New Story Reviews (volunteers welcome!)

[amasterfound]

bump....

 

[SweetWitch]

Will this thing ever be revived?

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

Will this thing ever be revived?

Hey, I wouldn't mind volunteering, but I have a question. Is it done randomly or by request?

 

[Darkniciad]

Hey, I wouldn't mind volunteering, but I have a question. Is it done randomly or by request?

The way it was originally constructed, those who were willing to do reviews picked a day, and then went through the NEW list on that day and simply picked stories that caught their eye.

You reviewed it, and left a PC pointing to the thread ( which was stickied when it was active )

Requests were occasionally reviewed, but most of the time it was just what caught the reviewer's fancy.

 

[SweetWitch]

The way it was originally constructed, those who were willing to do reviews picked a day, and then went through the NEW list on that day and simply picked stories that caught their eye.

You reviewed it, and left a PC pointing to the thread ( which was stickied when it was active )

Requests were occasionally reviewed, but most of the time it was just what caught the reviewer's fancy.

And occassionally there was the random review of an older story. Those were always fun.

 

[jomar]

.....

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

The way it was originally constructed, those who were willing to do reviews picked a day, and then went through the NEW list on that day and simply picked stories that caught their eye.

You reviewed it, and left a PC pointing to the thread ( which was stickied when it was active )

Requests were occasionally reviewed, but most of the time it was just what caught the reviewer's fancy.

Ah. I see. Well I suppose I could do that...I'll try it and see how it works out. My only concern is that some people probably don't want to be reviewed. Someone who willingly requests it is less likely to get in a shouting match with you if they don't like everything you say.

Maybe I'll check the feedback thread. Find a request and leave a link for here. Might get those that are posting there more response.

 

[Daniellekitten]

I haven't done one of these in quite a while but I thought while I was awake and in awe of a writer I've never read before I would point anyone interested in that direction. The story is called Gabrielle and the Devil http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=442983 and is written by Jaymal for the Halloween contest. It is in the Erotic Couplings category.

Now, I haven't written anything for a contest in a long while, but this story almost had me beginning to click my keys for a contest entry. The story was well written, exquisitely thought out and better than seventy-five percent of the stories that I've read on the sites recently. It is five Lit pages long but I never noticed the length once I got started with it.

Gabrielle is a professor who tells her best friend about a dream she had about an angel's struggle with the devil and gives a very good description of the devil's hoary parts. Her friend is intrigued and gets Gabrielle a ticket to the biggest Halloween costume party in the area. Now I hate to wreck the surprise but Gabrielle is surprised by one of the guests and ends up "enjoying the fesitivites". The ending is an intriguing surprise and if you're into well written, highly erotic and pant worthy sex, Jaymal is amazing.

It is a very well written, extremely professionally done story and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something to take their minds off of anything and everything. I know when I was finished, I was sort of disappointed that there wasn't more to read. Great job, Jaymal and good luck in the contest!

Five stars from me!

 

[Darkniciad]

Ah. I see. Well I suppose I could do that...I'll try it and see how it works out. My only concern is that some people probably don't want to be reviewed. Someone who willingly requests it is less likely to get in a shouting match with you if they don't like everything you say.

Maybe I'll check the feedback thread. Find a request and leave a link for here. Might get those that are posting there more response.

The pattern that eventually emerged was that you usually didn't write a review unless you could say plenty of positive things about it. People throwing fits about less-than-positive reviews more or less shoved it that way.

Made it hard some days, when you'd click through half the list before you found anything that you could make it more than a couple of paragraphs into *laugh*

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

The pattern that eventually emerged was that you usually didn't write a review unless you could say plenty of positive things about it. People throwing fits about less-than-positive reviews more or less shoved it that way.

Made it hard some days, when you'd click through half the list before you found anything that you could make it more than a couple of paragraphs into *laugh*

Okay that makes sense. I'll try it out It's a relief to know I won't have to try to find something nice to say about a story I hate!

(Besides, checked the feedback forum. Not a lot of recent request)

 

[TE999]

Man! Is this beauty getting kick-started again? I had a couple of stories reviewed at random way back when I was starting out. Naturally since they were my first efforts, I received mixed comments.

I remember one ('The Lake in Summer') that SirHugs praised and RedHairedand Friendly slammed. No room for compromise in those days. *snerk*

I might review a story at random. Any ground rules or are they in the first post?

 

[Boxlicker101]

One problem with reviews is that they reflect the reviewer's personal preferences. If I get a feedback that reads something like: This was one of the hottest stories I've ever seen. My pussy was dripping before I was halfway through. I started frigging myself, and I came at the same time as Cindy Lou did.

I might also get this comment from somebody else on the same story: I didn't see any value in this story at all. None of the characters was more than minimally developed. There was no plot or conflict of any kind; it was just about a bunch of people getting together and copulating, with no reason given for any of their actions.

I don't know if you would call those reviews or not, but they are opinions being expressed, which is really all a review is. Personally, I would feel good about the first one, because it describes what most of my stories are intended to do. I would laugh at the second one, because I am not trying to win The Pulitzer Prize, or anything even remotely approaching it.

I just write smut.

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

Okay, here's my first shot.

The story is called. Kiss Of The Night by KennedyFlynn http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=443612

It's short, and I have to say--honestly---that is my only complaint. It felt as though it could have been the beginning to a great story.

Even so I enjoyed it. The characters are nameless but it adds to the mystery. You can feel the woman's impatience, her need. There is beauty around her but it doesn't matter. All that matters is Him.

I even liked the reference of 'Him'. The set up made it very clear that he was something more, something she almost worships. Still there is a sense of satisfaction because although she needs him so badly, he needs her as well.

The ending was a disappointment. Not for how it was done, but that it was the end.

Five stars from me, I don't think the length warrants a lower mark. It was like a nice slice of really sweet cake. The last fork full was savored, you'll come back for more, but for now, it'll do.

 

[sadangel]

*writing thread bump*

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The pattern that eventually emerged was that you usually didn't write a review unless you could say plenty of positive things about it. People throwing fits about less-than-positive reviews more or less shoved it that way.

Oh Goody. This means I can be the crumudgin over in the Story Review Forum and say lots of nasty things then they can look here and see how wrong or right I was

 

[SweetWitch]

Oh Goody. This means I can be the crumudgin over in the Story Review Forum and say lots of nasty things then they can look here and see how wrong or right I was

Write us a review, Jenny. I wanna see what you come up with.

 

[EmeraldKitten]

Wow... that's a long time back for a good thread.

I want people to do reviews again! lol.
Or at least maybe just suggest stories...?

*sigh*

Who's with me?

 

[Tx Tall Tales]

I'm in.

I'm willing to make an investment of one day a week. (except Wednesday, that's my writer's group meeting and don't get home until after midnight as it is.)

I can read up to 20 stories max. I know that won't cover even half of a days new entries. If we get multiple readers per day, I guess we can divide them up, otherwise it's just pick and choose.

Any other takers?

 

[Darkniciad]

Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever find a core with the time and dedication to truly revive this again. When this thread started, it was a perfect storm of just the right people in just the right period of their lives to get it up and running full steam from the get-go.

I don't want to discourage anyone from jumping in and going for a once a week read and review, though. Maybe all it needs is one to jump start a few people that are coming up to one of those periods in their lives where they have the drive and the time.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I look at it this way: Reading twenty stories, averaging 5,000 words each would be 100,000 words, a full length novel, to be read in one day. It can be done, but only if somebody wants to dedicate his or whole day to doing it. There might be some other way of critiquing, such as reading every tenth story on the New Stories list, or some other way of randomly choosing what to read. Another way might be checking on the authors' index pages and only reading stories by new ones or somebody who hadn't posted for a long time.

 

[EmeraldKitten]

Yeah, you guys have good points.
Hmm... maybe others will jump on the wagon..

 

[SweetWitch]

Are we trying this again? The last review was by Dani in 09, I think.

I don't understand what the big deal is here. If you read a story on the site--and we all read here--just write a quick review. There shouldn't be a need for schedules or assignments to a few ultra-dedicated individuals. It should be easy enough to take what you read and write a few honest words about it.

Shall we get started?

 

[litfan10]

Are we trying this again? The last review was by Dani in 09, I think.

I don't understand what the big deal is here. If you read a story on the site--and we all read here--just write a quick review. There shouldn't be a need for schedules or assignments to a few ultra-dedicated individuals. It should be easy enough to take what you read and write a few honest words about it.

Shall we get started?

Okay I am game. I am new to this thread but it looks cool. Let me know if I am on the right track.

And remember, to comment on this, or any other review, go to this link: Comments/Suggestions on the New Story Review Thread [/B]

I just finished Leejames "A Day in the life of Julius" a humour and satire piece. It caught my eye from the title, genre which is always a challenge and the green "E" of distinction.

Here is the link to the story: http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=490766

The concept is that this is a story about the day in the life of a house cat told in third person. It had the expected playfulness as well as the cat as master/ owner as slave but none of that was done in any cliche way. It worked. Where the story became really interesting was when (SPOILER ALERT!) the cat took on human form and grabbed a cute outfit and went to the beach for an adventure.

What I liked the best was that even in human form the cat still had cat traits subtly used not overtly obvious. The story maintained professional quality in editing and style which is always appreciated. Another feature that makes this story stand out as an example of how a story should be done is that things are explained but not over done. I was given just the right amount to make me satisfied. The story line kept me very engaged and moved well from beginning through the middle to a satisfying ending.

This was a very clever concept, while having been done before, that was still freshly treated and given a new angle that worked well.

Overall I really liked the story enough to look back over some of Leejames previous works.

 

[litfan10]

And remember, to comment on this, or any other review, go to this link: Comments/Suggestions on the New Story Review Thread [/B]
Checked back through and there was another new story that I read today.

Here is the link to the story: http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=490773

NicoleSix's "Taken Camping Ch. 01" caught my eye with the description. I was in the mood for something hot, and I love characters so am always interested in the conflict a character has going from good to doing the dirty deed so to speak.

Briefly this is the story of a young girl not quite twenty who was to go camping with another girlfriend but last minute goes alone. Of course after she is all set up who comes along but three college age boys in their own tent and the night ensues.

First off while not exactly pulling any surprises plot-wise, the writing was good enough to keep me throughout the chapter. The storm that caused the girl to join the boys was a well done scene.

Now as I mentioned before my interest is character and motivations. I want the girl to go down slutty paths, but I still want to like and respect her in the morning. That can be a challenge to write. Well Nicole satisfied me in this sense. She explained it well enough that I accepted her plunge but didn't lose my liking of the character. The action as well as the promise for more in chapter two satisfied my desire for something hot. So this story did give me exactly what I wanted going into it.

I had two problems with the story that can easily be fixed with experience as this is only NicoleSix's second story. All her paragraphs were fairly longish for the online presentation. It would have been nicer pacing-wise if things were mixed up a little more structure-wise. NicoleSix also favours compound and complex sentences which does bog the pacing down quite a bit. So I found the pacing a bit off but not enough to lose me. My second issue is I found things overly explained in the first three paragraphs to the weakening of the pacing. Things were definitely bogged down at the start. And right in the middle of that she hit me with "She offered that I could borrow her car and still go if I wanted to. "I think I'll still go" I told her," - the repetition of "I"s and "still go" really threw me out of the story at a bad place to do that.

Again these criticisms are not intended to say it is a bad story, far from it as I really did enjoy the story but they did weaken it somewhat.

In the end it is a pleasant read that gave me what I wanted which is all the nicer coming from a newer author. I will certainly be back for chapter two.

 

[SweetWitch]

Fabulous, Litfan! The only thing you forgot was:

And remember, to comment on this, or any other review, go to this link: Comments/Suggestions on the New Story Review Thread [/B]