On Saturday we released two new writing group features. Premium members can now:

• Blacklist reviews – If you blacklist a reviewer we will never assign them to critique your writing again.
• Preferred reviewers – If you designate a reviewer as preferred it will double your chances of having them review your work in the future.

What other features would you like us to develop?

Jacob

About once a week I get a support email from a distraught member that goes something like this: My story was just critiqued by Darth Vader. He mercilessly tore my work apart. How could you let someone do this to me?

I usually try to respond with soothing words that calm these poor souls. However, just between you and me, this is what I want to say: Congratulations! You received a real critique. You should thank Darth Vader for caring enough to help you improve. Take his ideas and run with them, your work will probably improve if you do. And don’t forget to send him a thank you note.

Why do people act so surprised and distraught when they receive a good critique on a peer critiqued writing group website?

Jacob

We have compiled our top 10 list of features that we feel will enhance the peer reviews process at Review Fuse. Please take a moment to review this list of features, and let us know which ones you think we should add to Review Fuse first. Vote for your favorite features by leaving comments below, and feel free to suggest additional features in your comments.

• Make the Private Messaging system more accessible
• Provide each reviewer with a list of all the peer reviews he or she has completed.
• Allow members to submit Books, not just First Chapters, for review.
• Allow me to download the reviews I receive to my personal computer.
• Enable me to view multiple reviews simultaneously, so I can see what all of my peers think.
• Allow me to create my own writing group on Review Fuse.
  • Private groups would be accessible by invitation only.
  • Public writing groups can be joined by anyone.
• Improve the inline commenting (if you vote for this one, please tell us specifically how we should improve it).
• Allow me to submit poetry for peer review.
• Allow authors create their own review frameworks for the stories they submit.
• Allow me to submit my writing exercises so that my peers can help me improve on specific topics.

Thanks you for taking the time to submit your votes.

Jacob

In the Americas, writing groups originated during the 1700’s, during which time the majority of the population did not complete elementary education and less than 1% of Americans attended college. These early Americans where not content to wallow in self pity, lamenting their educational plight. Instead they found way to help themselves, by forming mutual improvement groups. Writing groups formed primarily to educate, but also to entertain. Mixing these two elements together formed groups that where remarkably effective at helping each other achieved new heights in writing, reading and other scholarly pursuits because the people enjoyed the educational process.

Benjamin Franklin was amongst the first to initiate literary groups.  With only two years of formal education Mr. Franklin knew he needed more. After evaluating his educational options he formed a reading and writing group called Franklin’s Junto. The Junto met frequently to review original works composed by the members by sharing ideas, criticisms, observations and corrections about the works. The ideas and education gained in Franklin’s Junto significantly helped shape him into the great man he would become.

In the mid 1700’s writing groups became popular on university campuses. A significant portion of the student’s educational experience came from reading and writing together in small groups outside of the university setting. During the 1700’s underclassmen where banned from the library making these groups their major access point for literature. Writing groups helped the students learn as they helped each other discover what constituted great literature and how to produce it in their own writing.

Since the 1700’s writing groups have been the primary method authors have used to improve their skills. A writing group needs dedicated members with a passion for learning and improving to succeed. Unlike traditional writing groups the Review Fuse community is always in session ready to help meet your writing group needs.

Jacob