How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "WHY This Critter Crits"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
127 total reviews
Comment from nora arjuna
Jay, thanks for your great sense of humour to keep me going, trying to get to what you intended to say, otherwise I'd say, "Please, can you go straight to the point?"
Anyway along the journey, (I pictured myself sitting in front of you, listening to your interestingly related tale, yes, you were talking to me. Truth is, I read this yesterday, and now while I'm typing this, I can still hear your voice in various tones - gentle, jovial, amused, animated, firm, ringing in my ear...), now where was I, I'm beginning to write your way, LOL, OK, I learned about your other experience and some facts about being a writer.
So, right, I got your point. You'll be honest, genuine and true and not simply go 'ah and ooh' or flatter, in whatever 'hood' we belong. You're going to critic and not simply view. I think I can see the difference between the words 'review' and 'critic'.
As for me, I have two things to point out here -
..you've noted the "star" rating system[.] very much like FanStory's - not sure you intended it as a comma or period.
..peppered with oohs and ahs [and and] a half dozen variants of work of genius.
Looking forward to listen to the rest.
reply by the author on 15-Sep-2006
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Jay, thanks for your great sense of humour to keep me going, trying to get to what you intended to say, otherwise I'd say, "Please, can you go straight to the point?"
Anyway along the journey, (I pictured myself sitting in front of you, listening to your interestingly related tale, yes, you were talking to me. Truth is, I read this yesterday, and now while I'm typing this, I can still hear your voice in various tones - gentle, jovial, amused, animated, firm, ringing in my ear...), now where was I, I'm beginning to write your way, LOL, OK, I learned about your other experience and some facts about being a writer.
So, right, I got your point. You'll be honest, genuine and true and not simply go 'ah and ooh' or flatter, in whatever 'hood' we belong. You're going to critic and not simply view. I think I can see the difference between the words 'review' and 'critic'.
As for me, I have two things to point out here -
..you've noted the "star" rating system[.] very much like FanStory's - not sure you intended it as a comma or period.
..peppered with oohs and ahs [and and] a half dozen variants of work of genius.
Looking forward to listen to the rest.
Comment Written 15-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 15-Sep-2006
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Did I say this old man loves you, Arjuna? You made my day. Thank you for your kindness. It means a lot to me. And the bonus of snagging those two errors. The first was to be a comma. The second was a stutter. I'm going back to fix them now. The good, specific, stuff is going to follow in a few weeks. Stay tuned. And, thanks again, you dear, dear woman.
Jay
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Yeah, you told me already, and I did confess my feelings too, LOL. I think it's mutual.
Jay, I'm off to bed, but quickly - will you crit my first acrostic - Ramadhan. It's going to expire today 11+pm. Think it's still morning there?
Comment from AK
Hi Jaysquires,
I really like your understated, chatty style of writing which is anything but inconsequential. I have read so much about this particular subject here, some in a ponderous and others in an indignant tone but here I read something fresh-something to think about. The reality of the entire situation. I love the encapsulation of the entire writer- reviewer relationship:
" We only grow, as writers and critters, by stretching out of, and beyond, the creative skin in which each of us resides at every individual moment in time. We exist in a true symbiotic relationship. We feed off, and at the same time nourish, each other. And, what each of us deserves is that which is true and genuine in the other."
I look forward to reading more of your work. (Is your novel under this name? )
best wishes from a friendly critter,
ami
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Hi Jaysquires,
I really like your understated, chatty style of writing which is anything but inconsequential. I have read so much about this particular subject here, some in a ponderous and others in an indignant tone but here I read something fresh-something to think about. The reality of the entire situation. I love the encapsulation of the entire writer- reviewer relationship:
" We only grow, as writers and critters, by stretching out of, and beyond, the creative skin in which each of us resides at every individual moment in time. We exist in a true symbiotic relationship. We feed off, and at the same time nourish, each other. And, what each of us deserves is that which is true and genuine in the other."
I look forward to reading more of your work. (Is your novel under this name? )
best wishes from a friendly critter,
ami
Comment Written 14-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Hi ami, and thank you so very, very much for your kind comments about this piece. It's gratifying to find people who take the time to read something so deeply as you read this. It is appreciated. My novel is on Amazon under Jay Squires, but since I have severed ties with my publisher I doubt that Amazon can sell it. You can read all the "famed" reviews that are there and also look up the names of the reviewers, find their work and I can almost guarantee you'll find my "review" of their book -- not crit, but review. Anyway, thanks again, and stay tuned. More chapters to follow in a few weeks. I am a slow writer.
you cannot possibly be any slower than I! I am doing some re-writes on a novel of my own ( completed, mind you) and after a month, all I have finished is the prologue which preceeds forty chapters- ugh.
I will zip by and take a look at your writing from time to time. Good luck,
ami
Comment from TomandOma
"This is the absolute best, most highly polished, work I can offer at this moment. Please help me find ways to make it better."
If you agree, I think I'll quote that, when I review.
I never do less than my best, which is no doubt less sterling than others with more knowledge.
I've noticed that almost everything I've reviewed in September is rated five. that's not because of partiality to the writer, but to partiality to content, creativity and style. I've got to seriously think of a way to crit, giving more weight to the area [SPAG] in which I've been told I am 'heavy'. Sheesh! I crit grammar and punctuation because I recognize errors in that more readily than in some style-areas.
I think the strength of these multiple crits is that different critters have different areas in which they excell or at least are more competent.
Again, you've given us a lot to think about, and I'm rating this 'five', which in my opinion it deserves. What can I say?
Your faithful critter. Doris
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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"This is the absolute best, most highly polished, work I can offer at this moment. Please help me find ways to make it better."
If you agree, I think I'll quote that, when I review.
I never do less than my best, which is no doubt less sterling than others with more knowledge.
I've noticed that almost everything I've reviewed in September is rated five. that's not because of partiality to the writer, but to partiality to content, creativity and style. I've got to seriously think of a way to crit, giving more weight to the area [SPAG] in which I've been told I am 'heavy'. Sheesh! I crit grammar and punctuation because I recognize errors in that more readily than in some style-areas.
I think the strength of these multiple crits is that different critters have different areas in which they excell or at least are more competent.
Again, you've given us a lot to think about, and I'm rating this 'five', which in my opinion it deserves. What can I say?
Your faithful critter. Doris
Comment Written 14-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Thank you so much, Doris, both for your high praise and giving me input as to your own strengths and challenges as a critter. Hang in there. I'm doing the background work for the next chapter. Keep an eye out for it. It will be more specific, I promise.
Jay
Comment from Adora Bayles
Jay, you can't do that! There's no such thing as a yardstick for crittering! Just do it! You don't need to standardize because, as Lincoln said, "You can't please all of the people all the time but you can please some of the people some of the time."
I am enjoying your series of articles. Great humor and sparkle.
And, whether my crits are good or bad, inspired or pedestrian
(I take it you crit in your bare feet!)
If, however, flattery is what a person craves, allow me to whisper in that person's ear the name of a publisher whose authors will gleefully offer a full, fragrant dose of it -- for a price, of course....
(A VANITY PUBLISHER?)
Adora
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Jay, you can't do that! There's no such thing as a yardstick for crittering! Just do it! You don't need to standardize because, as Lincoln said, "You can't please all of the people all the time but you can please some of the people some of the time."
I am enjoying your series of articles. Great humor and sparkle.
And, whether my crits are good or bad, inspired or pedestrian
(I take it you crit in your bare feet!)
If, however, flattery is what a person craves, allow me to whisper in that person's ear the name of a publisher whose authors will gleefully offer a full, fragrant dose of it -- for a price, of course....
(A VANITY PUBLISHER?)
Adora
Comment Written 14-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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I always wait for your sparking crits, Adora. I only crit stinky reviews in my bare feet. And, no, it wasn't a vanity publisher, but definitely a print on demand (POD) one. The books are overpriced and soft-covered and, therefore, infrequently purchased. Thanks for being there for me.
Jay
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Wagons South! is also a POD and as far as I can see, it is a vanity publisher. Editors attach a stigma to PODs, calling them vanity publications. They turn up their noses to them because they figure any fool can write a book and pay to get it published. So many professionally written books never make it out there because of this attitude toward hiring a publisher. I sell Wagons South! out of the back of my car. And it's covered with testimonials from all over the country. I will be using the Golden Siblings testimonials for a query letter when I do the final editing.
Adora
Comment from Burn4me
That was interesting. I normally would have passed over something like this, but it definantly caught my eye. Especially when you got into the woman from amazon. I did not find any errors..(Perhaps maybe i was sucked in) so awesome job.
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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That was interesting. I normally would have passed over something like this, but it definantly caught my eye. Especially when you got into the woman from amazon. I did not find any errors..(Perhaps maybe i was sucked in) so awesome job.
Comment Written 14-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Thank you, Burn4me, for your warm comments and kind crit. Now that you resisted your temptation to pass it by, why not stick around for the chapters to follow, where I promise I will be more specific.
Comment from Bama Mermaid
I enjoyed the chatty, we're-in-this-together tone of the piece. Your "exposure" (with no names named) of the publishing scheme online was informative to me--I've never had the nerve to finish a book, let alone seek a publisher of ANY ilk!
My "crit" regarding improvement would be that it is perhaps a bit long for the content--it's informal and fun to read, but could be more succinct? With that one suggestion, I will conclude by saying I will read the next installment!
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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I enjoyed the chatty, we're-in-this-together tone of the piece. Your "exposure" (with no names named) of the publishing scheme online was informative to me--I've never had the nerve to finish a book, let alone seek a publisher of ANY ilk!
My "crit" regarding improvement would be that it is perhaps a bit long for the content--it's informal and fun to read, but could be more succinct? With that one suggestion, I will conclude by saying I will read the next installment!
Comment Written 14-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Thank you so very much Mama Barmaid (just kidding) for your comment about the length of the piece. Actually, this is a midget piece compared to my short stories. Mama's boy never learned to be succinct. Thanks for not downrating me for it.
Jay
Comment from Agrona
For your part, I am going to assume that with your posting you are announcing to each and every critter out here: "This is the absolute best, most highly polished, work I can offer at this moment. Please help me find ways to make it better."
>I completely agree with you on the above. The wonderful people on Fanstory have helped me throughout the year I've been posting here, to grow immensely as a writer. For that I will always be greatful!! Too many things escape my eyes, even so I am trying to be a perfectionist. I am thankful that there are people such as you, who are willing to lend a helping hand. That's why I am here, to learn and to give back to the wonderful Fanstory community.
I really enjoyed your piece. Your writing is light and filled with humor. However, I am able to read between the lines as well, and I see the seriousness of your pledge, to treat all writer's as equals, without blinding us with sugar-sweet comments.
Excellent piece - no nits here!!
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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For your part, I am going to assume that with your posting you are announcing to each and every critter out here: "This is the absolute best, most highly polished, work I can offer at this moment. Please help me find ways to make it better."
>I completely agree with you on the above. The wonderful people on Fanstory have helped me throughout the year I've been posting here, to grow immensely as a writer. For that I will always be greatful!! Too many things escape my eyes, even so I am trying to be a perfectionist. I am thankful that there are people such as you, who are willing to lend a helping hand. That's why I am here, to learn and to give back to the wonderful Fanstory community.
I really enjoyed your piece. Your writing is light and filled with humor. However, I am able to read between the lines as well, and I see the seriousness of your pledge, to treat all writer's as equals, without blinding us with sugar-sweet comments.
Excellent piece - no nits here!!
Comment Written 14-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Celtica, I thank you so much for your thoughtful crit. You gave me a scare, though, when you gave back to me the quote about it being my absolute best. I was thinking, My God, what did this Critter find? How did I screw up? How embarrasing! I do so appreciate your comments and the fact that you see the high Ideal I set for myself, and challenge other Critters to adopt. I think you already have.
Jay
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LOL Jay, well that would've been something, eh - if I had turned your qoute against you. But fear not, I may be firm, but usually I don't bite. hehehe
Comment from Charles Keith
Hello Jaysquires
As recipient of one of your longer 'critques' I just had to read this. As requested I also read the 'first edition' of Critter critting.
Firstly let me say that your review of my piece was immensely useful. I am just a llittle bit slapdash when it comes to proof reading my work. (the reason I think is because I always had secretaries to help me out). Now I'm out on my own.
I was attracted by your title and I thought it was going to be about animals, which in a way it is I suppose. I thought the way you referred to you subject was very enterprising. (Or should that be enterprizing? I never could figure out the difference between US and UK English).
I am sorry to say that your first version seemed to be superior. I didn't rate it, sorry perhaps I'll go back and give it 'foive' as they once said in Birmingham (UK)
On the second piece, although impeccably 'SPAGGED' I just found it too long. It's not that I have the attention span of a goldfish, I just found it lacked the brightness and originality of the first piece and it didn't hold me. It seemed too 'wordy' sorry but there it is.
Good luck with your writing (I hate saying negative things but at times we need to know)
Charles Keith
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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Hello Jaysquires
As recipient of one of your longer 'critques' I just had to read this. As requested I also read the 'first edition' of Critter critting.
Firstly let me say that your review of my piece was immensely useful. I am just a llittle bit slapdash when it comes to proof reading my work. (the reason I think is because I always had secretaries to help me out). Now I'm out on my own.
I was attracted by your title and I thought it was going to be about animals, which in a way it is I suppose. I thought the way you referred to you subject was very enterprising. (Or should that be enterprizing? I never could figure out the difference between US and UK English).
I am sorry to say that your first version seemed to be superior. I didn't rate it, sorry perhaps I'll go back and give it 'foive' as they once said in Birmingham (UK)
On the second piece, although impeccably 'SPAGGED' I just found it too long. It's not that I have the attention span of a goldfish, I just found it lacked the brightness and originality of the first piece and it didn't hold me. It seemed too 'wordy' sorry but there it is.
Good luck with your writing (I hate saying negative things but at times we need to know)
Charles Keith
Comment Written 14-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 14-Sep-2006
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We absolutely have to know, Charles, and I thank you for giving me your opinion. 5s, 4s, don't make a difference to me (Oh, bullshit!, they do make a difference! Why did I say that? What I mean is this: a thoughtful, insightful 4 is better than a fickle, fatuous and fawning 5, to modify and modified modifier). A 3 I don't accept. I work very hard at my writing, re-reading it scores of times, and I am anal about SPAG. When it is posted it is worthy of at least a 4. I hope that doesn't sound like I'm full of myself. I just take my writing (and critting) seriously. Thank you for reading this piece so closely.
Jay
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Thanks for you kind reply. You can 'SPAG' my stuff whenever you want. I am very bad at this. I can check things over and over and I always miss something. I get very annoyed with myself.
Yes stars are nice, but good serious reviews are better.
How else can we know if we can write well enough to please others?
Kind regards to you
Keith
Comment from fortydeuce
This is well-written, but is a bit more rambly than your current piece. I guess I didn't feel that this was quite as crisply worded as the previous one, and that you sufficiently explained why you critique, and why that is different than what you did on the previous board.
You state that you view others' work as the best possible they can come up with at that moment, which is cool, but what personal stake do you have in it? I'd like to see a little bit more hard facts to this essay, personally, though that could be my inner law student (horrors) coming out. ;)
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2006
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This is well-written, but is a bit more rambly than your current piece. I guess I didn't feel that this was quite as crisply worded as the previous one, and that you sufficiently explained why you critique, and why that is different than what you did on the previous board.
You state that you view others' work as the best possible they can come up with at that moment, which is cool, but what personal stake do you have in it? I'd like to see a little bit more hard facts to this essay, personally, though that could be my inner law student (horrors) coming out. ;)
Comment Written 13-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2006
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Thanks, fortydeuce, for your insightful and close read of this piece. I'm hoping the specifics on the next installment will be more to your liking.
Jay
Comment from AlvinTEthington
There's very good insight here. I came to this website from a land of professional reviewing, merit-based publishing, and staged scripts (which people actually paid money to go see or become involved in--I wrote an interactive script.) Imagine my surprise when I reviewed honestly and got squelched. I am now squelched by four of the top ten poets, none of whom had the courtesy to tell me WHY they were squelching me.
So I greatly appreciate this essay. Too often we forget that we learn from our mistakes. We don't grow as writers from praise, but from criticism.
This was well written--it flowed well, and kept me interested throughout. But more, it is an honest depiction of life in today's world, where anyone with money can get published. Although satirical, you have captured a very sad situation.
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2006
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There's very good insight here. I came to this website from a land of professional reviewing, merit-based publishing, and staged scripts (which people actually paid money to go see or become involved in--I wrote an interactive script.) Imagine my surprise when I reviewed honestly and got squelched. I am now squelched by four of the top ten poets, none of whom had the courtesy to tell me WHY they were squelching me.
So I greatly appreciate this essay. Too often we forget that we learn from our mistakes. We don't grow as writers from praise, but from criticism.
This was well written--it flowed well, and kept me interested throughout. But more, it is an honest depiction of life in today's world, where anyone with money can get published. Although satirical, you have captured a very sad situation.
Comment Written 13-Sep-2006
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2006
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Thanks, Alvin. I really appreciate your input. I'm curious, though... how do you know you've been squelched? Does a red light come on when you try to review someone's writing? Yes, the situation is sad indeed! Thank you again, for understanding it on a deeper level.
Jay