Reviewing Newsletters Archive

Donating Reviews to Charity - by Lotusneko

Konnichiwa, reviewers! This month's subject is donating reviews to charity, and the strange affliction that plagues some donators. I also have a Tip of the Month to make reviews more helpful.

Writing dot com has many groups that raise gift points to help members in need of an upgrade, cheering up, or other things. On these group forums, donations are requested of WDC members, donations to be auctioned. Among WDC members, reviews are preferred items to donate. Other activities in which reviews are expected or promised, rather than donated, are review forums, review contests, and similar activities where a limited number of entrants "sign up" pieces from their ports to be reviewed, usually donating an entry fee of GP's. Other people sign up to be reviewers of those items. There was one such activity that I signed up for, into which the creators put a lot of work, however, not enough reviewers participated, so they cancelled the activity. Imagine the disappointment all around.

Reviews are non-tangible items that do not require any collateral, except one's word. Perhaps this is one reason why some WDC members are more willing to promise reviews than to deliver. Similar circumstances exist in life: Buy now, pay later plans; signing up in the winter to volunteer for summer Vacation Bible School; offering to help someone move when he finds an apartment. When it is time to pay the piper, the once-positive attitude of the promiser alters to a) lethargy ("I'll get around to it.) b) denial - ("I do not recall making such a committment.") or c) panic - ("Oh my god! Is it that time already?!? I can't handle this!! {dives under covers} }.

While I myself am not immune to this affliction, as I usually opt for a) lethargy, I remember that real people, eager writers, are checking their mailbox for these promised reviews. When they do not appear, they may be less inclined to buy raffle tickets or to enter their work in review forums. This causes one of the most terrible things; it causes people to lose faith in each other, and the community as a whole is negatively affected. I get my butt in gear, and find doing the reviews are just as enjoyable as if I were reviewing on "my time" and "my terms." In a recent instance, I was over a month late on reviews owed. I apologized, and in addition to the five reviews she won, I also said I would do an extra five reviews for free.

I am owed reviews that never materialized. One of my friends even paid for a partial port raid. The person told me they were having computer problems, and would get around to it shortly. That was a long time ago, and I never got an update from her.

Unlike credit card companies, reviewers who are stiffed have no recourse on Writing.com. If you decide not to give your reviews, they are stuck. This year, WDC is once again in Writer's Digest list of 100 Best Writing Websites. We were first featured on the list in 2002, then not again until 2005, after which we have been in there consistently. Let's keep it that way. Do you think if people are stiffed on reviews, they will feel satisfied with the site? If you feel coerced when delivering promised reviews - if you have one of a million and one excuses - you still made a promise.

Don't just hope people will forget, or not mind. Would you?

One way to get around this is not to think of owing reviews as being "beholden" or "obligated." Think of it as a privilege to be able to help out a fellow writer, and to enjoy some stories that you would never otherwise be able to read.

EDITOR'S PICKS

This author "desperately" needs reviews for this expose piece. Please help him out.

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #1323569 by Not Available.

A poetry contest for poems about animals.

~Eternally Our Friends Poetry Contest~  (E) A monthly contest for animals lovers of all kinds. Round Twelve. (CLOSED) #1300179 by Captaintaya

Heart-tugger . . .

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #1297357 by Not Available.

And a poll touching on this issue's topic:

Status Versus Merit  (E) Writing.com is back in Writer's Digest List of Writing Sites. What do you make of it? #1413972 by Elisa: Snowman Stik

ASK & ANSWER

((Last months's question was: How do you review poetry?

I did not receive any replies to this question. This months's question is: Are any of you owed reviews that you still have not received? How do you handle that? Feedback on this topic and any others is always welcome.))

TIP OF THE MONTH

Hug a baby; it's good for your mental health.

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As adults, we can usually attribute a period of boredom to something specific: a feeling of emptiness or frustration with a situation we can't seem to fix or get beyond.