Giving Reviews

Status
Not open for further replies.

matthewmilam

Registered
Joined
May 13, 2007
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Location
Chicago
Website
thechiwriter.typepad.com
Reading other people's stuff is an irony in itself. While you think you know what a good screenplay/story/short story/novel is, you also think that because you know that you've actually mastered it. I know this flaw was a problem when I was younger, but I'm actually working on telling myself that I need the work.

When I give other people reviews, people suggest I can't write one. Well it's hard to give a good review for a bad piece of work.

I signed up for Triggerstreet as well as Zoetrope and there seems to be a big difference and a major theme in being a critic/reviewer. You have to give pages and pages of reasons for why something doesn't work (that's the theme) and Triggerstreet seems a bit more sensitive and picky on reviews than Zoetrope.

One piece I did on TS was about a black man who was just released from prison, that's about the gist of it because the first 20 pages didn't get me. I see another piece of about a guy who is a golf hustler and it's so far a breeze to read. It probably needs more conflict, but seems to be good no less.

The review for the first script I was given got two emails saying I suck as a reviewer and a writer and that mine would be up at the hall of justice. I'm like? WTF.

The basics of what I said was that since you have a big lot of characters and story to get over, just do a narration to make it easier on the reader. It's cliche, but it tends to work in these kinds of stories. Anyhow, there's always that feeling of "I'm too stupid to review" feeling and I'm starting to think it's better to safe and praise all things.

Any thoughts?
 

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,937
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
I don't grasp the point you are making fully.

IMHO a review should say, clearly and in an entertaining way, what you felt about a book and why. And a critique is something completely different.
 

matthewmilam

Registered
Joined
May 13, 2007
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Location
Chicago
Website
thechiwriter.typepad.com
I don't grasp the point you are making fully.

IMHO a review should say, clearly and in an entertaining way, what you felt about a book and why. And a critique is something completely different.

The point I'm trying to make (story of my life) is that it never seems like a good idea to give your opinion on a writer's work, especially when you are struggling yourself. Does that make sense? :)
 

veinglory

volitare nequeo
Self-Ban
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
28,750
Reaction score
2,937
Location
right here
Website
www.veinglory.com
I think that opinions are typically given not as a writer-mentor (how to fix it), but a reader. If you read the genre you can give a reader-opinion (enjoyed/didn't/why).
 

Birol

Around and About
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
14,759
Reaction score
2,998
Location
That's a good question right now.
How so? Are you saying your reviews aren't from the reader perspective, but from a writer's? If you're looking at it from a writer's viewpoint, aren't you doing more of critique than a review?
 

Sean D. Schaffer

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 18, 2006
Messages
4,026
Reaction score
1,433
I've always thought they were one and the same, but I guess I'm wrong.


Don't feel bad about that; up until a couple seconds ago (when I read Birol's post above) I thought the same thing.

Interesting thread.

:Sun:
 

Mel

Never be completely back to normal.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
2,075
Reaction score
575
Location
Lovely, large cave
Reviews, IMHO, should be through the reader's eyes. I did a few, long, long ago and I always went at it from a reader's point of view.

Crits can be from another writer or someone who reads but doesn't write. Different perspectives, but helpful nonetheless.
 

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
1,801
Reaction score
355
Location
Louisville, KY
The point I'm trying to make (story of my life) is that it never seems like a good idea to give your opinion on a writer's work, especially when you are struggling yourself. Does that make sense? :)

Dale Peck would disagree.

Can't write novels for crap but he sure does review them like an animal.
 

BardSkye

Barbershoppin' Harmony Whore
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 2, 2006
Messages
2,522
Reaction score
1,009
Age
71
Location
Calgary, Canada
I can sympathize. I'm reading my first ARC to review for Harper-Collins and have to keep reminding myself to read it, not critique it. Kinda tough. The story premise and characters are okay but the author's style is driving me buggy.
 

Birol

Around and About
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
14,759
Reaction score
2,998
Location
That's a good question right now.
I've always thought they were one and the same, but I guess I'm wrong.

They're similar, in that they both offer positive and negative criticism, but they are not the same. They have different purposes.

A critique evaluates how something was done and may offer suggestions on how to change or improve it. It focuses primarily on craft and is written for the writer. A review evaluates what was done and offers an opinion about who may or may not enjoy the finished work. It focuses primarily on product and is written for the reader.

For example, a critique of something I've written may say something like: Lori, the timing in Chapter Four is off. You may wish to go back and look at who is doing what when and rework the sequence a little.

Whereas a review would say: Overall, Lori's book is an enjoyable read, but there were some muddled moments in the beginning where I didn't know whether the characters were coming or going. Readers who are easily confused may wish to take that into account before purchasing this book.
 
Last edited:

justpat

QueryTracker
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 15, 2007
Messages
354
Reaction score
51
Location
Location: Location:
Website
www.querytracker.net
The review for the first script I was given got two emails saying I suck as a reviewer and a writer and that mine would be up at the hall of justice. I'm like? WTF.

Sounds like they really didn't want to hear the truth in the first place. Writing is an art, and most artists (though they will tell you otherwise) are not fond of criticism. Thats why I won't read another writer's work unless we know each other well enough to be honest. If you can't tell them the truth, than whats the point. (Of course you still need to be gentle).

And having to justify your opinion with pages of written material, well I've got more important things to write.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.