought up the constellation Orion and Carmen's feelings. It gives an ominous feel and is riddled with angst. *Thumbsup*

While I was reading this, I came across a few minor problems that can easily be modified:

*Right* Paragraph One: The stars were brighter then normal... - Although then is not misspelled, it is used improperly. The correct usage in this context should be than. When I write and come across this word I try to remember that than is used in comparative situations, whereas then is used as a marker for sequences of events.

*Right* Paragraph Six: Every time I look into them I felt like I was... - Since this is so narrative, it seems natural from the sentence structure to include a comma after them. Depending on how you want to set it up, you might be able to incorporate a semicolon into that too since the last part is somewhat fragmented but relevant. *Smile*

*Right* Paragraph Seven: From the second sentence on, the three remaining sentences are fragmented. As I mentioned earlier, this seems to be narrative so it's all about preference at this point. If you want to keep them somewhat abrupt in a casual sense, then I think you should keep them the way they are. Otherwise, you can easily arrange them to have a subject first.

I think you have a good thing going on with your descriptions, but I feel there are some spots lacking. For instance, in the opening, the narrator describes how clear the stars are. They are walking on a road, yet in most cities the stars are not clearly visible if there are street lights or cars. Perhaps you could set the 'scene' a little more by clarifying. The stars are usually best viewed on moonless (new moon) nights. Is it warm outside, or is it cold? Does the weather somehow reflect her feelings in the beginning? In the end? Just some things to think about. *Smile*


Overall, I thought this was a good read! Thank you for posting it. Keep up the good work! *Thumbsup*



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Riot
312
312
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: 18+ | (4.0)
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Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.

Congratulations on your recent nomination to "Invalid Item by an anonymous donor!
Along with your nomination, you are also receiving the Edgar Allan Poe Fan Package!
This package includes many things, one of which is a total of 9 reviews for "Invalid Item!



Hey there, George!

I first want to say that I like the excerpt you wrote. It was great for setting the mood! Since this item has two chapters in it, I'm going to review only the first chapter. I don't mean to rob you of a full review. However, it's difficult to do both in one sitting. If you split them into two separate items, I'd be happy to look at the second one again. *Bigsmile*

Chapter One
In addition to the excerpt, I felt the first paragraph was pretty interesting. I like how you delve straightaway into the mind of Lynch by showing through his sentiments on birthdays how he is a dedicated man to his work. Curious as to what it was, I thoroughly enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the antiquity books he was examining. In showing us his dedication, you also managed to bring to light the obsessive nature of Lynch. Admittedly, I was wary when skimming the first chapter at how much monologue he had with himself. However, since you've done a pretty good job at describing his near obsession with his work, I think this gives him a particularly interesting "quirk" to work with. I also appreciate the realism incorporated into the story with companies that exist in our time, such as Microsoft. I felt that this really added to the overall mood and sharpened my interest.

Some mechanical things:
Paragraph One: Relieved to have his fiftieth birthday celebration behind him, he poured a generous amount of brandy into a snifter, took a sip, nodded his approval and headed for the library. *Right* I feel that this sentence is rather lengthly and joins two aspects that don't relate. The use of relieved as an adjective should be followed (usually) with at. In the context of this sentence, it seems as though there should be a words before it. You could do something like: He was relieved to have his fiftieth birthday celebration behind him. At that point you may want to consider ending the sentence there and beginning it with a new one for the rest. If you're concerned with starting the immediate following sentence with he again, you could re-arrange it a little to make it more of an action: Pouring a generous amount of brandy...

Paragraph Two: The usage of the word gleam I think is redundant in this context since the very definition of gleam is "a dim or subdued light" or "a flash or beam of light" as it is in this context. The only reason I feel it's redundant and unnecessary is because you've described the gold glistening (causing to gleam) on the wall in the previous sentence. Furthermore, the sentence it's used in is very long and awkward. Don't get me wrong, I can totally appreciate the fine details you've provided, but I think here it's a little too much. If you take it out entirely, your sentence would read as: Tonight, however, the lights revealed one final reminder of the day, sitting by itself at the end of the long, formal table. This still reads as 22 words though, which is quite lengthy for this type of sentence. Perhaps if you break it up, it might add to the eagerness for the reader to find out what it is: Tonight, however, the lights revealed one final reminder of the day. It sat by itself at the end of the long, formal table.

I really love paragraph three. I think it masterfully describes Lynch's personality and the curled up smile is excellent. I also like how you confirm that it's neither conveying warmth nor gratitude, but you don't exactly tell us why. Mysterious! *Thumbsup*

Paragraph Five: I think that you have a good reason for using the ellipses in the dialog here. However, the extra spaces are unnecessary. It should read like: older... and either... *Wink*

Paragraph Six: The moment he lifted the cover to see what lay therein the lights above the table flickered and dimmed. Commas are used to separate sentences that are coordinated, such as and/or and dependent conjunctions, such as because/when. In short, this sentence does not need a comma anywhere.

Paragraph Seven: With barely enough light to read, Lynch began turning page after thin-milled, gilt-edged page, puzzled by the fact that the first eight or nine leaves bore no script. This is an excellent refreshment on the character's name, but this sentence is very difficult because of its length and word choice. I adore how you describe the fine edges of the book (and I can relate with my old poetry books), but I think you're attempting to pack too much into one sentence. Maybe you could split it up a little, so that the detailed focus of the pages is in its separate thought. The easiest way is to "spill over" the extra texts in the remaining sentences and join them with the rest. It looks daunting, but I think this would work really well: With barely enough light to read, Lynch began turning the pages of the thin-milled, gilt-edged pages. Puzzled by the fact that the first eight or nine leaves bore no script, curiosity became a major annoyance. As he riffled through the rest, the thought struck him:

Paragraph Nine: There should be a comma after tabletop because you need to clarify the separate clauses. I try to remember this (because I too often make this mistake) by reading everything after and. If it's a complete sentence unto itself then it needs a comma. I would suggest ending the sentence after wood and cut out but entirely.

*Thumbsup* Great use of the word wherewithal! You rock!

In the following paragraph, I'd cut the dash and just use a comma. *Smile*

Paragraph Eleven: Lynch complied with the Lloyd's of London representatives' demands. - I'm not entirely 100% certain on this one, but I'm pretty sure London should be London's in a possessive form, like in: The cat's paw was soft. There's quite a trick in that sentence so you may want to double-check it. Another minor thing I spotted was the usage of fulltime. It is correct at its basic meaning, but I think you might want to hyphenate it. (Also, if you're going to keep the bladder thing in, stick a comma after it. *Wink*)

Paragraph Twelve: You don't need personal in the first sentence since you've already said it was his staff. Be careful about starting sentences off with and/or/but because these can usually be replaced with however/nonetheless/even so when followed by a comma.

Other skeletons existed in his closet, skeletons whose bones he didn't wish to see rattled about in public. The comma here presents a problem. I think that you've done such a great job in separating the character's voice from yours that this sentence needs a little clarity as well. You could do something like: Other skeletons existed in his closet; bones he did not wish to see rattled about in public.

Paragraph Thirteen: Comma after dining room. *Wink*

Paragraph Sixteen: Since you use slightly back to back, you may want to consider replacing the second one. I couldn't think of anything handy for the first one off the top of my head, but for the second one faintly popped into my head. *grin*

Paragraph Eighteen: Comma after suddenly. Also, I don't think you need at before any in the last sentence.

Paragraph Nineteen: In the second sentence, I think you can get rid of (gasp!) the second comma after safer.


One thing that really threw me off, and perhaps it's a small oversight, is when he finishes supposedly using the restroom. I found this quite out of the blue since his minor movements were detailed up until this point, and it wasn't mentioned that he was even doing his business. Lynch seems very peculiar, arguably, so I'm unsure if this was done purposefully. I enjoyed reading his thoughts on the collections beforehand; the transition just seemed very strange.

Also, as a minor note, kudos on the proper usage of another language with the appropriate accents on lettering! *Wink*

Overall, I really enjoyed reading and reviewing this! You have a very stylized form of writing, and I look forward to finishing this as well as reading others that I saw floating around your port. Keep up the great work! *Heart*




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Riot
313
313
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
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I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after.

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Along with your nomination, you are also receiving the Emily Bronte Fan Package!
This package includes many things, one of which is a total of 9 reviews for "Invalid Item!



Hi there, Winnie!

I thought your piece to be gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking in its total realism. The choice to put this under the genre of "Inspirational" was first lost on me, but after consideration, I feel the last lines in this short story does make it so. Although it is not clearly mentioned what Wilma suffers from (aside old age) I felt that this was a good thing as it lets the reader make up their own mind in how to relate to it. For me personally, I saw my mother in Wilma after she suffered a massive stroke; others may see Wilma through other personal lenses.

After re-reading this, I didn't spot too many mechanical errors, but there were a couple that I wanted to point out that you may or may not want to take into consideration.

In paragraph one: She could see her chest rise and fall with the intake and expulsion of air; although the mechanics of this involuntary action were beyond her understanding. *Right* The use of although in this context makes the second part of this an incomplete sentence. Semicolons are really tricky and sometimes I have this problem myself. I typically try to remember that the semicolon separates two stand alone sentences with very similar connection. If you take out the first part before the semicolon, the sentence reads: Although the mechanics of this involuntary action were beyond her understanding. As such, it's an incomplete sentence. The best way to fix this minor error, I think, is to remove although altogether.

Paragraph Two: The milky film layering her eyes, once a stunning shade of emerald-green, made it difficult for her to clearly see her surroundings. Usually when using the word to, there should be elements separating it and the verb, or adverb in this case. This can easily be modified without changing any of its original meaning by rephrasing the wording: ...made it difficult for her to see her surroundings clearly.

Paragraph Four: I felt like you truly captured an amazing mental image for the reader in describing Wilma through the use of showing instead of telling. I particularly love how you tied in sensory with the mentioning of a camera and her pose. The only minor thing I found to be misleading was the use of the word demanding in the last sentence. To me this gives an air of exhaustion when the context. It seems to reflect on her former beauty, in which case, I feel the word should reflect as such. Perhaps an appealing pose (or something along those lines) might truly capture her once admired physique?

Paragraph Six: There should be a comma after daughter in the first sentence.

The dialog in your story was really strong. I know that grammar rules must adhere to the language of the speaker. However, there was a spot or two where I felt like the speaker's mannerism would not be affected by brushing it up a little bit. For example, in the dialog "Cecil came to see me last night, lady. He had that stupid grin on his face and he told me . . ." there should be a comma after face. Furthermore, the use of ellipses is really superb here, but the spaces are unnecessary. For example, me... works just fine. *Smile*

Overall, I felt this was a very good read despite the disheartening centerpiece. I hope that you don't find I knit-picked your grammar too harshly, but in reading your story these were the only changes I could see to make. I'm extremely impressed! Keep up the excellent work!
*Thumbsup*


Write on!
Riot
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Review by Riot
In affiliation with JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO FORUM T...  
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
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Hi there, Cobwebby Space Reader Reindeer . I am reviewing you on behalf of Just Because I Want To. Humming Bird has nominated you for a Little Something package. This is review 2 of 2 for that package. Below are my thoughts on your item "Bad Day at the Office.



I really enjoyed the rhythm and flow of this peace. It almost seems like an upbeat sort of poem in a lyrical sense. Some of my favorite phrases that just sounded really nice to me were: Hopin' and hidin' and hoppin', Freezin' and grinnin' and spyin', and Comin' out, Comin' Round, Comin' Home at last! *Thumbsup*

Overall, I found this to be a good read and I'm so very glad I came across it in your port. I can offer no room for improvement. Great Writer's Cramp submission! *Heart*


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Review of BUYER BEWARE  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO FORUM T...  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
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Hi there, Cobwebby Space Reader Reindeer . I am reviewing you on behalf of Just Because I Want To. Humming Bird has nominated you for a Little Something package. This is review 1 of 2 for that package. Below are my thoughts on your item "Bad Day at the Office.



I found this to be an interesting poem. It sort of reminds me of that one horror movie where the house comes alive and drives everybody mad. In that story/movie/"true" story the windows to the house looked like eyes.

The imagery in this poem is good, although I'm not sure if I really found this to be all that scary persay but I will agree that it's quite creepy and unsettling. I think that the way you placed questions in here posed interesting thoughts in my mind as a reader.

Overall, this was a good and interesting read. Thank you for sharing! *Heart*


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Review of The Wind  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE NEWBIE REVIEWE...  
Rated: E | (4.5)
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Hello, pixieprincess . I am reviewing your item "The Wind on behalf of Simply Positive. Below are my thoughts on your work. *Heart*


I found this poem to be very lovely and extremely well written. I quite enjoy the flow and ryhthm of the poem and how it was carefully crafted with image filled words that painted a beautiful picture in my mind.

One suggestion I have though, is to keep watch on your capitalization. In poetry it's not required to capitalize every line or new sentence. Some people capitalize them all, some don't capitalize any, and others capitalize them depending on their grammar with the sentence. I do strongly feel that whichever way you decide to do it to stay consistent. Commas an periods at the end of the lines are also the same. Grammatically speaking I feel that you've overused the commas but since you use punctuation at the end of every line (except the last line, might want to fix that) I feel it may have been intentional.

Overall though, I really enjoyed this poem. I think you did a wonderful job, keep up the excellent work! *Heart*


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Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE NEWBIE REVIEWE...  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
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Hello, Losten Lyrix . I am reviewing your item "Love, Then and Now on behalf of Simply Positive Newbies. Below are my thoughts on your work. *Heart*


Of the two poems posted in this item, Then is my favorite of the two. I felt that with that one, there was a distinct rhyme and structure that you were trying your best to follow. When read outloud it seemed to flow extremely well despite mismatched syllabic counts. Good job!

I agree with you on your footnotes that the second poem, Now, feels more like a stream of thoughts. I am not an expert on poetry forms and I probably couldn't tell you the true differences or what "traditional poetry" really means. What I do know from experience is that when writing poetry you should keep a careful eye on the length of each line. As a reader, each line is read on its own typically so if they become too long it feels awkward, clunky, and wordy. From what I see in Now is that you split it up, for the most part, into sentences. What I would suggest is braving a bit more. Try separating them into lines of thoughts instead and worry about the sentences later. Those are as important when it comes to line breaking.

Overall, I enjoyed both of these reads and thank you for sharing them with us. Good luck and keep writing! *Thumbsup*


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Review of Mask of Pain  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO FORUM T...  
Rated: E | (5.0)
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Hi there, Crimson Goth . I am reviewing you on behalf of Just Because I Want To. Humming Bird has nominated you for a Read All About It package. This is review 3 of 3 for that package. Below are my thoughts on your item "Mask of Pain.



What enticed me to read this poem from your port was actually not the title, but instead the short description. In all honesty I do find this title a lot in breakup and romantic type poems. After reading it through, I do feel like you could come up with something a little more creative as attested by all the image filled things you've mentioned in the poem.

My favorite part about this poem, like the other two I've read from you, is the imagery in the poem. This one in particular holds some of my favorites: crimson sun, azure sky, marshmallows of flakes, flamboyant landscape, external extravagance and blithesome sky. I'm really fond of these word phrases (and more) and I think they were well executed.

Overall, this is my favorite poem by you out of the three I've read tonight. Thank you for sharing them with us and keep up the excellent work! *Heart*


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Review by Riot
In affiliation with JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO FORUM T...  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
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Hi there, Crimson Goth . I am reviewing you on behalf of Just Because I Want To. Humming Bird has nominated you for a Read All About It package. This is review 1 of 3 for that package. Below are my thoughts on your item "Because I Love Him.



Hello! I was rummaging through your port and came across this poem. It immediately drew me in from the title of the poem and the caption.

I found this to be a very sweet poem about one persons love of another. The ending came with a bittersweet feeling because it seems as though the lovers will never meet again. Was it tragedy? Fate? Simple partings of the way? I think that because it wasn't explained it brings an air of mystery to the poem which is very attractive.

My favorite part about this poem was its imagery. Phrases like with my red as win lips, casting its pale glow on him and as if the sun shined its light on him were very sweet tributes to the man the author is in love with and full of imagery. Red is a good color of love that was used in different manners through this daydream-like poem.

Overall, an excellent read. Thank you for sharing it with us. *Heart*


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Review of Faded Fears  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE NEWBIE REVIEWE...  
Rated: E | (3.0)
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Hello, Jade Peterson . I am reviewing your item "Faded Fears on behalf of Simply Positive Newbies. Below are my thoughts on your work. *Heart*


While this was very short, it was pretty good. I found the title of this to be a good hook. One thing I did notice was that the brief description says that this was a dream so I'm assuming it's non-fiction and your way of expressing what you've dreamt during the night. As such, I am really curious as to how this would turn out if you embellished on it a bit. Because dreams are usually very vivid and detailed I think this could make an more remarkable piece if you took some time to elaborate on it. Overall, I did find this to be an interesting read but felt that something was missing because it was so short. Keep writing! *Heart*


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Review of Circle of Life  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE GROUP  
Rated: E | (5.0)
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Hello, ♥Hooves♥ . I am reviewing your item "Circle of Life on behalf of Simply Positive. Below are my thoughts on your work. *Heart*


This is a very touching poem that nearly put me to tears.

I really enjoyed the structure of this poem and it's rhyme scheme of A/B/C/B. While I didn't detect any specific syllabic count I didn't feel one was needed. It read both perfectly in my head and out loud. What I like best about this poem is how you move through the seasons but still incorporate the flowers. This poem speaks a lot of volume and has a very distinct voice.

Overall I felt this was a really great poem that I felt was flawless and masterful. This is an excellent tribute to your mother. *Heart*


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Review of Ingenuous  
Review by Riot
In affiliation with  
Rated: E | (4.5)
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Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.

*Star* Congratulations on your recent nomination to "Ink Blot Hall of Fame by Cobwebby Space Reader Reindeer . *Star*
*Kiss* Along with your nomination, you are also receiving the Edgar Allan Poe Fan Package! *Kiss*
*Heart* The package includes a total of 9 reviews from our various members. *Heart*



Hello there, George R. Lasher ! I am reviewing "Ingenuous - Below are my thoughts on your work.


I really liked the flow and meter of this. The structure is pretty great, too! The rhymes, Mother/others, frank/thank, spent/meant, head/red, lesson/messin', girls/curls, Gracious/Salacious were spot on and very clever.

What I liked best about this was the casualty of it. There were a couple of places, where, read outloud, the flow seemed a bit off. On closer examination I feel this could be part of the syllabic count. That is, if they were all even it may not have this problem. There are certain words that are really one syllabic count but read as another when a flow is established.

Stanza 1: 6/6/5/7 - The first stanza was perfect with this flow, I felt.
Stanza 2: 5/5/5/6 - I found this stanza to be a bit awkward. I think it was with these things I am not, for which she is to thank. It seems wordy but I understand the syllabic nature.
Stanza 3: 6/5/6/5 - Instead of 'would lecture' I think just 'lectured' would sound better, as it's a recollection of the past.
Stanza 4: 6/6/6/5 - Excellent stanza.
Stanza 5: 5/6/6/6 - Another great one!
Stanza 6: 5/5/6/5 - Good line, good flow.
Stanza 7: 6/6/7/7 - The punchline, the one that put a smile on my face and laugh out loud. Great meter and intermingling of dialogue into this story.

Overall I found this to be an amusing read that put a smile on my face. Thank you for sharing it with us. *Thumbsup*


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Write On!
Riot
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Review by Riot
In affiliation with  
Rated: E | (5.0)
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I have dreamed in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind.

*Star* Congratulations on your recent nomination to "Ink Blot Hall of Fame by your Secret Santa! *Star*
*Kiss* Along with your nomination, you are also receiving the Emily Bronte Fan Package! *Kiss*
*Heart* The package includes a total of 9 reviews from our various members. *Heart*



Hello there, Daizy May ! I am reviewing "My Child, I Love You - Below are my thoughts on your work.

I found this to be a very great poem about God's love to all his children. More specificially, the authors who is speaking through this poem.

This had a distinct rhyming pattern and syllabic count. The word child is not technically two syllables but as it's read, especially outloud, it does in fact sound like two with the beat. The first two stanzas are distinctly 7/6/7/6 in syllabic count but when you get to the end it varies slightly with "Of the morning dew." being only five. I am sure this could be stretched another syllable if it really means a lot to you, but quite honestly I didn't find it all that detracting, if at all.

Overall, I really liked this poem. Aside from one minor syllable difference in the last stanza, I found this to be flawless and moving. Excellent job! *Thumbsup*


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Write On!
Riot
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324
Review by Riot
In affiliation with JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO FORUM T...  
Rated: E | (5.0)
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Hi there, KimChi . I am reviewing you on behalf of Just Because I Want To. Humming Bird has nominated you for the Read All About It package. This is review 2 of 3 for that package. Below are my thoughts on your item "Front of the House.



I really love the way you've organized your portfolio. I know that this is only half of your portfolio, Front of the House, but even still I find it really creative and interesting.

A lot of folks when creating a portfolio often times split it up into the usual boring categories: Poetry, Fiction, Non-Fiction, etc. I think that the way you have it split up is fantastic: Chef's Specialties, Appetizers, A la Carte, Desserts... I like best that it sticks to a real theme (food) and how your short descriptions still tell us what lies within the folder.

Overall, this is a very fun and exciting port to browse. It's littered with beautiful awardicons and from what I can tell are very much deserved. Keep up the excellent work! *Heart*


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325
Review by Riot
In affiliation with SIMPLY POSITIVE NEWBIE REVIEWE...  
Rated: E | (3.0)
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Hello, . I am reviewing your item {item:} on behalf of Simply Positive. Below are my thoughts on your work. *Heart*


*Note* Her mother was sick, a heart defect had been discovered that affected the strength of the pump in her veins feels awkward. Perhaps try rewording. Her mother was sick with a heart defect that affected the strength of the pump in her veins. - The best way to rewrite is to cut out unecessary words. If there's an actual technical term for this maybe use that instead.
*Note* Careful how you have your characters speak, in dialogue. Most people do tend to speak with run on sentences but for the sake of dialogue in the story I would be careful how many sentences you squish into one. (This is seen when the mother speaks for the first time.)
*Note* She poked, and poked some more. isn't really needed. You already stressed earlier on that her mother was a bit of a corrector concerning Rachel and her "wrongs" - adding this line is not needed and makes it feel written from a younger person. If this was from Rachel's perspective and she was in fact younger, it may work. You'll have to decide for yourself if that's the feel you're going for.
*Note* Rachel's sister, Katarina, had developed a slight eating order... did you mean disorder?
*Note* Paragraphing, or even an attempt at paragraphing, would make this a much easier read.

Overall, I found this to be a fairly average piece of writing. While I understood where the read was going (at least somewhat) I had a hard time following most of this or seeing any real point or plot to it. With a bit of work I'm confident this could be much more. Keep on writing and reaching for the stars. *Thumbsup*


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