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Sugarray77

Poet Rating

Rank: 26

Short Works Rating

Review Stars

Rank: 173

Reviewing

Just to chime in on the discussion... the requirement to come up with 150 characters for a review for a very short verse can be daunting. I do admire those reviewers who have written a complimentary phrase that they use at the end of their reviews to add to the character count and also end on a pleasing note. I have found that they genuinely review the piece in the first few lines before adding the 'canned' closing lines. Although I am not one of those, yet, I have thought about using a 'canned' closing to my reviews to get the count when reviewing a one line poem, or very short Naani, or other short poem. A prose piece merits a full and thorough personal review. What do you think??? Craig???

Melissa

CD Richards

Poet Rating

Rank: 110

Short Works Rating

Novel Rating

Review Stars

RE: Reviewing
Message edited:

I'll confess to being one of those who adds the occasional "good luck in the contest". But I don't always use it as padding. If I think someone has written something very good and is deserving of a place, I'll often express that sentiment. If it's a work I'm not particularly drawn towards, I'm less likely to.

I find it a lot easier to review something that really speaks to me or exhibits a lot of skill than something that's just OK, or worse. With the former, the review often writes itself. Concerning the latter, works requiring much improvement may provide more scope for comment, but the reviewer often risks getting their head bitten off for making suggestions - at least that's my experience. Also, it's not a nice feeling to tell someone the poem they are proud of is meant to rhyme and follow the rules of correct meter, spelling, and grammar, but doesn't.

Having said that, I hope I'm accepting of criticism when it's deserved, and I know I do appreciate creative suggestions and people who take the time to point out obvious errors.

As for reviewing one-line poems, or those containing 17 syllables, I completely agree with Melissa. it's a rare thing to find one so striking that I can produce a meaningful comment of more than 150 characters, though it does happen.

All of the above equally applies to stories, too. There's a big difference between a 1,500-word short story and a 50-word flash fiction.

Good luck in the contest!

Ravens
A Poem

Pays: One point. and 47 member cents

Words & Music
It takes a lot to make me laugh, it takes AI to make me cry

Pays: 10 points. and 1.30 member dollars