Judging a Review Contest

My thoughts on judging a Reviewing Contest.

         Reviews of another person's work are, by their very nature, subjective.  Every comment made and each opinion expressed stems from the reviewer's peculiar life circumstances.  Because each person is so different, there are often few similarities upon which a judge can draw to determine the winners for a given reviewing contest or challenge.

         I've been involved as a participant in two reviewing contests (the Mod Blitz and Reviewer's Rampage), and as a judge in three contests (Black Case Reviews, Snowball Tag, and Water Balloon Relay) since joining WDC almost a year ago. 

         Each contest required a person to do as many reviews as possible within a specific timeframe. And all had several things in common--each review was to be a positive commentary with a minimum of 250 characters posted on the Public Review page using a special contest signature for easy recognition by the forum moderator or contest judge.

         With each review following the same minimum standards, additional measures were needed to distinguish the top reviewers for the prizes offered by the contest sponsor.  While you may disagree with me for not identifying these criteria ahead of time, I purposely withheld this information to avoid influencing each reviewer's creativity. These criteria include:

A rating commensurate with the written review.
Overall format and appearance of the review.
Ability to follow the forum's guidelines.
Overall participation.

         While I don't dock those folk who were only able to do a few reviews (I'm well aware of how limited a person's available time is), I tend to favor more active participants if all other factors are equal.

         I've read through almost 1000 reviews by more than 60 different individuals while judging these contests, and I've noticed some points on which I'd like to comment.

Reviewing is a learned art.  Anyone can review something--all it takes is an opinion.  But, the art comes from expressing that opinion in such a way that supports and encourages that author while offering sound and helpful advice about their writing.  Above all, such advice must be positive and technically correct.

While you as a reviewer have no control over how your author will receive your comments, please remember how powerful your words can be.  Consider wisely the manner in which you express them.  They can literally destroy a person's desire to write.  And that is not in anyone's interest.

As a reviewer, you are also a writer.  You wouldn't place incoherent and poorly thought out words into public scrutiny in your own story.  Please don't do that with your reviews, even if it may only be seen by that one person. You are your own best publicist, and the memory of a badly written piece sticks in a mind far longer than a great one.  Your review, like your writing, is an extension of you.  You should make every effort to provide the best quality review of which you are capable.

         For myself, I claim no special credentials as a reviewer or a writer.  I took one nine-week creative writing course my senior year in college more than 30 years ago.  But I love to write, and I love to read--both prerequisites for a good reviewer.  I also have a modicum of common sense and I believe in the Golden Rule.  Wrap all that up and it's a start--just a start, mind you--to becoming a good reviewer.

         I joined WDC on 2 May 08 and completed more than 800 reviews in my first seven months.  Completing NaNoWriMo and judging two reviewing contests over the past few months have forced a hiatus on my reviewing.  I miss reviewing.  I've read and reviewed folk from newbies, whom I love to read, to the StoryMaster, who by virtue of his position can be a little intimidating.  Know what I discovered?

         All folk are the same, to a great extent.  All place their hopes, dreams, abilities--in truth, themselves on the line for all to read.  Whether they write fiction, poems, how-to essays, novels, or what-have-you, they want to communicate.  We are morally bound to treat that public display with respect.  One person's writing skills may be lacking.  But he has a voice and deserves to be heard. 

         A reviewer's job is to provide some direction from our own unique perspective.  One person's review can't make a writer; that takes many voices.  But one person's review can break a writer.  That's an awesome responsibility that should never be taken lightly.

         Be positive, and review on!