Comment from forestport12

Excellent

You truly seemed inspired. Loved the rhymes. The lessons are invaluable, about temperance, humility, but also honest criticism with a bit of honey is good. I can't understand how someone tells me how great my chapter is and then gives me three stars. If they would only tell what I did wrong. Stan

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Exactly, Stan! That's my whole point for writing this in the first place, and you nailed it as usual, my friend.

Thanks for the awesome review. :)

~Dean

Comment from rod007

Excellent

A very true poem that accurately reflects the sadness of reviewers who are scathing in their remarks, totally oblivious to the writer's feelings. I have felt the sharp blade of that sword but I'm thick skinned so I didn't let it curb my writing appetite, however feeble the reviewer thought it was. Well done, Dean.

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Thanks, Rod, and you shouldn't let it alter your style in any way. It's always best to write what we're most passionate about. Otherwise it simply comes across as forced and ingenuine.

I really appreciate your thoughts and comments on this, as always. ~Dean

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Oh so true, but I sometimes wish newbies would be kind to me. I have had some very interesting reviews from newbies but you are correct. WE were all there once upon a time.

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Well, this IS directed at the unkind reviewing of some newbies, Barbara, especially here lately. Sure, we were all "newbies" at one time, but I still think even then I fully realized that a poem or story had to need quite a few corrections to award four stars. I read the rules and guidelines for giving reviews. Just because it had something in it that I didn't like or agree with was not a reason for me to award the piece a low rating. It must be based on the overall composition, not just the content.

Thanks very much for your review. ~Dean

Comment from JanetRussek

Excellent

You write bone chilling stories. Some of them scare the pants off me. But you know, I think you're one of the kindest most caring persons I know.
Fond Regards,
Janet

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Well, that's so nice of you to say, Janet, thank you. You have made my week. My folks always tried their best to have us treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves, the "Golden Rule". I still try and live by it today, as best I can.

Thanks once again for the kind comments. I sincerely appreciate that. :)

~Dean

Comment from gypsycaravan

Exceptional

Great advice, presentation and writing, as always. Also, the advice works both ways. Newbies need to play nice, also. Great job, Dean.

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Yeah, that's really who this was directed at, Shirley, the newbies. Most of us who've been around the block here a time or two already know how things work.

Thanks a bunch for the six star rating and for sharing your thoughts with me on the poem. I been in a bit of a "lighthearted" mood here lately. I wonder what's wrong, heh-heh...?

~Dean

reply by gypsycaravan on 01-Feb-2015

Get back in your dungeon and dig out some gore, oh master of intrigue.

reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Oh, believe me, I'm workin' on it as we speak, heh-heh.. :D

Comment from mshirachot

Excellent

Most excellent rant and reprimand. Yes, we do indeed need to be kind to newbies and newbies need a reminder to be kind to the oldies. :)

It is always good to team up the word criticism with the word constructive. Otherwise,we just come off as sounding critical (which when you think about it is half of Hypo-critical. :)

Okay I am done with my rant, too. LOL

Nicely written rhyming poem. Made me smile.

Thanks for sharing.
Blessings to you,
Marsha

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

That was my primary objective, Marsha, to make people smile a little. Things get so-o-o-o-o heavy around here sometimes, ya know?

Thanks for your comments and thoughtful review. :-)

~Dean

Comment from Domino 2

Excellent

With respect, your meter starts perfectly and then slowly deteriorates, Deano.

Anyway, this is excellent advice to newbies, many of whom want to be over-critical with their ratings, not realising all us old-timers expect at least a '5'. :-)

I was the same when I joined, but nowadays I rate EVERYTHING at least '5', or 'skip', as I think constructive critique and kind encouragement are far more important than stars...unless I get less than '5', when I throw a wobbly. LOL.

Nice one.

Cheers, Ray

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Thanks, Ray, and I realized that when I read it again so I made some quick changes.

I really don't care to get "low" ratings in the threes and fours (if I've received a one or two, then I probably should not be writing at all, LOL), but I do believe suggestions for improvement should accompany such ratings. Nothing here burns my you-know-what any more than when I get a review that is full of nothing but praise, then -- Wham! BAM!! Thank you, Man!!! -- they lay a three star rating on me.

Anyhow, thanks very much for the comments. I do appreciate it, as always. ~Dean

reply by Domino 2 on 01-Feb-2015

One solution when posting is to go to 'advanced options' (or something like that), scroll down to whether you want reviews from non-writers (usually daft attention-seeking newbies or 'standard members'), and click on 'no'.

Cheers, mate. Ray.

reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

I wasn't aware of that, Ray. Thanks, I'll check that out right now, my friend. :)

~DeanO

reply by Domino 2 on 01-Feb-2015

I use it every time I post, Deano. After a while the site accepts it as the norm, but I always check before I 'save' a post.

reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

I just did it, Ray. Maybe that'll help put a damper on it.

Thanks again!

reply by Domino 2 on 01-Feb-2015

No probs, Deano. SO glad to be of help.

Cheers, Ray.

Comment from Acquired Taste

Excellent

Spooky, this is a lovely and gentle reminder to all of us. I've had two 'newbies' in the past week mention to me in a review that we seemed a tough crowd, especially with their misuse of 'formatting' on the site. When I checked, their work looked like scrambled eggs with no spacing etc. And yes, the site is a pain in the ass to try and format a work and it presents differently on classic and current FanStory. Perhaps a class or 'general overview' for newbies would be appropriate. (Might be nice to have that guidance for all of us!)

Now, that said, I've had newbies slap me with a 3 star rating because they thought the story was too short (a contest entry with word limit) or I have had them not respond when I ask what might they suggest for a clearer storyline. When I check their 'pages' they had submitted nothing and had no information about themselves.

So, I love your poem - great rhyming and lovely sentiments. I feel the pain of newbies - we were all new at some point. I also feel the pain each of us 'oldies' has had with 2 & 3 star hits by a 'new kid on the block.'

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

God, Phu-l-e-e-e-e-e-a-a-a-s-s-s-e let me teach that class! I'd have a frickin' field day with 'em, heh-heh-heh. You have to love those members who have no work of their own posted, yet feel qualified to tell you how badly you suck at writing. Or, the ones who give you nothing but praise for how great the writing is, then hit you with three stars. It's happened to me numerous times. Yes, I ask them to give me specifics as to what they felt the piece lacked which took the rating down from at least four stars...no answer. EVER! I've also had everything you mentioned happen, especially for the 100 word dashes. "I would have liked to known more but your story was so breif..." Blah-blah-blah...

Anyhow,, i could go on and on concerning this topic, Jean, but I won't hold you up any longer than I already have, LOL.

Thanks for weighing in on this one for me.

~SPOOKY

reply by Acquired Taste on 01-Feb-2015

You can hold me up anytime Spooky, assuming you have an extremely strong back - or you've dismembered me. I had someone - they loved your work - comment that my writing just didn't 'hold up' and the storyline was chaotic - so much for horror! Backatcha big guy.

reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

You mean there's someone "out there" who loves my work? Geesh, based on my ratings and reviews for prose lately I would never have guessed, LOL!

Who luvs ya, darlin'? :-]

~SPOOKY

reply by Acquired Taste on 01-Feb-2015

Oh, my Master of the Macabre - I do...promise...promise...promise!

reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

;}

Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca

Excellent

Finally someone who thinks as I do. I was criticized for doing just that. Pass. But after all these years I have gotten two's from new people who figured that is the way to rate because they were rate that way. Great verse

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Thanks, Barb, and I'd rather pass too if the piece is really, super bad. Otherwise, I usually give a five and some helpful suggestions if I have any. I rarely give out threes or fours, and never ones or twos.

I really appreciate your "five", very much. Thanks! :) ~Dean

Comment from Writingfundimension

Excellent

This is a perfect recipe for endearing yourself to fellow writers on FanStory. I must say I've tried to practice your great advice for the whole time I've been on this site. And, little by little, I've built a kind, respectful fan base. That's the thing the nasty newbies don't get.

Well done, Dean.

Bev

 Comment Written 01-Feb-2015

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reply by the author on 01-Feb-2015

Thanks, Bev, and you're absolutely right. If someone is going to tear our work apart, piece by piece, then it'd be nice if they offered some constructive suggestions on what they felt we needed to do to make it better. Otherwise, they just come across as mean spirited and cruel.

Thanks again for your comments. As always, i appreciate them. :)

~Dean

reply by Writingfundimension on 02-Feb-2015

Second that, Dean.

You're very welcome... Bev