A Question of Standards

[Alex Bragi]

To review subjectively or objectively, that is the question.

My personal point of view is that totally subjective reviews aren’t worth the effort of writing, or reading. I actually find this types of feedback puzzling. “I gave your story a low rating because I can’t stand foot fetishes, and yours was full of it.” Well, damn it, why did you read it in the first place then?

On the other hand it’s kind of hard not to be influenced, into giving a glowing review, when reading about a particular fetish that appeals to you, isn’t it? When it’s a subject that excites you it’s just so much easier to skim over any minor hiccups.

Is it proper to review a story if it isn't to one's taste?

If the author has managed to keep your interest long enough for you to read the story though, then I believe their work probably deserves your rating it and a comment.

Would a review based on my negative experience be of any value?

Again, I think that would depend on whether your comments, and more particularly your rating, were subjective or objective. The majority of authors here are enthusiastic amateurs, keen to improve their writing skills, who appreciate clear constructive criticism.

I'm a firm believer in encouraging everyone to put words on electronic paper, regardless of how well the story goes together.

Me too. As a writer yourself, I am sure you understand there are many ways of saying the same thing. “You story sucks!” or “Your story idea is good, and I love the part where …, only I think it could have been great if you had proof read it more carefully … added more detail… taken more care with…” or what ever.

What form should a review take? Should the story be judged on how well it captures the reader's interest, or if the characters are interesting, or if the author's imagination has a unique twist? …
What about the negatives? A few minutes ago I had to give up on one story because the grammar in the narrative was so bad the story was unreadable. It would never pass the "read it out loud" test. But I don't want to discourage a first attempt (if it was that, I didn't check). So what should I post? "Needs editing?" or something like that? Fine, but it doesn't address the story content. Or should I skip it?

Gary’s advice is a good measure of how to ‘rate’ a story. Adding to that, to review or comment on the story, look for something about it you liked and ,then, tell the author about it. If you can’t find a single thing you liked -- leave it for someone else to rate and review. Look for something that, in your opinion, could have made the story better, and bring it to the author’s attention. If you can't find anything that might have improved the story -- that's great!

You know Jack, it’s a funny thing, one of my favourite authors here, by his own admission left school in ninth grade. His sentence construction is often odd, and his grammar, again by his own admission, ‘isn’t always powerful’, and yet I really enjoy his stories. He has a wonderful imagination and a wicked talent for bringing his characters to living breathing colour, regardless of his lack of formal education. Another of my favourites is, without a doubt, very articulate and well educated. Writing is a funny thing isn’t it?

Alex.