Reviewing with River

I'm a little late in replying but thought I'd reply as I have previously entered this member's contest.

As with any judging, it is entirely personal and subjective. But it was too prescriptive for my liking, which is why I have not entered their contest since. Everyone has their own rubrics, and I get the impression this member values language and simplicity over the story.

Now don't get me wrong, I think there should be a minimum standard that all entries in a contest are judged by. I'm the first to admit to being a grammar Nazi, but I will usually overlook things like use of adverbs/adjectives, and passive vs active voice (unless I am judging for someone else's contest and they have told me to judge a certain way). And if you write seven characters into your flash fiction, then you clearly need seven characters in it.

The most useful bit of the review is the one section where she points out some grammar/punctuation issues, but unfortunately doesn't go on to explain why she feels they need/should/might be changed to her suggestions.

Always beware of suggestions people make. We don't all live in the same country, and what is grammatically correct in one country, is not always correct in another. For example, it is correct in the USA to have the sentence "Jill asked Fred to write her". However, an English reader might tell you to correct it to "Jill asked Fred to write to her".