How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 9 "Intermezzo B.Y.O.B"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
81 total reviews
Comment from janalma
I've just finished reading the first five chapters of this book and I enjoy your humor and am learning what goes into good writing. I read this one too. I like your writing but you do digress a bit. Lol. (Tho, I have to say, no one digresses as much as the author of Billy Budd--Herman Mehlville. We just read that one for book club). Looking forward to the next chapter, tho I still have to go back and read three more to catch up. Will do that tomorrow nite, I guess. Good job on this. Kept my interest, which is unusual here for a book. This is important for me, tho, as I do want to review well.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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I've just finished reading the first five chapters of this book and I enjoy your humor and am learning what goes into good writing. I read this one too. I like your writing but you do digress a bit. Lol. (Tho, I have to say, no one digresses as much as the author of Billy Budd--Herman Mehlville. We just read that one for book club). Looking forward to the next chapter, tho I still have to go back and read three more to catch up. Will do that tomorrow nite, I guess. Good job on this. Kept my interest, which is unusual here for a book. This is important for me, tho, as I do want to review well.
Comment Written 02-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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I can't argue against the weight of so many plump reviewers (I just thought I'd throw in the bit about plump). Enough of you said I rambled a tad there must be some truth in it ... you pudgy critters! Glad you're gonna catch up on all of them. You honor me.
Comment from Mystic Angel 7777
I am so thoroughly enjoying this as you make learning about writing fun rather than a tedious chore filled with rules and pesky restrictions. I liked the affronted writer you mention as I could see more than one getting their hackles up over insisting on a published work - I would have clarified and said 'published' differs from 'self-published' as the one denotes a certain measure of success while the other is paid for and as we all know it is very easy to get folks to take your money and NOT so easy for them to give it to you LOL. Nicely done and I thank you for sharing this.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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I am so thoroughly enjoying this as you make learning about writing fun rather than a tedious chore filled with rules and pesky restrictions. I liked the affronted writer you mention as I could see more than one getting their hackles up over insisting on a published work - I would have clarified and said 'published' differs from 'self-published' as the one denotes a certain measure of success while the other is paid for and as we all know it is very easy to get folks to take your money and NOT so easy for them to give it to you LOL. Nicely done and I thank you for sharing this.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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THank you for reading it; I'm glad it resonates with you.
Comment from alexisleech
Much food for thought in this excellent chapter about critting, Jay. I have always maintained that I have learnt more by reviewing here on Fan Story, than I've learnt anywhere else. Why? Because you absorb all the 'good' from excellent writers like yourself, and your internal alarm bell goes off when you see obvious mistakes in both plot and structure in less experienced writers.
This is all great advice wrapped up in your usual wit. Thank you!
Alexis x
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Much food for thought in this excellent chapter about critting, Jay. I have always maintained that I have learnt more by reviewing here on Fan Story, than I've learnt anywhere else. Why? Because you absorb all the 'good' from excellent writers like yourself, and your internal alarm bell goes off when you see obvious mistakes in both plot and structure in less experienced writers.
This is all great advice wrapped up in your usual wit. Thank you!
Alexis x
Comment Written 01-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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You be so sweet, Alexis! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your being here more than you know.
Comment from Spitfire
Way back in the sixties I took a correspondence course in writing. One of the exercises was to rewrite a paragraph in a published novel. I couldn't see any point to that, but what the heck did I know at the age of three. LOL
Excellent advice that also teaches the novice how prose, like poetry, had a rhythm all its own.
I'm glad you're reposting these, but I'm not sure Tom gives credit on revised writings?
Great title of this.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Way back in the sixties I took a correspondence course in writing. One of the exercises was to rewrite a paragraph in a published novel. I couldn't see any point to that, but what the heck did I know at the age of three. LOL
Excellent advice that also teaches the novice how prose, like poetry, had a rhythm all its own.
I'm glad you're reposting these, but I'm not sure Tom gives credit on revised writings?
Great title of this.
Comment Written 31-May-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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No, I'm sure Tom doesn't give credit for them. My kick comes from articulate and knowledgeable people like you who tell me they derive something of value from the posts. That really strums my strings.
Comment from boxergirl
I appreciate the tips you've given us. It was a little crowded for me, so i had to read it a few times to get them. I csn see like you said in the beginning, we can't start out on the high wire. But start with short pieces. The more you do it, the better you become. 8-)
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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I appreciate the tips you've given us. It was a little crowded for me, so i had to read it a few times to get them. I csn see like you said in the beginning, we can't start out on the high wire. But start with short pieces. The more you do it, the better you become. 8-)
Comment Written 31-May-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Glad you enjoyed this, Karen. I'm so gratified when anyone tells me he/she read my post more than once. You've made my evening.
Comment from happykat4
I do believe we learn from reading other works or stories. I have a terrible habit of reading the first few chapters of a book and if I find I am bored with it, I will read the ending chapters (about 2-3) if it doesn't hold my attention. When I am very disappointed with the ending of a book, I may read a couple of chapters in the middle, and make up my mind right there to continue or quit reading it. For me it is a waste of time when it does not capture my attention. I have read a book many years ago that I did lose track of time. I do not remember who the author is, title or publisher but my family would try to talk with me and I was oblivious to them. I read the novel in two days. I have not found one like it since. It was a murder mystery.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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I do believe we learn from reading other works or stories. I have a terrible habit of reading the first few chapters of a book and if I find I am bored with it, I will read the ending chapters (about 2-3) if it doesn't hold my attention. When I am very disappointed with the ending of a book, I may read a couple of chapters in the middle, and make up my mind right there to continue or quit reading it. For me it is a waste of time when it does not capture my attention. I have read a book many years ago that I did lose track of time. I do not remember who the author is, title or publisher but my family would try to talk with me and I was oblivious to them. I read the novel in two days. I have not found one like it since. It was a murder mystery.
Comment Written 31-May-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Thank you so much, Happykat4. I appreciate the input, beyond the yea or nay about the post, telling me how this chapter relates to your own experiences. You are appreciated.
Comment from angelface2
Well, to begin with I read this and then read it again, because I am one to 'not always pick up what the meaning of this is'.. I had a little trouble with comprehension in school. So this idea of 'studying' someone else's work kind of floors me. I read a lot of fiction novels and have written one myself, though not published. I think you make some good sense in what you have written. :>D Miss Sally
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Well, to begin with I read this and then read it again, because I am one to 'not always pick up what the meaning of this is'.. I had a little trouble with comprehension in school. So this idea of 'studying' someone else's work kind of floors me. I read a lot of fiction novels and have written one myself, though not published. I think you make some good sense in what you have written. :>D Miss Sally
Comment Written 31-May-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Thank you so much, Miss Sally. A lot of US have the same problem with comprehension. I hope the second read of the post was helpful.
Comment from jpduck
I find it hard to know what to make of this. If I have understood it correctly, it is by way of being a preface to the next section of your book (using book in the FS sense of anything with more than one chapter). This next section, it would seem, is going to help us all to understand the art/craft/science (??) of studying, in great depth and detail, the essence, the structure, the balance, the hidden meaning of a piece of written fiction.
And I am overwhelmed, beaten, feeling inadequate. My instinct is that it is all going to be far too clever for me to begin to understand it. All I know is that writing fiction is something I do and enjoy doing. I haven't the faintest idea about how to discover its qualities, if it has any.
So, let's be clear -- this is not a review; I lack the ability or the wit to review your piece. It's just a ramble, and I'm simply stealing the member dollars. :-))
Adrian
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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I find it hard to know what to make of this. If I have understood it correctly, it is by way of being a preface to the next section of your book (using book in the FS sense of anything with more than one chapter). This next section, it would seem, is going to help us all to understand the art/craft/science (??) of studying, in great depth and detail, the essence, the structure, the balance, the hidden meaning of a piece of written fiction.
And I am overwhelmed, beaten, feeling inadequate. My instinct is that it is all going to be far too clever for me to begin to understand it. All I know is that writing fiction is something I do and enjoy doing. I haven't the faintest idea about how to discover its qualities, if it has any.
So, let's be clear -- this is not a review; I lack the ability or the wit to review your piece. It's just a ramble, and I'm simply stealing the member dollars. :-))
Adrian
Comment Written 31-May-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Success! I made Adrian feel inadequate! LOL, sorry, but I have a hard time with you ever feeling inadequate about anything connected with writing. I will tell you this: if you read the crits on this you'll find a goodly number of readers felt there was too much fluff and too little meat. Please do read the next chapter, though. It's the last of the series and it should be useful--I hope, I hope!
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Thank you, Jay; you're a very uplifting fellow. But, you know, I often feel inadequate about my writing. I acknowledge, though, that it's not just the writing. I tend to feel inadequate about almost anything. It may have occurred to you that there is a lot of Nicholas in me, or vice versa.
Adrian
Comment from cbat
Reading your work to me is like trying to stuff a complete class of extremely important information into my tiny brain.
I want to get it all in, I need to comprehend every word, sooooooooooo I can only go back again and again to get it all.
Perhaps I can pay you points as I learn.
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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Reading your work to me is like trying to stuff a complete class of extremely important information into my tiny brain.
I want to get it all in, I need to comprehend every word, sooooooooooo I can only go back again and again to get it all.
Perhaps I can pay you points as I learn.
Comment Written 31-May-2015
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2015
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I hope you were finally able to get enough out of it to see that the real "meat" will be in the next (and final) chapter.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
My dear Jay, Normally I love your work but you took way too many words to say choose a short story you can relate too. You are usually not wordy, but this time yes.
reply by the author on 31-May-2015
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My dear Jay, Normally I love your work but you took way too many words to say choose a short story you can relate too. You are usually not wordy, but this time yes.
Comment Written 31-May-2015
reply by the author on 31-May-2015
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You are the third person to say that, Barbara. I appreciate your candor. Really.