How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 3 "Macro/Micro Critting -- Continued"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
104 total reviews
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Interesting, as always.
I find it impossible to include enough of "what's been going on" in an opening blurb to make any difference to someone who pops in at chapter 88. The effort to write said blurbs is a pain, and I'm mainly concerned with my faithful readers who are following the story. Those who pop in for the bucks or out of curiosity are on their own. IF/WHEN (and it's happened many times) a new reader expresses sincere interest in following the book, I provide a synopsis by pm. I have added four or five new readers to each book this way.
If I should be the one doing the critting of a single chapter midway in a book here, I'll just comment on some spag (there's often too much to handle), the writer's style (picking out specific lines that really worked for me), and perhaps mention something interesting about a character. I avoid plot-related comments and know better than to bother the author with questions that were no doubt answered previously.
I seldom do review random chapters, tho I may skim thru a few in the hopes of finding a good author to add to fan and follow at some point.
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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Interesting, as always.
I find it impossible to include enough of "what's been going on" in an opening blurb to make any difference to someone who pops in at chapter 88. The effort to write said blurbs is a pain, and I'm mainly concerned with my faithful readers who are following the story. Those who pop in for the bucks or out of curiosity are on their own. IF/WHEN (and it's happened many times) a new reader expresses sincere interest in following the book, I provide a synopsis by pm. I have added four or five new readers to each book this way.
If I should be the one doing the critting of a single chapter midway in a book here, I'll just comment on some spag (there's often too much to handle), the writer's style (picking out specific lines that really worked for me), and perhaps mention something interesting about a character. I avoid plot-related comments and know better than to bother the author with questions that were no doubt answered previously.
I seldom do review random chapters, tho I may skim thru a few in the hopes of finding a good author to add to fan and follow at some point.
Comment Written 30-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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Phyllis, Thank you, as usual. You homed in on the issue beautifully. Now a confession: remember this was written a number of years ago. Since then I've come a long way toward your thinking. It simply gets unwieldy to summarize ALL the previous action, especially in a long novel--or in my case the trilogy of The Trining. To fully understand the psychology of Doctrex in the 3rd book, you have to have walked in his brogans during book one and two. So ... what I've done is started giving the last several paragraphs of the previous chapter to give a touch of continuity. Thank you for pointing that out and your solution.
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So ... what I've done is started giving the last several paragraphs of the previous chapter to give a touch of continuity. <<
That's what I do. :)
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True. I'm going to try to give a few sentences in summary, followed by the last couple of paragraphs.
Comment from Annette Gulliver
I like the way you make your point with a serving of humour. I am guilty of being one of those writers, through ignorance, who did not put a summary on my previous chapters, but I am learning. I am endeavouring to do this now, but find it difficult to cover the whole story without rattling on too much, thereby losing the reviewer's interest before they even read the chapter. However, I see your point, and I am learning so much by reading your crit techniques. Happy open house viewing. Your wife must be a very patient woman.
cheers
Annette
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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I like the way you make your point with a serving of humour. I am guilty of being one of those writers, through ignorance, who did not put a summary on my previous chapters, but I am learning. I am endeavouring to do this now, but find it difficult to cover the whole story without rattling on too much, thereby losing the reviewer's interest before they even read the chapter. However, I see your point, and I am learning so much by reading your crit techniques. Happy open house viewing. Your wife must be a very patient woman.
cheers
Annette
Comment Written 30-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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Annette, thank you for your detailed crit. You brought up something I went over in such detail with a previous critter, I think I'll paste my answer to her here for you: "Now a confession: remember this series was written a number of years ago. Since then I've come a long way toward your thinking. It simply gets unwieldy to summarize ALL the previous action, especially in a long novel--or in my case the trilogy of The Trining. To fully understand the psychology of Doctrex (he's the main character in my trilogy, Annette)in the 3rd book, you have to have walked in his brogans during book one and two. So ... what I've done is started giving the last several paragraphs of the previous chapter to give a touch of continuity, instead of the summary." It's still a good idea to offer a two or three line summary of the LAST chapter, and the pasting of the last several paragraphs as well.
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Thanks for the advice, Jay. I will try that approach in future
Annette
Comment from jpduck
'I seem to have become pretty adept, of late, at wandering from the subject.' Yeah, I'll go along with that; verging on the prolix, even. But, what delightful, entertaining prolixity it is!
Furthermore, once you knuckle down to the point, I find myself agreeing with every word you write. Thank you so much for expressing and analysing it better than I ever could.
'even choosing the word "ellipse," for example, over "three dots" ('ellipse' should be 'ellipsis'. Please do come back to me if you disagree about this -- 'defensiveness' is perfectly acceptable in with me!).
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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'I seem to have become pretty adept, of late, at wandering from the subject.' Yeah, I'll go along with that; verging on the prolix, even. But, what delightful, entertaining prolixity it is!
Furthermore, once you knuckle down to the point, I find myself agreeing with every word you write. Thank you so much for expressing and analysing it better than I ever could.
'even choosing the word "ellipse," for example, over "three dots" ('ellipse' should be 'ellipsis'. Please do come back to me if you disagree about this -- 'defensiveness' is perfectly acceptable in with me!).
Comment Written 30-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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You are embarrassingly absolutely right about the ellipsis. You are the only one who caught this. So the secret is safe between us, isn't it? I DON'T HEAR YOU! Seriously, thanks, Adrian, for being such a supporter. And, don't let me leave without thanking you for your lovely 6 stars. Now, I need to go back and remove the last error from my chapter.
Comment from Eigle Rull
I am out of sixes or you'd get one for this over-the-top chapter. There certainly is nothing wrong with your writing ability. I see a lot of what you're talking about in my own writing, my friend. The point you made about writing a summary of the preceding chapter never entered my mind. I simply ended one and started another. I will, from now on be writing a summery of the preceding chapter. You have made me see why it is important to do it.
One question I have is how do you get 138 views, compared to my 20? I know you're a much better writer than I am. However, the difference in views is staggering. Is it because of the member dollars you spend on your chapters or is there another reason? It must be time consuming to answer all of the reviews.
I will simply leave you with the statement that this chapter was very well written and extremely helpful to me. I have taken enough of your time. I appreciate that you are explaining things that I need to know. It is helpful - Thank you, my friend.
Always with respect,
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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I am out of sixes or you'd get one for this over-the-top chapter. There certainly is nothing wrong with your writing ability. I see a lot of what you're talking about in my own writing, my friend. The point you made about writing a summary of the preceding chapter never entered my mind. I simply ended one and started another. I will, from now on be writing a summery of the preceding chapter. You have made me see why it is important to do it.
One question I have is how do you get 138 views, compared to my 20? I know you're a much better writer than I am. However, the difference in views is staggering. Is it because of the member dollars you spend on your chapters or is there another reason? It must be time consuming to answer all of the reviews.
I will simply leave you with the statement that this chapter was very well written and extremely helpful to me. I have taken enough of your time. I appreciate that you are explaining things that I need to know. It is helpful - Thank you, my friend.
Always with respect,
Comment Written 30-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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Thank you so much, Elgie. Don't let the reviews fool you. Remember, this was first posted years ago. So what we have now is the combination of two postings. I always make sure my post is on the first page. That usually takes 20-25 member pumps + a certificate $9.95.
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Wow! I only use 6 member pumps at a time. Thanks my friend.
Always with respect,
Comment from justafan
I hung on every word...I will be of no help"critting" because I am your biggest fan. Your work and Mikey's are the best I have seen here...so I am prejudice. Sue me!!...I will wait patiently for your next.
Always Justafan,
Missy
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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I hung on every word...I will be of no help"critting" because I am your biggest fan. Your work and Mikey's are the best I have seen here...so I am prejudice. Sue me!!...I will wait patiently for your next.
Always Justafan,
Missy
Comment Written 30-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 30-Apr-2015
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Mikey's pretty cool! You're pretty cool yourself, and encouraging. Thank you so much, Missy for your lovely crit and kindness.
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:)
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:)
Comment from kiwijenny
I think this is so helpful...I have often crittered...by saying a part of a story just did not ring true....ringing true is soo important...just as with NOAH and
Saggage
God bless...thanks
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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I think this is so helpful...I have often crittered...by saying a part of a story just did not ring true....ringing true is soo important...just as with NOAH and
Saggage
God bless...thanks
Comment Written 29-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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God bless you as well. Stick to that amazing intuition you possess. And don't let go of Annie. Love that story.
Comment from Curly Girly
Hi, Jay!
I visited your page and found this chapter promoted, so I stopped by to leave a review. The strange this is, FS will only allow me to give you 5 stars. It's a new week, so I don't know why. Possibly, it is because my last review (below) was left some time ago within the last 2 years....
Old review:
Mmm ... You have some interesting comments here which have been made in a rather long, conversational manner. However, I get your point. I am guilty for being one of those who do not sell each of my own chapters well. This is something I need to consider altering for the better of all.
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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Hi, Jay!
I visited your page and found this chapter promoted, so I stopped by to leave a review. The strange this is, FS will only allow me to give you 5 stars. It's a new week, so I don't know why. Possibly, it is because my last review (below) was left some time ago within the last 2 years....
Old review:
Mmm ... You have some interesting comments here which have been made in a rather long, conversational manner. However, I get your point. I am guilty for being one of those who do not sell each of my own chapters well. This is something I need to consider altering for the better of all.
Comment Written 29-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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Well, ultimately, Nicole, it's to do it for yourself. You should want to court readers (not the paste and glow type) but the ones who will give you the assistance you (and we all) need. Make it as easy as possible for a new reader to WANT TO read your stuff. Thanks for the crit, my dear. You are appreciated.
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Yes, you are right. :)
Comment from flylikeaneagle
Jay: Congrats on all the awards for this posting. I like your humor with your wife going home. You are still looking at the front porch. The circle concept is interesting. Your points about michael's summary are so true. I appreciate the recap of the stories too. Sometimes, we are busy driving and miss a story or two.
Jay, most of all in your crits, you care and you help. We are all learning, some catch on easier, some are just born with the gift. Until the next crit...flylikeaneagle
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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Jay: Congrats on all the awards for this posting. I like your humor with your wife going home. You are still looking at the front porch. The circle concept is interesting. Your points about michael's summary are so true. I appreciate the recap of the stories too. Sometimes, we are busy driving and miss a story or two.
Jay, most of all in your crits, you care and you help. We are all learning, some catch on easier, some are just born with the gift. Until the next crit...flylikeaneagle
Comment Written 29-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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Thank you, Nancy. You are very kind. Yes, I do spend a lot of time on my crits. And I do think it's appreciated. But it's good to hear it from generous folks like you.
Comment from LIJ Red
You described a Bell curve perfectly for reader intellect. Nature loves Bell curves.
A little boy told a writer his book was "great but too long in the middle." Okay, tell us more.
August 2017, read it again. Still excellent advice.
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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You described a Bell curve perfectly for reader intellect. Nature loves Bell curves.
A little boy told a writer his book was "great but too long in the middle." Okay, tell us more.
August 2017, read it again. Still excellent advice.
Comment Written 29-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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Oh, yeah, much more coming, Red. Thanks for reading and following the curve.
Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin
Hi, Jay...
Whew! My head is swimming. You've got a log of 'critter' power going on here. But, I must say, it was most interesting. (*,*)
Good, informative chapter.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax (*:*)
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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Hi, Jay...
Whew! My head is swimming. You've got a log of 'critter' power going on here. But, I must say, it was most interesting. (*,*)
Good, informative chapter.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax (*:*)
Comment Written 29-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 29-Apr-2015
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Hey, Jax, I'm glad you found it informative and interesting, Jax. Thanks so much for your feedback.
