well there's is nothing wrong with having 3 or 5 in your reviews, as a  matter of fact you should be pleased and thankful because of (1) they are reading your work, therefore, they are appreciating it, and the score points? well it is their way to help you in your literary composition. (2) It is a way to understand and learn in what part of your story that you had gone wrong.. Ask their opinion and learn from them.

When I was a teacher a C was considered average. it was given to students who made an effort but didn't hit it out of the ballpark. That would be like a 3. So 1 would be failing, 2 would be a D. 4, a B. A (5) should be reserved for the best. After your writing has been revised and edited thoroughly it might deserve a 5.

On this site, some people can't take honesty so we resort to all 5s, which is no score at all anymore. As Skeptikol says, it's in the review. The review should tell the writer what needs improving, what should be kept as is.

Stories about victims who never escape their victimization will never get published anywhere. Too depressing. I won't even read them. Vampires are already on the way out. Too many of them on the market. Doomed. Comedy never loses its appeal. People need to laugh. If you're a victim, write about it so we can laugh along with you. Augusten Boroughs can do it, so can we. Jeni Decker can too. Kat Nove, ditto.

I give all comedies rave reviews. I just can't help it.

jmd wrote:

I'm new here and I don't see what's so wrong with giving or getting a 3.  Why give a 5 if the review really says the reader only thought of it as a 3?  In schools these days, it is not PC to give a kid a fail or even to mark with a red pen.  But if we fail as writers (in one's opinion) shouldn't we know about it?  What's so wrong with honesty?  I mean, if I got a 3, I wouldn't be happy about it, but I'd take it either with a grain of salt, or as a kick in the butt to look into WHY it's a 3.  I'd take a look at the reviewer's own work and see what I thought of it, before assessing their review.  One thing I don't want is people telling me they like my writing if they really don't.  That's largely why I haven't let my family read it.  I don't want a 5 out of obligation.  I mean, I've read some work here that I haven't liked, but I know it's subjective and others seem to like it, so I keep my nose out of it.  Not everyone needs to hear every opinion of everyone else.  If you don't like it - unless it is seriously flawed - then leave it well enough alone.

No but I would like to know what I can give that would take that 3/4 to a 5. Without constructive feedback, I don't know why the writer is unsatisfied.   Just getting thanked or praised and then given a lower score--just sends a mixed message.



But the number debate I think died a while ago.



T