How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 10 "Sweet Exegesis"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
81 total reviews
Comment from LIJ Red
They may lack the what? I paid good money, back before the book stores all closed, for how-tos that didn't dissect a story as well as you did the Munro tale.
Excellent instructive stuff.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
  |
They may lack the what? I paid good money, back before the book stores all closed, for how-tos that didn't dissect a story as well as you did the Munro tale.
Excellent instructive stuff.
Comment Written 07-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Oh, sorry! I meant to rewrite that "afterword" but didn't get to it until after you read it. Thanks for the high praise, Red!
Comment from c_lucas
T make the story strong and interesting, it should be told over time. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a very good read.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
|
T make the story strong and interesting, it should be told over time. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a very good read.
Comment Written 06-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Thanks, Charlie.
-
You're welcome, Jay. Charlie
Comment from Adri7enne
Terrific analysis, Jay. I can follow your reasoning on why Munro might have chosen Ben's daughter as the POV character. Her perspective allows for the noticing of the subtle details that hold the meaning of the story. Perhaps, being a woman, and a daughter, she might have naturally wanted to tell the story from that POV. It would have been natural to imagine herself as a girl, observing her imagined father's actions and describing those feelings. Intelligent conjecture and a different way of looking at things. There's little doubt for whatever reason, Munro knows how to write a good story.
Why did you not finish your last sentence? "They may lack the???" What's up with that, Boogie Bear? LOL!
You could teach a college course on how to decompose and autopsy a story. I really enjoyed your analysis and I hope to read more.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
|
Terrific analysis, Jay. I can follow your reasoning on why Munro might have chosen Ben's daughter as the POV character. Her perspective allows for the noticing of the subtle details that hold the meaning of the story. Perhaps, being a woman, and a daughter, she might have naturally wanted to tell the story from that POV. It would have been natural to imagine herself as a girl, observing her imagined father's actions and describing those feelings. Intelligent conjecture and a different way of looking at things. There's little doubt for whatever reason, Munro knows how to write a good story.
Why did you not finish your last sentence? "They may lack the???" What's up with that, Boogie Bear? LOL!
You could teach a college course on how to decompose and autopsy a story. I really enjoyed your analysis and I hope to read more.
Comment Written 06-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Ah, thank you, Adrienne for the compliment. About the afterword, I meant to revise that before I posted, then forgot about it. I've done it now. "They may lack the ..." What a cliffhanger, eh?
Comment from mfowler
Your latest offering gives sage advice about approaching a short story more thoroughly and critically. You are right about reading it whole, smelling the essence of what it is before the niggling aspects of plot, structure, and technical aspects starts eating away at your understanding. Then analysing the storyline for its moments of climax etc must help give the essence a skeleton on which to hang it. You use the 'Walker Brothers Cowboy' example to excellent effect as you explain how to examine point of view from all major angles, looking for why the author chose to go with a particular voice. This detailed analysis had me almost believing that I'd read the story, and I found myself seeing PoV from a new PofV. My initial reaction to all of this intelligent analysis was 'how the hell am I going to find time to do this properly?', but intuit from reading over the earlier chapters that this will become second nature with practice. I think about 25 kid's stories that I need to mark. These practices would help immensely in evaluating a piece, but invariably time constraints lead to cursory reading and focus on mechanics rather than big picture elements such as theme and point of view. Really enjoyed this one, Jay and it deserves the sixer.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
 |
Your latest offering gives sage advice about approaching a short story more thoroughly and critically. You are right about reading it whole, smelling the essence of what it is before the niggling aspects of plot, structure, and technical aspects starts eating away at your understanding. Then analysing the storyline for its moments of climax etc must help give the essence a skeleton on which to hang it. You use the 'Walker Brothers Cowboy' example to excellent effect as you explain how to examine point of view from all major angles, looking for why the author chose to go with a particular voice. This detailed analysis had me almost believing that I'd read the story, and I found myself seeing PoV from a new PofV. My initial reaction to all of this intelligent analysis was 'how the hell am I going to find time to do this properly?', but intuit from reading over the earlier chapters that this will become second nature with practice. I think about 25 kid's stories that I need to mark. These practices would help immensely in evaluating a piece, but invariably time constraints lead to cursory reading and focus on mechanics rather than big picture elements such as theme and point of view. Really enjoyed this one, Jay and it deserves the sixer.
Comment Written 06-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Mark, thank you so much for your generous words and ranking. It's crits like yours that made the whole series worthwhile.
Comment from royowen
I guess what you're saying Jay, that critiquing becomes a chore of looking at other's writing from your own experience gained from writing. I read something this morning that was so image laden, that I didn't understand the plot or purpose to the story, and said so, it was too cranial for me, and I believe I wouldn't purchase (buy)it because I couldn't "purchase" it. The characters need to be understood! Well done. Excellent points in this well written series, blessings,
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
|
I guess what you're saying Jay, that critiquing becomes a chore of looking at other's writing from your own experience gained from writing. I read something this morning that was so image laden, that I didn't understand the plot or purpose to the story, and said so, it was too cranial for me, and I believe I wouldn't purchase (buy)it because I couldn't "purchase" it. The characters need to be understood! Well done. Excellent points in this well written series, blessings,
Comment Written 06-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Thank you, Roy, for your close read of this post. I'm glad you're finding some applicability. Blessings.
Comment from robyn corum
I really enjoyed this piece, kind of sorry to learn there had been others before that I've missed. I appreciate the in-depth look at 'critting' AND getting to watch over your shoulder as you critted a story I have yet to read myself. A two-fer !! Great job and I look forward to more. --robo
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
|
I really enjoyed this piece, kind of sorry to learn there had been others before that I've missed. I appreciate the in-depth look at 'critting' AND getting to watch over your shoulder as you critted a story I have yet to read myself. A two-fer !! Great job and I look forward to more. --robo
Comment Written 06-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Unfortunately, Robyn, this is the last one. But it is available in my portfolio. Thanks for reading this.
Comment from justafan
Your just brilliant. I know I go overboard sometimes with my feelings but in this case...your case, they are all warranted. I could live to be 100 and never get to where you are with the written word.
I know you want to tell me to shush so I will.
Wonderful :)
Always your fan,
Missy
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
|
Your just brilliant. I know I go overboard sometimes with my feelings but in this case...your case, they are all warranted. I could live to be 100 and never get to where you are with the written word.
I know you want to tell me to shush so I will.
Wonderful :)
Always your fan,
Missy
Comment Written 06-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Shush! Oh, go on, Missy. I'll give you five minutes. LOL, thanks, dear, for all your support. You are wonderful!
Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin
Hi, Jay...
_ You know, dude, you should be teaching classes.
_ Have you approached Tom about doing such?
_ Many would benefit from you expertise, my friend.
_ You could certainly teach them attention to detail in all aspects of writing.
_ Excellent chapter.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax (*:*)
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
|
Hi, Jay...
_ You know, dude, you should be teaching classes.
_ Have you approached Tom about doing such?
_ Many would benefit from you expertise, my friend.
_ You could certainly teach them attention to detail in all aspects of writing.
_ Excellent chapter.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax (*:*)
Comment Written 06-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
-
Thanks, Jax. Really. I'm blushing.
Comment from Jack Lewis
Apparently I was too deep into income tax season to notice this chapter when it was released :) Sorry. But its another good one. I look forward to the next.
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2008
|
Apparently I was too deep into income tax season to notice this chapter when it was released :) Sorry. But its another good one. I look forward to the next.
Comment Written 20-Sep-2008
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2008
-
Thanks for reading it, Jack. Actually, I have pulled away from FanStory for a couple of months to take care of a few pressing obligations -- non writing, not creative, I'm afraid and just check back to see if I have any messages. Lo and behold! Today I see a review! I feel the old inflation process begin again. A few more of those and I may venture back into full-time critting and writing. I do miss it so! Thanks for doing your part.
Jay
-
Well, I do hope to see you soon :)
Comment from cjvaughn
Oh No... This isn't the end of the book... Is it?
I have so enjoyed learning from your words and appreciate the way in which you tie humor into each piece.
I will look for the next edition of this novel... Take care and thanks for sharing this with us. CJ
PS: One typo:
One ***saturday(S)
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2007
|
Oh No... This isn't the end of the book... Is it?
I have so enjoyed learning from your words and appreciate the way in which you tie humor into each piece.
I will look for the next edition of this novel... Take care and thanks for sharing this with us. CJ
PS: One typo:
One ***saturday(S)
Comment Written 28-Apr-2007
reply by the author on 28-Apr-2007
-
Thank you, CJ for your crit. And, here I thought you had finished everything. And, no this isn't the end of it. I have been busy fiinishng a short story I'll be posting Monday ( See? I capitalized it unlike Saturday. You were the only one of over forty people to catch it. Thanks for your eagle eye.
Jay
-
I'm glad there's more to come... I'll be looking forward to it. If you hadn't explained about reading for the third time, I would have missed the S. The first and second time I was too engrossed in what I read to notice...