2003-10-05

10:26 a.m.


S-W-Kiss

Read This Diary

CONTENT 50/70
I'm certainly glad that you gave me these three entries to look over, because you honestly haven't had this diary for very long (July?). That's not to say that you haven't written enough entries (as your archives page has proven), but I usually like to browse through more than just a couple of months of work to get an idea of how a person has grown, changed, and reacted to certain events in his/her life. With that said, out of those three entries, this one would probably win your "Best of Show" award. The fact that your friend was only fifteen at the time really startled me--who knows what could have been going on once they drove off in the car? And good grief, I know what it's like to lose touch with someone you were really close to... Great descriptions in this entry.

As for the others, they were so-so. While you come across as self-confident and intelligent through your writing, I found that a majority of the entries were your everyday, teenage soap-opera fare. In this particular entry, you go on and on about how so-and-so really likes so-and-so, and how this person broke up with the other person, and how much you wish that so-and-so would start liking the other group of so-and-sos. I'm going to tell you point blank: This is great slumber party gossip, but it doesn't do much for your diary. If you want people to read what you've written (other than one of your BFFs and your current crush), take the time to write an entry with some interest. Sixty years from now, no one is really going to care or remember that this person sat next to so-and-so on the bus and had a big crush on one of your friends. What they will remember is the uncanny way you described your most embarrassing moment at Wal-Mart, or the time you yelled at the beer-bellied guy who farted behind you at the trashy bowling alley. Take an ordinary moment and make it special by using your own particular twist--you've obviously got a knack for writing, why not make it into something worthwhile?

Grammar wise... Boy, oh boy, there were some slip-ups. Here alone I found some common mistakes... "three muskateers" instead of "Three Musketeers," "hot tamali" instead of "hot tamale." If you'd just use spell check and take careful consideration with your vowels, you'd do a lot better. In this entry, you had a weird slip of the tenses... For instance, it is incorrect to say "...me and Shannon has." If it's you and Shannon, shouldn't it be the plural form of have? You're young yet, so I'm going to assume that you'll learn to perfect your grammar skills as you get older. Remember: It's the little things that matter most.

STYLE 8/10
You're certainly working on it... Like I said, focus on using your own unique twists and spins on life, and you'll make your diary something no one can forget.

DESIGN 10/10
I don't particularly have a fetish for the color pink, but this one is tastefully done... It's one of the better Lissy Designs in my opinion, and it features the title of one of John Mayer's (swoon) songs. As if that wasn't enough, you've chosen to introduce each of your entries with the lyric to an appropriate song... Good work.

NAVIGATION 5/5
All clean and tastefully done. The links seem a little big (It might be the resolution on my screen, though), but they all work.

FREQUENCY 5/5
I'd like to see a bit more of a history in your archives page, but you've been diligent about keeping up your diary. I'd like to check back in about six to seven months to see how you've progressed.

posted by April at 10:26 a.m.
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