Just my two cents on this.  A good story is not in how well the author
follows the gramar rules or if they can spell great (I certainly can't) but
in how compelling their story is.  Whether it be the original characters in
some new situation or with the added benifit of a new character the story
has to grab me.  After reading a lot of what is published on paper out
there, I have come to expect typos, mispellings and some grammar problems
but I will automatically delete a story that is dull or too ridiculous.  I
have been asked by a few people who don't post here to help them with their
stories and I find many have great ideas but just don't know how to make
the story grab a reader.

Yes, it is good to point out the technical errors but lets try to focus on
the writting ability.  With help the spelling and grammar will improve but
there is no guarentee that they will learn how to write a good compelling
story.

Okay enough soapbox.  I usually don't post in the discussions.  But I do
look for a well developed character, if new, and a story that hooks me in
and pulls me through to the end.  And I try to help my friends who have
asked to learn just how to build that hook.

Lisa Prior