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358 Public Reviews Given
768 Total Reviews Given
Public Reviews
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101
101
Review by PastVoices
Rated: 13+ | (3.0)
I found this in last week's Noticing Newbies Newsletter. This is an interesting take on Mary's story. You have made it first-person and did a fine job of staying with the original story.

There were two reasons, though, that I had a hard time getting through the piece and therefore affording a higher rating. First, it would be most helpful if you would separate the paragraphs and be sure of spaces after sentences. The latter was not as rampant as the first but made reading difficult.

Second, please run this piece through a spell check program. I started to copy and paste misspellings and corrections but there were just too many.

This is a creative endeavor and an interesting take on the story.

Write ON, Newbie!!
102
102
Review by PastVoices
Rated: ASR | (3.5)
Amen and Amen. Your content is dead on. It is a side of ourselves we don't care to look at. If we refuse to, we can't guard against it.

My only problems came trying to find a rythym and rhyme pattern. I know, I know, my son would remind me of Free Verse. But then I find Free Verse difficult for me to solidly review.

So here goes my little review off to the review page where a more poetic eye may find it and give it a twirl!!

Write ON!!
103
103
Review of Billowy Dragons  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (5.0)
I found this in this weeks Noticing Newbies Newsletter. This week, items featured had interesting titles to pull the reader in.

You not only pulled me in but you kept me there. The stream of consciousness was only broken by the smile I broke out in at the last line! To have a reader follow you and evoke such a reaction is a talent.

Write ON, Newbie, write on!!
104
104
Review by PastVoices
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
The sentiment of this poem is tragically poignant! I was able to establish a rythym on my third reading, but the rhyme pattern was hit or miss.

The content made it an above average read and any mechanical detection should not diminish the quality or import of the tragedy or outstanding message!

Write ON!!
105
105
Review of Moment Of Death  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (3.5)
I found this in this week's Noticing Newbies Newsletter.

*Note1*What I liked: Working with hospice/dying patients on a regular basis over the past 15 years, the content of the poem pretty much summed up the feelings many people in the final throes of dying related to me.

*Note1*What didn't work for me:

The joy how it hang in the air
as bitter thoughts did flee-
spring's blossomed scent rose all about her
in this moment
such beauty be!

I can't quite put my finger on what trips me up here. The imagery is right. The word "hang" should be "hung." But that isn't my hang-up (ouch, horrible pun, unintended), it doesn't quite fit with the rest.

This will be a public review so maybe someone else can get a handle on it. You have a solid beginning!!

Write ON, Newbie!!
106
106
Review of Holiday Watch  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.5)
This is a beautiful story! I found it in the Noticing Newbies Newsletter this week. I was drawn into and through it. I found a typo in:

at least not his year. I believe you mean this year.

But next I struggled with pointing out this next irregularity. "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens is about Scrooge. In the story "Twas the Night Before Christmas," Santa flies away across the moon at the end. If you both thought it was "A Christmas Carol" I am guess it should stay. Otherwise, I would change it.

This is an extraordinary story. Thank you for sharing.

Welcom and Write ON, Newbie!!
107
107
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.5)
An intriguing poem, but I have to admit another review brought me here. I appreciated the visual of a lack of capital letters until the end, giving America and U.S.A. more importance in spite of your diagnosis!

Poetry is difficult for me to read and rate. I know what I like and sometimes mechanics may be off that I don't notice which is why I try to post my poetry reviews on the reviewing page. Other poets are more apt to get an additional shot at the poem!

Write ON!!
108
108
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (3.5)
I found this piece was in last week's Noticing Newbies Newsletter. It is a really great piece. Do not let the slightly above average rating fool you. It could (and I would be happy to consider re-rating) a great piece with just a little more attention to details like spelling ("magnitude" caught my eye), run-on words, a nuances that can be caught by reading aloud or having spell check proof (or a friend).

I was intrigued by your description of the poem. In that you truly delivered! If you are not in the voice you wrote from, you captured it well. If you are, please understand constructive criticism vs. perception. I would like to see this clean and perhaps even more hard hitting on exactly how it feels. It takes courage to put something like this out there and then have someone old enough to be your mother come along and pick! I mean it in the best way and you are the friend my kids always knew that our house was the place to bring you without judgment!

Write ON, Newbie!! I believe you have a great deal to say!
109
109
Review of Leaves of Green  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.5)
Shaara, this is really good. It was in this week's Spiritual Newsletter. I was drawn in from the sardines piling in the can to the discomfort and inability to leave of the main character!

Too often, we don't realize how often, people are beating themselves up inside over past mistakes. Sometimes, as little as one word or smile from us can make the difference!

Write ON!!
110
110
Review of Inner Gift  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.0)
A beautiful description and sentiment about serving. I found this in this week's Spiritual Newsletter. We should all learn from a servant's heart!

Thank you for sharing.

Write ON!!
111
111
Review of Heaven's Rain  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
I found this in this week's Spiritual Newsletter. This is a wonderful first-person piece of the experience that only one person can tell -- the person who has been there!!

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

In the corner, practically invisible, I look up at the faint silhouettes around me, some walking, some kneeling, some sitting. *Left* grammatically this needs to be "and some". "and others" would be better.


Letting my eyes wander around the room, I see a figure moving toward me. As he nears, I recognize him--Alex. Yes, I met him earlier. He seemed like a decent enough guy. Enough is unnecessary.

The stress, the heartbreak, the pressure, *Down* the attempt to be something I’m not--I was sick of all of it. *Down*insert "and"Angry tears welled up in my eyes just thinking about it.

And Afterwards, it was as if the clouds parted instantaneously. It was that simple. Letting God into my heart gave me the indescribable feeling.

And*Down* to think that this was the night I had been dreading.

*Down* insert comma Instead of the word "and," "In addition," or "Moreover," would be better than "and."

The stress kept me going…*Down*
Until I added too many balls to my juggling act and it all came crashing down.

*Down* An ellipsis (...) serves to represent missing dialog or part of a quote. This should connect with "until" with a semicolon or a period to end that sentence before the next.

Constant mood swings developed, I lost a lot of my friends, and pretty soon things looked about as bad as the storm outside.

*Down* The phrase "a lot" is not acceptable and can be replaced by "many."

And then the invitation. *Left*sentence fragment Again. *Left*sentence fragment

And I will never forget it. Omit the word "and" or change to "In addition," in its place.


I really appreciate your sharing your story through the newsletter!

Write ON!!
112
112
Review of Sacred Presence  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.0)
This is a beautiful sentiment! I found this in this week's Spiritual Newsletter.

I enjoyed the message, but was tripped up by the form. I picked up what I thought was a rhytym in the first three stanzas, but then lost any trace from there on.

When it comes to rhythym and rhyme, I got little!} I will, however, post my review publicly so other poet helpers may find it!

As I said, it is beautiful!

Write ON!!
113
113
Review of Letting Dad Go  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
         I found this heartrending! Having lost my own father (16 years ago, I was 33, he was 67) much of what you describe are feelings I don’t have to imagine as you stirred them to life in me. It is amazing how the exact time of such events burn into our brain. However unnecessary a detail, it sticks like glue.

         I read through first with the eye of a daughter (hard to avoid with pieces such as this). Then with the eye of the editor you desired:


Technical

(add indent)It was Friday evening. October 11th 2002. My son Austin (eldest of my three children) had just finished hanging his first communion cross over the doorway of his bedroom. I was in the next room, on the computer, when the phone rang. I glanced at the clock. 6:55 P.M.

At age 11*Left* (needs comma) she had already run away a dozen times. Wherever Lisa went, trouble followed.

"Lisa, take a breath, tell me exactly what happened to dad. Where is he now?".*Paragraph*”He's in the Aambulance" *Paragraph*"Where is Mom?" *Paragraph*"Outside standing in the driveway." *Paragraph*My mind was racing. I was confused, needed details, and all Lisa could manage to do was sob and babble incoherently.
(< = no new paragraph)
I had talked to Dad just the evening before. He complained of pain in his lower back and left leg telling me that, despite his not wanting to sit in a chair, in an over-crowded waiting room for 6 *Left* (all single digit numbers are spelled out - six) hours, he would go to the E.R. in the morning if the pain did not let up. Being in constant pain was becoming unbearable for him.

         I prayed for the duration of the 30-minute drive to the hospital. Part of me knew intuitivly (spelling - intuitively), for the past three or four months, what my inner child refused to face or believe

         Saturday morning my father’s mother(, eliminate comma, insert “and”) two brothers arrived. They had made the two hour(two-hour, hyphenated word) ride by car.

I felt deeply sorry for Mom, losing her spouse of 30 years and my young brother just nineteen, still needed a dad to guide him. (If you spell out nineteen, you must spell out thirty or use both 19 and 30)

         Up until this moment *Left* (needs comma) Tommy had enjoyed all
the benefits of being the youngest.



We were able to donate skin and his retinas-both eyes. Dad's final gift to someone in need. *Left* ( sentence fragment) Might I suggest "'This' or 'It' was Dad's final gift to someone in need."

In all fairness I was acutly *Left* (spelling - acutely) aware that I had already collapsed under the weight of one important decision.

Tied up at work *Left* (needs comma) he told me to go and he would meet me there.

          Arriving promptly at 5:45, we were greeted at the door by the funeral director. A pleasant man, late 60’s with salt and pepper hair. *Left* (sentence fragment – suggest semicolon after this phrase and a small “h” on “he”) He stood about 6’ and spoke softly to Mom. I did not hear what he said.

We each signed the guestbook *Left* (spelling - guest book) in turn and stood together at the entrance to the room where dad was on display.

New gray sweatpants and a New England Patriots T-shirt. *Left* (sentence fragment – consider comma insert making it part of the next sentence) Mom had just bought the new outfit for him for his fifty-fourth birthday, two days prior to that fateful visit to the E.R.
(< = no new paragraph)
Surprisingly I thought he looked peaceful; the soulless eyes...

…much paler with a thick layer of makeup coating his face.
(< = no new paragraph)
The rosy tinge … not very gray at all.
(< = no new paragraph)
When I touched his arm it was ice cold, something …


Dad’s whole life was his devoted *Left* (I believe you want the word “devotion”) to his family. He would have walked to the ends of the earth had any of us needed him.

If I was *Left* (proper usage is "were" - "If I were") going through a rough time, he would always give me a little pep talk.

         My dad had hopes of hitting the big time one day *Left* (in this case, "one-day" is hyphenated word) but once kids came along, that dream quickly faded to black.

         I cried through most of the four hour *Left* (four-hour - hyphenated) wake, just sobbed and sobbed.

After tomorrow *Left* (needs comma) I could go home and wallow in depression and self-pity. When we got home from the funeral parlor, my husband went out and got dinner, Chinese take-out. I think we all felt emotionally bankrupt.

At 8:30 *Left* (needs comma) they loaded his casket into the hearse.

The Beatles were dad( apostrophe needed)s favorite and I found this very comforting. Almost as if dad was with me in the car. *Left* (sentence fragment – suggest hyphen or semicolon to add to previous sentence)

When the time came for me to read I stumbled to the alter and forgot to bow. *Left*(word order – suggest “When the time for me to read came, I forgot to bow as I stumbled to the alter.”)

The priest was helpful gestering *Left* (spelling - gesturing) and he reminding me what to do. I read as quickly as I could now self-conscious.

I returned to my seat remembering this time to bow as I left the alter. *Left* (word order – suggest “Remembering to bow as I left the alter, I returned to my seat.”)

         At the cemetary *Left* (spelling - cemetery) I stood back a little from the crowd.

All gathered around dad(need apostrophe)s casket faces somber and sad.

         I choose (“chose” is proper here) that moment to let dad go.

Life has never been the same but day by day *Left* (day-by-day - hyphenated) we manage to cope.

I still cried as I wrote this, the pain never completly *Left* (spelling - completely) goes away, always there like a ghost, haunting.

It is easier now, *Left* (needs semicolon) I can write and talk about this experience as I never could before.

         I cried as I read this. The wounds of losing loved ones are always surface deep. I know in my own emotional spewings that I often need someone to point out where emotion leaves off and grammar begins.

The grammar and spelling check of this item brought out innocent mistakes that are easy to make and overlook. This is a lengthy review and I would not normally post such a long one publicly. Nevertheless, I believe it is an excellent reviewing tool for other reviewers. (Plus, it should get you more reads!}


I hope this is what you needed. Thank you for asking and allowing me to assist you.
114
114
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.5)
*Laugh*I couldn't find much wrong with your writing. Now that could be attributed to one of two things. Either the rage that surged within me (hypotherically speaking) or the bubbles of laughter that kept surfacing as I read. I knew you were going to pick on me, it was in the title!

Might I add though, my current predicament is directly related to getting healthy by giving up your current vice!

Thanks for the laughs. Not everyone will get past the rage, but way to go!

Write ON!!
115
115
Review of The Runaway Stray  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: 13+ | (3.0)
I found this in this week's Noticing Newbies Newsletter.

First of all, I love the story! It has much promise. Grammatically, it needs work. I would normally do an indepth edit, but time will not permit this evening. Since proofing and editing are what I do, I would be happy to do it later if you so desire!

It is a wonderful story. The needs are tightening of writing, removal of repetition, nothing really major. The ending was not what I expected. Clever.

Write ON, Newbie!!
116
116
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.0)
This is a touching remembrance of childhood. It points up the dichotomy of changing seasons, environments, and feelings; a right-of-passage story per se.

GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION

In the winter*Left*(add comma) if you stood at the very edge of the street, on your tipee toes, you could see Lake Calhoun at the bottom of the hill.

My great-grandmother had made me a sheets, blankets, and a spread for my crib.

*Question* I wasn't clear, was the crib for your dolls or for you?

I used to love looking out the window and watching the *Right*(no space) snow^fall, creating blankets for the streets and sweaters for the trees, so they wouldn’t get cold.

*Exclaim*I love these metaphors for snow. Outstanding!*Snow3*


A radio, my favorite Christmas present to date, was on top of the *Right*(no space) night^stand.

To this day *Left*(add comma) I love listening to stories aloud, if they are told well.

My room was my haven, my place to play dress-up, dance, *Right* add "and" daydream, whatever I wanted.

How quickly a room(c:red}(add s) can change. Havens A haven if you enter under your own steam, a prison if ordered to go.

*Exclaim*Another place where the metaphor is outstanding! Boy, do I remember the feeling!

My bedspread was different, I looked around, *Right*add word "and" my whole room was different.

On all the windows were *Right*(one word, no hyphen) tie-back curtains made with the same chiffon-like material showcasing the same glorious butterflies.

And my walls, my beautiful, beautiful, walls. *Left* (sentence fragment)

They were real *Left*(grammar check indicates "very" for "real." I am not sure I agree.) now, the most wonderful, scrumptious shade of pink.

Cotton candy, tutus, fairy princess dresses all rolled up into one breathtaking color*Right* (unnecessary comma), that before was in my head.

*Idea* May I suggest, "which had existed only in my head."

For years*Left* (add comma) I dreamed about snakes underneath my bed.

custom-made (add e)specially for my room.

These were not the *Right* (one word, no hyphen) tie-back curtains of my favorite room, but they were very nice and I tried to take very good care of them.

I stayed in here, not because I felt peace, but because I felt *Left*(add comma) I had nowhere else to go.

Some people tell me that I remember this particular room so positively and vividly because it was the last place *Right* add comma my life was perfect; before my parents were divorced, and my life changed forever. Don't forget that we grow and change!

With some adjustments and tightening, this piece has great potential!! I would be happy to read and re-rate once you have all the input you asked for and make any changes!

Write ON!!
117
117
Review of I Remember  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (5.0)
I find it very hard to rate a piece like this. Not that I am trying to get out of it. But I lost a brother, 1957-1979. Your poem made me cry, in fact I am still crying.

Not really a technical note, but you did all you could. You couldn't have done anymore. You did not fail him! One day you will know that!

Write ON!!
118
118
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (5.0)
What a wonderful stream of conciousness! I found this in the Noticing Newbies Newsletter where esprit 's topic was on writing conversationally.

I felt you talking straight to me. I am finding I am an oddity in the reviewing world around here. I have the credentials to (and do) editing for pay. As a member of this site, I count it as joy to include whatever grammar and punctuation, as well as spelling errors I might catch in a review. Because of your disclaimer, this is rated high because of the laugh it gave me! (I didn't look for anything else once I started laughing!)

Nonetheless, not having my credentials does not make anyone, including yourself, any less valuable as a reviewer. I could have had perfect grades in the things I learned to edit and still wouldn't catch all of mine errors or anyone else's. The beauty of this sight is that you get many more eyes reading what you are writing. Personally, I try to leave a piece I write on here and alone for a week before I go back to it even with reviews under my belt. Writing is rewriting and rewriting and rewriting. No matter how hard we try, perfection is a journey.

Now that you have been here a month instead of five days, how ya doin?

Even if you just rate and say how you liked a piece, it is the easiest way (besides the review forums and plug page) to get return reviews. Also, when you get an encouraging review from another, one that you really relate to, put them in your address book and contact them for some solicited feedback from a friend!

Write ON, Newbie!
119
119
Review of Little Buddy  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (4.5)
I found this in this week's Noticing Newbies newsletter.

This is a poignant little poem about the little ones torn in two by not understanding the actions of adults. I know, by experience, that my daughter may be 29, but there isn't a time that I see her that I don't see that vulnerable, barely 2-year-old face trying to figure out where daddy had gone!

I found your poem to move fairly well. It might be easier on the eye to separate into two or three stanzas rather than the block form you currently have it in.

This is a wonderful piece revealing the very real pain of a child and the grandmother!

Write ON, Newbie!!!
120
120
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (3.5)

LOL! I needed a good laugh and you definitely provided one. I observed wolves in the wild, of course the coyotes were there too; what a hoot! Didn't see any that far north.

Technically

I found a few places that need a little tending:


I wondered, Who named it ‘Blue"?

*Heart*Capitalization rules are very clear. since these words are not part of a formal title, they are simply "who" and "blue."

*Heart*This sentence also points up an error I found throughout the piece with quotation marks. You will see I have used them in my correction to indicate a word I am talking about that is not part of my sentence. Occasionally, I take artistic license in a piece putting quotes around such words that I am talking about or to illustrate a term I am making fun of something else with. However, as a rule, no. Also, you use quite a few single ( ' ) quotation marks. These ( ' ) are reserved for contractions and quotes within a quote.

“There he is, just to the left of that log." His arm pointing.

*Heart*"His arm pointing." is hanging out there as a sentence fragment needing a predicate, direct object or a prepositional phrase or a combination. In this instance, I would make it a part of the preceding sentence thus: "There he is, just to the left of that log," his arm pointing out to the water. You see I have also added a prepositional phrase (maybe not the one you would use) but giving "pointing" a direction.

Not wanting to appear psychotically phobic...

*Heart*The rule here is that an adjective must come before a noun. You have an adverb modifying an adjective. I realize nothing in the English language ever goes without exception, I haven't heard of one for this. I would phrase this part of the sentence thus: Not wanting to appear psychotic and phobic in the company of...


And besides, why should I let

*Heart*There are times when the use of "And" at the beginning of a sentence is one of great emphasis. You want them to hit the "AND" heavy as if it were another in a long string of a laundry list. I do it a great deal. However, scholars frown upon it. It is one of the words I ask clients to avoid at all costs. In this sentence, for you, the "and" is simply not necessary "Besides, why should I..." works just as well.

Further down a ways, my husband spotted four baby alligators. He thought it would be 'cool' to get their attention.

*Heart*Commas don't have hard fast rules to commit to memory. I usually insert what feels correct for pause then let my grammar check tell me if it is wrong. (I wouldn't have caught this one either without my grammar check.) it should be "Further, down a ways, my..."

Oh great! Jeff Corwin’s understudy and his daughter.

*Heart*Granted, writers more and more use sentence fragments for effect. And I wouldn't change this one myself. *Idea* I would however change the period after daughter to an exclamation point giving it artistic legitimacy.

we just didn’t notice them." I offered.

*Heart*Like "His arm pointing." this fragment is sitting off by itself we just didn’t notice them," I offered.

This is a wonderful description of your trip and you took me there in my mind as well. One that might be great for say,

 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#775789 by Not Available.


I thouroughly enjoyed your adventure!

Write ON!!
121
121
Review by PastVoices
Rated: ASR | (5.0)
I found this in this week's For Authors Newsletter.

Now THAT was funny! Maybe because I felt part of it was sooooo true. But that was definitely a winner in my book!


Thank you for sharing.

Write ON!!
122
122
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (5.0)
I found this in this week's Spiritual Newsletter.

The story was fascinating and well told. The insights and conclusions of the subject were astute. Quite simply I loved the analogy.

On a technical note, though nothing major jumped out at me structurally, semantically you write, "Her day had been destroyed..." Considering the acknowledgements you make to what we have control over and don't, it might have been more appropriate to say, "She had allowed her day to be destroyed..."

As I said, subjective semantics were the only thing registering with me. And, oh yes, btw, my 8-year-old grandson would talk of it being "his Father's Garden" and mean precisely what Rowena took it to mean. We live so far apart, it give me great delight when he asks, "Grandma, did you see that sunset God painted for us tonight?"

Thank you for sharing.

Write ON!!
123
123
Review of Blue Eyes  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (5.0)
I found this in this week's Noticing Newbies Newsletter.

You had me hooked from the first stanza. In junior high, I read a biography named Mrs. Mike. I read it many times over and over. The story of a mountie and his improbable wife still pulls at my heartstrings all these years later. One line in the book though has become a running theme in our family. She described Mike's eyes as being "so blue you could swim in them." It is the exact line that went through my head the first time I met my husband, dressed all in black and I dove in!

Write ON, Newbie, Write ON!!
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124
Review of Clock Tower  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: E | (5.0)
I found this in this week's Noticing Newbies Newsletter. Technically, nothing in the poem stood up and slapped me saying, "Fix Me."

The content was superb! I wrote a prose piece earlier this summer. After reading it, several have said it felt like a roller coaster and they wanted off. In the same way, every time I read this from beginning to end, I could feel the slow, pulsating steady rythym of a second hand on a clock!

Write ON Newbie!!
125
125
Review of Stolen By Frances  
Review by PastVoices
Rated: ASR | (5.0)
I found this in this week's Spiritual Newsletter. I read last week that like 100-year waves and the like, hurricanes have bad seasons many years apart.
Charley, Frances, Ivan now have connotations beyond just being a name.

I particularly liked your blend of poetry and prose. I especially liked the use of your title to frame the poetry section of the piece.

Techinically, I saw no glaring typos or grammar problems.

Thank you for sharing your impact of Frances!

Write ON!
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