Le Voyage Magnifique

Why Review?

There are two types of reviews:

1. Directed to potential readers/customers to help them choose a book/product.

2. Directed to writers so it may help them improve their craft.

Since the Writing.Com system automatically directs reviews to the writer, we are considering the second category here.

The more detailed the review, the more benefit will be provided to the writer. Generic boilerplate language, such as "wonderful" or "beautiful," is not very helpful, unless the review identifies specific phrases or techniques which make them so.

While we want to encourage writers, we should also point out weaknesses, so that the author may address those issues. Piling high praise upon an item which the author already recognizes as needing work will affect the reviewer's credibility.

Analyzing and crafting useful responses to other people's work will also help to develop our own writing skills, so there is a mutual benefit to this process.

If reviews are written clearly and honestly, the writer and the reviewer will both come out ahead.


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