Online Writing Forums at TheNextBigWriter

wordsmith · 04-19-2008 22:19:01

I’ve used the article by Victory Crayne as a guideline for conducting our reviews. The article has all the details on the subject headings below. I’m suggesting that we use this format if we’re going to be doing indepth reviews. The responses can be one-liners or as much as you need to convey your impressions. If I’ve left anything out, feel free to speak out.

Before you balk at this, remember the aim is to do a thorough review. We have three takers to date. We’ll get the ball rolling once we have a fourth.

Checklist

§ Opening - Do the opening sentences/paragraph grab your attention?
§ Conflict – Can you identify what it is?
§ Plot – Is it believable?
§ Setting – Is there a real sense of time and place?
§ Characterization – Are the characters believable or do they feel like cardboard cutouts.
§ Dialogue – Is it tight and does it help move the story along? Did it need more/less?
§ Point of view – Is it consistent?
§ Show vs. Tell – Are scenes conveyed through the actions of the characters or through the author’s voice?
§ Grammar & Spelling – Are there too many grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors.
§ Style/Tone – Is the writing easy to read? Are word choices effective? Is the tone preachy?
§ Prose – Is there any purple prose?

For specific sub-genres eg. Historical & Regency Romance

§ Are the period details (dress, word choices, etc.) accurate?

For Romantic Suspense

§ Is there enough action?
§ Does the story move quickly?
§ Is the tension level high?
§ Are the protagonists strong?
§ Is there a strong dramatic tone?

Give overall impressions of the chapter:-
§ What you liked most and what worked well.
§ What you liked least or feel could have been done better.
§ How do you think the story could be improved?

Last edited by wordsmith (04-20-2008 09:56:49)

bogi · 04-19-2008 23:55:50

I use a different methodology, but out of curiosity:

What does 'Is there purple prose?' mean?

What does it mean when you say 'Is the tone preachy?'

Thanks,

brosna11 · 04-20-2008 01:30:31

I think purple prose refers to over-writing. Too many modifiers, exaggerated sensory details such as luscious lips like rose buds lapped with dew or golden ringlets strewn across the silken pillow like a million little caterpillars. Overwriting isn't good. It's just overwritten. A preachy tone is one that attempts to sermonize to the reader for persuasion. She crawled into bed with him knowing she was going straight to hell. It's probably ok for the character to say this but the writer shouldn't interject preaching in the narration.

brosna11 · 04-20-2008 01:34:54

Conflict can be internal or external. It isn't always physical. Romance requires some internal conflict about relationships. For example, two egotistical people who are attracted to each other physically will be necessarily involved in arguments over who is right about something. (I know some people like that -- don't you?) Woody Allen does it a lot to good effect. "The Pacific is bigger than the Atlantic", she said. "No. It isn't. How can you be so dumb?"

wordsmith · 04-20-2008 09:45:15

Good answers, Brosna.

To purple prose, I'd add - cliched expressions, stilted-sounding words and phrases, ridiculous substitute names for genitalia.

Regarding conflict, I agree that it's both internal and external. I condensed the article, but expect that it will be used as the extended guideline while doing the reviews as it does speak to both kinds of conflict.

brosna11 · 04-20-2008 13:57:49

Latin names only?

wordsmith · 04-20-2008 16:02:08

Not saying that at all, but to borrow some really terrible ones

Bald avenger
Tumescent tube of fire
Dragon of desire
Throbbing stalk of desire
Warm pocket of love
Silken sleeve of love

brosna11 · 04-20-2008 16:51:28

I'm learning things here.

jediprincess · 04-21-2008 08:16:29

I haven't had time to read the articles you've posted yet, but it all sounds good to me.

wordsmith · 04-21-2008 08:24:07

No problem at all Jedi. Will you be ready if I schedule you for review next week? What piece would you like to have reviewed? Also, can I get an email address for you? Thanks.

jediprincess · 04-21-2008 09:30:37

Email : jediprincess_3@yahoo.com

Of the works I have on the site, i think School Age is the one that most fits a romance. I also have another novel that I've started that I haven't posted yet. Let me think for a few hours.

mikira · 04-21-2008 09:39:44

Wordsmith do you mind if I take the first part of your review Checklist for my group?

Edit: Oh and the bottom section too?

Obviously the middle part only applies if we weave romance into our stories.

Last edited by mikira (04-21-2008 09:50:03)

wordsmith · 04-21-2008 10:00:46

Mikira,

Go right ahead. The more detailed version of this is in the article here == > http://www.crayne.com/howcrit.html

wordsmith · 04-21-2008 10:04:50

Thanks, Jedi. I'll go ahead and post the review schedule and as soon as both yourself and Brosna decide on what you each want reviewed, I'll post the title as well.

mikira · 04-21-2008 10:59:08

wordsmith wrote:
Mikira,

Go right ahead. The more detailed version of this is in the article here == > http://www.crayne.com/howcrit.html

Thanks!!

brosna11 · 04-21-2008 12:29:02

Here it is: http://www.thenextbigwriter.com/library … read/18564

Be fearless! I'm ready for anything. Sharpen your weapons.

Nadine

tina_dc_hayes · 04-21-2008 14:32:35

wordsmith wrote:
Not saying that at all, but to borrow some really terrible ones

Bald avenger
Tumescent tube of fire
Dragon of desire
Throbbing stalk of desire
Warm pocket of love
Silken sleeve of love

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

If you ever read any of those zingers in anything I write, please hunt me down and shoot me! LOL

wordsmith · 04-21-2008 15:00:23

I'd be happy to oblige!

wordsmith · 04-21-2008 15:07:39

Brosna,

Suggest you open a thread here with the title of the novel, where you can ask additional questions of each reviewer.

We'll post to the chapter as usual. We can also post in your thread as well.

#1 04-19-2008 22:19:01

Reviewing Guidelines

#2 04-19-2008 23:55:50

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#3 04-20-2008 01:30:31

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#4 04-20-2008 01:34:54

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#5 04-20-2008 09:45:15

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#6 04-20-2008 13:57:49

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#7 04-20-2008 16:02:08

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#8 04-20-2008 16:51:28

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#9 04-21-2008 08:16:29

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#10 04-21-2008 08:24:07

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#11 04-21-2008 09:30:37

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#12 04-21-2008 09:39:44

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#13 04-21-2008 10:00:46

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#14 04-21-2008 10:04:50

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#15 04-21-2008 10:59:08

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

wordsmith wrote:

#16 04-21-2008 12:29:02

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#17 04-21-2008 14:32:35

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

wordsmith wrote:

#18 04-21-2008 15:00:23

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

#19 04-21-2008 15:07:39

Re: Reviewing Guidelines

Board footer