Rogue Reviews Standards and Guidelines (Version 1.1)

July 17, 1998

Contents

  Basic Story Ratings
  What is an Outstanding Story?
  What is an Excellent Story?
  What is a Very Good Story?
  What is a Good Story?
  What is Grudgingly Good Story?
  What is a Not Good Story?
  What Separates Outstanding Stories From Excellent Stories?
  What Separates Excellent Stories from Very Good Stories?
  What separates Excellent and Outstanding Stories from Good and Very
    Good Stories ?
  What Separates Very Good Stories from Good Stories?
  Things I consider when reviewing a story
  Things I like to see in a story
  Things I do NOT like to see in a story
  Random Thoughts


  Basic Story Ratings

* Outstanding
* Excellent
* Very Good
* Good
* Grudgingly Good
* Not Good


  What is an Outstanding Story?

An Outstanding is the best rating I give a story.  The writing is 
technically close to perfect.  The story works on several levels.  
There is more to the story than just sex.  It is an upper echelon 
Excellent Story.


  What is an Excellent Story?

An Excellent Story is close to an outstanding story, but it just does
not have that oompf to put it over the top.


  What is a Very Good Story?

A Very Good Story is well written, but has a minor flaw or two.  
There is a plot, but it may center around just sex.  There is some 
characterization.


  What is a Good Story?

A Good Story shows that the author knows how to write.  There is 
either a major flaw or two, or several minor flaws.  Plot and 
characterization are often sketchy.  The story works, despite its 
flaws.


  What is Grudgingly Good Story?

A Grudgingly Good Story is one that is well written.  If the subject 
matter had not made me queasy it would have gotten a Good, Very Good,
Excellent, or Outstanding.


  What is a Not Good Story?

A Not Good Story is one that was not well written.  On occasion there
is an element in the story that I thought was well handled, but was 
not enough to save the story.


  What Separates Outstanding Stories From Excellent Stories?

Outstanding Stories usually work on several levels.  They are the top
one to five percent of excellent stories, theoretically.


  What Separates Excellent Stories from Very Good Stories?

There are no major or minor flaws.  Technically, the writing should 
be close to perfect.  One or two teensy errors can be overlooked.


  What separates Excellent and Outstanding Stories from Good and Very
    Good Stories ?

Sex is not the be all end all, i.e. it is not a stroke story.  The 
story has plot and characterization.  It has no major or minor flaws.
It can have a couple teensy errors.


  What Separates Very Good Stories from Good Stories?

Elements such as plot and characterization are well handled.  There 
are no major flaws.


  Things I consider when reviewing a story

Plot - Does it have one? If yes, at what pace does it develop?  Does 
it develop logically?

Characters - Are they stereotypes or do they seem real?  Are they 
dynamic? Are they complex?

Dilemma - Is there one?  How is it depicted?  Is it believable?

Arousal - Is the story arousing?  Does the sex begin with the first 
sentence or does the author lead up to it?


  Things I like to see in a story

sarcasm, wit, humor, build up before the sex begins, characters 
capable of both happiness and sadness, personal dilemmas, characters 
who have to make tough choices, creativity


  Things I do NOT like to see in a story

sex without a plot or a dilemma, characters without a function in 
life other than sex, non-consensual sex or other non-consensual 
activities that are supposedly fun, pedophilia (under the age of 
15-16)*, ...And They Lived Happily Ever After endings

* Yes, I realize this is statutory rape in some places


  Random Thoughts

+ My reviews reflect how a story strikes me.
+ To each their own.
+ Feel free to disagree with me, you will not be the first or the 
  last.
+ There are exceptions to every rule.
+ Authors should write to please themselves, as well as others.


I reserve the right to modify this enumeration of standards.



