About four months ago I submitted my blog to be critiqued by an outfit called Ask and Ye Shall Receive. They are a group of bloggers who will give you an honest assessment of what’s right and what’s wrong with your blog.
They are brutally honest and, as you know, brutal honesty can sting. They try to warn you ahead of time. The URL is “I will fucking tear you apart dot com.” In the submission guidelines you are warned that in reviewing your blog, there’s a chance that they’re “going to rip you a new hole to shit through.”
However, within those barbs are some very useful suggestions on how to make your blog better. And God knows I need as much help as I can get. Your friends won’t tell you your blog is a train wreck, but they will. And they’ll tell you how to fix it.
I made the mistake of dropping my blog into the review queue before actually reading any of their reviews. I’m impulsive like that. So I’ve been waiting in a state of semi-dread since April. I like my blog and these guys can be pretty viscous but I wanted to hear what they had to say.
August 6, 2009 at 1:41 am |
wow. those folks can be brutal… well deserved and very thoughtful review! and i'm with the reviewer – we want to know more.
so get writin', boy…
August 6, 2009 at 1:41 am |
wow. those folks can be brutal… well deserved and very thoughtful review! and i'm with the reviewer – we want to know more.
so get writin', boy…
August 6, 2009 at 2:43 am |
I love AYSR because I get links to incredible places there. I adore those guys for revealing little treasure blogs like yours.
August 6, 2009 at 2:43 am |
I love AYSR because I get links to incredible places there. I adore those guys for revealing little treasure blogs like yours.
August 6, 2009 at 2:46 am |
AND you're a former fellow-Ohioan.
August 6, 2009 at 2:46 am |
AND you're a former fellow-Ohioan.
August 6, 2009 at 3:28 am |
Congratulations on a great review–you totally deserve it. And thanks for introducing me to Jimmy Bastard.
August 6, 2009 at 3:28 am |
Congratulations on a great review–you totally deserve it. And thanks for introducing me to Jimmy Bastard.
August 6, 2009 at 3:57 am |
I actually added you to my feed reader because of their review. They don't give out a lot of good ones, so I take notice of the complimentary ones!!
August 6, 2009 at 3:57 am |
I actually added you to my feed reader because of their review. They don't give out a lot of good ones, so I take notice of the complimentary ones!!
August 6, 2009 at 5:37 am |
Wow. Great review from that site. I've been titillated by several reviews there and some even I cringed at.
So, kudos to ye and keep on truckin'.
August 6, 2009 at 5:37 am |
Wow. Great review from that site. I've been titillated by several reviews there and some even I cringed at.
So, kudos to ye and keep on truckin'.
August 6, 2009 at 5:42 am |
As far as I can tell the AYSR crew have nothing but loathing and contempt for most of the blogs they read, so kudos to you for scoring a four star review. I would have been offended and told them so had they not recognized what a sweet read this is.
And you are far more brave than I. I will never ask them anything.
August 6, 2009 at 5:42 am |
As far as I can tell the AYSR crew have nothing but loathing and contempt for most of the blogs they read, so kudos to you for scoring a four star review. I would have been offended and told them so had they not recognized what a sweet read this is.
And you are far more brave than I. I will never ask them anything.
August 6, 2009 at 6:29 am |
Dude, it's a totally kickass review. Congrats! (and how do you like my emphatic use of "dude," it's my highest compliment to you!)
August 6, 2009 at 6:29 am |
Dude, it's a totally kickass review. Congrats! (and how do you like my emphatic use of "dude," it's my highest compliment to you!)
August 6, 2009 at 6:51 am |
Good for you pal, it's never pleasant when a critic pans your work. Your review however was great, and so it should have been.
Keep writing, I'll keep reading.
August 6, 2009 at 6:51 am |
Good for you pal, it's never pleasant when a critic pans your work. Your review however was great, and so it should have been.
Keep writing, I'll keep reading.
August 6, 2009 at 7:17 am |
LOL! I also handed in my blog to them for a review. Nervous as hell.
August 6, 2009 at 7:17 am |
LOL! I also handed in my blog to them for a review. Nervous as hell.
August 6, 2009 at 7:20 am |
I loved her review. Congrats.
August 6, 2009 at 7:20 am |
I loved her review. Congrats.
August 6, 2009 at 12:17 pm |
I always knew you were a good writer it is about time you let everyone else know!
I think it’s time to dig up that time capsule and see what you wrote way back in a day it may give you another thing to blog about….although don't get rid of anything you blog about now we will miss it to much.
MT
August 6, 2009 at 12:17 pm |
I always knew you were a good writer it is about time you let everyone else know!
I think it’s time to dig up that time capsule and see what you wrote way back in a day it may give you another thing to blog about….although don't get rid of anything you blog about now we will miss it to much.
MT
August 6, 2009 at 12:18 pm |
Wow – what a great review! Well done you!
August 6, 2009 at 12:18 pm |
Wow – what a great review! Well done you!
August 6, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
I rate blogs with the "can I be bothered to take a few minutes out of my life to read it" system. There are a blogs that I like, but for some reason rarely bother to read, but I always bother to read yours. I'm thinking of moving to the star system, though, just because it's so much easier to type. If I do, I'll concur with 4 stars.
August 6, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
I rate blogs with the "can I be bothered to take a few minutes out of my life to read it" system. There are a blogs that I like, but for some reason rarely bother to read, but I always bother to read yours. I'm thinking of moving to the star system, though, just because it's so much easier to type. If I do, I'll concur with 4 stars.