How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "WHY This Critter Crits"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
127 total reviews
Comment from Tootsie55
This was a great chapter. A well thought out idea. I can't see why someone ca't make up their own unique title in lieu of just a 'reviewer. Good onya mate, as we say here in Australia.
reply by the author on 20-Apr-2015
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This was a great chapter. A well thought out idea. I can't see why someone ca't make up their own unique title in lieu of just a 'reviewer. Good onya mate, as we say here in Australia.
Comment Written 20-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 20-Apr-2015
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I appreciate your reading this, my friend, and will be coming back for more.
Comment from Scarbrems
Brilliant. Very true and very funny, especially when you were describing the altercation on the message board. I love your conversational tone. 'I might have spewed a little enthusiasm all over you ', but that is because I thoroughly enjoyed this
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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Brilliant. Very true and very funny, especially when you were describing the altercation on the message board. I love your conversational tone. 'I might have spewed a little enthusiasm all over you ', but that is because I thoroughly enjoyed this
Comment Written 19-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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Excuse this generic response, Sarkems. I answered all 20 crits on the first two screens and hit send. As far as I know all the time I spent was wasted. It took me well over an hour. Let me know if you DID get it. Meantime, I want to make sure you DO know I appreciate your crit.
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I think I only got one reply from you, Jay, and that's this one, but I could be wrong. I've been away a while, and struggling to get used to the new layout.
Comment from Brett Matthew West
I will give this a 5-Star. Easy to see why it is an All Time Best. I enjoyed the fact that you can see yourself as a Critter. Story itself used descriptive language throughout and held reader's interest, and yes I did read the whole thing. Action flowed well. Some times makes the reader believe you are talking about them and some times you make them see you are talking about you. Keeps them involved. Write on.
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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I will give this a 5-Star. Easy to see why it is an All Time Best. I enjoyed the fact that you can see yourself as a Critter. Story itself used descriptive language throughout and held reader's interest, and yes I did read the whole thing. Action flowed well. Some times makes the reader believe you are talking about them and some times you make them see you are talking about you. Keeps them involved. Write on.
Comment Written 19-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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I thank you, bmwhsd (hmmmm, not a vowel in the batch) for your generosity and evidence of reading for understanding. Much more to come.
Comment from krprice
Another excellent essay. Like you, I try to give honest critiques. If someone wants a glowing crit whether it is deserved or not, then I'm not the person to crit them. I am overly honest, to the point of not being able to lie with a straight face. I also have a tendency to lack tact. I'm glad there are critters like you critting my work.
Karlene
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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Another excellent essay. Like you, I try to give honest critiques. If someone wants a glowing crit whether it is deserved or not, then I'm not the person to crit them. I am overly honest, to the point of not being able to lie with a straight face. I also have a tendency to lack tact. I'm glad there are critters like you critting my work.
Karlene
Comment Written 19-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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That is sweet of you to say, Karlene. BTW, do you have any idea how many people I've told about this reviewer on FanStory who convinced me to check out my overuse of the word "that"? Most of them answer back their thank yous when they discovered their own overuse. Again, Karlene, thanks for all you do.
Comment from Sankey
Interesting read. I can imagine some dummy not liking your own tag allbeit as a 'reviewer'. How dumb some must be to stifle any kind of creativity, even in wanting to call yourself something different hehe. Look forward to the next chapter old mate. Have a look at my tribute to Jonathan Crombie (Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables who died today in Canada.)
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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Interesting read. I can imagine some dummy not liking your own tag allbeit as a 'reviewer'. How dumb some must be to stifle any kind of creativity, even in wanting to call yourself something different hehe. Look forward to the next chapter old mate. Have a look at my tribute to Jonathan Crombie (Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables who died today in Canada.)
Comment Written 19-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 19-Apr-2015
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Thanks, Geoff. I appreciate it. I already read your piece and asked some questions on his death.
Comment from mfowler
Your essay certainly gets at the heart of what drives and limits us as reviewers/crits. You say we have a symbiotic relationship among readers/writers. How true. The desire not to offend and to be as honest as your resources allow, challenges a lot of us here, as much as scurrilous talk may poison the well within a small village. We're all human after all and prone to influences that affect our objectivity and our purest motivations. This has been a most interesting read and given me a lot to ponder.This part shall stay with me:
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 what is true and genuine in the other.
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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Your essay certainly gets at the heart of what drives and limits us as reviewers/crits. You say we have a symbiotic relationship among readers/writers. How true. The desire not to offend and to be as honest as your resources allow, challenges a lot of us here, as much as scurrilous talk may poison the well within a small village. We're all human after all and prone to influences that affect our objectivity and our purest motivations. This has been a most interesting read and given me a lot to ponder.This part shall stay with me:
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 what is true and genuine in the other.
Comment Written 18-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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I am thrilled you were moved by my words. I suppose it would be too long for an epitaph, wouldn't it? I must admit, blushing, it is fetching. Thanks for reading, for your kindness and your rating. Do come back for the rest of the series.
Comment from Eigle Rull
My friend, as I said in the last post of yours that I read, I like straight-forwardness. And that is what I got out of this post. You lessened the blunt surface with your reasoning but it was still point on. I believe - no, I know I would have dropped that "board," like a hot potato also, if I'd been in your shoes. It does no good to seek knowledge and pay for it if you don't get honesty.
This is a great post because of the examples you gave. It made it easier for someone like me (a beginner) to understand. I still had to look up a couple of words to understand their meaning, since my vocabulary isn't very large, but it all came together.
I appreciate that you are an honest cit. I know I can count on you to give it to me straight.
Best wishes, my friend. This piece deserves a six, but so did the other one - honestly.
Always with respect,
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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My friend, as I said in the last post of yours that I read, I like straight-forwardness. And that is what I got out of this post. You lessened the blunt surface with your reasoning but it was still point on. I believe - no, I know I would have dropped that "board," like a hot potato also, if I'd been in your shoes. It does no good to seek knowledge and pay for it if you don't get honesty.
This is a great post because of the examples you gave. It made it easier for someone like me (a beginner) to understand. I still had to look up a couple of words to understand their meaning, since my vocabulary isn't very large, but it all came together.
I appreciate that you are an honest cit. I know I can count on you to give it to me straight.
Best wishes, my friend. This piece deserves a six, but so did the other one - honestly.
Always with respect,
Comment Written 18-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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You are so kind, Elgie, both in your words and the wonderful way that chartreuse cross leading five red stars express it. I hope the post will continue to help you to aspire to your best here.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I know, for one, I like honest reviews so I know if something does or doesn't work. How and I to know unless I get honest reviews. I know a lot of people write reviews just to get the money without even reading my work. I did enjoy reading and I completely understand where you are coming from.
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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I know, for one, I like honest reviews so I know if something does or doesn't work. How and I to know unless I get honest reviews. I know a lot of people write reviews just to get the money without even reading my work. I did enjoy reading and I completely understand where you are coming from.
Comment Written 18-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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Thank you, Barbara. I'm glad you're in agreement and enjoy the series.
Comment from kiwisteveh
Yes, you do get a little carried away on that proverbial hunt for the wild goose here, stepping outside of your own self-imposed remit to offer us some fairly random thoughts about the nature of reviewing v critting.
That said, the tirade is entertaining in a circumlocutory way, the stories of baseball and getting published usefully illuminate the point you are making - what was that again?
Steve
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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Yes, you do get a little carried away on that proverbial hunt for the wild goose here, stepping outside of your own self-imposed remit to offer us some fairly random thoughts about the nature of reviewing v critting.
That said, the tirade is entertaining in a circumlocutory way, the stories of baseball and getting published usefully illuminate the point you are making - what was that again?
Steve
Comment Written 18-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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Very good, and very humorously put, Steve. At least you were entertained and that's gotta count for something.
Comment from Sis Cat
Excellent essay and follow up to the first one. This passage is the heart of your essay for me and it resonated with me because it reflects my experience on FanStory and at open mics:
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 what is true and genuine in the other.
Yes, there is an organic, symbiotic relationship in criticism. I am less interested in flattery, than I am in honest feedback that can help me gauge my success or failure. I perform stories. Whenever an audience member gushes, "I love your story!" I put them on the spot and ask, "What did you like about my story?" They are taken aback. They pause. My question forced them to think, analyze, and verbalize what worked and did not work in my stories. Their answers are much more helpful to me than "I love your story!"
Thank you for reviving this essay about crits.
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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Excellent essay and follow up to the first one. This passage is the heart of your essay for me and it resonated with me because it reflects my experience on FanStory and at open mics:
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 what is true and genuine in the other.
Yes, there is an organic, symbiotic relationship in criticism. I am less interested in flattery, than I am in honest feedback that can help me gauge my success or failure. I perform stories. Whenever an audience member gushes, "I love your story!" I put them on the spot and ask, "What did you like about my story?" They are taken aback. They pause. My question forced them to think, analyze, and verbalize what worked and did not work in my stories. Their answers are much more helpful to me than "I love your story!"
Thank you for reviving this essay about crits.
Comment Written 18-Apr-2015
reply by the author on 18-Apr-2015
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Andre, I'd love to see one of your performances. I watched it on youtube, but there's something about the in the flesh watching. I'm so happy you enjoyed this part of the series.
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Yes, watching a performer in the flesh is like watching magic materialize before ones eyes. I hope you get to enjoy one of my performances someday.