Diss’n Reviewers is a Favorite Pastime

I notice those who write rants against constructive reviews/critiques are usually those who need them most. This post was written in response to a writer discussing reviews she considered harsh. I don’t believe it was the comments that disturbed her though, I believe it was the less than perfect rate that angered her so much. While I’m as quick to offer sympathy for real abuse, I have little sympathy for skin that is just too thin, and can’t handle any sort of criticism. It makes me wonder why they post their writing on a public writing site.

A Public Statement I couldn’t resist.

I understand you feelings your undergoing as you write this. And your questioning “Who” is really qualified to reveiw. It seems anyone with a pentium chip and a keyboard is a reviewer… Unfortunately some wield this “tool” Like a double edged sword… able to send some to the locker rooms on their heart shredding quest to be “better”. I have yet to find someone that uses the reviews for this end to be someone I can admire. I admire someone who offers help selflessly to help you on Your quest to become a better writer. That gives you tools to better your skills.

Sometimes I must admit this it an uphill battle to fine those that will give us the constuctive critism that we really need. I detest those who find that stepping on your words and work to raise themselves up their pedastal.

If you would like an honest review Please feel free to contact me an I will give you one. Not for awards or pride or to make another higher mark on the reviewers forum.

Yours trully

A fellow writer

Now, I can tell this fellow has a good heart and means well, but how can he honestly help a writer if he can’t tell her where the work needs improvement? How can he do a good job with editing or proofreading when he writes like this? This is a ‘reader’. He can say why he enjoyed the story and that’s wonderful too, but would he be able to say he didn’t enjoy it because it needs work? Or, would he worry about ’stepping on toes’ and pretend it was perfect by rating it perfect?

I would encourage this fellow writer to do what he can, but don’t diss the critiquers who are only trying to help writers learn from their mistakes. There are rules to writing well, no matter how much we’d like to believe otherwise.

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Tags: writing, novicewriters, critiques, reviews, rants, learn, write well,