A Writer's Treasure-Trove: eOpinions

Reviews and opinions, given online, have a flair and feel all their own. It seems that in removing the face-to-face aspect of giving one’s opinion, anyone can suddenly rise to a perceptive plane that in times past only paid critics were allowed: a virtually uninfluenced platform from which to view the product or piece and give the complete breadth of one’s thoughts on the subject, without the injection of outside observation whilst writing. The mystery of online anonymity seems to merely add to a reviewer's boldness to be as candid as possible.

Compare this to a friend (or family member) handing you a poem or story and asking you--with eyebrows upraised—‘What do you think of this?’ perhaps some saturnine souls may be able, in said circumstance, to render an un-influenced, truthful opinion right there and then, but most would feel rather obligated to somehow ‘soften’ their words or differ from their real opinion to spare the feelings of the personally-favored onlooker.

As a writer, I have come to respect e-opinions, as they are--by enlarge--frank and succinct. Such opinions are not always the easiest to hear, for it is far kinder to the ego to enlist the sublime reviews of friends and family, however, such is not necessarily constructive. Despite this fact, who among the vast circle of writers and poets has not been touched by a soft, glowing opinion of someone dear? Words which (if only for a few moments) can turn the frozen pond of ardent stoicism into a rippling, idyllic summer haven.

Humanity’s quest for outside opinion has sprung great pieces into existence since the dawn of time. During that same time, sages have riveted the realm of writing fast to the rules of Literature, and for good reason; though rigid and demanding, said rules are vital for harnessing the creative passion of artists worldwide and uses that energy to its best advantage.

Meredith Greene