My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE WORD SEARCH
This word search put the puzzle taker in the mood for an old fashioned Christmas!
WHAT I LIKED
I loved the shape poem in the form of a tree in the introduction. It really helped to put me in the mood to hunt for these words!
ENGAGING
The word search is a lot of fun. A lot of these words were on the tip of my memory growing up as a kid in the 70's. I could picture listening to Christmas songs on the old stereo.
VARIETY
There were a lot of good words that embraced the theme well.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
Loved the title. I thought it summed up the theme of the poem well. A fun puzzle to get in the Christmas spirit!
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE POEM
Inspirational poem that encourages one to just be "you."
WHAT I LIKED
I loved the tone and uplifting message of the poem.
STRUCTURE
This is a poem with 2 stanzas and 6 lines. There is no rythme scheme.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
DESCRIPTIONS
I liked: "In the quiet dark, whispers drown your truth," This is the open line and I found it intriguing - what do we hide from ourselves and others "in the dark." It evokes simmering introspection and challenges us to look inside to see what we might find out about ourselves.
PARTING THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS
The title sums up the poem as well putting the focus on what your rhythm is, encouraging one to slow down a bit and explore yourself. It's upbeat, uplifting and has a positive message. The poem strikes a heartfelt tone and has nice growth.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE POEM
A poem about giving thanks to the Lord for his redeeming gift.
WHAT I LIKED
I really enjoyed the reverent and respectful tone of the poem. I felt like I was reading a Psalm.
STRUCTURE
This is an English sonnet with an ABAB rythme scheme and a rythme couplet.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes. Good use of WDC ML to increase the font.
DESCRIPTIONS
I liked: "The Lord we thank for facing Calv'ry's skull" This vivid description with the use of the words "Calv'ry's skull" invokes an image of Jesus hanging on the cross and offering forgiveness to the thieves who were hanging next to him. It's a very powerful visual and evokes a range of emotions from sadness to admiration, and gratitude for the gift He gave us.
PARTING THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS
The opening is very formal, yet strives a respectful tone. The title is a simple, humble fit for the poem. A nice reminder of the saving Grace of our Lord.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
What a tangled web we weave when we like someone but don't like them enough.
WHAT I LIKED
I thought was this a nice take on an emotional dilemma that we all face at one point or another. I think this is a good Flash for the "Young Adult" genre.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 3rd person omnisicent. Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue accents the narration.
OPENING PARAGRAPH
The opening paragraph introduces us to Gina and her emotional struggle.
CHARACTERS
Gina and Ted. They're really nice likable characters. I found myself rooting for Ted.
FLOW & PACING
The opening set up the problem, the middle set on a way forward and end was resolved with hope for the future.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes. My only suggestion here, and it's minor and a matter of style - maybe increase the font a little to make it easier on the eyes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story. There's a lot of good, strong emotional notes in the story that readers can connect with.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
Marcia has a bad habit of inflating the neighbor's flat inflatables.
WHAT I LIKED
I loved how Delbert busted her like a bad little kid. Nice comedic moments are laced throughout the story.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 3rd person limited from Marcia's perspective. Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue accents the narration.
OPENING PARAGRAPH
The opening paragraph really sets the stage - how Delbert has busted Marcia with the bike pump and leading up to the realization that Marcia has too much time on her hands.
CHARACTERS
Delbert and Marcia are like peas in a pod and compliment each other well.
FLOW & PACING
The opening presents the "bust", the middle elicits a chuckle from the reader and the end makes you wonder when Marcia is going to strike next.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes. If anything, I might spacing between paragraphes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title is perfect for the story. A holiday comedy that will make the reader chuckle - and make sure Marcia can't find the bike pump ever again.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE POEM
The poem was about finding oneself, appreciation, and gratitude.
WHAT I LIKED
The poem strikes a nice balance between hard knocks and inspiration.
STRUCTURE
This is a free form with no apparent rythme scheme.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes. Good use of WDC ML to make the poem easier to read.
DESCRIPTIONS
I liked: "Was one the life-giving water to quench a thirst I never knew I had?" I just loved this water metaphor as it explores a sincere and honest question. Also, the way it is asked evokes a genuine curiosity as to the answer.
PARTING THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS
The opening dives right in with 17 years and keeps the readers engaged. The title is a warm hearted fit for the poem. A heartfelt poem that explores home and friendship and offers hope and inspiration. Wonderful expression!
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
Hannah settles down in a rural Vermont town only to find an old key in a turn of the century wooden desk. Where it will lead her is an adventure of a life time.
WHAT I LIKED
I enjoyed how the mystery enfolded. I felt like I was finding the clues right alongside Hannah. Well done!
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 1st person by Hannah. Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue accents the narration.
OPENING PARAGRAPH
The opening paragraph eases the reader into the journey by painting a rural, low key setting with a nice, easy going conversational voice. The reader feels like they're friends with Hannah.
CHARACTERS
Hannah's curiosity really shines in this short piece fiction and it makes her a very likable character.
FLOW & PACING
The progression of events seems very natural until we get to the old abandoned warehouse. If anything, it sets up the story for a part two to offer more explanations about the time traveling aspect.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes. My only suggestion here, and it's minor and a matter of style - maybe increase the font a little to make it easier on the eyes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story. The author uses a good economy of words to paint the setting and evoke emotion. There's a nice light hearted comedic beat with Max before diving into more interesting aspects of the story. It's well worth it to go on the journey with Hannah in this story.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE POEM
A poem that reflects the denouement of Autumn.
WHAT I LIKED
The poet uses alliteration to paint the scene of autumn, leaves falling and a season falling quiet as the sun dives deep down.
STRUCTURE
This is a poem with 2 quatrains and a couplet.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
DESCRIPTIONS
I liked: "Grey glum ground," Growing up in New England, this is easy to picture. The ground loses it's color as it it gets colder and the leaves are blown away. Once the colorful leaves fall from the trees, the land is colder, danker, and darker.
PARTING THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS
The opening's alliteration catches the readers attention and holds it. Quite a challenging task to use a technique throughout the poem. Typically, one uses alliteration to convey a sense of urgency or emphasize emotions. I lean toward the heightening of emotion as I have a sense of falling into autumn's dark days which lead up to the winter solstice. An intriguing poem that paints a darker picture (but not too dark!) of a season we typically come to think of with full of color.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE WORD SEARCH
A word search looking for holidays.
WHAT I LIKED
I enjoyed the different types of holidays used in the word search. I've heard of all of them, but to some they might be new, and in that regard the puzzle can pique interest and be very educational.
ENGAGING
The word search was a lot of fun. There were a lot of diagonal words in my puzzle, but WDC does switch it up.
VARIETY
There were a lot of good choices.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
I thought the puzzle did a good job sticking with the theme. You could always dress up the introduction with a giphy or some trivia, but I had a lot of fun holiday hunting. A great puzzle for any time of the year!
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
Sharp, a special forces solider, discovers something about himself when on a mission.
WHAT I LIKED
The writing is succinct and to the point.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 3rd person limited from Sharp's perspective. Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue accents the narration.
OPENING
The opening introduces us to a hard-edged solider named Sharp and hints at upcoming challenge while on a mission. It's a nice to lure to keep reading.
CHARACTERS
Sharp is a guy who loves his job but that love of job is tested when they discover a civilian at the target. Can he find balance.
FLOW & PACING
The opening set up the problem, the middle set on a solution and end was interesting. Well done.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes. My only suggestion here, and it's minor and a matter of style - maybe increase the font a little to make it easier on the eyes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story and hints at more. If anything, the story could hint at a couple more war-like descriptions and put the reader a bit more in the thick of the setting of the setting using the five senses, but the emotional draw is there and builds interest and curiosity about the characters well.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE MEMOIR
Amethyst Autumn Angel shares how she found Writing.com and how she came to enjoy the Website.
WHAT I LIKED
I loved the voice of the story. It was rich and honest, filled with highs and lows and spoke to the heart.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the first person. Good job with narration. Past tense is used appropriately.
THEME
For me, I picked out the theme of growth. There's a lot of growth here - On the surface, there's growth in writing, and honestly, I've read several stories by Amethyst and they are very dynamic. I've enjoyed everything I've read. On a deeper level, you can see emotional growth as well, and the continued to desire to keep growing in these areas.
EMOTIONAL BEATS How well does the emotional beat resonate with the reader? Great; Good; Okay.
As our author goes from achievement to achievement, the emotional heartbeat of the story grows rich and fulfilling.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes. Good use of WDC ML to bring the memoir to life.
PARTING THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS
The opening intrigues the reader with a push/pull grab and then hooks us the reviews she received and the gift subscription. The writing is candid, honest, and sincere. Thank you for sharing a very inspirational story.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE POEM
A poem about a dog pirate, his muttly crew and the search for the elusive dog bone.
WHAT I LIKED
I loved the whimsical story the poem told. It was very cute and made me chuckle.
STRUCTURE
This is a poem with 6 quatrains and an AABB rythme scheme.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
DESCRIPTIONS
I liked: "They found the chest, all cracked and old. Inside, a bone of gleaming gold!" An easy visual that makes the reader feel like a flea on the flap of Captain Paws hat.
PARTING THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS
The opening invites the reader in with a nice, easy beat and keeps them reading. The title is a great fit for the poem. A charming read that's upbeat and heartwarming. I'd love to read more adventures of Captain Paws.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
Kitty is a young girl who wants to touch the sky, but can't and gets frustrated. An Elf comes to help her out.
WHAT I LIKED
I thought the story had a nice appeal and message for young children.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 3rd person omniscient. Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue accents the narration. Good use of dialogue tags.
OPENING
The opening uses a whimsical voice to lure young readers and keep them engaged.
CHARACTERS
Kitty is a sweet child still learning about the world, and the Elf is pure inspiration.
FLOW & PACING
The opening set up the dilemma, the middle built and heightened what Kitty was discouraged with and end proved very inspirational.
MECHANICS
I might suggest a small edit for punctuation tags.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story. The descriptions would appeal to younger readers. If anything, I thought the phrase "Open up your mind and believe that anything is possible and you can touch the sky any time you want to" was a bit repetitive and might suggest finding a different way to phrase it. Overall, a heartwarming story that offers hope and inspiration.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
A young women returns to her deceased parents' home intent on getting rid of it forever.
WHAT I LIKED
I really liked the word choices used in the story. They built up the eeriness and creepiness well.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 1st person by an unnamed female narrator. Past tense is used in the story.
OPENING PARAGRAPH
The opening paragraph engages the reader in with a strong conversational tone.
CHARACTERS
The main character, a female narrator, returns to her old childhood hood to settle scores but instead the house might turn the tables.
FLOW & PACING
The opening set up the animosity with strong, opening reflection, the middle built and heightened the suspense using the mirror and end was totally creepy.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story well.
Nice strong descriptions. I especially liked: "The glass itself was murky and thick, carrying the green-tinged patina of extreme age."
The story followed the prompt well and had a good creepy vibe. Word count was listed in accordance with the rules. Good luck in the Bard's Hall Contest
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
A teenager finds a creepy mirror in the attic.
WHAT I LIKED
I really liked the ending. I thought it was creative and it held my interest.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 1st person by an unnamed female narrator. Present tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The only dialogue is "Look out!" which is appropriate in the context it's used.
OPENING PARAGRAPH
The opening paragraph draws the reader in using a good conversational voice hinting at boredom.
CHARACTERS
Our unnamed narrator is very curious and goes to explore the house, surprised by what she finds.
FLOW & PACING
The opening started off a little slow, but the middle did a good job building suspense and end was a nice surprise.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story, but I'm wondering if there could be a more succinct fit? (The Others referring to the people in the mirror) Overall, the story really piqued my interest and followed the prompt well. Spiders always make a story feel icky. Word count was listed in accordance with the rules. Good luck in the Bard's Hall Contest
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
Lynn and JR find an old person sized mirror in the old Victorian on the edge of town.
WHAT I LIKED
I thought the story built suspense very well, especially with the rhythmic "thump...thump...thump..."
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 1st person by Lynn. Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue accents the narration. Good use of dialogue tags.
OPENING PARAGRAPH
The opening paragraph draws the reader in with a strong conversational tone with a hint of foreboding and a touch of mystery.
CHARACTERS
Lynn is totally freaked out by the mirror and yet, it calls to her in a way nothing else has.
FLOW & PACING
The opening set up the intrigue, the middle built and heightened the suspense and end was totally creepy.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes. Good use of WDC ML to increase the font and heighten the story presentation.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story. I thought the descriptions were very succinct and to the point. For example: "beneath a patch of big oak trees covered with poison ivy vines." - Solid visual which adds to the moodiness and haunting tone of the story. If anything, the reader experiences Lynn's reaction to the creepy mirror but there's room to make the suspense flow a bit better. The choppiness of Lynn's sensations left me wanting more as a reader. The story followed the prompt well and had a good creepy feeling. Word count was listed in accordance with the rules. Good luck in the Bard's Hall Contest
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
A nine year old wants to learn how to play guitar.
WHAT I LIKED
I enjoyed the comedic elements in the story. They made me chuckle.
POV NARRATION/TENSE
Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue drives the story. There's a nice conversational tone of voice in the dialogue which makes the story flow better.
THE OPENING
The opening starts with an easy conversational hook around the word silly and keeps the reader reading to find out what is going to happen.
CHARACTERS
The 9 year old and the parent have a rather typical conversation about wanting to start a new challenge. The characters are honest and engaging.
FLOW & PACING
The opening set up the challenge to buy or not to buy the guitar, the middle set on finding out how serious our youngster is and end was heartwarming. Well done.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes. My only suggestion here, and it's minor and a matter of style - maybe increase the font a little to make it easier on the eyes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story and the ending was inspiring. A quick story about hard work and determination and the pay off.
A Bee Hive Review
FORUM
Steph Bee's Honey Pit (E) NOV 2025 - hang out with theBees & enjoy the Flowers. NEW challenge for NOV 2025 is OUT! #1474097 by StephBee
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE WORD SEARCH
An entertaining word search about the WDC Community.
WHAT I LIKED
I really liked that you could learn a lot about what WDC website has to offer members in a fun way.
ENGAGING
The word search is very engaging and I had a good time hunting down the words. If you're a "newbie" to the site, this word search will help teach you the different things the site has to offer.
VARIETY
There were a lot of things that were included from forums to interactives.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
A great educational tool for members. Highly informative and lots of fun!
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE WORD SEARCH
A fun word search perfect for the halloween season.
WHAT I LIKED
There was a nice selection of words that put the puzzle taker in the mood for the season.
ENGAGING
The word search is compact proving very engaging. After finding a word, I wanted to find the next. I'd say the difficulty was about medium.
VARIETY
There were a lot of good choices that embodied the spooky season. Good job with word selection.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
I might suggest using a graphic or giphy in the introduction to set the tone for the word search and dress it up a little. Overall the word search was a lot of fun and its one that that Webwitch would definately enjoy.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE POEM
The poem was inspired by the legend of Jack O' Lantern.
WHAT I LIKED
A very concise poem that intrigues the reader and piques their curiosity to learn more about Jack O Lantern.
STRUCTURE
This is a poem with 2 couplets and an AABB rythme scheme. There's a nice beat to the poem that resonates with the reader.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes. Good use of WDC ML to increase the font.
DESCRIPTIONS
I liked: "That poor old soul, that stupid Jack," This a very descriptive line that tells us a little more about Jack. He's been doing whatever he's been doing for a while now, and unfortunately, it's not something that he's excited to do. The line implies he's "forced" into doing it.
PARTING THOUGHTS/SUGGESTIONS
The opening gives and overview to the reader and lets them know what to expect. The title, again, speaks to what to expect. If anything, I might suggest a dropnote or a link to a website that talks a little bit more about the legend. I'm vaguely familiar with it. Overall, a good poem that fits into this time of year.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE WORD SEARCH
This word search is based on the spooky things you'll find during Halloween.
WHAT I LIKED
I really enjoyed the selection of words used. Perfect for this haunting season.
ENGAGING
The puzzle was a lot of fun and very engaging. I'd put the difficulty about a medium. Just when I think I couldn't find a word, it popped up.
VARIETY
There were a lot of good words that embraced the theme of the puzzle.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The introduction kept it simple - for Webbie and her whistles, unique to community. If anything, I might glamorize the intro a bit more to accentuate the theme and mood. Overall, a fun puzzle that's a great fit for the Halloween season~
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE STORY
Ted and Frank have been up to no good and go to a fix-it place in hopes of fixing their problem.
WHAT I LIKED
The story built suspense well. I was dying to know what they broke!
POV NARRATION/TENSE
This is told in the 3rd person omnisicent. Past tense is used in the story.
DIALOGUE
The dialogue drives the story. Dialogue tags are used to add little highlights.
OPENING
The opening intrigues the reader - what strange place are Ted and Frank in? (side note: I just thought Bill might be a better sidekick for Ted, recalling the Bill & Ted movies) Once you find out the place, then the element of suspense comes out.
CHARACTERS
Ted and Frank have a good heart, but you can tell they've been up to some mischief.
FLOW & PACING
The opening set up the problem, the middle set on a solution and end wasn't for Ted and Frank. Well done.
MECHANICS
I did not notice and spelling/punctuation mistakes. My only suggestion here, and it's minor and a matter of style - maybe increase the font a little to make it easier on the eyes to read.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The title fits the story. For a Flash, nice character development using dialogue. Kept me guessing right up until the end! A suspense short that will leave the reader smiling.
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE WORD SEARCH
A word about elements that are found in writing.
WHAT I LIKED
I thought this is a good way to introduce writing elements to newer writers.
ENGAGING
The word search was a lot of fun. I'd put the difficulty around around medium. Just when I'd get a tad frustrating, I'd find a another word and things would click.
VARIETY
There were a lot of choices of writing elements. It was a good mix and if one didn't know an element, they could look one up.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The introduction was simple and set the tone for the puzzle. A good tool to learn more about writing.
A Bee Hive Review
FORUM
Steph Bee's Honey Pit (E) NOV 2025 - hang out with theBees & enjoy the Flowers. NEW challenge for NOV 2025 is OUT! #1474097 by StephBee
My review is based on professional editing points. It is meant to be honest, encouraging, and respectful in accordance with WDC guidelines.
THE WORD SEARCH
This is a word search with Beatles songs and albums.
WHAT I LIKED
I love the Beatles, so finding this word search was a bunch of fun. Brought back some jamming good memories.
ENGAGING
The puzzle was very engaging. The theme was music and and could hear the songs playing in my head as I worked on the word search.
VARIETY
There were a lot of good Beatles tunes and albums listed. The Beatles had a good library of music to choose from.
MECHANICS
I did not spot any spelling/punctuation mistakes.
PARTING THOUGHTS
The introduction is simple and while the Beatles don't need much in the way of an introduction, I think a giphy or a video of one of their songs would help cement the mood and tone.
I also liked the fact that if you'd never heard of the Beatles, this was a nice introduction to them and would pique your curiousity.
Two for a rockin' good puzzle.
A Bee Hive Review
FORUM
Steph Bee's Honey Pit (E) NOV 2025 - hang out with theBees & enjoy the Flowers. NEW challenge for NOV 2025 is OUT! #1474097 by StephBee
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