The Unbearable Banishment: i am judged by my peers

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

i am judged by my peers

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.

Here's their review.

20 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 5, 2009 at 9:41 PM  
Anonymous Jillie said...

I love AYSR because I get links to incredible places there. I adore those guys for revealing little treasure blogs like yours.

August 5, 2009 at 10:43 PM  
Anonymous Jillie said...

AND you're a former fellow-Ohioan.

August 5, 2009 at 10:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congratulations on a great review--you totally deserve it. And thanks for introducing me to Jimmy Bastard.

August 5, 2009 at 11:28 PM  
Blogger NGS said...

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 5, 2009 at 11:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 1:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 1:42 AM  
Blogger Leah said...

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 2:29 AM  
Blogger Barlinnie said...

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 2:51 AM  
Blogger Sid said...

LOL! I also handed in my blog to them for a review. Nervous as hell.

August 6, 2009 at 3:17 AM  
Blogger Sid said...

I loved her review. Congrats.

August 6, 2009 at 3:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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 8:17 AM  
Anonymous nuttycow said...

Wow - what a great review! Well done you!

August 6, 2009 at 8:18 AM  
Blogger Cat said...

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 12:34 PM  
Blogger Mamasoo said...

Hi! I'm following you now too because of AYSR! You have an awesome blog and now you're in a place of honor- MY blogroll list! lol! Keep up the good work.

August 6, 2009 at 1:14 PM  
Anonymous popomatic jeff said...

Great review. I've never heard of that site before but am now considering submitting my blog.

Keep up the good review work!

August 6, 2009 at 4:28 PM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Daisy: Does this mean the pressure is on? I don’t respond well to pressure.

Jillie: We can form a support group. Ex-Buckeyes Anonymous.

HIF: You are correct. I am a horrible spellur.

NGS: Thanks! I hope not to disappoint.

Rob: Yea, those guys aren’t always so kind. I was a bit surprised.

Annie: I pretty much regretted it right after I submitted my blog. Thank God it turned out okay.

Leah: Thank you, Dudette.

Jimmy: Honestly, I can’t touch the stuff you post. You write. I type. [With apologies to Truman Capote].

Sid: I was nervous as hell as well. Bombs away!

MT: The time capsule is in the basement under lock and key where it will stay.

Nutty: Can I be so vain to say I read it twice? Well, I did.

Cat: Give me four stars and I’ll send you $1.

Mamasoo: A blogroll listing is no small honor. Thanks!

Jeff: Make sure you read their guidelines. You’ve been warned.

August 6, 2009 at 7:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hopefully you kept all sharps and sleeping pills hidden safely away while you were waiting on the review...

but, coolness, it was not a "rip a new one" review. some honest good critique with constructive criticism.

you're a braver man than i to submit. good on ya.

August 6, 2009 at 8:05 PM  
Blogger A Free Man said...

Kudos, man. 4 well deserved stars.

August 11, 2009 at 1:04 AM  
Blogger Blues said...

I knew you'd get an awesome review.

October 17, 2009 at 11:51 AM  

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