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1,259 Public Reviews Given
1,301 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
Conversational - I don't have a formal template. Comment to my perception of the work, both substance and technique; highlights & misses. My reviews are public by default, but I will gladly make private upon request.
I'm good at...
Poetry - I read aloud; respond to both art and craft; Short Story - I listen for the voice(s) and respond with how I perceive both the creative voice and technique; and effective use of writer's tools; Articles/Essays - I'll let you know how you keep it real and hold my interest. Comment to substance & technique, fact-checking, depth of research, logical flow.
Favorite Genres
I love to read ^_^
Favorite Item Types
Poetry, Short Stories, Articles / Essays
Public Reviews
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351
351
Rated: E | (5.0)
Thank you for this opportunity to express my gratitide for the encouragement and fellowship I've received since the day I first joined writing.com.

My Muse, long dormant, is awake and growing stronger and braver every day. My skin is no thicker, but I know that criticism is not personal here, but a guide. Also, the constant encouragement to review the work of others is a wonderful learning tool, not only to improve my own writing skills, but to read and appreciate different styles and forms of writing.

Thank you,
Kate
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352
Rated: E | (4.5)
Your story moved me to tears. Such a beautiful message of pure love. I like the way you described the common ordinary worry in a conversational style, and surface concerns, then how they disappeared with the heartfelt and tender words so simply spoken. An uplifting message for the heart*Heart*

A minor technical nit, check the apostrophes in possessive words for singular and plurals. Also, some of the fragmented sentences could perhaps be combined into sentences, linked with commas or re-formed for ease in reading.

A beautiful message, conveyed with simple honesty.
Thank you for sharing,
Keep Writing!
Kate
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Strive to live the ordinary life in a nonordinary way.
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353
353
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
You tell the story so matter-of-factly from the third person view, as if it is one of the children speaking, remembering the past. Some really vivid images and beautiful prose ("angel's shoes").

I am glad you stated the futures of all the children, as it told me they survived the fire, at least.

A suggestion for your consideration ~ using "the woman" repeatedly ~ consider "she" or "her" occasionally where appropriate to refer to her actions??? Also, the little girl not realizing about the matches would not be omniscient if noted when they are wakened by the smoke and told to open the windows, perhaps?

Thank you for sharing this heart rending story,
Keep Writing!
Kate
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Rated: E | (4.0)
I like the easy conversational style of this piece and the way you weave your love of the coffee aisle {check your aisle (coffee) v isle (Bermuda), however). Your reflection on the tender memory of childhood and how it is carried forward to adulthood is really beautiful. Comparing your father's morning routine to "a peaceful stirring" ~ very visual ~ I can see it*Star*

Reading aloud, I am slowed upon occasion where you switch present and past, so do recheck that for consistency, along with a bit of telling instead of showing.

thank you for sharing this beautiful memory!
Keep Writing, fellow Clevelander
Kate
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Review of untitled  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


This is so disturbing, written with such detail as to engage all my senses ~ almost feel the gagging reflex ~ Sad study of how people come to accept what is abnormal as customary, and each finds his or her own way to deal with it (avoidace, phantom illness??)

I was slowed a bit "She screamed, I guess; like she did every night." suggest something ike this for consistency in the voice, expecially in the opening line to draw me in and pull me forward.

I also see two stories kind of occurring ~ the storyteller and her illness, her method of coping, and the mother's madness, calling the rescue squad while being able to dash down the stairs to greet them? Was her mother always mad, to have the vivid heart racing dreams, or it it a symbol or symptom to show how she was dealing with her mother's illness?

Very provocative, I thank you for sharing.

Keep Writing!
Kate
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356
356
Review of Sojourner  
Rated: E | (4.0)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


Both reflective and a challenge or wake-up call! I found myself reflecting on your words after having finished my reading*Star* Very visual and powerfully written*Thumbsup*

I note, in reading aloud, a bit of discord in changing voices, the third paragraph, "us" and "you" ~ consider perhaps either putting the statements of the universe in quotes, i.e., The universe shoults, "Your time is short here; ...from quiet and stillness." ? or if not quoted, consider a bit of re-wording to eliminate 'you' ?

In the first paragraph, "in the microscopic mitochondrea to the vastness..." perhaps "from the microscopic..." for consistency in the comparison?

The final paragraph, something like "The paths we take and those we choose not to follow..." ??? might sound more cohesive???

Also, check the punctuation, some of which apparently was misplaced in your upload.

Thank you for offering this thought-provoking work!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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Review of Smiles  
Rated: E | (4.5)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


This is such a beautiful, uplifting prayer, written with sincerity and obvious joy*Star*

Reading aloud, the flow of the words is fairly even and I like the use of the individual images, i.e., "As I try" "As I live" etc... each gives me a moment of brief pause to reflect.

Thank you for offering this provocative work!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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Review of Masquerade  
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


Such provocative and vividly intense images*Star* It's all so true...

Reading aloud, each stanza makes me pause momentarily to reflect on the image, then compels me forward. The ending image "Dreams shattered like crystalline paths." so vivid ~ visual and tactile image.

Reading aloud, the beat of some of the lines seems a little bit uneven in order to maintain rhyming.

Thank you for offering this thought provoking work!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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359
359
Review of Karamu, You  
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


Beautiful imagery throughout, I am compelled to read from one stanza to the next the wonderful visual images of this wonderful love story. The ending is five star = so very honest and forthright*Star*

Reading aloud, I savor the images in each stanza, and the flow and beat is pretty even, moving me forward one stanza to the next.

Thank you for offering this great read!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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360
360
Review of Rescue Me  
Rated: E | (4.5)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


This is such a beautiful, visually provocative prayer. The images take me from despair to show the eyes opening to hope of salvation.

Technically, each stanza flows pretty smoothly when reading aloud and the images move me forward from one stanza to the next, to the beautiful invocation at the end.

Thank you for sharing this reflective and thought provoking work!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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361
361
Review of The Empty House  
Rated: E | (4.5)
I enjoyed reading this ~ you pull me into an ominous mood, detailing all the 'missing' items, very visual*Thumbsup*. Then the unexpected finale! Really great!

I was slowed for just a bit with a couple of shifts in tense from present to past, singular to plural, which did not however, detract from enjoyment of the story itself ~ i.e., the finale, for your consideration ~ "The previous owners removed the rest of their belongings this morning."

Thank you for sharing this fun and really enjoyable story^_^
Keep Writing!
Kate
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362
362
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
I think this is a great forum, with lots of variety and challenging prompts*Thumbsup* Each Judge brings a different style, fostering a variety of creative muses ^_^ I've only recently discovered this group of challenges, and it definitely belongs in 'favorites'*Star*

The forum itself is like flash fiction, short and to the point, the prompt, the winners, the posts, all clear and well defined. New prompts are posted timely, allowing a full day to post entries*Smile*

Thank you for offering this site!
Keep Writing!
Kate
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Rated: E | (5.0)
This contest is really a great showcase for poetry that's a pleasure to read. The forum itself is organized in a very readable and understandable format, with rules clearly defined, the prompt easy to find and defined timelines.

I particularly like the responses posted for some of the poems in the forum, courteous and speedy feedback; and an opportunity for revising and having the work reviewed once again, thus offering a valuable learning tool as well as contest.*Thumbsup*

A great idea*Star*
Keep Writing!
Kate
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P.S. ~ Please accept my gp donation here for benefit of your contest. Thank you.
364
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Review of Serenity  
Rated: E | (5.0)
This is so beautifully written, your words put me in the moment and I can see the stately feline ruling all she surrounds ~ your words really captured the image ~ so beautiful and peaceful yet powerful.

Keep Writing!
Kate
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365
365
Review of Roy's Beginnings  
Rated: E | (4.5)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


I am enjoying the development of each character ~ they seem to mesh, and are very realistic. The imagery in the Birth of Roy is very vivid and natural. A story well told. The conversational style and descriptions are well shown, drawing me into the images, as if I were there*Star*

a couple of places I was slowed in reading, and offer these comments or suggestions for your consideration ~

"The possume had left their prize...edges of the park as thenight grew older." ???

also, using "jerked" twice in a sentence a few paragraphs down, consider something like, "Bill was roused from his musings by the screen door...as it was jerked open."

The next paragraph, first sentence, seems a bit off somehow to me? hiding from her? why?

the following paragraph, "She was quite different from Nancy."

Thank you for offering another great read! I look forward to the next 'installment.' ^_^

Keep Writing!
Kate
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366
Rated: 18+ | (4.5)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


Thanks for sharing the delightful rendition of a working day ~ I can relate to the autopilot somnambulistic approach to the start of the day; the images throughout, actually, are so vivid and realistic. I can empathize*Star*

I find but a couple of places where I am slowed a bit ~ in the first paragraph, there's some mixing of present and past tense, and since you maintain present tense for the active scenes later on, suggest you keep the same in the first, i.e., "I realize that I have to go to work and that I haven't eaten yet."

I read this for sheer enjoyment several times, and can relate to so much of it ~ I wish you sucess with publishing, can see it pinned from a magazine to a bunch of cubicle walls *Smile*

Thank you for offering this great read!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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367
Rated: E | (4.0)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


This is such a delightul, entertaining piece. I think if I were one of Sammy's prospective customers, I would buy from him just to get him off my case ~ he's so persistent*Thumbsup* I was laughing when I finished reading. I can only imagine a potential employer getting this letter, he or she would be a fool not to invite Sammy at least for an interview*Thumbsup*

I have a few technical comments or suggestions to note for your consideration ~ I think you want to direct the letter to "Prospective Employer"??

"Please don't confuse me..." that whole paragraph is just so delightful, have to make note of it*Star*

the next paragraph, "sell in large quantities primarily to ..."

next paragraph "So don't worry about body odor..." (I think, but a word got dropped in your upload, I believe)

as a title, remember to capitalize the "W" in "Sammy the Wanderer" throughout...

Thank you for offering this great read!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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368
Review of Help You Fly:  
Rated: E | (4.5)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


This is such a beautiful message, vivid imagery to relate a wonderful truth. Your words stay with my after I have finished reading*Star*

Reading aloud, the flow is pretty even and each stanza pulls me forward to the next. I was slowed but a bit the last line of the second stana, consider for reading, removing one word to keep the emphasis on the key words, i.e., "That give you warm embrace." (see how that sounds to you)

Also the next stanza, consider using "who" in place of "that" ??

Thank you for offering this beautiful, heartfelt work!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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369
369
Review of Ringed  
Rated: 18+ | (3.5)
*Smile*Greetings! I'm one of the Reviewers for the *Down*
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#989394 by ~*~Damiana Returned~*~


*Smile*I enjoyed reading your entry - hope to see you in the next challenge*Smile*

*Star**Star**Star*


This is a disturbing piece, dark and brooding, with some really intriguing visual descriptions. I am left with some unanswered questions, however, like why did his father just let him go? and what was the relationship between the man and the boy.

The room number '69' implies something specific, as does the man watching and his comments afterwards. The woman recovering so quickly after being hit on the head bends reality, or was she out long enough for something to happen?

A couple of minor technical nits you might consider ~ the end of the first paragaph, fragmented sentence might be combined with the one prior or revised?

Next full paragraph, check "each other" ~ run together

"Drinking mercilessly" might be more accurately visualized as "Drinking frantically"?

"Nice shot, you're supposed to hit me..." {apostrophe dropped in your download, I believe)

Thank you for offering this intense and provocative work read!
Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune ~ …
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Strive to live the ordinary life in a nonordinary way.
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370
Rated: 18+ | (5.0)
This is a first I've seen here ~ a true challenge with few restrictions, and but one 'rule' to write every day ^_^ Promises to be a fun forum with a myriad of different styles and items daily based on the how authors interpret the prompt*Thumbsup*

The rules are clearly stated, easy to follow, pleasing format for the forum^_^

Keep Writing!
Kate
wistful rune
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Review of The Anemone  
Rated: E | (5.0)
I see this is a very visual description of how outward trappings of pride mask an inner loneliness and need for affection which, once the outer shell is gone, is visible and perhaps attainable.*Thumbsup*

Using exotic and common flowers to compare is a wonderful idea*Star*

Technically, the poem stayed true to the form without feeling forced with any of the images.

Thank you for sharing this beautifully written work.
Keep Writing!
Kate
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Review of Join RAOK!  
Rated: ASR | (5.0)
This site is easy to find, and has multiple locations to link from. Once here, the logo and text are well spaced and inviting. The questions clearly worded. The rules are posted clearly and succinctly, the managers listed for referece or further questions. Good idea there.

Thank you,

Keep Writing!
Kate
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Rated: 18+ | (4.0)
Beginning and ending with the same refrain brings me full circle in this powerfully worded treatise on anger. Very vivid and visual, powerfully written, the free flowing verse propels me forward through the images. Describing the rage as a living being causing destruction also adds to the force of the poem, then makes the refrain at the end seem like returning to a momentary calm.

Reading aloud, I was slowed in but a couple of places,
*Bullet*fourth stanza, dropped apostrophe in "people's";
*Bullet*same para. using "depths" and "deep" right after each other ~ consider perhaps something like "to its haven deep within" ????

Thank you for offering this provocative work here*Thumbsup*
Keep Writing!
Kate
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374
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Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
You write with great passion your images are very vivid and powerful. Your use of rhyming also helps focus on the image you convey in each stanza.*Star*

Reading aloud, the beat of the stanzas falls fairly evenly, and the rhyming adds focus to the paragraphs individually while propelling me forward to the next.

One tiny technie nit ~ check the first instance of "burning" in the second stanza *Blush*

Thank you for sharing this thought-provoking, powerfully written work.
Keep Writing,
Kate
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Rated: E | (5.0)
The book is a great idea, creative response to exercise challenge to create an item modeled on the work of S. Silverstein. I can easily see it grow into itself as a children's book or at the least a chapbook to feature children's poetry.*Thumbsup*

Keep Writing!
Kate
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