My Ratings

I've been reviewing often enough that I thought I at least ought to tell you what each of my ratings means. If you have any further questions after reading this document, feel free to send me an email so I can further explain why you got the rating you did from me, and what you can do to improve it, if that is what you wish. Because, yes, I do review again and change the rating if there is an improvement made to the item in question.

One thing to note, is that I never rate without giving you a review of what I liked, what I didn't like, or what I might believe would improve your story.

I do not rate something on whether or not I agree with it. I could disagree with your political, religious... whatever kind of beliefs, but what I rate is the quality of the writing. I could think you're full of it - but if you state it well - you'll get the rating from me.

My reviews are all public for several reasons. They are also never anonymous. What you see is what you get. I'm honest, I'm proud of my opinions, and I stand beside them.

I won't find every single mistake and tell you how you should correct it line by line. That doesn't help you learn how to find them yourself. I will, however, give you some helpful hints to help you improve your writing and help you find your own mistakes. That is, after all, why we are here, right?

The Amazing 5.0
This is an extremely rare rating for me to give out. Not only must the grammar and spelling be perfect, the story must strike a chord in my emotions. Did it make me gasp, cringe, blush, grow pale, cry, laugh hysterically, yell in agreement, scream in anger, make my stomach churn, or tug at my heart? If so, this rating is something you might just see. I would have no improvements that I could offer you - no unanswered questions - and would find every single written word something that adds to and pulls along the story.

The Awesome 4.5
Very much like the 5.0, this is also a very rare rating to see out of me. Like the 5.0, you must strike at my emotions somehow. Your grammar and spelling don't have to be perfect to receive this rating (though they should be pretty close), but you still must 'get to me' somehow. Sometimes you may have an emotion touching story with no grammatical or spelling errors that might make it here because it has a few unanaswered questions, or because it strikes a chord in my emotions - but not a huge one.

The Very Good 4.0
No matter how perfect the grammar or spelling is in an item, unless it drags some emotion out of me, this is the highest rating it will get. It does not mean that it is unacceptable, or that I did not enjoy it. In fact, if you got this high, I did enjoy the reading, I just believe that there is something missing. Something very powerful that could bring the item from good, to awesome. If you want a higher rating than this, find a way to really reach people with what you are writing.

The Good 3.5
With this rating you might have a few grammatical errors or spelling errors, or perhaps both, but I see great potential in the story that is developing. Often with this rating there are pieces of the puzzle that I believe are missing, or at the end, I am not quite satisfied that I know all that I could know.

Or, if the story is very good, but littered with numerous grammatical and spelling errors, you might find yourself here, or even on the rating below.

The Average 3.0
Even for an excellent story, grammatical errors, spelling errors, and many unanswered questions might lead you here. Again, though, the story would have plenty of potential, or it would not get a rating quite this high. Like with the 3.5, I would leave you a nice long list of suggestions that, if taken or at least considered, would earn you a higher rating at a later time.

Also, even with perfect grammar and spelling, a lack of description, or writing that seems mechanical might end up here. I have had stories that have absolutely perfect grammar and spelling - but the quality and depth of the story just isn't quite there. When I read a story, I want to be pulled into it. Tugged like a child fighting over a jump rope. I want to BE the main character. If it leaves me wanting to taste what is really going on, but doesn't allow me to, it will end up here.

Writing is more than just good grammar and spelling, though both are very important to a good story.

2.5
By giving something this rating, I really think that it needs a lot of work - I might have even stopped reading it because of the distractions I found within the piece. It could also end up here if I see gaping holes in the storyline - or a lot of things that simply don't flow or make sense. If I took the time to rate and review you, though, then I also took the time to give you some hints to improving your rating. Try not to get disappointed or disheartened by seeing a rating like this - it isn't meant as an insult.

Any rating I give, whether high or low, I will always go back and re-read the piece if it has been requested of me. If I believe it deserves a higher rating (and I usually do), I will clear the current rating, then do another complete review for you.