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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello, Tee, I came across your letter to yourself on the Read and Review site. You have certainly given yourself some tasks to fulfil this year, I hope you manage to complete them but if you don’t please don’t beat yourself up. New Year’s resolutions, if you’re anything remotely like me, are great to inspire but not to give stress.
I’m so pleased to hear you have made friends here at WdC and have received some good advice. I have found nothing but good cheer and friendship here too.
I hope by writing to yourself it clarifies your intentions and plans, it really is a smart thing to do, isn’t it? Maybe I should write a letter to myself too, but I know I won’t. But I did decide to enter The Bradbury which requires a new story each week for 52 weeks! Now I’ve really given myself something to stress about.
I see your birthday is three days before mine which makes you a Cancerian, we usually stick to things or feel we’ve let ourselves down if we don’t, so keep on with your dreams and schemes.
Happy New Year.
Cheers Sue


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Review of Resolution  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hi, John, thank you for giving me something to smile about on this final day of 2025. I will take a lesson from the story and not attempt something as radical as Winston. I was wondering if Bartholomew would somehow get mixed up in the purge accidentally.
There’s always the danger when throwing stuff out that something precious will get accidentally tossed and invariably it will become that something, which has never been touched or used for years, which becomes the one item you require for a task and nothing else will do.
I was relieved Winston managed to retrieve his box from the compactor in the end and the near miss brought him out of his temporary madness.


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
I loved this story. Although the reader must suspend belief, I wanted to believe it’s possible to slip back to a more peaceful place and time.
Your description of the town of Pine Hollow was sweet and lyrical giving me a yearning for such a simple time. And even though Maria needed to learn the old ways she still remembered her old life, the modern conveniences and her mobile devices. It was cool she was given the choice to return which made me wonder how many of us would opt for “the old days,” given the opportunity.
You took the prompt and ran with it. I hope you do well in the contest.
Thanks for sharing.
Sue


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Review of The First Time  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Hi, Jeffrey. Well I guess you knew what everyone would be imagining was happening here!
I did think that Lori was a bit of a cool customer and very patronising toward poor inexperienced Anson, after all there’s a first time for everyone! And I must admit my mind was certainly as far from frog dissection as is possible!
I congratulate you on a story well thought out down to the finest detail.
I really enjoyed it.
Sue


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Review of The Park Cleaner  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Hi, Damon, thank you for such a great read. I guessed you wrote it for the Quotation Inspiration Contest and I’m sure you’ll do very well with this entry. As a fellow entrant I’m now feeling so much less confident in my chances.😂

I really liked the larger font and the easy to read formatting. The stars denoting the breaks were offset to the left, they would look better centralised. Check Writing ML on how to achieve this.
In the tenth paragraph you could use an m-dash for the sentence: they worked in an open park with no lost and found.

The two characters, Wally and Clyde were believable and I had my own image of the pair, especially that money grabber Wally!

It’s a lovely heat warming tale, if a little unbelievable, but one never knows when honesty might pay off.

I wish you success with your novels which I did take a peek at on Amazon. Perhaps like Clyde, your pay off is just around the corner.

Sue.


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Hi, John, congratulations on achieving third place in the ‘What a Character,’ contest.
Envy was a good choice to write a story about, it’s such a self destructive trait.
Tiffany was an unwilling participant in this sad tale of a family slowly heading for destruction.
I suppose Phyllis’ envy of everyone and of everything could also had been about greed too.
It reminds me of the obsession or sickness some people have. They purchase numerous goods on line but when the items arrive the person doesn’t even open the parcels. The pleasure was achieved from the actual purchasing.
Phyllis was a sick woman, neglecting her children, especially poor Tiffany, to the point of losing her.

The first line: It’s a striking image, but I found it confusing—mainly because the metaphor isn’t clearly anchored. Here’s why:
“Phyllis’s eyes were a sprawling, glittering bazaar” is vivid and works as a metaphor for busy, colourful, expressive eyes.
“their perpetually unfulfilled customer” seems to be referring back to… her? Someone else? It’s unclear who is the customer of the bazaar.
Because the two halves don’t connect cleanly, the line feels more puzzling than poetic.
Perhaps it’s just me as obviously the judges thought it was ok, but maybe you can revisit it and make the meaning a little clearer.

A great story about a woman driven to great lengths to fulfil her desires.
Sue.


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Review of Thanksgiving 2025  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hey, Jim, this poem makes me so happy. I know so many people who are estranged from their adult children. In each case, although they’re dreadfully sad, they are reconciled to the fact that a beloved child is missing from their family. Yet when and if a reconciliation does miraculously take place, it isn’t until that moment they can admit to themselves how much it was hurting.
My daughter’s son will not speak to his mother even though I’ve tried to encourage him to just let it go, whatever ‘it’ is.
So I’m really pleased for both of you. Enjoy your reconciliation meeting next week. What a great poem and a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.
Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (4.5)
Hello, thank you for sharing your feelings towards a blood test. I loved the metre and rhythm of the lines. The only rhyming stanza is the final one, but as I read the whole poem out loud I realised there was no need of rhyme because it flowed so well.
I liked how the poem led us through the process of blood taking from the first moments until completion .
I guess we must all of us have to steel ourselves, just a little, against the intrusion of someone sticking a needle into our arms.
A lovely piece. Thank you for a smile.
Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
Thank you so much, Jane, for sharing a little of your life, the highs and the lows. As a fellow Australian I understand what those country towns can be like. I’m sorry your own experience caused you so much darkness. I also understand the changes which have happened over the last twenty years to our public schools and the exodus of so many fine teachers, having teachers in my own family.
But the pleasure and love you found in your dogs have been your saving grace. They are the best aren’t they? Always there, non judgmental and protective.
I’m pleased you are in a better head space now, thanks to those precious four legged friends.
Sue


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Review of My Golden Life  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hi, Jane, you almost had me in tears as I read this love letter to your beloved dog. How is it we can love an animal so much when they can’t speak? Yet we don’t need to hear their voices, they let us know what they’re thinking, wanting, needing.
We recently lost our beautiful Weinmarana, Lucy. When I first met her when she was five months old I sat on the floor at the breeder’s house and talked to her. I asked her if we were going to be the best of friends. She looked me straight in the eyes. The breeder who was speaking to my husband caught Lucy and I bonding and reduced the price.
When Lucy was waiting for the final medication to kick in we spoke again. I thanked her for being my best friend, told her how much I loved her and kissed her nose. She closed her eyes.


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Review of Final Target  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Here’s the review I promised.
This is a gripping story, very strong and a good take on the prompt. Greed was a good choice and you showed how being greedy can cause one’s downfall.
You sustained the tone and the voice throughout and the dialogue, especially Frank’s, felt authentic. The twist at the end added the surprise element.

Another gray day at the bank, a couple months later, Perhaps you might say instead: weeks blurred by or in the months that followed.
In the final confrontation I felt as if I need a little more clarity for instance, how injured was Linda? Maybe say ‘she clutched her arm’ or something about blood.
Were the sirens coming for her or him?

Great story. Good luck in the contest.
Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (4.0)
What a beautiful story. You gave us an insight of your childhood in India. I can imagine your home and your mother busy cooking in her kitchen yet still taking time out to draw with her cheeky child.
I’m happy you went to a good school and learnt to draw and use colour. I liked your reference to the colour blue used in the manufacture of Surf soap powder.
I’m guessing English is probably your second language, if so, you write in such a natural, charming way. I can’t wait to read more of your stories. Good luck.
Sue


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Review of The Last Mile  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hi, Rick, congratulations on achieving second place in the contest. I really enjoyed the story. It seems all the entrants were on the same page when it came to the interpretation of the prompt image. Yours stood out to me. It seemed a neat package, using no unnecessary words. There were some great descriptions, my favourite: all of the first paragraph.

We have our own ghost towns in the desert here in Australia which remind me of Junction so the setting spoke to me.

I suppose we’ll all finish our own last miles and perhaps meet at ‘The end of the line Cafe.’
Great job.

Sue


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for entry "Opinions" Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hello, I love your pocket sized stories. Although you mentioned you hadn’t written stories before using only 100 words it seems to me you’re very comfortable with the restrictions.
This story about someone who doesn’t win I can identify with all too easily having been in his position far too many times.😂
I’m sure we’ve all been there, having written what we imagine to be the winning entry in a contest only to not win but to fail to even get into the first three places. But as they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think it just makes me even more determined to write.
Sue


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Review of Twin Trouble  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Hello I'm reviewing your story for I Write in 25.
I was interested to see this was in the comedy genre. I hope you are entering it into the Journey Through the Genres contest. I too have written a story for the Contest. Comedy is a difficult genre to write, I found. Although many of my stories do have quite funny parts, its not the same as deliberately setting out to make a reader laugh.
You succeeded with me as I know what it's like to have a set of twins. They are both in their fifties now and yet I still remember the fun and hard work!
Although mine didn't look the same, they had cousins who were identical. I never did learn how to tell them apart.
You have done a good job of writing this story as it might have been confusing for the reader and yet it wasn't so.
Good luck in the contest.
Sue


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Review of The Lesson  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hi, Jacky, I really enjoyed this story. I learned something too. It’s a pity the lesson is too late for me, it would have come in handy when I had my ‘helpful’ brood years ago.
I guessed this was an entry written for the Daily Flash Fiction as it came in at exactly 300 words. I know there’s usually a phrase to be used in the story but in yours I didn’t see one bolded, so you may have forgotten to identify it.
Nice story as we have come to expect from you, Jacky.
Sue


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Review of Drabble 10  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: 18+ | (5.0)
Hi, I found this Drabble entry in the Noticing Newbies newsletter.
Out of the editor’s reading suggestions I chose yours as I am also interning Steven’s Drabble activity.
I still haven’t attempted Drabble ten yet—a Drabble about a haircut.
This was a fine effort and kept me guessing until the end. A great surprising take on the prompt.
I enjoyed reading that the stylist chatted aimlessly whilst trimming, I suppose it was all in a day’s work to her.
It’s always interesting to read a fellow entrant’s work. Good luck with the next 15!
Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello, I came across your story in Read and Review. I noticed you are very new to WdC. I’d like to be one of the first to welcome you and to wish you all the best in your writing career.

This story has a feeling of a fairy tale. It has it all—a wise benefactor, and a sad, lonely child in a beautiful garden.
Then came the change of scene as years pass. The juxtaposition between the first and second parts were quite stark. I was taken aback as the story took a dark turn, which I guess is what you were aiming for.

I liked the spaced out text and the font size. It made it easy to read.
The only off putting part of the setting out was the whole seemed to have been centralised. Perhaps you had centred part of the text and all of it became centered. Check out WritingML.

Thank you for sharing your story. It was very emotional.

Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (3.5)
Hi there, I’m reviewing this piece you wrote for a blog as next in line at I Write in 25. I found the whole thing interesting as I’d never heard of your subject. I was very surprised though about the foreign language requirement for your English degree. You didn’t mention whether you kept up your pursuit of learning Spanish and I wondered if you found the effort worthwhile and that you’re now fluent in Spanish.
I enjoyed hearing about your methods to retain the trickier Spanish words. The game show idea was very inventive and a fun way of learning. It sounds as if you had fun with your classmates, especially when you were required to write a skit about your subject.

I found this sentence a little too long and confusing: I wound up choosing Spanish which worked out well up until the final semester I needed where my ability to keep up with the expanding vocabulary that the language required caught up to me and I wasn't able memorize what I needed quickly enough.

Thank you for sharing what was an interesting piece.
Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: 13+ | (5.0)

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Hi Kare, I so enjoyed reading this story. It reminded me of my visits to Thailand, to Chang Mai and Phuket, Kanchanaburi and so many of the islands. I hoped we hadn’t been those noisy, annoying tourists.

As I read your words I felt that sense of quietness, of calm, even when the narrator was feeling unsure of the outcome of his journey.
I liked the reference to colours, it reminded me of you and your different colour days. Now I know that it was probably your grandmother who said: ‘the traditional colours help keep time.’
The whole was restrained, as if you were keeping so much back. I felt there was so much more to say that you were deliberately refusing to reveal. But again so much like you, Kare.
Such a beautiful telling of the chaos caused when a simple DNA test is taken. I guess not to be undertaken lightly unless one is prepared for the results.
I don’t feel as if I’ve explained adequately how the story made me feel.
But I really liked it.

Sue


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Review of Writing In Images  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hello, Bill, I found this essay very interesting. You make a great point when you speak of the written words being nothing but black squiggles on the page, but which have the power to reach a reader’s mind and light it up with imagery.
It’s the same with musical notes. I can’t read music but I’m in a choir and envy the musicians who can read a musical score and hear the music in their minds.
When deaf people hear for the first time via a cochlear implant they can’t make sense of the sounds until the mind can interpret them and they become speech.
How wonderful is the human brain, we read a story and see the scene in our mind’s eye, the characters appear different to all of us, even if the writer drew his characters’s physical features and appearance.
The writer has great power, we can make someone laugh, cry, or draw breath in horror. It would have thought it impossible for a writer not to see the scenes in his mind as he writes those black squiggles on the page, but perhaps not all writer’s minds work in that way.
Thank you for reminding me of the impact those words can have.
Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: ASR | (5.0)
Hi, Jeff, I selected this essay of yours out of a good selection of other interesting topics.
Writing letters used to be so important to me when I left the UK in 1972 and arrived in Perth Western Australia knowing no one except my husband and three year old daughter.
From the moment we landed I felt the urgency to write ‘home.’
I knew my mother would be desperate for some news.
From that moment on my mother and I had a weekly correspondence lasting for years.
Oh the joy of receiving an airmail letter, those pale blue paper-thin sheets which when folded served as its own envelope. We wrote about everyday news, what the children had been doing. It was a written history of my life.
Eventually my parents emigrated to join us and not knowing what to do with the box of my letters, in chronological order, my dad burnt them.

I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion piece, it’s a sadder world without handwritten letters.


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: ASR | (5.0)
Hello, I came across this essay on Read and Review.
I found everything you wrote very intriguing. Imagine all those wealthy men—and it seems they were all men—ending their lives in such sad, tragic circumstances.
It’s such a shame they hadn’t used their resources to make the world a better place, I’m thinking of philanthropy. Philanthropists are very thin on the ground these days it seems to me. I can’t really speak of the wealthy citizens of the USA, but I can of our super wealthy ones in Australia.
In Western Australia we have one of the richest women in the world in Gina Rinehart with a net worth of US30.8 billion and yet one never hears of her donating to anything. We desperately need another mother and baby hospital in Perth, where I live. Do you think Gina would miss the three billion? We could call it after her,—‘The Gina Rinehart hospital.’ I’m positive it would add years to her life, put a smile on her sad face.

We do have very philanthropic men here though by the names of Dick Smith and Andrew Forest. They have both given many millions away to various charities and are the happiest people you’d ever want to meet.

It must be so satisfying to be able to afford to make a difference to the world, perhaps to use one’s wealth find the cure for what is now an incurable disease or to find a way of cleaning up the oceans.

It’s the fear of losing what they’ve accumulated which drives the uber- rich to madness or sadness.
Whenever the death of someone known for their wealth dies, I always remark, ‘It doesn’t matter how much money one has, there’s no escaping the Grim Reaper.’
Thank you for your essay, it was food for thought.
Sue


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Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (4.0)
Hello, I enjoyed reading your poem. Is it true that eagles pull out all their feathers? I’ve never heard of such a thing. It might be poetic license?
It would be good if humans could remove all the old worn out parts and grow new ones, I’d certainly be in to that!

It lays their defenseless waiting to mend. lays there…

Thanks for sharing.
Sue


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Review of In The Water  Open in new Window.
Review by Sumojo Author IconMail Icon
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Rated: E | (5.0)
Hello, welcome to WdC. You might be a newbie here but you’re definitely not new to writing.

I enjoyed reading this piece, it tells of a life well lived. There were as many downs as there were ups. Much like being on that sailing boat.
It tells of the great highs you experience when you sail, focusing entirely on the moment, forgetting or ignoring the pain. You write of the exhilaration of a successful journey, at one with the boat and the sea.
It also tells of depression. Struggles to achieve at university when you compared yourself with others.

Pain is the central theme. The pain you inflicted on yourself playing sport. Yet as you become older, hopefully wiser, you embraced the pain, realising perhaps that pain is just part of living. I too believe people can’t say they’re living if they don’t suffer, whether physically or emotionally.
Swimming everyday seems to be your pain relief. Long may you continue to be at one with the water.
I do hope being part of Writing.Com gives you joy too.
Sue


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