Hi, I’m reviewing this story for I Write in 25.
I loved this story, and I’m sure there’s truth in it. Although it’s difficult to know the feelings of small children as they’re ripped away from their family(no matter how abusive) and sent to live with complete strangers, you seemed to capture some of what Monica was experiencing.
There was a sense of realism at the carnival when Monica became overwhelmed by the noise and crowds. It wasn’t surprising she overreacted.
I couldn’t see annt errors in grammar or spelling.
The first line: into her mouth.
The last few paragraphs have a different sized text to the rest of the story.
Thank you for sharing and good luck in the contests.
Sue
Hello, Kenzie, I hope everything is going well with you.
I came across this essay on Read and Review. I’m pleased I did because it gave me food for thought. I loved hearing about the person who, in her own unique way, gave you and your son a reason to smile.
Although some people find it easier than others to bring a little joy into someone’s life, I think it’s something everyone could do if they at least tried.
There are those in our midst who seem to take pride in never raising a smile. They’re the ones who believe they are worse off than the next person. But facing adversity with a touch of humour can lighten that load, put things into perspective and also make others feel less anxious.
Because it is stressful being in the company of someone who always looks on the dark side.
I know we can’t always be rays of sunshine, but just giving someone else a reason to smile is a gift worth giving.
Thank you so much for sharing. Sending good thoughts to you.
Sue
Hello, I read this poem and wondered what had inspired you to write it.
I checked out the contest
FORUM
PromptMaster ! (18+) A relaxed writing competition inspired by Taskmaster! #2329438 by Jayne
and saw the prompts, and realised I would have had no way of coming up with a poem based on such a prompt. I really admire, and perhaps envy, your imagination. I then had a look at the second prompt for April and that one was even more tricky in my opinion. And yet I saw you had again written another poem worthy of the contest. Well done.
It seems to me that this is not an easy contest by any means. However you’re a worthy challenger and I wish you luck.
Sue
Hi, Amethyst Angel 💐 I’m reviewing your story for I Write in 25.
It’s a story as old as time, isn’t it? A fairy tale any young child would love to hear. And of course it has a happy ending as all fairy tales must have.
My only concern is the contest it was written for.
I read the contest rules and it’s a celebration of Prince the singer’s life.
The judge asked for at least five Prince songs to be referenced in a story or poem. I don’t think your story does that.
Anyway good luck in the contest. Thanks for sharing.
Sue
Hello I’m reviewing your acrostic poem for I Write in 25.
Reviewing poetry isn’t something I usually do, not because I dislike poetry, quite the opposite, rather I don’t feel expert enough. However some poems can affect me emotionally depending on the topic, rhythm and metre.
Acrostics can add another layer of complexity.
This poem, which spells out the name Reuben, had me puzzled. I didn’t get the religious genre. I’m guessing Reuben is a biblical character who people dislike and have plotted to kill? If I’m correct then you succeeded in what you set out to do. Sorry for my ignorance regarding the subject matter.
I don’t know if it was written for a contest or to a prompt so that makes it more difficult for me to comment.
Anyway good luck with the poem and if you wish to enlighten me a little as to its meaning I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Sue.
Hello, please let me be one of the first to welcome you to WdC. I do hope you get what you joined up for. If you ask for any advice on navigating around the site or about story improvements there’ll be someone to help.
I loved your song lyrics and as I read I tried to fit them to some music my heart and mind could recognise, but failed miserably. I’d have loved to have been privy to your mind’s music as you wrote the words.
The lyrics conjure up a party celebration after the corn harvest and are catchy and well written. Congratulations.
Keep on writing and enjoy your time here. I’ll keep my eyes open for more from you.
Sue
Hi, John, I came across this story of yours in Read and Review. I read it and it left me wanting to know what happened next, a sign of a good story.
I wondered if you are planning on writing the next chapter or is this a stand alone story and the ending is left to the reader’s imagination.
One thing that puzzled me a little was that the vendor of the box tells Jamie that it had been in his family for years and it had a way of finding its owner. The question which came to my mind was, why was he selling it and that surely he was the owner? I think it would be better if he had been just the vendor not the owner as surely he would have known what was inside? That part didn’t ring true to me and perhaps if the box had been part of a consignment of lots of old stuff from a house sale it might be more believable? Anyway that’s just my thoughts.
Thanks for sharing your story and continued good luck with your writing.
Sue
Hello, first let me welcome you to WdC. I hope you enjoy your time here and you receive any help you require whilst navigating what can be a sometimes confusing site. But it will be worthwhile, I can promise you that.
This story certainly has a moral and I love being entertained with a little good advice thrown in.
I loved your descriptions: the marvelous stretch of sand along the coastline that crunched under their feet like brown sugar when it was soggy. also: and the sunsets that bled red, purple and pink every good evening.
I wished that I’d have been so easy to convince to do your own thing when I was young. I think embarrassment goes with being a teenager.
Hi, John as promised I’m here in your portfolio to read and review one of your stories. I quite enjoyed reading this item. Looks like you’re planning on writing more. What are your plans? A novel perhaps?
If you want to draw people to read your stories you should consider filling in the genres. This story would attract readers to perhaps the genres: horror, mystery and supernatural. Please don’t waste the opportunity to grow your profile and membership.
I noticed on another story in your portfolio, which I haven’t yet read, you suggested the item might not be suitable for a younger audience. This is when you should use the rating system. There are many, such as: suitable for Everyone, 13 years and over: 18 years and over: and then the rating for more explicit material.
I enjoyed Part one of The Mirror.
Write on.
Cheers Sue
Hello once more, Rene, I reviewed the first story you posted yesterday and made the mistake of not realising the narrator had been male and not female as I imagined. I hope you can forgive my ignorance. After reading your biography I realise English is not your first language and that you speak and write in many others. I’m envious of your writing skills and talent so feel unworthy to even comment on this story, Guizor.
However having read it I feel compelled to say how much I enjoyed the soft, lyrical rhythm of your words. It was a little like reading a fable, one with a lesson to be learned as all fables should strive to impart. I have no criticism with your translation from what I presume is Russian. I hope you find the person you’re seeking to translate your stories into English. There maybe someone here on WdC.
Returning to the story, my heart swelled with pleasure when the brothers were treated with respect, kindness and assistance. But your words made that same heart sink as they saw that kindness as something not intended.
The visualisation of the desert sands encroaching and then reclaiming were powerful.
Thank you so much for sharing with the readers lucky enough to find your stories.
All the best, Sue.
Hello, firstly let me welcome you to WdC. I hope you find a home here and people who’ll assist you with any questions about the site.
I’m so pleased I read this story which I found on Read and Review.
You seemed to have a knowledge of the Islamic faith which many of us may not. Girls of Jandal’s age are considered disposable, as are females in general. They aren’t held in high regard and are there to be used and for the will of men.
The story is powerful, distressing and very well written. It kept this reader’s attention right from the beginning.
I do have some advice about spacing. Reading text on a screen is so different to reading of a page in a book. By spacing out paragraphs and chapters it makes it so much easier to read. Being faced by unbroken blocks of text is off putting to many WdC readers. In this case it would be the perspective readers who’d be the one’s missing out.
I saw no grammatical errors.
Thank you so much for sharing. I wish you all the best in the future.
Sue.
Hello, I’m returning the favour and reviewing your story for I Write in 25.
I noticed you entered it in Twisted Tales. That was a good choice as it certainly was a twisted tale!
There were all sorts of twists from the mysterious pale, blue eyed man in the story Sara’s grandmother told her, to the appearance to her grandfather who didn’t seem to have aged. Was he a ghost? I’m not an expert on tenses but I sensed there was some mixing of past and present tense throughout the story.
Thanks for sharing. Good luck in the contest.
Sue
Hi, Kare, as usual a wonderful poem. I really liked the form how the second last line becomes the first line of the next stanza. Does it have a name or is it simply a Kare poetry form?
I was reading Hoarfrosts from Hell today and your poem written for 8 reached out to me.
Sign me up to leave this world
that will not let me breathe.
I thirst for a cup of water,
my other humble plea.
No — wait — I see a sunset
and a sky of twinkling stars.
Perhaps I'll sit here till the sunrise,
hold unto hope for one day more.
It’s a poem full of hope for a better day/future. I think as we get older we perhaps too lightly wish to sign up to leave this world, but life is precious isn’t it? I know some religions believe we get another go at life, but that’s not my belief. So, No, I’ll sit here till the sunrise too.
Sue
Hello, this is an interesting article. It’s refreshing to hear someone coming out in favour of social media. I always like to hear or read the views of younger people. Of course it’s what you know, it’s your reality so how could you understand the detractors?
Yet as an eighty year old who brought up a family when only tv was the entertainment available. At a time when phone calls had to be taken in the middle of the family room on the only land line available then of course I obviously have differing views.
My adult children never felt deprived, we spent time speaking to the family, not closing themselves away in their rooms on their devices. They had no bullying following them home with their phones. Slept well with no calls and pings keeping them awake. They went out with groups of friends and actually talked without checking their social media every few minutes. This was their reality and I’m so pleased it was.
Hello again, you’re being a very prolific writer. You’re amazing.
I checked the prompt for this poem it certainly fits.
I know it is about an owl giving advice, and great advice it is too. Know yourself, know what you’re capable of and be aware of the pitfalls.
This wise old owl knows what he’s talking about Best pay heed.
Thank you for yet another charming poem.
Sue
Hello, Ember, welcome to WdC. I see you haven’t yet completed your biography. That’s disappointing as I always like to check out to see whom I’m reviewing or talking to.
I haven’t yet read anything else you’ve written but I see you like poetry.
Your genre for this poem is children. I’m unsure if a child would understand or enjoy this poem though. The first line: The sea is wet and blue is certainly a simple line and I thought this was going to be a rhyming poem, as all children love the rhythm and flow of rhyming words. I was a little disappointed to find it was free verse which usually children don’t appreciate, unless of course it’s accompanied by brilliant illustrations.
The last four lines seem to me to be seperate from the beginning, and if I’m correct are about people who have died at sea? I feel you strayed a little from what you originally intended.
Anyway as I said before it’s always lovely to have new writers here at WdC. This is the place where you’ll receive help to improve if you ask for it.
Keep on writing.
Sue
Hello, I saw your story on Read and Review. It’s a lyrical, sweet story written for children and I’m sure any child would love it to be read to them before they closed their eyes.
I have a few suggestions which would make the reading it off the screen easier.
Spacing: There were no spaces between the paragraphs. This is very off putting to anyone who comes across the story.
Punctuation: There were quite a few places where punctuation, commas etc would have made it easier to know where to pause.
This piece reminded me of a story from Aesops Fables which I loved to read myself when I was small. I could imagine this as a children’s book with beautiful illustrations. It’s certainly worth the effort to give it a good edit.
Well done.
Sue
I think this has to be the best reason ever for being late to work. Being held hostage until you gave those little green men from a UFO your vehicle’s rear window, was certainly stretching your boss’s credulity.
I loved this poem. It’s clever, original and humorous.
Thank you for sharing and giving me a smile.
Sue
This story reminds me of many hours sitting on hard chairs at prize giving nights at my children’s schools. In all honesty we only want to see OUR child receive their prize but would have to sit and clap politely while dozens of prizes were given out. Although I never actually fell asleep, the droning on and on of endless speeches are not the sort of enlightening entertainment which stimulates the mind and keeps one interested.
Well done for incorporating the prompt words. It was an amusing and well written piece. Thanks for sharing.
Sue
Hi there. Yes you. Your opening paragraph was quite the hook. I could do nothing except to carry on reading.
Of course you did, I hear you say, I gave you no choice.
We’re all afraid of things we can’t see, of the unknown, the unrecognisable. Of things which change shape or morph into something other. We never really grow out of childhood fears, of monsters under the bed.
You did a great job of unsettling the reader in this short piece of writing,
and as I write this I’m about to turn off the light and attempt to sleep. But that rustling outside my bedroom window, which surely is just one of many nocturnal creatures which exist here in Australia, has me wondering if it might be something a little more sinister.
I came across this sweet poem on Read and Review.
I read it out aloud as I like to do when reading poetry. It had a lovely rhyming rhythm with no sticky spots which caused me to falter when reading.
It was an extra pleasure knowing it was a fond memory which you had memorialised in poetry. I could imagine the wand as it was described in such detail. What would we do without our Daddies?
Thank you so much for giving me a smile as I imagined an excited little girl dressed in her fairy costume but with the very best magic wand.
Sue
Hi this is a lovely story. Thank you for sharing.
There were a few sentences which seemed a bit lengthy. She had never been interested in theatre, never acted in a play, unless you counted the one in Kindergarten 55 years ago, when she had been the Buzzy Queen Bee and had got her wings stuck in the stage door and run on stage with crooked wings, crying for Mamma. Try: She’d never been interested in theatre and never acted in a play - unless you counted the one in Kindergarten 55 years ago. Then she’d been…
Be consistent with writing numbers. 55 or fifty five.
The third paragraph you have the word oftentwice. It would read better if you omitted one.
Your last paragraph is lovely, but a little rushed. Try slowing it down a little to make the full circle moment even more poignant.
Hi, SandraLynn, what a charming poem this is. It’s as if you’re in the mind of that determined baby. One wonders what is triggering that primeval urge to move, get further, discover and to simply get going.
That vast house, that scary long hallway must be explored. Yet the child is unsure as to whether it’s yet possible.
I’ve been watching my great granddaughter lately, eight months old Ava. She’s rocked those strong little arm, bent those chubby knees and yet couldn’t seem to figure she needs to lift a hand, balance on one arm for the few seconds it takes to place the lifted hand in front of her. What a complicated manoeuvre!
Thank you for sharing this observational poem. It’s beautiful.
Sue
Hi, Kare, I loved the idea of a softening to new shoes. Mum used to say ‘they just need wearing in.’ But when there are no others to take their place they’ll very soon be ‘worn out.’
You could write another poem about an old shoe, its tongue and its sole/soul. I’d love to read it!
Sue
Oh my goodness. So much information In three little lines. They are loaded with sadness and trauma. Words hold a power some people are unaware of. Words are powerful. They can lift up or break a person. They can be used as a weapon or as a tool to mend and repair. Thank you so much for sharing.
Sue
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