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The place has been renovated and the door is open. Come on in and take a load off! |
"Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost what it thinks about dogs." ~ John Osbourne Good morning, all, and I hope it finds you writing! I came here about two months ago and set myself up as a reviewer, or as Mr. Osbourne called it, a critic. I have since reviewed 35 stories and poems, received three merit badges for reviewing as well as one for "cheerleading" and one "feedback guru" badge, so it seems, on the whole, that my efforts have been well-received. Nonetheless, I feel it is time to offer an explanation to my "victims," past and future. So what are my credentials that allow me to come here and hang out my shingle proclaiming that I'm going to tell all you writers how to write? Well, they're very thin, I can tell you! I left school after eleventh grade to join the service, as school wasn't "taking," and it was agreed by all that the University of Hard Knocks would be a better teacher. I believe that was a correct assessment, and I'm happy with the person I grew into, but we're talking about reviewing here, so let me not stray too far from the subject. I wasn't doing well in school, and English was among my worst subjects. Serving in the military, I discovered that there were things that inspired me to write, and embellishments to make them more interesting led me directly into fiction. I began to study the use of the language, mostly by paying close attention to the authors who most moved me, and found myself getting pretty good at it... In the same way a weekend golfer gets pretty good, which in no way means he's ready to challenge Tiger Woods. I thought I was, though, and I've written half a dozen novels and countless short stories and novellas. I was saving time on my schedule for the late-night talk show circuit, but life has a way of beating things out of you that you aren't really cut out for. I've self-published a few books and have had stories accepted in a couple of anthologies, but I don't think that J.K. Rowling is looking over her shoulder. While I still enjoyed writing, I was never going to be a great success, and began looking for a way to share my work in a more modest venue. The internet was but a glimmer in some programmer's eye, and all I could do was show friends and family. They all liked it, but that's kind of their job, isn't it? I gradually lost interest in writing, but reading was another story entirely. I have always loved to read good, exciting fiction, from Edgar Allan Poe to R.A. Salvatore. Disappearing into a captivating story has always held a great attraction for me. But something happened to books — and Hollywood as well — around the early 1980s. This great fear of trying anything new settled over those fonts of creativity, and suddenly all they were interested in was recreating the Last Big Thing. I mean, how many "retellings" of Twilight can you sit through? Game of Thrones? How about Star Trek? Batman? The Hunger Games? I don't know about you, but I hit my saturation point early on. Earlier, I mentioned J.K. Rowling, one of the most successful authors in history, who created, populated, and narrated the world of Harry Potter from scratch. Coincidence? But amidst all the Same Old Things, I discovered this wonderful place called Writing.com where fearless authors roam far off the map to create stories unfettered by the needs of the Last Big Thing, folks out there exploring places where the Big Five dare not tread. Reading the imaginative works you people produce is a joy I thought was lost forever, and all it costs me is a mouse click. But I feel I should pay for this. It's a concept that any ten-year-old can understand; you pay for what you use. What better way than giving those authors feedback? I may have done poorly in school, but I've learned a lot since then, and in trying to write, I've become articulate, so why not give back with words of encouragement? The reviewing guidelines suggest that three stars should be the average rating, and I may have given one of those, but I'm not here to tell anyone that they don't know how to write. Far from it. Of course I point out issues and make suggestions, but when I review, I look for the positives and use them to encourage the writer to reach higher in his next endeavor. The majority of my reviews are thus four stars and up. I'm sorry if that skews the curve, but when I encounter someone who can't string five words into a coherent thought, I move on. I'm not going to stomp on their dream. If they're enjoying themselves, I won't take that from them. Does that make me dishonest? Maybe, but I'm sleeping pretty well. As a sideline, I've been gradually posting some of my old stories, the ones I think are of superior quality. I may at some point be inspired to pick up the pen again. I'd like that. I'd like to see what I can do, whether I've still got anything in the tank after a years-long hiatus, but I'll never lose sight of the fact that I'm here to read your wonderful stories and offer the encouragement that may drive you to greater heights. It will be my honor to say, "I knew you when..." Have a great weekend and keep stacking those words. And stay on your toes; you never know when the Phantom will come calling... Stay inspired, Taylor...  |
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