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365 Public Reviews Given
421 Total Reviews Given
Public Reviews
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Review of This Craziness  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | N/A (Review only item.)
Great piece of writing! So filled with emotion and complete vulnerability. It does all of us good to remember that our lives will always be full of ups and downs; we just have to remember to be aware of those moments of joy that make it all worthwhile.

No mechanical errors that I could spot. I see no areas for improvement - it's wonderful just the way it is.

My favorite line?

This one: "Just for an instant I believe that sanity is within our reach." That's what keeps us all going - that moment of hope.

This is a great poem - thank you for sharing it!

Write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
From one fisherman (or fisherwoman, in my case) to another, this poem is brilliant. A cleverly done parody of The Twelve Days of Christmas. I found myself singing along throughout the whole song. Imaginative and a lot of fun!

There is nothing I could suggest to improve this piece - it's perfect as it is. Well-done!

Write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
This poem tells the story of a little girl whose heart is set on a doll that she wants Santa to bring her for Christmas. The story has a very melancholy feel to it, for the reader knows all along that the little girl won't get her wish. The ending line is quite jarring and seems out of character with the rest of the poem. It seems harsh and unwieldy when compared with the rest of the piece.

Although the sentiment is fitting, the presentation doesn't seem to fit well. Perhaps a reworking of the last line could help the flow?

Overall - well-done. Write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
Beautiful imagery - nicely done. This poem paints a clear picture of the advancing of the seasons and the imagery is quite powerful. Reading this poem, all of the senses are involved - it's as if the reader can actually "see" the sparkling of the snowflakes in the sun, one can almost feel the warmth of the sun as it glistens on the newly-fallen snow; the colors described are vivid and vibrant.

I don't see any mechanical errors and there is nothing I could add to improve this piece.

Well-done! Write on!

Kay Jordan

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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
Wow! The plot thickens. It's unbelievable that this county social worker - a complete stranger - was able to wield so much power in a decision that she clearly had no vested interest in, except in the way it furthered her personal vendetta against you, Judy. My blood is starting to boil.

A few typos:

1. In the first paragraph, 'sentences' should be singular instead of plural. (A heartbreaking event, by the way)

2. Second paragraph - the use of "too" along with "as well" is redundant. Could be rephrased simply as: "Daddy was getting restless as well."

3. Third paragraph - "As hard as that visit was for me to see them so solemn..." Maybe rephrase this a bit: "As hard as it was for me to see them so solemn..."

4. Fourth paragraph - discouraging is misspelled - a typo (discourating)

5. Seventh paragraph - " mesmerized by a war warm, crackling fire"

6. Seventeenth paragraph - "I could visualize Mom and I me sitting

Great story - I can't wait for the next installment.

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
Chapter Two is very well-written with only a couple of minor mechanical errors that I could see. The story is moving along smoothly and is easy to follow. I can already see, in just the first two chapters, how very difficult this had to be for you.

I'll quickly list the minor errors I noticed, so you can correct them:

1. As I walked into the room, I could see my parents' face brighten. I could see my parents' faces brighten.

2. In the fourth paragraph, the word "everytime" should be two words - every time. The last sentence has a typo - ouf instead of out

3. "Seeing my obvious confusion as to why she was there, it was explained to me that once a person is declared incompetent, the involvement of social services becomes mandatory." By starting the sentence with 'seeing my obvious confusion...' you need to state who saw it, instead of just saying 'it was explained to me..." Was it the lawyer, the social worker from the home? Just add that in to make it more clear. Or you could rephrase it somewhat--perhaps like this: "I was confused as to why she was there, so it was explained to me that....." With that clause, there is no need to say who explained it because you're not saying anyone 'saw' it. Picky, I know. It's my inner editor. *Smile*


Great job, Judy. I'm off to read chapter three now.

Kay Jordan
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Review of Mary  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 13+ | (3.5)
This poem seems to be written as a tribute and the writer obviously displays great affection for the subject. The emotion felt by the writer is clearly conveyed.

A few of the lines seem a bit choppy. For example: "A moment in heaven lasting a lifetime how I feel" perhaps could be better understood with the simple addition of one word "....lasting a lifetime is how I feel" and that one word wouldn't necessarily change the flow of the line.

Just my opinion, and of course, you are the best judge of what you have written. Please accept my suggestions in the spirit of helpfulness as they are intended. Keep what you can use and toss out the rest.

Good job - write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Words, imagery, cadence - everything is in place for this poem, yet it seems as if the writer approaches it from a distance. There is a detached air to the words that makes it feel almost as if the reader is peering through a frosted glass. Perhaps this is the writer's intent--and if so, then it is accomplished very well.

Somehow, though, the words feel as if they slip through my fingers as I try to grasp the meaning behind them. I can't find any fault with the mechanics of the poem. It's well-written, and there is obviously much emotion just below the surface, but it seems just out of reach--as if I can almost grasp it, but then it slips away.

Please accept this review as simply my opinion given in a spirit of helpfulness. Certainly you know your piece better than I ever could, so please take what you feel is helpful and toss out the rest.

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
Incredible story, perfectly written, a lovely, lovely read. There is not a single thing I would change in this piece - the flow is perfect, no mechanical errors at all, and what a story it is. Being a mother myself of two sons, I couldn't help but shed a tear or two as I read this. You have a wonderful talent - thank you for sharing it with us.

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
I like this poem about the majesty of stars. The writer does a fine job of conveying the beauty of a starry night and even her signature at the end of the poem carries out the theme with a gorgeous starry constellation background. No errors or missteps that I could see. Well written, lovely imagery.

Good job! Write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review of Storm-story  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (4.0)
Written in a casual tone, this story of a tornado-laden storm and its effect on the writer and her friend keep the reader's attention very well. Good story arc - the stage is set, all is well, then the tension builds gradually, ebbs a bit and then - BAM! Very good job of drawing the reader into the story.

Because of the casual style employed by the writer, I won't attempt to do any editing, simply because I understand that some writers use this style for effect and if that is the intent here, I would be doing the writer an injustice by offering edting suggestions which would wreck the style of the piece.

Well done. Keep on writing!

Kay Jordan
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Review of Girls Night Out  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
I enjoyed reading this piece. It is cleverly written, a nice easy read full of smile-prompting moments.

There are a few instances of the wrong verb tense and a couple of misspelled words, but overall not enough to take away from the impact of the story. I would suggest copying this piece into Word and using spell and grammar check to correct the mechanical errors. I've come to rely heavily on that little jewel! *Smile*

The only suggestion I would offer is that when you are writing dialogue, it's always a good idea to begin a new paragraph when a different character begins speaking. It's a bit confusing to have two or more characters speaking in the same paragraph. That was the only place where I felt the flow of the story was interrupted. I had to stop there and go back and re-read to figure out who said what.

Overall, great job - keep up the good work!

Kay Jordan
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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
A lovely, lovely read with a clear nostalgic feel to it. This tale from the author's childhood warms the reader's heart like the hot cocoa and wood fire he references in the story. It's unusual nowadays to read a story about a happy childhood. Unusual and extremely refreshing. This story puts a smile on your face and leaves one in your heart long after the initial reading is done.

Thank you for sharing such great memories. Great writing--I could totally imagine the snow fort with the carved-out, snow-packed seats. Your writing has such a ring of authenticity to it that I could almost feel the cold soaking through my clothes as if I were sitting in that snow fort.

Great job! Write on!

Kay Jordan

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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 18+ | (4.0)
This is a smpathetic accounting of how the "system" not only failed the author's elderly parents, but compounded the already mammoth challenges faced by the family. The story is told as a warning to the growing numbers of us who are now facing, or soon will be, the challenge of trading places with the parents who raised us. In record numbers, baby boomers are faced with the question of how to best care for their aging parents, a task that is already fraught with impossible decisions and no easy answers.

This is one woman's story of the ways in which that very difficult task became a nightmare. The first chapter (which at this point, I think, is the only one posted so far) tugs at the reader's heart, as the basis for the story to follow hints at far more heart rending events to come. Before the end of the first chapter, you'll find yourself rooting for "mom and dad" to rally and hoping that you are wrong about where this story seems to be headed.

This is a must read warning for anyone who expects to find themselves caring for aging parents and dealing with over-worked and understaffed institutions who seem to blithely make uninformed decisions with devastating effects.

I have added the following grammatical edits at the bequest of the author, but they are, by and large, typos and words left out in the emotional telling of the story. These suggestions are simply offered as a help to the author and in no way detract from the value of the story.

In the third paragraph, a couple of typos..."I contacted the hospital social worder worker to get a clearer pickture picture... "

In the fourth paragraph, another typo....."Mom had falled fallen in the dining room"

"how to contact her children...my sister Marlene and I." and me."

The following sentence needs a comma after as fate would have it..."but as fate would have it, the emergency happened..."

A missing word - "Max, ..., a solid 120 pound mass"

This sentence could be clearer. Maybe like this? "Before anyone could enter the house, it would be necessary for Daddy to secure Max. He finally succeeded in grabbing Max's collar and managed to drag him off to a bedroom."

These two sentences could be cleaned up a bit. Perhaps like this: The paramedics quickly checked Mom's vital signs and whisked her off to the hospital. The police had made the referral to social services after witnessing the confusion and speaking with my dad."

Same thing here. Possibly like this: "...I called to speak to someone at social services. I was dismayed to learn that they did not view the situation as an emergency, based simply on the fact that once dad had safely secured the dog, he was able to convince the social worker that he needed no help."

"have or over another human being!"

"...and help helped to calm me."

""The dog will bit! bite!"

"Scanning the neighborhood, the only lights light I saw was in a duplex across the street."

The following sentence isn't really relevant to the story and could be left out without changing the story. It seems out of place and makes the reader stop and wonder why it is mentioned. "The pastor was in the midst of a shower just then, so I was invited in to wait.
When Andy, the minister, came out from his shower...." Perhaps you could say somethng like this: "Summoned by his wife, the pastor named Andy, told me that he had seen the ambulance earlier, but hadn't heart heard what happened..."

"...he offered to go across the street and try to help me gain..." - and try is unnecessary. Leaving it out makes the sentence flow better.

"...I had spoken with previous previously..."

hopefull is misspelled - it should be 'hopeful'

I'm sure this is a typo...glabbergasted - should be 'flabbergasted"

deperation - should be desperation - another type, I'm sure

"...of relief and anguished anguish..."

Judy, after you've had a chance to make the corrections, shoot me an email and I'll go back and re-rate. *Smile*

Great job! I'm so glad you're writing this much-needed story.

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Review of Roses  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
A good, old-fashioned, scary story fit for Halloween. Well-writen, no mechanical errors that I spotted and the pacing of the story is perfect. I love the ending line - it's perfect.

You have done a great job of building tension throughout the story. This keeps the reader racing forward to see what happens next. The way you drew out the part of the story about Isabel added depth to your story. After the first two bits of the story, this isn't what the reader expects. It's a surprise when Isabel actually goes to the party and then makes it back home safely. But only for a while.

Great job! I loved it!

Write on!

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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (4.5)
Well-written with no errors that I could see. The picture accompanying the poem is perfect for setting the scene. Good job!

Write on!

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Review of Where Evil Dwells  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
This poem has a mysterious feel to it. Great Halloween fare. The wording is excellent, great imagery and just enough unseen evil below the surface to make it really interesting. Simple and very effective.

Write on!

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Review of Halloween  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (3.5)
Who knew there was such a long history behind our celebration of Halloween? This article gives a great accounting of the roots of Halloween, its beginning and how it has evolved into the holiday we celebrate today. Good job on researching the facts! I learned a lot by reading this article.

Mechanics: There are several mechanical errors in this piece, but they are easily corrected and are very common errors that a lot of writers make. Here are a few examples:

People would also place food outside their homes in an attempt to keep these spirits happy, so happy so they would not enter the home. (no comma necessary)

People would wear wore the masks and odd shaped clothing if...

The Celtics 1st first celebrated Halloween in Ireland.

go "trick-or-trating." typo

Overall, the piece is informative and well researched. I enjoyed reading it. Good job!

Please remmber that my suggestions are only my opinion and are intended to help. Take from them what you can use and toss the rest. *Smile*

Write on!

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Review of Trick or Treat  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
Great use of dialogue to tell a very original story. I love the way you turned the tables and gave the reader exactly the opposite of what would naturally be expected from a Halloween story. Clever! I was expecting a completely different tale and it was a pleasant surprise as I continued to read to find a fresh approach to an old theme.

Clever, well-done and a joy to read.

Write on!

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Review of BEWITCHED  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: ASR | (4.5)
This is a delightfully fun Halloween poem. I really liked this because it is reminiscent of the innocent fun of Halloween in years past. Great imagery and your wording is lovely.

Job well done!

Write on!

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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (3.5)
You've given us some great ideas for fun and inexpensive Halloween decorations. Your directions are simple and easy to follow. Good job!

The only suggestion I have for improvement would be to carefully proofread your article. There are some typos in your piece that spellcheck won't catch because, of course, they are spelled correctly, they just aren't the right word. Easy to do - happens to me all the time. *Smile* Example: bad for bag, no for now...

Overall, a good job on this helpful "how-to" article.

Write on!

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Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (4.5)
Well-written with great descriptive phrases. The imagery in this piece is vivid - I felt every step, heard the noises, I was there on that bus!

My favorite part: With a gasp, I leaned into his body, succumbed to his need. My eyes closed, surrounded by a swirl of euphoric blackness.

Excellent pacing, your story starts out wth the feel of a normal day (love the preoccupation with the coffee-stained blouse - great touch!) and progresses to something completely other-worldly.

Great job! Write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review of Longing  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Beautiful words, thick melancholy, excellently crafted phrases. Longing is the perfect title for this poem of forbidden love.

My favorite line:
red passion burns for him whose time
is bound, and who can ne'er be mine.


Lovely.

Write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review of the COAT  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: E | (5.0)
What a lovely tribute to a man who obviously left his mark on your heart.

Your descriptive passages are excellent. I felt as if I was right there in the East Texas woods with you and your grandfather. I can see the coat as clearly as if it were hanging in front of me.

This is a very enjoyable read with a great nostalgic feel to it. Good job!

Write on!

Kay Jordan
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Review of The Big Race  
Review by Kim Ashby
Rated: ASR | (4.5)
Well done story with an unexpected, nifty twist at the end. A nice easy read, enjoyable.

No errors noted except for one word that was misspelled - phlem should be phlegm.

Good job. Write on!

Kay Jordan
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