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Review Style
Casual, friendly. I'll point out typos when I see them and make suggestions about quality, characters and logic, besides telling you how I feel about the piece.
I'm good at...
Does it make sense? Are the characters well portrayed? What's the overall feel of the piece?
Favorite Genres
Poetry, children's, anything rated E
Least Favorite Genres
Anything higher than 18+
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Poems, flash fiction, essays, articles, biographical/personal, etc
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AI Generated Content of Any Kind.
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Public Reviews
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1
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Review of Poignant  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (5.0)
Greetings, Sue!

I discovered this with the random Read and Review button.

Oh my, this is... Poignant. In 24 syllables, you've painted a picture of heartbreak, loss and mourning for what we're not even sure of. It's like a tiny snapshot of a movie scene. Perfectly crafted and not a single word wasted. What can I say?

Perhaps an image would be good, on the cover. A letter or a stamp, or a heart, perhaps. And also two more suitable genres for the item so people can find it when browsing. I would suggest Drama, Melodrama, or Relationship.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
2
2
Review of Gum  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: ASR | (5.0)
Greetings!

I found this with the random Read and Review button *Smile*

An amusing ramble about your discoveries of the secrets underneath that silver gun wrapper. Oh my, sugar alcohols? Yes, I've heard of those. From childhood, I absolutely loved reading the Nutrition Facts panels. Are you aware the labeling requirements have changed recently? Instead of listing how much Vitamin C is in the food, they have to list how much of your Daily Value the sugar takes up... I'm sure you can imagine the dirty little secrets now revealed *Rolling* A 20oz bottle of soda, for example, contains about three days worth of sugar *Shock2* of course someone had to assign a human daily value, and I guess they could have purposely assigned it low so that everything we consume appears to have a stunning amount of sugar in it... The labels also now differentiate between "added sugars" and "natural sugars."

Ok, I think I've rambled long enough! I enjoyed reading this, it was fun and informative. Can't think of any improvements to make.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
3
3
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Greetings, Sonali!

This is so beautiful! Knowing a little bit of your life story, I sense that this is a deeply autobiographical narrative. You have such a bright, positive spirit. You can turn any prompt into a warm, heartfelt happy story, even when it's dealing with a sin. Envy is like a brokenness, a pain inside, a dissatisfaction with one's own life and anger that someone else has the seemingly perfect life we think we should have had.

I love how you skillfully avoided using Sonia's name until the little boy breaks through her distress with his simple recognition of her value. In that moment, Sonia realizes that her life path is her own and she has done her best, been a good, loyal friend who can be there when other women can't, and is loved and appreciated by her circle of friends. She realizes her positive influence on others and the hard work she's done for the past thirty-three years has not been wasted.

I love the little human, relatable, homey details: the peanut butter sandwiches, her thinking she might have to wash his shirt after he's done eating, the fact that she hasn't stored her second number in her contacts (I try not to do that because my phone numbers are all attached to various memberships and loyalty clubs...) It's such a perfectly realistic story, feeling like it's happened hundreds of times to people all over the world.

As for improvements... I'm a little confused about the line in italics: "'Tell them I came and no one answered, that I kept my word,' he said." When Sonia tried to "investigate," is that the excuse his friends were told to say to her? A touch more context there would clarify why this is important. Ok, you might also want to finish italicizing the TV show names, that's considered conventional use. Aside from those little things, I think a more interesting subtitle might be a good idea. Maybe something more descriptive, like "a solitary librarian wonders if she missed out on the most important thing in life..." Or something like that. A hook, you know.

Beyond that, this feels like a perfect little human interest story: engaging, sympathetic, and ultimately positive, showing us that life can be lived in different ways and one may not even realize how much their kindness and steadfastness is impacting others. A gentle reminder that others have their own struggles and there is never a reason to be envious when every life has value and meaning.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
4
4
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings and welcome to writing.com!

I found this by hitting the Random Read and Review button.

What an interesting and thought-provoking quote. Perhaps you should attribute it. Did you come up with it yourself, or is it from a famous person?

If you're new here, you can always add a series of further quotes into this same item, to create a longer page for people to look at and learn from while optimizing portfolio space. I hope you weren't intending to post each quote in a new item - you'll only have room for ten that way. If they're all in one, there will be room for dozens and dozens, and you can even organize them using our proprietary markup language.

To learn more about that, please click on the "Writing.com Tools" on the left sidebar, and select "WritingML Docs and Help" to find all the cool stuff you can do.

Take care, thanks for sharing and keep writing *Smile* *HeartT*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
5
5
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings, Tim *Smile*

I found this by using the Random Read and Review button.

First, I always admire your lofty tone and style; whether rhymed or free verse, you convey your themes well and with class. I would like to point out that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the overcoming of it, the ability to take action despite being scared. I noticed you didn't use the word "courage" at all in this piece; was that perhaps a challenge of sorts? It comes across quite well except for the point of fear vs no fear.

A phobia, psychologically speaking, is a highly specific and internalized dread of something, that causes one to build one's life around avoidance of whatever it is that one is so deathly afraid of. Therefore, it is perhaps a "pop psychology" exaggeration to say that someone has a phobia of sports. That may rather be considered laziness *Laugh* What you could bring in is the concept of fear of failure, the team pressure, the anxiety of causing one's teammates to fail and being known as the loser. Shame plays a bigger role here than fear, perhaps, unless one really is afraid of injuries on the field, which is a serious consideration as well.

Overall, this was a good, thought-provoking poem with a theme that strikes to the truth within each person and challenges us to overcome whatever's holding us back.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
6
6
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (5.0)
Greetings and welcome to writing.com!

I discovered this by using the Random Read and Review button *Smile*

What a fierce and powerful poem, yet it holds within itself a vulnerability and uncertainty, a hesitancy and yet a thrill of wonderment. I feel your rush of stormy emotions swirling around like a tsunami, overwhelming everything and leaving you breathless. Ending with a hint of the warmth and infinity of love is an open ended way to imply unbridled energy of potential.

Line by line, you explore the strength of a newly realized relationship by weaving it into the metaphors of a thunderstorm,. hinting at the dangers of giving oneself over to such a powerful and unpredictable emotion.

For improvement, I noticed "my hearts secret" needs an apostrophe, as in "heart's," indicating the possessive. Also, the fourth line's ending feels unclear in its awkwardness: are you looking at the person in a "dream-like" way, as in a surrealist swirl of new feelings? Or is there an implied simile here that tapers off unfinished?

I would suggest adding {size:4}{font:Verdana} to the beginning of your text block in the entry form; that would help the eight lines take up more space on the page and appear as professional as possible. You may also want to read "Writing.Com 101Open in new Window. for useful information on how to optimize your time here with us.

Take care, thanks for sharing and keep writing *Smile* *HeartT*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
7
7
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Greetings, sir,

You've given me lots of ideas for an October story. Having never watched a horror movie in my life, I have no clue what they are other than generally horrifying. Having an objective breakdown of their patterns and the way the different parts build together is fascinating. This month's What a Character is "someone who falls prey to one of the seven deadly sins," which for some reason has me stymied. I'm beginning to get some ideas from your study of horror being based on the consequences of one's sin. I'm a little confused, though: was there an inciting sin in Alien, aside from the one character being found to be fake? Perhaps it was unwise to exit the spacecraft? I have no clue what I'm talking about. I hope I'm not wasting your time.

This was clear and engaging, leading us through the various stages of the "monster in the house" style horror movie with care and thought. I really appreciated it. I like how you focus on two movies, comparing and contrasting, while bringing in others as illustrations of various concepts.

Perhaps you should use a larger font size to make it easier to read and appear more professional on the page. Also, a word count at the top might give us an idea of length and whether we have time to read it in one sitting.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
8
8
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Greetings,

I found this with the Random Read and Review button. A bit of a surprise, as it's super brief and simple: a vocabulary list for a novel project from eight years ago. I hope you were able to successfully complete this one - it sounds exciting, judging by the words. A drunk driver, fetal alcohol syndrome, and PTSD makes for a great crime drama with heart wrenching family elements. You've set my mind whirling with just a handful of everyday terms *Delight*

Improvement? Well, it's a list of words... I can't suggest much except perhaps to add a postscript telling us whether you finished the story and perhaps linking to it if it's in your portfolio. Also, if you don't mind, I'll advertise my own take on drunk driving, broken families and finding peace: "DestroyedOpen in new Window. It's under 2k words and pretty emotional, depending on your worldview.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
9
9
Review of A Ruler Of Jade  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings, Carly!

I discovered this fun poem by using the Random Read and Review button.

It presents a fanciful look at a Chinese god figure, maintaining the parameters of the contest and giving us a fresh perspective without poking fun at what seems so funny to have actually been believed in at some point. I like the subtle rhyme scheme that doesn't interfere with the flow.

I noticed you haven't picked three relevant genres for it. Those always help people discover items when browsing. I would suggest Cultural, History and Mythology as being quite suitable. Contest Entry is no longer relevant.

Well written, with a tone matching the subject and simple yet picturesque language. I enjoyed reading it.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
10
10
Review of Journeys of Clay  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (5.0)
Greetings, Fyn!

I discovered this cool poem by using the Random Read and Review button.

I love the quaint, contemplative way this is written, in conversational free verse that flows smoothly and communicates clearly. You describe the stone soldiers and muse upon their origins. Are they stand ins for real people, sent to guard the king from strange forces beyond? We're glad they aren't humans who were "added" to the tomb, as in some cases *Shock2*

The images of the king using these statues as chess pieces or those little plastic figures that the boys play with is ingenious. I can just see this playing out somewhere in the underworld: he wanted to bring his toys with him *Laugh*

Don't forget to add two more relevant genres to the item: I would recommend Philosophy and Arts. That way, people will find it when browsing. I'm glad I found this - it's well written and thought-provoking.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



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11
11
Review of Matrimony  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Greetings, Kay *Smile*

I found this on the Random Read and Review button.

A chilling perspective, appropriate for October, which is a women's awareness month in several ways (DV and BC.) I tend to hold fairytale views of matrimony and family in my head, but in reality I hold back from it in terror because I have never met anyone I would dream of being married to for a multitude of reasons. Therefore, I can't judge, because my life experiences and choices contradict what I think I believe in my head/heart.

You have exaggerated the language and amplified all the worst elements of marriage: ingratitude, infidelity, overwork, exhaustion, pain, childbearing, being lost in the shadow of male dominance... It's a stressful situation to be in, always trying to make someone else happy when all you ever wanted was to pursue your dreams unencumbered.

I've seen your port before, and I know you write about the struggles of an abusive, impoverished, addicted upbringing. It's brave of you to come here and share your explorations of emotion with us. Your language is clear and vivid, laying bare the anguish and mental unrest you carry while creating art which may not always have to be taken literally and biographically.

I would recommend learning about our proprietary markup language, which is explained at "Writing ML: Docs and Help" on the left sidebar under "Writing.Com Tools." The stuff you can do with it is super useful. Adding {size:4}{font:Verdana} to the beginning of your items will make a clearer and more professional presentation across devices. Also, adding all three relevant genres is best for optimizing your searchability, and will give you multiple opportunities to be nominated for a Quill Award (for mor info on our annual awards, check out the portfolio of Jeff Author Icon.) I would suggest Emotional, Drama, Dark, or Family for the third genre here.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
12
12
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (5.0)
Greetings, Naomi!

I saw this on the sidebar, and since I love seeing why others enjoy this site, I stopped by and discovered it was yours. I hope you're doing well... We haven't heard from you in a while *Hug1**Frown**Hug2*

This is a lovely glimpse into your real personal life and the way you found WdC. I'm so glad to know you. You're a sweet and kindly person with a beautiful family. The arrangements of you (and sometimes your daughter) at the bookstore and hubby at the movies is quaint; I prefer books and words over movies personally, but they are both great ways to learn about life and humanity. The pandemic shook up everything for everyone on the planet, didn't it? You must've felt so cloistered, unable to get out and explore your bookstores. The escape to peaceful abundance in the countryside came with the downside of no more bookstores, but armed with internet access, you discovered a treasure trove of words and those who work with them.

Yes: reading and writing: the perfect combination *Delight* the way you aspired to prioritize your time is inspiring. We should all take better care of our time in this world.

May God richly bless you now and in the future *Pray* *Cross2* *FlowerV*

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
13
13
Review of Hot & Hollow  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Greetings *Smile*

I spotted this on my sidebar yesterday afternoon, and somehow I guessed it was yours before I clicked on it. Only a couple other people around here I can do that with. You have a distinctive voice, and it comes through with a certain reliability across your fictional work. We all have our own, and I pride myself on finding it in others.

As the narrative progressed and Carrie's backstory unfolded, I couldn't help seeing something of myself in her: the unaddressed wounds, the desire for control and external validation, the utter inability to face criticism, the avoidance of vulnerability or authenticity in relationships out of fear of mockery and rejection. You have something strong here, something relatable, that needs further development. I, along with most women I know, would prefer if she were given an option for redemption, a glimpse of what she could be if only she faced her flaws and dealt with them. It doesn't have to be a transformation and a happily ever after, just a hint that maybe Marcus was able to touch her spirit before she walked out, maybe a whispered apology or a single genuine tear, or a sighting of her again a few years down the road, well-adjusted – or not.

For that matter, your current perspective is third person omniscient, telling us what's inside her heart and everyone else's without a single directed focus. I've had it drilled into me since I joined here: third person limited is best. (Thanks , Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 Author Icon!) Are we focusing more on the character development of Marcus as he pulls away from toxic people, or Carrie as she starts to peel the threadbare bandages of falsehood away from herself?

When you settle on who we should be more interested in, then you can write everything from this one perspective. Marcus only sees what he can see, feels what he can feel. Show us his reactions, his feelings. Does he cringe at the sharpness of her voice when she's jealous? Does his stomach sink when he see the bills piling up? Does he lie awake at night wondering what his future looks like with her? When he finally sees through her, does it hurt? Can he forgive enough to reach out, or does he just want her gone?

I have some fragments of dialogue in my head... Maybe he says gently, "this isn't a real relationship if you don't feel like you can trust me to see you cry/see the real you." Maybe he even shows her some vulnerability of his own, some little thing that could become a turning point in the plot as we see what she does with this part of his heart. Does she weaponize it, use it against him, or does she open up, or treat him with the respect she desires for herself? Or does she leave anyway, unable to handle a man who shows his flaws and expects the same? Ok, I'm probably off the rails of where you were thinking it should go... *Think* At the very least, does he remember to pray for her when he gets to church?

This has great potential for a touching human interest story with a subtle spiritual perspective. I'm glad we were able to discuss it. Best wishes for the contest *4leaf*

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
14
14
Review of Clink  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings!

I found this on the Random Read and Review button.

What an interesting way of driving home a sense of heartbreak and despair. It sets forth an onomatopoeia, repeating the "clink" until we see both a shattered heart and the carelessness of those who shattered it. Clinking of glasses and casual laughter show us the contrast of feelings and hint at manipulation under the surface, while leaving most things unexplained. It paints a picture both haunting and brief, lingering after the last words are gone.

I might recommend using the final sound, "core," somewhere else within the poem, as it comes in suddenly and leaves us wondering where it was before. Also, adding {size:4}{font:Verdana} at the beginning goes a long way to creating a clearer, more professional presentation on the page. And I always recommend adding three relevant genres to an item to ensure people can find it when browsing. You can try Philosophy, Drama, Emotional, Personal, Experience, Dark, Relationship, Experience, Folklore, etc. Almost anything will do.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
15
15
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings!

I saw this on the sidebar and thought it looked cute. It's as good as it seemed: a folksy, all-american tale of a boy and his dog. It almost feels like a country song, if country songs were decent... *Think*

I love the themes of the cycle of life and growing up and finding a mate with the help of your faithful dog. Just like Old Yeller, as long as there are puppies, there's hope. Same goes for babies. Everything here is classic, trite and predictable but in a cozy sort of way.

I might suggest taking a second look at your writing style, because it does come across as a little sloppy. I know it's supposed to feel like a front porch anecdote, but I've had the "third person limited" POV drilled into me, and your nameless narrator perspective is a bit offsetting. You could "formalize" the style by focusing in on the narrative from David's perspective, showing us an up close and personal view of his coming of age. The details are already there; they just should perhaps be reframed differently.

Also, Arthur cannot eat chocolate ice cream *Shock2* Ice cream will upset a dog's stomach, and chocolate is poisonous for them. This is a startling moment that pulls us out of the narrative. You can, however, use a scene like this to open the story in a more immediately grounded way, rather than generalizing about how the community views Arthur and David.

Overall, I really enjoyed this; I feel it needs a little polish to show at its best. (For that matter, I always suggest adding {size:4}{font:verdana} to the beginning of an item to ensure it's professional and presentable. You may also want to add a word count at top or bottom in case you would like to drop this off at "Senior Center ForumOpen in new Window.)

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
16
16
Review of Sleepy Hollow  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings!

I'm on a quest to find 13+ rated items in the Horror genre. Today I searched for generous review rewards, and found yours *Smile*

What a spooky poem. It reads like something one finds written in spidery script on stained parchment in a musty book of spells in the attic, like something that has a purpose larger than itself. A whole story could be written around this, which is understandable since it was inspired by the old story. It has a free verse flow which is rhythmic and easy to follow, building on the ominous nature of the situation and making us shiver as we picture wandering through the haunted woods, with a stranger's hoofbeats lurking behind us.

I always recommend using {size:4}{font:Verdana} at the beginning of the item to create a more readable, professional and engaging presentation. You should also add an image for the cover art so it looks more eye-catching from the lists of items when we're searching. A quick tip I throw around sometimes is to try eliminating the word "the" from your poetry; it really reshapes the way you see it and opens up all kinds of cool opportunities for shaping emotional depth and "poetic" atmosphere.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
17
17
Review of Dandelions  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: ASR | (4.5)
Greetings, Beauregard.

I'm here on a quest to read and review 13+ rated items in the Horror/Scary genre.

This was suitably sinister, beginning in such an innocuous way, one wonders how anybody even noticed the dandelions were missing. It was also sympathetic and relatable, as I live near a large retirement community and could easily picture the elderly, crotchety, yet loveable characters as they played golf and went about their quiet lives.

The opening scene is a little confusing, because at first I assumed the person chomping loudly on shredded wheat must be a kid. You should set up the narrator's identity as quickly as possible in the opening. Also, there seems to be a typo when you write "that was all she wrote: gone. No more dandelions..." It doesn't follow from him watching the TV news announcement.

Also, I can't help picking holes in the concept that all the women and all the children are automatically better than all the men. Superficially, it's easy to think like that, but it doesn't bear real consideration. Many women have flawed characters, and many teenagers are criminals. That's not a very good filtration system.

Otherwise, this is a quietly eerie story, tragic in the simple finality of what's taking place and mysterious in that no one has an explanation for it, spiritual or otherwise. I appreciate the attention to realistic details, the humorous old golf buddies, and the husband's love and sense of duty for his wife.

On a final note, another tiny bit of gallows humor at the end could have been something like "oh well, at least they get diaper duty and not us!" Or something of the sort, a joke about no longer having kids to take care of. Sad, but kinda funny.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
18
18
Review of Siren's Song  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Greetings, Wilcox *Smile*

I'm here because Wraithy WiԎchy of Woe! Author Icon sent us to look for items in the Horror genre. This was rated 13+, so I figured it wouldn't be as "horrifying" as some of your other work. Indeed, it feels to me more like a Shakespearean tragedy than a straight-up horror story.

With sad/scary stories, I tend to sit back and "pick them apart" when I'm done, looking for holes in the plot or weakness in the moral undergirding, as a way of distancing myself from the "reality" of what I've read. Here, I find the situation a bit loopier than would be credible, as the man gave no hints at the beginning when he was describing what happened, that he was anything but an average local person. And morally speaking, I don't see how the father's desire to protect his daughter from a mysterious foreign stranger makes him ultimately responsible for the whole mess. So he was "supposed" to let her marry a man who turned out to already be married? Is this a subtle critique of religious dogmatism? Or am I overthinking? I see the opening emphasis on how lust was to blame, which fits in with the end reveal of a man with a double life. But the whole thing is rather peculiar, as there really would have been no way to end it well with such a stranger.

Overthinking aside, this was well put together, with atmosphere and emotional impact. You painted the scenes well and made everything come alive. One puzzling phrase is where the man says he "was filled with nauseating sympathy," which doesn't make sense. Also, the double set of modifiers there is a bit much. Other than that, it was surreal, tragic and haunting.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
19
19
Review of Bradbury Tales  Open in new Window.
for entry "Apocalypse at LastOpen in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings, Beholden.

I'm here because Webbie sent us on a quest for stories and poems in the Horror/Scary genre, and I set my ratings to 13+ and found your whole book of Bradbury's includes the correct parameters. So, here I am *Smile*

Well, today seems a gloomy day... I sat up writing a dystopian ghost story for the 48 Hour Media Prompt, it's cold and raining, and now this. I can identify with poor Martin's longing for release from the dreary fate of being the last person left alive on Earth, although actually... I beg to inquire if every other living thing was also gone? Even the trees or a blade of grass? A sorry state indeed. If there were even other living creatures still residing on the planet, even a bird, a squirrel, a rat or a gnat, perhaps Martin wouldn't have felt such deadening isolation. Also, if the entire planet wasdead, his own life wouldn't have continued in a particularly healthy manner, as there would be a tremendous amount of gasses being let off from rotting material and other things of that sort - although perhaps if all bacteria and fungi were also dead, what then would become of the decomposition process? I'm sorry, now I'm thinking too much *Pthb*

Strictly speaking, this is a well written philosophical study of what happens in total and complete isolation... Now I'm wondering why Martin didn't begin to suffer from hallucinations or other delusions of companionship or meaning! In fact, even modern technology such as AI would have helped stave off the finality of things by providing a sense of something else being cognizant of his existence. Though if I were in such a situation, I would likely end up the same way... Which is hardly a cheerful thought.

Guess this wasn't of much help. Your formatting is appropriate, and I can't think of anything to suggest here. If you feel at all this way yourself, do understand we all appreciate and care about you *Hug1**Smile**Hug2* and life has meaning even if it doesn't feel like there is any.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



*Gold* My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!Open in new Window..
20
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Review of existence  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings and welcome to writing.com!

I can relate to this heartfelt free verse poem. You've poured a bit of yourself out on the page, and it shows. The exhaustion of existing is something we all deal with on different levels. Even children are often robbed of their right to be innocent and happy, and as adults with any amount of self-awareness our burden only gets heavier.

I like how you've balanced the line lengths, it makes a symmetrical presentation on the page. The words are carefully chosen, with as little filler as possible. I always remember the recommendation of a trusted poet friend, Citizen Journalist: 8/25/25 Author Icon who said, basically, to avoid "the" in poetry at all costs. I see you have it twice, but it's so naturally placed, I hesitate to suggest restructuring the whole brief poem to eliminate it.

Perhaps saying "not fully aware of incomprehensible burden/ of elusive breath of "joy"..." and now I'm rewriting it for you *Blush* it's just an example to bear in mind as you build future poetry. The possibilities for thoughtful expression become so much broader when "the" is removed, it's amazing.

I would definitely recommend adding three relevant genres to your poem, for a couple reasons. It helps you to get more views on it, as people will see it when browsing, and it also affords as many opportunities as possible for Quill Award nominations (see the port of Jeff Author Icon for more info on the annual Quill Awards!) You could choose Emotional, Philosophy, Drama, Personal, Experience, Psychology, Relationship, Dark or even Inspirational.

I also would suggest using a larger font size. This can be achieved by simply adding {size:4}{font:verdana} in front of your text in the edit box. We have a lovely proprietary markup language here; you can read all the shortcuts and super helpful tips at "Writing.Com 101Open in new Window. or https://www.writing.com/main/tools/action/writingm... which can be found on the left sidebar under "writing.com Tools" and then "WritingML: docs and help."

Take care, thanks for sharing and keep writing *Smile* *HeartT*



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In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings and welcome to writing.com!

Wow, this is quite a story. You've captured so much with so few words, bringing us a vivid picture of intrigue and mysteries and leaving us hanging. I see it's categorized under "novel," which means you presumably plan on building this out further. As it is, it feels like a vignette or a sample, something designed to capture a few scenes with intensity. Perhaps it wasn't meant to be anything further?

The characters are clear and engaging, serving their purposes well and hinting at varying and conflicting motivations that will drive the rest of the story. The settings are relatable and highly visual, creating a tense, cinematic effect.

I'll give a few quick pointers on fiction elements that keep a story rolling, as taught by my mentor Max Griffin 🏳️‍🌈 Author Icon. Goals, Stakes, Obstacles, Conflict and Tension set us up for success. Your main character has a goal, your antagonist has a goal, the stakes are high, the obstacles appear insurmountable, the tension can be adjusted throughout by raising (or lowering) the stakes, or consequences of reaching or not reaching the goals. Characters should be well rounded and dynamic, as opposed to flat and static. The protagonist should learn something about themselves or the world around them by the end, and there should be an overarching theme, something grand but not moralistic, deep but not preachy.

I noticed you didn't include paragraph spacing. I would recommend using either an {indent} or a double space, to help it look more professional. Also, it would be a great improvement to add {size:4}{font:Verdana} to be beginning to make it nice and clear and accessible.

Take care, thanks for sharing and keep writing *Smile* *HeartT*



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In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.0)
Greetings, Rick!

I found this by using the Random Read and Review button.

First off, it's been a long time since I read a script, particularly one of this length. You've managed to hold my interest pretty well, although I do feel it stretches credulity by the time we start wandering around the underground crypts packed with mysterious rotting books. For one thing, didn't they say there had been a fire at the Lodge? Yet there was never any mention of the fire or arson attempt after the two ladies started going to visit it in person.

By the time I finished, I was torn between annoyance and relief. I found the storyline slow, plodding, and scattered with logical slips that hint at a project you found a little too big to handle. What became of Agnes? How did it get so big? The plot left me with far more questions than answers, which I suppose was the intended effect, but I have a hard time taking it seriously. If Martin and Mr Carter (two characters who we're supposed to recognize and yet were not previously mentioned) were trying so hard to protect them from something that terrifying, they wouldn't have let them wander around digging through everything in the lodge and cheerfully prying open one crypt door after another like two kids playing Nancy Drew in a cheap movie.

Agnes wouldn't have left all of those important secret papers in an unlocked drawer in her library desk. And why did she want to share the secret? Was she unaware of the deeper significance of the land dealings? Why didn't the mayor have the police do something about the two women who are obviously meddling in an active investigation and holding back evidence? He could have done all manner of mundane legal actions to squelch them. Even Mr. Carter could simply have ordered them trespassed from his Lodge property.

The overall tone of this story was overwhelmingly unbelievable, moseying along from a cozy mystery to something resembling Indiana Jones, struggling to hold together all the dots and indeed losing a few of them by the end. And seriously, would they have gotten out alive after the place nearly collapsed? It took so long to get down that far, and yet they just magically glided back up to safety. And besides, when they got out, there would have been some evidence of the subterranean collapse from the top. The building would have shifted and tipped even slightly sideways. And wasn't it nearly impossible to ascend to the second floor? Yet a bunch of people were playing hide and seek on a floor with collapsed stairs. And I don't think they would have been able to move an entire wardrobe without making a peep of noise. Clara's unstoppable, calm demeanor is almost maddening; she and her friend don't feel like real characters. Honestly, none of the characters feel real. They feel like cardboard dolls, each filling their role in perfect illogical precision.

So... Yeah. Super duper premise, for sure, and I really appreciate your tremendous efforts here, but it just falls flat with all the slip-ups and the improbability. I'm speaking on an instinctive level, and honestly I can't tell you what exactly would make this script any better. Perhaps if it was in narrative form, it would be easier to keep track of everything and adjust for plausibility and realism, including making the characters flawed and "alive" somehow. Perhaps also you should consider cutting it down by several thousand words... I was as patient as possible while reading it, as I'm a quick reader and not averse to skimming when I feel like it's dragging, but I couldn't resist pasting this into iOS Pages, where it came back at 10,666 words *Shock2* so yeah, I think a little less wandering around in those crypts would tighten it up a good bit and make it easier to read. The style was extremely monotonous and predictable, repeating the same descriptive vocabulary over and over in the hopes of making it feel suspenseful.

I'm sorry, I hope I'm not being too harsh. It was a pretty fun read, despite everything. I appreciate your efforts *Hug1**Smile**Hug2* and I do hope you appreciate mine. Please don't tell me ten thousand words wasn't meant to be taken seriously. I think that's the worst thing one can possibly say to someone who just spent a good part of their time reviewing your item.

Take care, thanks for sharing, and keep writing *WingL**Heartv**WingR*



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Review of eeee  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (4.5)
Greetings and welcome to writing.com!

If this is a test or placeholder item, it would be best to make it private. You can do that by going to the edit page (the gear at the top of your item lists a convenient drop-down full of handy options) and choosing a visibility level.

When you're ready to post some content, be sure to check out "Writing.Com 101Open in new Window. for all the help you might need to create the best impression!

I'm looking forward to whatever you have coming!

Take care, thanks for sharing and keep writing *Smile* *HeartT*



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Review of Foresight  Open in new Window.
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Greetings!

Wow, what a chilling story, in a good way. It sets us off on a chase through time so confusing, I had to read it a couple times to get my head around what was happening and the foreshadowing details about boots and the fire where Del's child was lost and whatnot. My first time around, I thought Del succeeded in kidnapping Leira (just realized that's Ariel backwards - cool detail!) and was somehow hiding her for ten years. But he and Norman were both running loose through the timeline, each with a conflicting agenda that wrapped in circles, affecting the experiences of all involved, with treachery, pain and reunion. This must've been fun to write! It's definitely fun to read.

I would suggest using Size 4 Verdana font to ensure a clear and engaging reading experience for everyone. You should also definitely consider submitting this to "Twisted Tales ContestOpen in new Window.. I believe it would be greatly appreciated, and I welcome the competition most months *Wink* While you're at it, you can underline the title at the top of your item body, or maybe remove it since titles are pretty clearly posted anyway *Smile*

Take care, thanks for sharing and keep writing *WingL**HeartO**WingR*
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25
25
In affiliation with The WDC Angel Army  Open in new Window.
Rated: E | (5.0)
Greetings!

This poem takes unusual town names and turns them "inside out," so to speak, incorporating them into questions and statements that create a witty and surprising narrative. You've added in several extra town names for good measure, since the prompt only offered three. It rolls along with a rollicking meter, almost like an old-fashioned doggerel one might find in a dusty songbook. ABCB rhyme scheme is relaxed, with slightly slanting rhymes at "Maine" and "blame."

Your formatting is appropriate, with readability and three perfect genres. If I could think of anything to suggest, I might say to make it longer, moving past the eight lines from the prompt to dig up some further unusual towns that could fuel your imagination. Also, a word count is required at some contests and I nearly always include one as a formality in mine.

Take care, thanks for sharing and keep writing *WingL**HeartO**WingR*
*CakeB* "Anniversary ReviewsOpen in new Window. is celebrating A QUARTER CENTURY of Writing.Com!*CakeP*



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