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I recently received a review on a chapter that I’d had up for review for some time. The chapter had previously received a few reviews, but none since I’d revised it. This new review was the first.

Heart trembling, wondering what sort of commendation I’d receive for the improvements I’d made on my chapter, I read through the review.

Was I in for a shock It wasn’t a scathing review, it was a soul-less piece of writing, ending with a ‘all the best with your revisions’. Basically it said that the chapter had no setting, the person couldn’t make out how old the characters were, and there was no tension or drama in the chapter at all, aside from one scene that didn’t even relate to the story. But it was all written so dispassionately, it made me feel very small indeed. Worst of all, there were several inaccuracies when re-stating the [boring, lifeless] plot, including things that I’d never written. (I checked back, just to make sure.) They didn’t even understand the [boring, lifeless] plot it seems.

I think I was more surprised than anything at receiving such a heartless, yet not unkind review. I mulled it over and over. Every now and then I’d pull it up again on screen for a quick re-read, shaking my head with wonderment as I did so.

A day or so later I finally decided that maybe they had some valid points. Of course I wondered why no one else had pointed out the same things, perhaps they were all far too kind to say anything about my writing. (Well, actually people have said plenty about my writing, it’s only that it has been a bit more personal and thoughtful.) Still, I have decided to overlook the things I don’t like about the presentation and the inaccuracies in the review, and instead take what I feel may be valid observations and work with those.

Aren’t I being very mature about that?

If the chapter is too lifeless, doesn’t have enough conflict, my characters are ageless (others had mentioned this actually, and I thought I had fixed it, heh) then maybe I can work on it more, chop out scenes, add conflict. Or, I thought, maybe I could start my book with a different, more colorful chapter.

Oh, how attached we get to our little story-lines, characters, and scenes. I have an inkling that the final product (if I ever finish) will be vastly different than what I originally wrote. Time will tell.

And I do so much prefer reading reviews of my work by people who are…well…people, not aloof, distant pen-waving, or keyboard-clicking critics. Both types of people say similar things, its just that warmth and friendliness makes me feel better about what is being said.

I will aim to remember than whenever reviewing the writing of others.