Sunday, May 15, 2011

HASA Reviewed Stories May 2011

Since the previous Bulletin, 6 stories have been reviewed and there are currently also 6 stories in review. Make an author's day and review a story! New submissions are of course welcome as well!

As I type this, there are 6 stories waiting to be reviewed (remember to log in before you follow the link).

Member participation is crucial for reviews. The more people are involved in reviewing, the more different opinions are represented. Just as importantly, having more people involved means that stories pass through review more quickly - which is good for everyone. If you are an active reviewer, why not go and check out a story?

Or, if you are a writer, take the plunge and submit a story for review (and when you do, remember: Put one in, take one out).

By submitting a story for review, you are asking nine other members to read and evaluate it. So why not do for the other authors who have a story in review what you'd like other reviewers to do for you: check out one of the stories already in review and give it a read.

Becoming a reviewer
If you're not an active reviewer, but think you can spare a bit of time... - even if you just review one or two stories in a month, every review is welcome. If you are logged in, you can sign up here if you've been a member of HASA for thirty days or more.

Daunted by the idea of reviewing? Don't worry, reviewing at its simplest comes down to asking yourself: "Would I recommend this story to someone?" Then, whether the answer is 'yes' or 'no', you can make a choice from the capsule reasons to clarify your decision. If you want to, you can add a few more words to convey what you (dis)liked about the story, but just the capsule reason is perfectly fine as well.

And remember: even if you think you're too critical or not critical enough: your review is only one of nine, and all points of view are welcome. Not every reviewer has to review every story and in the end it does all level out to a balanced judgement.

Reviewed story spotlight
These stories have passed through review since the previous bulletin. Congratulations to all authors; well done!

Full Circle by Vaysh
Rating: General
Genre: Drama
Era: 4th Age
Summary: Five times Sam spoke to Frodo after Frodo left for Valinor. (five drabbles)

Amid the Powers and Chances of the World by Azalais
Rating: General
Genre: Romance
Era: 3rd Age - Ring War
Summary: "Men..should have a virtue to shape their lives, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Ainur, which is as fate to all things else" (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 1). A mortal woman is brought to Rivendell for healing in the summer of 3018, and thus becomes entangled with ...

Light from the West by Armariel
Rating: General
Genre: General
Era: 4th Age
Summary: In the Blessed Realm, Frodo discovers he can talk to Sam through his star-glass, and uses it to tell his friend of his life in the West.

Last Stroke by Elena Tiriel
Rating: General
Genre: Drama
Era: 3rd Age - Ring War
Summary: 'The Corsairs of Umbar!' men shouted.... 'The Corsairs are upon us! It is the last stroke of doom!' Drabble: What might have come to pass....

Gundabad by Lindariel
Rating: General
Genre: Drama
Era: 3rd Age - The Stewards
Summary: "Anyway by mid-winter Gandalf and Bilbo had come all the way back, along both edges of the Forest, to the doors of Beorn's house; and there for a while they both stayed." The Professor doesn't tell us much about Bilbo's return home from Erebor in the company of Gandalf and Beorn. ...

After Sunset by Adonnen Estenniel
Rating: General
Genre: General
Era: 3rd Age - The Stewards
Summary: After her parents' deaths, Éowyn finds it hard to adjust to her new life in Edoras. Constant nightmares plague her sleep, and with her brother too busy to spend as much time with her as he used to, the little girl must find a new source of comfort.

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