How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 3 "Macro/Micro Critting -- Continued"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
104 total reviews
Comment from Mustang Patty
Hi Jay; I love this series. I find so much value and nuggets of truth within your words, and yes, I'm learning how to be much more gracious and giving in my reviews. I had already learned a great deal from you--in the way you critiqued my work, and now I have a blueprint to work with.
I found this particular part very informative and entertaining. (I was also so glad to know my book summaries are a good idea!)
thank you for this valued advice,
~patty~
reply by the author on 15-Aug-2017
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Hi Jay; I love this series. I find so much value and nuggets of truth within your words, and yes, I'm learning how to be much more gracious and giving in my reviews. I had already learned a great deal from you--in the way you critiqued my work, and now I have a blueprint to work with.
I found this particular part very informative and entertaining. (I was also so glad to know my book summaries are a good idea!)
thank you for this valued advice,
~patty~
Comment Written 15-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 15-Aug-2017
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Patty, you don't know how important it is to me to hear your words. Your timing is impeccable, especially since I was about deciding to chuck the whole project. I'm only getting a smattering of crits and they have been--for the most part--polite but lukewarm, many showing indications of not having read it at all. But if a few sincerely want to read it, I shall continue. The problem is, I won't be able to promote it as high as I have. Thank you for your sincerity and passion.
Comment from w.j.debi
I appreciate the excellent advice about summarizing previous chapters. I began doing it because I saw others on the site doing it. I will check out Mikey's book to see how he does it due to your suggestion. It is nearly impossible to start in the middle of a book and at first I wouldn't even attempt reading anything well under progress, I wouldn't have a clue about what was going on and felt I couldn't give a good review on it. A couple of times, I have been intrigued enough by a chapter to start at the beginning and catch up, but it takes time so it has to be a great story.
I like the example of your friend and his honest critique. It shows that if we are honest, we can learn from each other.
reply by the author on 21-Aug-2017
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I appreciate the excellent advice about summarizing previous chapters. I began doing it because I saw others on the site doing it. I will check out Mikey's book to see how he does it due to your suggestion. It is nearly impossible to start in the middle of a book and at first I wouldn't even attempt reading anything well under progress, I wouldn't have a clue about what was going on and felt I couldn't give a good review on it. A couple of times, I have been intrigued enough by a chapter to start at the beginning and catch up, but it takes time so it has to be a great story.
I like the example of your friend and his honest critique. It shows that if we are honest, we can learn from each other.
Comment Written 14-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 21-Aug-2017
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Sorry I'm so slow in responding to this, your very kind crit. I'm so happy you are finding my post so helpful. Thank you.
Comment from trumby
Good, solid advice from an (obviously) experienced author.
This is not just to have a dig at reviewers who want to "Grab the $ and run", but it also gives good advice on how to react to (possibly) negative reviewers. Or even reviewers who don't know how to say it. (Loved that bit)
My father LOVES anything that I write about Australian cattle and horses, even though I know that it needs work.
reply by the author on 13-Aug-2017
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Good, solid advice from an (obviously) experienced author.
This is not just to have a dig at reviewers who want to "Grab the $ and run", but it also gives good advice on how to react to (possibly) negative reviewers. Or even reviewers who don't know how to say it. (Loved that bit)
My father LOVES anything that I write about Australian cattle and horses, even though I know that it needs work.
Comment Written 13-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 13-Aug-2017
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TRUMBY! Have you been away? I remember your story about (the fighter) you and your neighbor. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm about this post and of course, the sixer.
Comment from kiwigirl2821
Hey Jay. This is exactly what I've been thinking and feeling. True I do not write prose but, by golly I read. And I know what I like and what may not be quite right as I read it even if I have no bloody idea why. When I go into a chapter that I've not read the other chapters, I mention to the author that I'm reading a chapter that I can only offer a critique based on how this chapter made me feel or what I thought might be an improvement here or there. For instance as a poet, I can create a moment of strong emotion. Maybe the writer is writing something that I felt I needed as a reader to feel stronger, so I could maybe offer something to add to the vibe. At any rate, I am learning from this series of critts and glad to be in for the ride. xoxo deborah
reply by the author on 13-Aug-2017
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Hey Jay. This is exactly what I've been thinking and feeling. True I do not write prose but, by golly I read. And I know what I like and what may not be quite right as I read it even if I have no bloody idea why. When I go into a chapter that I've not read the other chapters, I mention to the author that I'm reading a chapter that I can only offer a critique based on how this chapter made me feel or what I thought might be an improvement here or there. For instance as a poet, I can create a moment of strong emotion. Maybe the writer is writing something that I felt I needed as a reader to feel stronger, so I could maybe offer something to add to the vibe. At any rate, I am learning from this series of critts and glad to be in for the ride. xoxo deborah
Comment Written 13-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 13-Aug-2017
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Thank you, Debbie. This is the kind of crit I love. You tell what it meant to you and gave me examples.
Comment from Dean Kuch
Excellent advice for "Critters" of all kinds, Jay!
Whether they are poets themselves who prefer to review only poetry, or writers of novels and short story tellers who stick to reviewing primarily prose, there is advice here to benefit everyone.
I write poetry for the most part. However, I enjoy reviewing both poetry as well as prose. From a readers perspective, it always helps me immensely when an author of a long-running novel includes a brief synopsis of the previous chapter at the beginning of their latest.
I do not like to "jump in" in the middle of a novel to offer an opinion just to gain a few member bucks. I feel that's being very unfair to the author.
It's akin to stealing their hard-earned member dollars. Let's face it, both you and I (and everyone else here knows) it takes a lot of reading and reviewing to build up your member dollar account.
In other words if I haven't gotten in on the "ground floor", so to speak, I'm probably going to pass it by.
Thus far each chapter I've read in this series has been flawless as it pertains to grammar, punctuation and SPAG, Jay.
I look forward to chapter four.
~Dean
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2017
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Excellent advice for "Critters" of all kinds, Jay!
Whether they are poets themselves who prefer to review only poetry, or writers of novels and short story tellers who stick to reviewing primarily prose, there is advice here to benefit everyone.
I write poetry for the most part. However, I enjoy reviewing both poetry as well as prose. From a readers perspective, it always helps me immensely when an author of a long-running novel includes a brief synopsis of the previous chapter at the beginning of their latest.
I do not like to "jump in" in the middle of a novel to offer an opinion just to gain a few member bucks. I feel that's being very unfair to the author.
It's akin to stealing their hard-earned member dollars. Let's face it, both you and I (and everyone else here knows) it takes a lot of reading and reviewing to build up your member dollar account.
In other words if I haven't gotten in on the "ground floor", so to speak, I'm probably going to pass it by.
Thus far each chapter I've read in this series has been flawless as it pertains to grammar, punctuation and SPAG, Jay.
I look forward to chapter four.
~Dean
Comment Written 13-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2017
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Dean, you are kind and generous in both praise and rating. Thank you. I appreciate the depth to which you took your crit.
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You're very welcome, Jay.
Enjoy your Monday,
Comment from Thomas Bowling
You're right. Reviewing is as much an art as writing. It helps me become a better writer, hopefully, by seeing what others are doing wrong or right.
This morning I got a review from my daughter. She said Dad, I love you, but I don't like your book. I wanted to invoke the 150 character rule. What didn't she like, and which book? I sent her five.
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2017
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You're right. Reviewing is as much an art as writing. It helps me become a better writer, hopefully, by seeing what others are doing wrong or right.
This morning I got a review from my daughter. She said Dad, I love you, but I don't like your book. I wanted to invoke the 150 character rule. What didn't she like, and which book? I sent her five.
Comment Written 12-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2017
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You are funny, Thomas. I've had the same reaction from my daughter- in-law over a published short story. Thanks for reading this chapter and for your kind words.
Comment from --Turtle.
Hi, Jay.
I read through this chapter of the critter book. Boy, oh boy, did I miss out on an important chapter over two years ago.
I was so pressed up to the screen, guilty of much and many things... some, still ... that I after a point could rarely avert my eyes to stop and give my initial reaction along the way.
Post reading, I'm a mix of squirmy, absorbing... processing, and really enjoying this chapter. I'm probably a bit biased because I did some reviewing today and when I see some really strong writing after writing that my brain has been trying to piece together into sense, figuring out what's wrong... what's wrong here, what's wrong here, what feels wrong here? That in a chapter where it was one... this feels right, look how he did that, zing! this applies to me. Not only was I learning stuff from the content, but I was appreciating a lot of how the content was presented.
Though I resist a few things in my stubbornness.
You engage the reader, bring them to you, and have a voice that -- even as it's bouncing from topic to topic -- contains a solid stake in the ground with the theme and flow.
I still treat writing and reading novel's 'previously's like last week's reheated broccoli but ... a lot of things clinking in my head.)
For those of you with me last time, and (who)? are now waiting to join me once again with my wife ... I'm afraid I'll
(I paused on this sentence, I'm not sure if the who is needed, but I sure wanted it there)
It is[,] always honorable.
(why the comma? suggest deleting)
can't wait until I actually get into the subject of critting.
(Ha! This actually pulled a full on laugh from me. bingo! I love the side jaunts and teaser thoughts you do, but ... sometimes am rearing for where's the beef of the meal? Yet when we get to it ... it's like a chef who has been softening the meat while everyone's focusing on the soup. : D
Controlled, juicy ... seasoned, and at temp.
spanked him in front of all his classmates. And(,)? jaysquires, you'd have known if you'd had just taken the
crit, if you don't mind.
(I loved the sharing/ paraphrasing-show of this. It highlights a lot of peoples' experience with their first time at offering a review only to be schooled, and the aura of emotions that comes along with it. And it addresses the inner doubt and shame of a job not feeling well done.)
standpoint, I must say I am mystified at the latter.
(I'm going to share this, though you probably know, I was/am ... notorious for slacking on my 'previously'. (In fact, when I started forcing (and I do mean forcing) myself to write them at all, it was, I believe, for you. Because I could not do it for me. The overwhelming amount of information that I figure nobody even cares about... Bad habit. Bad attitude. Sometimes I'm so ... self defeated ... I toss my hand to the air and say, screw it ... I'm done with this, I'm not even going to put in a previously... If anyone wants it--which I doubt they do-- it's one chapter back. One chapter... one, certified, chapter that way and I doubt it's wanted because a handful of the people reviewing the work aren't even reading it anyway. Bad habits, and shame on me.)
Even worse. Much of the time, I don't read them... I tend to jump right in, feel around, and then after the fact, look for information I might think I could be missing. Which is probably why it's very difficult for me to write them. I don't read them, and I generally figured nobody much else did either. I sell myself short in many, many ways.)
And I'm sorry, but that just flat mystifies me.
(Ha! I love the sorry, as it's a classic Sorry (not sorry). As someone who looks for them, who wants a bigger primer before splashing into the pool, it makes sense, that they are an important thing to look for ... but I'm awful, and I don't usually read them; though the way I process information, I have a bit of overconfidence that I'll figure it out along the way. And if I don't, then I'll check around for info that might fill any gaps.)
If ignoring the problem is sad, expecting someone to do
(lol, this is probably one of the more important critter chapter for me to read, as I'm so double guilty of all sorts of things.)
enthusiastic audience for his novel.
(ah! AH!)
Indian Cult leader who had
(later through this chapter... you use Indian cult leader... so figure this capital Cult might be a typo)
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2017
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Hi, Jay.
I read through this chapter of the critter book. Boy, oh boy, did I miss out on an important chapter over two years ago.
I was so pressed up to the screen, guilty of much and many things... some, still ... that I after a point could rarely avert my eyes to stop and give my initial reaction along the way.
Post reading, I'm a mix of squirmy, absorbing... processing, and really enjoying this chapter. I'm probably a bit biased because I did some reviewing today and when I see some really strong writing after writing that my brain has been trying to piece together into sense, figuring out what's wrong... what's wrong here, what's wrong here, what feels wrong here? That in a chapter where it was one... this feels right, look how he did that, zing! this applies to me. Not only was I learning stuff from the content, but I was appreciating a lot of how the content was presented.
Though I resist a few things in my stubbornness.
You engage the reader, bring them to you, and have a voice that -- even as it's bouncing from topic to topic -- contains a solid stake in the ground with the theme and flow.
I still treat writing and reading novel's 'previously's like last week's reheated broccoli but ... a lot of things clinking in my head.)
For those of you with me last time, and (who)? are now waiting to join me once again with my wife ... I'm afraid I'll
(I paused on this sentence, I'm not sure if the who is needed, but I sure wanted it there)
It is[,] always honorable.
(why the comma? suggest deleting)
can't wait until I actually get into the subject of critting.
(Ha! This actually pulled a full on laugh from me. bingo! I love the side jaunts and teaser thoughts you do, but ... sometimes am rearing for where's the beef of the meal? Yet when we get to it ... it's like a chef who has been softening the meat while everyone's focusing on the soup. : D
Controlled, juicy ... seasoned, and at temp.
spanked him in front of all his classmates. And(,)? jaysquires, you'd have known if you'd had just taken the
crit, if you don't mind.
(I loved the sharing/ paraphrasing-show of this. It highlights a lot of peoples' experience with their first time at offering a review only to be schooled, and the aura of emotions that comes along with it. And it addresses the inner doubt and shame of a job not feeling well done.)
standpoint, I must say I am mystified at the latter.
(I'm going to share this, though you probably know, I was/am ... notorious for slacking on my 'previously'. (In fact, when I started forcing (and I do mean forcing) myself to write them at all, it was, I believe, for you. Because I could not do it for me. The overwhelming amount of information that I figure nobody even cares about... Bad habit. Bad attitude. Sometimes I'm so ... self defeated ... I toss my hand to the air and say, screw it ... I'm done with this, I'm not even going to put in a previously... If anyone wants it--which I doubt they do-- it's one chapter back. One chapter... one, certified, chapter that way and I doubt it's wanted because a handful of the people reviewing the work aren't even reading it anyway. Bad habits, and shame on me.)
Even worse. Much of the time, I don't read them... I tend to jump right in, feel around, and then after the fact, look for information I might think I could be missing. Which is probably why it's very difficult for me to write them. I don't read them, and I generally figured nobody much else did either. I sell myself short in many, many ways.)
And I'm sorry, but that just flat mystifies me.
(Ha! I love the sorry, as it's a classic Sorry (not sorry). As someone who looks for them, who wants a bigger primer before splashing into the pool, it makes sense, that they are an important thing to look for ... but I'm awful, and I don't usually read them; though the way I process information, I have a bit of overconfidence that I'll figure it out along the way. And if I don't, then I'll check around for info that might fill any gaps.)
If ignoring the problem is sad, expecting someone to do
(lol, this is probably one of the more important critter chapter for me to read, as I'm so double guilty of all sorts of things.)
enthusiastic audience for his novel.
(ah! AH!)
Indian Cult leader who had
(later through this chapter... you use Indian cult leader... so figure this capital Cult might be a typo)
Comment Written 12-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2017
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Turtle, you've blessed me, once more, with a rich, rich crit. Thank you for all the time it took. I'll swear, you seem to get as much from your own review as you do reading the post. I get the feeling you have your ah-ha moments in the midst of your writing the crit.
I'll fix those things. That one comma in "It is[,] always honorable," is weird. Weirder is that you were the only one who pointed it out.
I'm enjoying my time away from FS and only came back to answer my crits.
Thank you for making the return worthwhile.
Comment from Meia (MESAYERS)
The critter doesn't have to go far on FanStory to find any number of examples of other novels-in-progress. Some will have summaries. Most won't. From the writer's standpoint, I must say I am mystified at the latter. Why would anyone go through the agony each of us goes through to finish a piece--to change it, to polish it, to change and polish it again, until it says just about what he wants it to say, then box up and send out to the publisher or agent pages 125 to 132 without any explanation?' Exactly critter. I rest my case! Kind regards Meia x
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2017
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The critter doesn't have to go far on FanStory to find any number of examples of other novels-in-progress. Some will have summaries. Most won't. From the writer's standpoint, I must say I am mystified at the latter. Why would anyone go through the agony each of us goes through to finish a piece--to change it, to polish it, to change and polish it again, until it says just about what he wants it to say, then box up and send out to the publisher or agent pages 125 to 132 without any explanation?' Exactly critter. I rest my case! Kind regards Meia x
Comment Written 12-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2017
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Thank you, Meia. I'm glad you found something of value in this post.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I am suitably chastened by my lack of writing a 'summary so far'. So much so that I stopped reading halfway through this piece and quickly wrote one to put in front of my next part! Then, I came back to read the rest. I'll now go and look up Mikey's profile to see if I've done it right. LOL. I'm sure I'll be writing it again! What a lot I've learnt this time! You've put so much into this and I'm really grateful to you for it. Well done, my wonderful friend. Definitely deserves a six, which somehow I still had to give you. :) Sandra xxxx
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2017
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I am suitably chastened by my lack of writing a 'summary so far'. So much so that I stopped reading halfway through this piece and quickly wrote one to put in front of my next part! Then, I came back to read the rest. I'll now go and look up Mikey's profile to see if I've done it right. LOL. I'm sure I'll be writing it again! What a lot I've learnt this time! You've put so much into this and I'm really grateful to you for it. Well done, my wonderful friend. Definitely deserves a six, which somehow I still had to give you. :) Sandra xxxx
Comment Written 12-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2017
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Thank you so much for the lavish compliment, my dear Sandra. Don't forget when I first wrote that post. I re-posted it without checking to see if Mikey still has that post in his portfolio.
By the way, Sandra, I'm going on hiatus from FanStory for at least a couple of weeks. I'm burnt out fighting battles, here, I simply cannot win. So I'll be working on my blog, re-energizing my Twitter account, and reacquainting myself with some friends on FaceBook. I wanted to let you know since I don't want you to think I'm not interested in reading your novel. I'll try to play catch-up when I return, but now I just need to get away.
Thanks for your support, as always, Sandra. Keep writing good stuff. I know you will.
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I'll miss you, but I know you're doing the right thing. Please let me know when you publish your Trinning trilogy. (I hope that's the right spelling) I want them all. Lots of love, my friend. xx
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One "n" but I'll make sure it's spelled right on the cover.
Comment from apky
So, with just a little thumb of(I'm not sure with this expression, whether you mean "of" or whether it should be "on". "Of seems more to indicate that the nose had a little thumb. "On" on the other hand would indicate the thumb on the nose was "little" - which makes better sense to me.) my nose at his request for me to dispense with my metaphors, allow me to introduce the pure vanilla brand of macro/micro critting:
After reading this I assumed that I jolly well fall into a category I never expected I was in. But it could be that I'm simply being subjective.
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2017
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So, with just a little thumb of(I'm not sure with this expression, whether you mean "of" or whether it should be "on". "Of seems more to indicate that the nose had a little thumb. "On" on the other hand would indicate the thumb on the nose was "little" - which makes better sense to me.) my nose at his request for me to dispense with my metaphors, allow me to introduce the pure vanilla brand of macro/micro critting:
After reading this I assumed that I jolly well fall into a category I never expected I was in. But it could be that I'm simply being subjective.
Comment Written 12-Aug-2017
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2017
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I'll have to check to see where my thumb was, Apky: up or on. Thanks for reading this and for the comment. I love to get these!
