In addition to reviews, this site is presumed to offer support and encouragement to authors of every level. On any given day you can find dozens of examples of this happening, in reviews and on the messageboard, and that's a good thing, but I wonder if people don't sometimes go a bit too far in "supporting" some writers--authors--at the expense of other writers--reviewers.

Here's an example from a recent thread. (I don't want to continue the thread over there, because I don't want the author to take it personally--SHE'S not the problem.)



This is a case where the author admitted, in her initial post, that she has some issues with grammar--to her credit, she knows it's a problem, and she's working on it. She does not dispute the reviewer's claim that some of her sentences lapsed into incomprehensibility.

Andrew A. sympathizes with her, which is all very well, but so eager is he to "support" the author that he suggests it is the READER who has literacy issues.

This is akin to notleyab's insistence that with the right combination of intelligence and common sense, we can read his text-posts--true, as far as it goes, but I confess, notleyab, that there are times when I don't bother--but in this case, we're talking about a reading assignment. Is the onus on the reviewer to decipher the meaning of the text, or is it on the author to write clear and meaningful sentences?

The bigger question is, can we "support" the author without disparaging the reviewer? Can we agree that criticism is hard to take without making up excuses for not taking it?

I have nothing against "encouraging" authors, but "encouraging" them to dismiss the criticism they came here to get is counter-productive, isn't it?

No stars. No charts. Just crits.

Lol. I saw your post, loopy, and knew it was intended for this thread, if that helps.

I do think Malcolm has a point and I wholeheartedly agree with Kasia's most recent comment on her no thank you.

"Publicly moaning and whinging is not good form..."

Although I've always said if a reviewer is tough enough to hand it out, then they should be tough enough to defend their comments.

However, my personal take is that if I ask for a review then I have to accept the comments that come my way - good or bad. It is, of course, my prerogative to ignore or embrace the reviewer's suggestions but it is not my place (IMHO) to call the reviewer out for not loving my work or not meeting my review expectations.

I do feel it is a gift to know why someone didn't continue to read my book even if they didn't manage to get passed the first page.

I know it can be hard to bite your lip when the nonsensical reviews come along but, instead of ridiculing people who clearly don't have English as a first language, I would prefer that the authors concerned just ask for the review to be removed.

I must admit that I do try and steer clear of those that regularly post no thank yous. I don't want to waste my time on writers who clearly think their work is beyond reproach.

In case Ted is listening, I would propose that he hire you as manager of the site, Notely. Since you are already so engaged without compensation, I'm sure you and he could reach agreement on a modest fee. That would require you to write using whole words however, you know that. my website

I think, notleyab, we all have to take the rough with the smooth. I've read Kasia's work before and know she is a quality writer but we all get ones occasionally, well at least I do. And as Kasia ( to her credit) says, she wishes now that she hadn't posted her no thank you.

I don't hold with banning reviewers, this is a mixed ability, free site so (IMO) we need to be tolerant and little more chilled - maybe?

Does Disparaging Authors stifle the creative process?

I wonder how many of those members who post atrocious reviews take note of comments made on the message boards. They rarely reply to defend their point of view, and I have noticed that many do not post work of their own.

Over the years, I have benefited from the experience and candour of other members. Their help has been invaluable, and in many cases, I have heeded their opinions. One man’s meat is another man poison and none of us will agree with every review, but that is all part of the fun.

However, for every hundred wonderful, constructive and supportive members, there is probably one or two who see YWO as a vehicle for their own ego or a way of venting their spleen on those they will never meet.

If a reviewer denigrates a posting or insults the author, they should expect a disparaging reply. Soto admitted he had read only 200 words of Fleb’s piece. If it was not a literacy problem then it was a cynical move to accrue a credit, and he cheated on the reading test. The actions of a cad and bounder don’t you know, flogging is too good for him! Sorry, I suddenly came all over Edwardian.

Now we have poor Kasia embarrassed about ‘her knee jerk reaction’ to receiving 8 1’s. I would have been apoplectic, but then I’m the sensitive type.

Slating someone is not constructive. No matter how difficult the piece, you can always help in some way, even if it’s simply correcting the spelling and just because someone is struggling now, does not mean they cannot succeed in the future.