\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7548-Reviewing-Reviews.html
Poetry: March 23, 2016 Issue [#7548]

Newsletter Header
Poetry


 This week: Reviewing Reviews
  Edited by: Fyn Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

For a poet to depict a poet in poetry is a hazardous experiment; in regarding one's own trade a sense of humour and a little wholesome cynicism are not amiss. ~~Edward Dowden

Poetry is that sentiment of the soul, or faculty of the mind, which enables its possessor to appreciate and realize the heights and depths of human experience. It is the power to feel pleasure or suffer pain in all its exquisiteness and intensity. ~~Orson F. Whitney

To feel most beautifully alive means to be reading something beautiful, ready always to apprehend in the flow of language the sudden flash of poetry. ~~John Holmes


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B01CJ2TNQI
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99


Letter from the editor

Recently, I've written newsletters on considering your audience when writing, as well as considering your 'audience' when you choose to show pieces to family and friends. When we write a review, we also have an audience: the author. What constitutes a helpful review? DRSmith Author IconMail Icon sent me an email about reviewing. In part, his email read:
... with your skills at conveying metaphorical language with teaching skill, you might want to do another article on "REVIEWING"... as so many in here seem to think it means, "finding fault", trying to find something to justify the "review". As you can see, I've had those whose sole purpose was to offer some form of correction lest they feel 'inadequate" in their review. Sometimes the shortest reviews can be the best... ie: immensely powerful, superbly written, riveting read, and so on. At least the author knows he's achieved the most important thing in writing... reaching and retaining an audience to the point they were entertained, left satisfied, and/or having evoked some form of emotional response. It's not about topic either, as I've slammed for same. as well, but about the skill in delivery no matter the theme or topic. I've been asked to read and review items that were of no interest to me, or actually repulsed by them for content... but recognized the skill of the author in delivering the piece.


So, okay. Here we go. He makes some excellent points in his email. Receiving the following in a review:' I loved it! It was great!' is basically useless. Sure, we are happy they liked the piece, but, far more important is the WHY!!! Did we reach them? Did we connect on some level, be it emotional, cognitive or simply a shared interest in common? Did we touch a chord? or did they simply appreciate HOW we put our words to use? How did we connect? We need to know this!

When writing reviews, keeping that old maxim in mind is useful...write unto others as you would have others write to you!

Sometimes folks read a piece and go, "HUH?" Now one needs to examine the 'why' of this response. One reason is 'accessibility.' Sometimes writers delve into the esoteric or the philosophical and might leave us in their dust. Or they might be using vocabulary referring to welding or high finance and they lose us. Yet if we were familiar with high finance or used to welder-speak, it wouldn't faze us at all. This doesn't preclude us from being able to appreciate and recognize good writing. All poetry needn't be 100% accessible to everyone. If we, as a reader, don't understand it, doesn't mean it is terrible. It might mean we need to do a little research and broaden our horizon a bit. *smiles*

Another thing to keep in mind is our state of mind as a reader. Depending upon one's frame of mind, the reactions we have can be colored by our current state of emotional disarray or 'in-love' euphoria or 'all three kids have the flu and the baby's teething and I just got fired' moments. How we react will be colored by our impatience with 'poor pitiful me' poetry if we, ourselves are feeling that way. It may mean we totally connect or just the opposite. This goes beyond the actual poem, and we, while , of course, bring our life experiences to anything we read, need to also be sure we don't let the 'me' get in the way of the poem itself.

Personally, I know NOT to review if I'm tired, cranky, or, as is the case at the moment, sick with the flu. These times are the best, though, to go into your port and find a review stating, "I will always remember this poem," or "I wasn't sure I was going to like this poem when I first started reading, but I did, I really did," -- and then went on to tell me why. These made me smile on a day when the temp is hovering in the 101 degree zone, every muscle hurts and my head feels as if it could explode any moment and I almost wish it would because it couldn't possibly feel worse!


When writing reviews, keeping that old maxim in mind is useful...write unto others as you would have others write to you!


Oh, and before me and my box of tissues go crawl back to bed, don't forget your submissions for the

Image Protector
STATIC
2018 WDC Anthology Information Open in new Window. (E)
All you need to know to submit to the 2018 WdC Anthology- DEADLINE 7-31-18
#1935520 by Fyn Author IconMail Icon










Editor's Picks

Are you ready? It is time for the Spring version of
 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2065770 by Not Available.

SIGN-UPS OPEN NOW!!!

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2078685 by Not Available.


Addiction Open in new Window. (E)
These are some thoughts that occurred to me about addiction.
#1762746 by tYpO/T.Boilerman Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2071495 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1902987 by Not Available.

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B083RZ37SZ
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.


Ask & Answer

Elfin Dragon-finally published Author IconMail Icon writes: Hey! I know I'm super late in giving you a comment for your newsletter "Don't settle for Mundane". I've always loved pushing myself to writer the unusual and use my senses to describe things to readers. I also plan to use your prompt of the color to try and write a poem. It will be very interesting. *Smile*

I hope you let me know when you write it!

Monty Author IconMail Icon says: I always enjoy your News Letters Fyn, I look for a highlight in the words that I can say is a favorite part but I enjoy the whole of the read.

thanking you!

Elle - on hiatus Author IconMail Icon comments: Interesting newsletter, Fyn. This concept is basically what brought "The Littlest Poetry ContestOpen in new Window. to life. Rather than adults assuming what poems and poetic devices appeal to children, we made the children the judges. Sophistication and complex poetic devices are not the secret to winning this contest. I find it quite fascinating to see which poems win.

Fascinating!


*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07N36MHWD
Amazon's Price: $ 7.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/7548-Reviewing-Reviews.html