Lists are awesome. Don't overthink it. Here's my most recent one. http://freefringes.com/2011/11/14/grumpy/

Sounds like vacation is your favorite time of year!

The central conflict to this discussion has appeared: I am not a fan of the constant "one and done". Growing in writing, to me, means growing the piece that is worth continuing, not applying learning principles to the next one that may or may not have anything in common with the one before it. You, Cheryl and Nichole have an admirable project going here. Thanks for hearing me out.

Thanks for making such good points.When I mentioned the role of the editor, I meant a trusted friend as a "second set of eyes" not a professional editor. I am simply hesitant to apply such a detailed grammar critique to rough drafts.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I agree with your points, and I apologize for using your comment space for a bit of a rant. I now understand your mission. Can I still participate using my unorthodox writing methods? Your community is pretty great.

I am new to this space, and I am discovering such wonderful blogs along the way. So I am going to tread lightly here with my comment as I critique the critique:

The writer is to worry about plot development, character development, continuity and, after making sure there is a central conflict, doing the best she can to manage the conflict as the story develops.

There should always be a sympathetic character even if that character is the antagonist of the story. The reader needs someone to root for. The writer should care about each character as though they are all her children, even the evil ones.

Once the central conflict is established and the sympathetic character has created a sense of empathy, there has to be a denouement, then the climax, then the conclusion. Not necessarily tidy and wrapped up, but the story must always end.

Having said all that, there is one person assigned to the prepositions and semi-colons, and that's the editor. For all the lonely writers out there, that's usually a trusted friend with an eye for detail who respects the work of the writer.

All the reworking of the clunkiness and confusion is left to the partnership of the writer and trusted editor. Critiquing what amounts to first drafts to such a degree bogs down the writer and restrains the creative process. There will be plenty of time for that as the piece develops.

Thank you! And thanks for leaving your RSS reader to comment. You're awesome...

Totally worked! Baked for an hour instead of peeling for an hour and I sat on my butt while I waited, doing nothing. I need a cooking show called the Lazy Black Girl's Guide to Dinner that doesn't involve sugar daddies or blind dates.

Michele, I have no idea where or how to start. It would be like A Million Little Pieces all over again! :)

Maybe you can email me a few suggestions?

No worries about finding the story funny. She\'s a teenager before all else. They lose stuff. The 12-hour incident? She was 11 and too young to own it. My fault and I have learned better techniques to help her keep up with her things.