How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 3 "Macro/Micro Critting -- Continued"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
104 total reviews
Comment from Pit Bull Mom
Hey Jay - Another helpful chapter, and entertaining to boot. Of all the Chapters so far, this one was the most heartening. Your first few Chapters were entertaining as well (even if you did use a lot of metaphors!) and although I'm glad you spent the early Chapters laying the ground work by explaining, exactly, what your definition was of critting is and how it came to be phrased in that manner, I am glad you posted this one next. As a new writer and 'reviewer' (there's that pesky word again), I am happy to know that someone thinks amateurs have something to offer too. With all the postings lately about reviewers and what they should and shouldn't do - I've become a little gun shy about offering suggestions of any kind outside of the nits and SPAGs comments and the resolute pat on the back for a job well done.
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2006
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Hey Jay - Another helpful chapter, and entertaining to boot. Of all the Chapters so far, this one was the most heartening. Your first few Chapters were entertaining as well (even if you did use a lot of metaphors!) and although I'm glad you spent the early Chapters laying the ground work by explaining, exactly, what your definition was of critting is and how it came to be phrased in that manner, I am glad you posted this one next. As a new writer and 'reviewer' (there's that pesky word again), I am happy to know that someone thinks amateurs have something to offer too. With all the postings lately about reviewers and what they should and shouldn't do - I've become a little gun shy about offering suggestions of any kind outside of the nits and SPAGs comments and the resolute pat on the back for a job well done.
Comment Written 20-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 20-Oct-2006
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Heather001, I am so very very pleased to hear your kind words. It validates me. Thank you so much. I hope you jump aboard for the remaining chapters. BTW, if you?re planning on catching the whole series, it might be prudent to bookmark it. I?m not a fast reader or critter and can?t do a decent job in that capacity and still earn enough member $$ or pumps to promote the remaining chapters like the ones to date. I don?t want anyone to miss any installments.
Blessings to you... And, one more thank you won't hurt!
Jay
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Hey Jay - no worries with me missing a Chapter posting, I added it to my bookcase (and you to my fan list) when you posted Chapter Two. I went back and read the Prologue and Chapter One before I read Chapter Two when I realized what you were writing about. Anxietly awaing the next two. Toodles for now.
Comment from LittleEmpress
It was a good continueing chapter. And I think you are right on the chapter thing. There have been a few books here that I have read since the beginning, and more that I started in the middle, and only a few that gave me a summary. I think I even look for that before I read, to know if I will get into the story or not. But you are right, there should be a sumary, it isn't that hard and it doesn't take long to write. So you had some excellent points. Another great chapter in your book.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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It was a good continueing chapter. And I think you are right on the chapter thing. There have been a few books here that I have read since the beginning, and more that I started in the middle, and only a few that gave me a summary. I think I even look for that before I read, to know if I will get into the story or not. But you are right, there should be a sumary, it isn't that hard and it doesn't take long to write. So you had some excellent points. Another great chapter in your book.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Thank you empress for your kind and insightful crit. I hope you stay with me for the rest of this series. I'm going to be getting into the meat of it during "micro critting," with some guidelines for establishing a quanitative rating system. Climb aboard.
Jay
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I will be here.
Comment from mslink1
, it's "almost always" not a physical (can replace "almost always" with...usually)
We'll "take a" look at the options (can delete "take a")
The "hard" fact was that the seminar (can delete "hard")
I would love to have a short summary before chaptered books, chapters:) Today I went back, as always and skim one or two chapters before reviewing the present chapter. I do this to see if they have kept the books flow and to see how the plot is progressing. I feel I can give a fairer rating to the author's. Well written Jay, Mary
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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, it's "almost always" not a physical (can replace "almost always" with...usually)
We'll "take a" look at the options (can delete "take a")
The "hard" fact was that the seminar (can delete "hard")
I would love to have a short summary before chaptered books, chapters:) Today I went back, as always and skim one or two chapters before reviewing the present chapter. I do this to see if they have kept the books flow and to see how the plot is progressing. I feel I can give a fairer rating to the author's. Well written Jay, Mary
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Thank you so much, Mary, for your insightful crit. I'll have to go back and take a look at the chapter in light of your comments and (since they are judgment calls and not SPAG) get a feel for the proposed modifications in the context of their placement -- and what do you have to say about the verbiage in that sentence? LOL. Seriously, thanks again and stay aboard, ya heah?
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You don't really want to know, lol.
Comment from Goejsen
Thank you very much for your very thourough chapter that I was happy to go through. I think I learn a lot from you - to use here at fan story, but also hints I can use in the classroom when giving feedback on my pupil's writings. Like when they use two thirds of the story on telling about the breakfast the main characters eat and then have to take the plane to Africa, pass through the jungle, kill some smuglers, and return safely home within the last third part of the story. Here you loose interest before even getting to the story. Looking forward to learning more from you.
Goejsen, Denmark
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Thank you very much for your very thourough chapter that I was happy to go through. I think I learn a lot from you - to use here at fan story, but also hints I can use in the classroom when giving feedback on my pupil's writings. Like when they use two thirds of the story on telling about the breakfast the main characters eat and then have to take the plane to Africa, pass through the jungle, kill some smuglers, and return safely home within the last third part of the story. Here you loose interest before even getting to the story. Looking forward to learning more from you.
Goejsen, Denmark
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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I'm always humbled when a teacher takes something away from what I'm posting. You and your classroom are always welcome. Thank you and please stay tuned. More to follow.
Comment from vanillatte
Another good installment to your "crit lit" :-)
Could find no spags and found the advice on chapter summary to be very helpful, though I've yet to post a novel on FS. I enjoy your narrative, friendly voice, it keeps me reading!
-VL
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Another good installment to your "crit lit" :-)
Could find no spags and found the advice on chapter summary to be very helpful, though I've yet to post a novel on FS. I enjoy your narrative, friendly voice, it keeps me reading!
-VL
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Hi, vanillatte. I appreciate more than you know your kind words. "Crit lit..." I'll have to steal that one from you. Thank you so much and stay on board for more segments to follow.
Jay
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Crit Lit...Yah, go ahead, it's yours. :-)
Comment from H. Rebecca
The chimpanzee up to speed :-) OK that was a very well-written chapter. It kept my interest and I'm not going to critique punctuation here. I am a poet. I do not usually critique/review longer works. But, if I do, it is by cutting and pasting work into Dragon NaturallySpeaking and having the computer read it to me. I had a situation recently where the person was surprised about my review, but it turned out that I didn't understand the characters in the second half of her work because I hadn't read the first. I believe that the "previous chapter" field is relatively new. Glad they put it in.
I would really rather have harsh review, if that is deserved, then five stars because somebody doesn't know how to react.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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The chimpanzee up to speed :-) OK that was a very well-written chapter. It kept my interest and I'm not going to critique punctuation here. I am a poet. I do not usually critique/review longer works. But, if I do, it is by cutting and pasting work into Dragon NaturallySpeaking and having the computer read it to me. I had a situation recently where the person was surprised about my review, but it turned out that I didn't understand the characters in the second half of her work because I hadn't read the first. I believe that the "previous chapter" field is relatively new. Glad they put it in.
I would really rather have harsh review, if that is deserved, then five stars because somebody doesn't know how to react.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Thank you so much H. (Is Rebecca your last name?) for your kind words. I was thinking about getting that Dragon Naturally Speaking ($49.99 at Costco). You apparently are getting some good out of it. I'm jabbering, because I like to imagine the person I'm talking with and I'm having trouble putting long hair or a bald head on your body. Are you male or female? Just a thing. Don't have to answer. Thanks though, again, and jump aboard. More stuff to follow.
Jay
Comment from Plaid
I really enjoyed your this chapter, especially being new to the site. I'm learning how to be a better writer, and a better reviewer, and your pieces have helped a great deal (e.g., I plan on checking out Concentric Circles ASAP).
I found the sentence flow in the beginning to be a bit choppy which was distracting, but it smoothed out towards the end.
I only spotted one nit:
It was some of the best [advise] I ever got = advice
I look forward to reading more!
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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I really enjoyed your this chapter, especially being new to the site. I'm learning how to be a better writer, and a better reviewer, and your pieces have helped a great deal (e.g., I plan on checking out Concentric Circles ASAP).
I found the sentence flow in the beginning to be a bit choppy which was distracting, but it smoothed out towards the end.
I only spotted one nit:
It was some of the best [advise] I ever got = advice
I look forward to reading more!
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Thanks Plaid for the heads up on the nit. I pasted it on word and will make all the corrections at the same time when I finish the crits. I do really appreciate you and your comments. Stay tuned. MOre coming.
Jay
Comment from JoAnna Lee
Great stuff, Jay! I am really enjoying reading these (due to your style, honesty and easy of writing a well flowing piece) and like the fact that I am learning from you efforts. I hope others are learning, too. And yes, I have read them all (so far) and look forward to reading future installments.
My Notes (some corrections, suggestions and comments):
Intro:
with FanStory (comma) I critted
Critter Crits (comma) explained
and I had of house (have? current tense? you do still have this hobby, don't you?)
Body:
adept () of late () at wandering... (commas or in paretheses?)
in the critting process (comma) just as there were...
with me (comma) at any time (comma) feel free
And, how I admire the scriptwriter, who can do so much with the dramatic power.
(end with exclaimation or change wording? I'm uncertain, here)
carry on (comma) where we left off last time (comma) with...
the problems inherent in critting an isolated chapter of a novel (comma?) when the writer is well into the body of the work. We'll take a look at the options the writer has (available).
comment I received as a
(Her response: yuk, terrible English, but in quote, though paraphrased...)
free to pass it by. (ending quotation missing)
is I don't remember (Perhaps missing punctuation after "is" -- uncertain, there)
any explanation. (question mark neede or re-phrase)
brought a chimpanzee up to speed. (I liked that!)
summary [in] (of) the chapter just before.
(wording, perhaps "...the preceding chapter." would work better?)
Simon_Morris (Thanks, I'll check it out!)
options from which to choose to introduce the best of what remains of his novel, the (something seems off with punctuation?)
"Gilliganesque twit" (Great description! I love it!)
empathy for our fellow writers. (should be question mark)
over three dots (quotations needed, "three dots")
ever got on ("received" would sound so much better)
young man after I assured (punctuation? something seemed off there...)
advise I ever got; and (again, "received")
and patience (comma) anyone can deliver a helpful crit.
(I loved that you repeated this line! Note, the comma was missing the previous time, too, but somehow I think I didn't note it?)
Critter Crits (comma) we will finish...
Jay, this a wonderful teaching series. Keep up the good work! I wish we could make these manditor reading for all critters. :o)
Thanks for sharing,
Donna
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Great stuff, Jay! I am really enjoying reading these (due to your style, honesty and easy of writing a well flowing piece) and like the fact that I am learning from you efforts. I hope others are learning, too. And yes, I have read them all (so far) and look forward to reading future installments.
My Notes (some corrections, suggestions and comments):
Intro:
with FanStory (comma) I critted
Critter Crits (comma) explained
and I had of house (have? current tense? you do still have this hobby, don't you?)
Body:
adept () of late () at wandering... (commas or in paretheses?)
in the critting process (comma) just as there were...
with me (comma) at any time (comma) feel free
And, how I admire the scriptwriter, who can do so much with the dramatic power.
(end with exclaimation or change wording? I'm uncertain, here)
carry on (comma) where we left off last time (comma) with...
the problems inherent in critting an isolated chapter of a novel (comma?) when the writer is well into the body of the work. We'll take a look at the options the writer has (available).
comment I received as a
(Her response: yuk, terrible English, but in quote, though paraphrased...)
free to pass it by. (ending quotation missing)
is I don't remember (Perhaps missing punctuation after "is" -- uncertain, there)
any explanation. (question mark neede or re-phrase)
brought a chimpanzee up to speed. (I liked that!)
summary [in] (of) the chapter just before.
(wording, perhaps "...the preceding chapter." would work better?)
Simon_Morris (Thanks, I'll check it out!)
options from which to choose to introduce the best of what remains of his novel, the (something seems off with punctuation?)
"Gilliganesque twit" (Great description! I love it!)
empathy for our fellow writers. (should be question mark)
over three dots (quotations needed, "three dots")
ever got on ("received" would sound so much better)
young man after I assured (punctuation? something seemed off there...)
advise I ever got; and (again, "received")
and patience (comma) anyone can deliver a helpful crit.
(I loved that you repeated this line! Note, the comma was missing the previous time, too, but somehow I think I didn't note it?)
Critter Crits (comma) we will finish...
Jay, this a wonderful teaching series. Keep up the good work! I wish we could make these manditor reading for all critters. :o)
Thanks for sharing,
Donna
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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I appreciate, so much, your eagle eye, JoAnna. And you are very generous giving me a 4 star. I read it over perhaps six times before posting it. And, I thought I had it perfect. Go figure. Thannks again.
Jay
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Glad I could be of help! I will check it out again. For the content, I so wanted to give you the 5, but just was too much spag.
Proofing your own stuff is always rough!!! I have one I worked on all day yesterday and now I know I just have to leave it alone for a day or so. That way perhaps I can look at it with fresh eyes, my mind won't be saturated with it when I look at it again? I hope that works...
Donna
Comment from Lokman
All right. Fine. I'm guilty. I'll try to give brief summaries.
Okay? LOL.
One point.--You forgot to mention that doing a summary of what has led up to the posted chapter also HELPS the author. It helps maintain and control the plot so SAGGING doesn't have to occur.
Then there's one other thing. FANS--Write well-Get fans-obviously most of whom won't necessarily read every chapter, but there will be that hardcore 4-10 who will likely read and comment on every chapter, thus giving the writer even more help, because they're strongly aware of hte themes and can call you on it when you stray!
There's my two cents.
Very well done Jaysquires!
Lokman
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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All right. Fine. I'm guilty. I'll try to give brief summaries.
Okay? LOL.
One point.--You forgot to mention that doing a summary of what has led up to the posted chapter also HELPS the author. It helps maintain and control the plot so SAGGING doesn't have to occur.
Then there's one other thing. FANS--Write well-Get fans-obviously most of whom won't necessarily read every chapter, but there will be that hardcore 4-10 who will likely read and comment on every chapter, thus giving the writer even more help, because they're strongly aware of hte themes and can call you on it when you stray!
There's my two cents.
Very well done Jaysquires!
Lokman
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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THanks again, Lokman, for your always pertinent and astute comments. I do appreciate you.
Jay
Comment from Lois Delaney
I found this most intriguing. Very well written and agree with you 100 percent. Critting is difficult in itself. But when the genre, say poetry isn't understood very well, why bother. Unless in my case, I want to learn more what that genre has to offer. I think that there are some of us who are good at pointing out SPAG and others are brilliant concerning plot, imagery and many other areas. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that if I can only help with SPAG and point out what I like, it will help the writer. Some writer's are great at dialogue, others at narrative and still others at carrying a piece through with great skills. I think every critique is valuable even pointing out a misspelled word. If the person doesn't point at it, it looks unpofessional IMHO
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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I found this most intriguing. Very well written and agree with you 100 percent. Critting is difficult in itself. But when the genre, say poetry isn't understood very well, why bother. Unless in my case, I want to learn more what that genre has to offer. I think that there are some of us who are good at pointing out SPAG and others are brilliant concerning plot, imagery and many other areas. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that if I can only help with SPAG and point out what I like, it will help the writer. Some writer's are great at dialogue, others at narrative and still others at carrying a piece through with great skills. I think every critique is valuable even pointing out a misspelled word. If the person doesn't point at it, it looks unpofessional IMHO
Comment Written 19-Oct-2006
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2006
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Housemaid, I so appreciate your comments. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you so much. I hope you journey over in my direction for future installments. You are always a welcome guest.
Jay
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Have you checked out my instalments lately. Just checking!
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If I haven't I shall ("will" sounds much less stuffy, doesn't it?)
