How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 11 "Good, Evil and Warts"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
53 total reviews
Comment from Annette Gulliver
That was an interesting piece, Jay. I always try to find the lesson in your critting posts, and have learned (I hope) some valuable tips in dialogue. I understand your meaning about showing a character, warts an all, and do try to apply it. I try to put myself inside my characters' heads, but it doesn't always work. Your words will ring in my ears as I ponder on my next chapter.
bye for now,
Annette
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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That was an interesting piece, Jay. I always try to find the lesson in your critting posts, and have learned (I hope) some valuable tips in dialogue. I understand your meaning about showing a character, warts an all, and do try to apply it. I try to put myself inside my characters' heads, but it doesn't always work. Your words will ring in my ears as I ponder on my next chapter.
bye for now,
Annette
Comment Written 19-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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Bye, Annette and thank you for your encouragement after you read this post. I'm much obliged.
Comment from Gloria ....
I see you increased your text size. I like it. I like a clean font, not too much serif fancy dancy distracting stuff going on.
LOL. Love how you introduce the fact that we always want to believe there is A REASON (in their upbringing/background) for people doing what they do.
The fact is, there are psychopaths/sociopaths who have nothing in their background to account for what they do. They just simply do not have a conscience. Their brains don't work that way. Does that make them evil? Nopers, because we assign evil as a decision, something they have control over from a higher activity in their brain. They do not. Their brains function differently which is where stems from the statement, evil is banal. It is as ordinary as a crocodile eating bodies in the waters where it swims--A cold-blooded lizard. Do most of us find that interesting? Not in the least. But, these people do walk among us. A purely cold-blooded character is uninteresting to us. Because there is only one tone to their character. You might be able to camouflage their complete lack of conscience with surrounding characters, but they could never be the lead.
You are right though. A writer must know ALL their characters inside out. And that requires stripping back their truth and not sanitizing it by hiding the underbelly.
Anyway, Jay, you always inspire me to go on and on. Being in insurance sales and subjected to all the audits, public inspection and scouring of your records has made you most honest indeed.
As always, your friend,
Gloria
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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I see you increased your text size. I like it. I like a clean font, not too much serif fancy dancy distracting stuff going on.
LOL. Love how you introduce the fact that we always want to believe there is A REASON (in their upbringing/background) for people doing what they do.
The fact is, there are psychopaths/sociopaths who have nothing in their background to account for what they do. They just simply do not have a conscience. Their brains don't work that way. Does that make them evil? Nopers, because we assign evil as a decision, something they have control over from a higher activity in their brain. They do not. Their brains function differently which is where stems from the statement, evil is banal. It is as ordinary as a crocodile eating bodies in the waters where it swims--A cold-blooded lizard. Do most of us find that interesting? Not in the least. But, these people do walk among us. A purely cold-blooded character is uninteresting to us. Because there is only one tone to their character. You might be able to camouflage their complete lack of conscience with surrounding characters, but they could never be the lead.
You are right though. A writer must know ALL their characters inside out. And that requires stripping back their truth and not sanitizing it by hiding the underbelly.
Anyway, Jay, you always inspire me to go on and on. Being in insurance sales and subjected to all the audits, public inspection and scouring of your records has made you most honest indeed.
As always, your friend,
Gloria
Comment Written 19-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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You are right, of course, about the sociopath and psychopath. Prisons are filled with them. And whenever one commits a heinous crime, the press rushes in to poke a hole or two in the black vacuum, searching for a motive.
Don't you find that, even for the sociopath, the writer needs to find some redeeming facet in his personality to make him believable for the reader. Like you said, they could never be the lead. It would be challenging to try, though, wouldn't it.
Sounds like a good FanStory contest: Invent a believable character who has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Thank you, dear, for the wonderful crit--blazing with intelligence. See, you can't even conceal it.
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No, you can't find a redeeming quality in a true sociopath, (if you want to stay true to what we as a collective know) because they don't have any.
Take Hannibal Lecter for example that you mentioned in your essay. He had/has an elegance to him. He was/is actually quite refined even though a cannibal he has a conscience. He had the ability to make choices, and as he said and I quote, "I prefer to eat the rude." A genuine psychopath wouldn't give a shit. It wouldn't even occur to them.
As writers we stay true to what we know to be true and make fiction out of it to lead the way.
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You rock, Gloria!
Comment from giraffmang
Hi Jay,
Sorry haven't been reviewing as much as I'd like these days. You know how it is!
I flew through this piece, very engaging. So I have now read it twice. Good advice in here, and as a novice I found it very enlightening in some aspects. I have learnt a lot from you in the dialogue stakes and now am developing character for longer works. I am going to tuck this away, as a little touchstone piece.
Great advise, well written - as if that is a surprise!
All the best
Gareth
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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Hi Jay,
Sorry haven't been reviewing as much as I'd like these days. You know how it is!
I flew through this piece, very engaging. So I have now read it twice. Good advice in here, and as a novice I found it very enlightening in some aspects. I have learnt a lot from you in the dialogue stakes and now am developing character for longer works. I am going to tuck this away, as a little touchstone piece.
Great advise, well written - as if that is a surprise!
All the best
Gareth
Comment Written 19-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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Bless you, Gareth, for your always kind words and for the startlingly beautiful chartreuse cross, like a proud general leading the five red stars. The best to you, as well. I don't know whether I ever congratulated you for your monthly reviewer win from a month or so ago. If I didn't, here 'tis.
Comment from Eigle Rull
This post was very well written, as I knew it would be. I enjoy it when you write about writing and put across thoughts like this one. It is very interesting, and I learn from it. This is an angle I had never considered, but will from now on. I thank you for another great post about writing. I enjoyed reading it, my friend. It held my attention very well.
Always with respect,
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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This post was very well written, as I knew it would be. I enjoy it when you write about writing and put across thoughts like this one. It is very interesting, and I learn from it. This is an angle I had never considered, but will from now on. I thank you for another great post about writing. I enjoyed reading it, my friend. It held my attention very well.
Always with respect,
Comment Written 19-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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Thank you, Elgie, for your expected kindness. You are a gentleman.
Comment from lancellot
Very interesting. It was been a long time since I heard someone mention Compound W. Good writing as usual. I'm not a fan of The Today Show, I'm usually at work anyway.
note:
the Today's Show Monday morning
- I think it's just the Today Show.
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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Very interesting. It was been a long time since I heard someone mention Compound W. Good writing as usual. I'm not a fan of The Today Show, I'm usually at work anyway.
note:
the Today's Show Monday morning
- I think it's just the Today Show.
Comment Written 18-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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Thanks, Lance. Glad you enjoyed it. Monday morning was the day he watched it. I reordered the sentence so it would be a little less confusing.
Comment from Spitfire
Boy, did you back up into this one as is your style. I've read this advice about characters is several professional articles, but really connected with it when you used the movie analogy. Good instructive write.
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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Boy, did you back up into this one as is your style. I've read this advice about characters is several professional articles, but really connected with it when you used the movie analogy. Good instructive write.
Comment Written 18-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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Thank you, Shari. Haha, yeah, I do tend to ease my way into it. Most seasoned writers, like you, will read it and say, "Duh!" Many here on FanStory, though, don't know the first thing about developing characters. This is more for them. I hoped the fun part would make the experience palatable to the pros as well.
Comment from janalma
I love your articles. You always inject enough humor into them to keep them interesting and enjoyable. You even mention a few warts of your own, sometimes. Lol. This one is good and so true. I'm reading a non-fiction book right now that holds up a person as almost a saint. I have to say, it is kind of boring. And I don't believe it. My sis and I were talking about it (it's a book club book) and we both agreed that she couldn't have been that perfect. Also, we read between the lines, thinking and analyzing and have pretty much decided the same things (independent of each other) on what some of her faults probably were.
Anyway, I digress. Your article is well done and informative. You have a way of keeping interest going by holding off on some info till later. Your essay flows along well, sometimes meandering a bit, but I don't mind. I'd rather stroll than run.
One typo I noticed---
find no nutrients in that gray sponge to help {it} turn it into a
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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I love your articles. You always inject enough humor into them to keep them interesting and enjoyable. You even mention a few warts of your own, sometimes. Lol. This one is good and so true. I'm reading a non-fiction book right now that holds up a person as almost a saint. I have to say, it is kind of boring. And I don't believe it. My sis and I were talking about it (it's a book club book) and we both agreed that she couldn't have been that perfect. Also, we read between the lines, thinking and analyzing and have pretty much decided the same things (independent of each other) on what some of her faults probably were.
Anyway, I digress. Your article is well done and informative. You have a way of keeping interest going by holding off on some info till later. Your essay flows along well, sometimes meandering a bit, but I don't mind. I'd rather stroll than run.
One typo I noticed---
find no nutrients in that gray sponge to help {it} turn it into a
Comment Written 18-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2015
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Thank you for your kindness and a big thanks for your eagle eye. No matter how many times I edit something there's always a nit or two to make me human ... or stupid.
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Just like you said a character should be, you're not perfect and it makes you more interesting. Lol.
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I'm not perfect? Just a rumor, my friend.
Comment from The Mom/DarleneThomson
First kudos to you my friend for winning. I was impressed. You had to add warts? My they are trying to remove one from my hand and it is painful LOL. Needless to say your writing is fantastic and the artwork is stunning. Kudos again.
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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First kudos to you my friend for winning. I was impressed. You had to add warts? My they are trying to remove one from my hand and it is painful LOL. Needless to say your writing is fantastic and the artwork is stunning. Kudos again.
Comment Written 18-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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Thanks for your encouraging review. I appreciate it.
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Your welcome
Comment from marion
Jeez Jay, a lot of Jumble Bumble (I mean this in a good way) ... at times I feel like I am getting lost, at times I feel like I am going dizzy ... BUT as always you pull me through, you pull it off . The ending is a brilliant summary of what you are saying - and so true.
Great writing, great examples.
"(H)here I am, folks,
"(Y)your character
Oops, maybe I am wrong here, maybe don't don't need capitals. Discard if not!
though, (xtra space) that the thematic ...
Just off six stars from me - warts and all.
Marion.
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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Jeez Jay, a lot of Jumble Bumble (I mean this in a good way) ... at times I feel like I am getting lost, at times I feel like I am going dizzy ... BUT as always you pull me through, you pull it off . The ending is a brilliant summary of what you are saying - and so true.
Great writing, great examples.
"(H)here I am, folks,
"(Y)your character
Oops, maybe I am wrong here, maybe don't don't need capitals. Discard if not!
though, (xtra space) that the thematic ...
Just off six stars from me - warts and all.
Marion.
Comment Written 18-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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I'll check out the caps, Marion. Definitely take care of the extra space. Don't need a six; just the smile of your words. Thanks so much. Forgive my not critting your haiku. I HATE haikus. And FanStory can't seem to get enough of them. Arrrgh!
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Well you know me ... I am not a poet. I never want to be or intend to be (to be honest, I can't write it and I certainly will not be promoting this post!) ... but you should check out my haiku to see where I live, because it is a photo I took this morning from my veranda. Don't review, just look. Beautiful, huh?
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Oh, believe me, I looked! I ogled it. Saliva dribbled to my tee-shirt. Yes, it was beautiful. It's so unlike the landscape you described in your earlier fiction. That was drier. This was lush.
Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin
Hi, Jay...
_ Evil is as evil does---case in point who was beyond evil: Jiggs Docherty! (*>*) Just sayin'.
_ Justin Beiber is a case in point of being overprivileged and overindulged AND undisciplined.
_ And of course, I'm speaking of his real character, not one he's portraying.
_ I agree with writers being directors when they know their character inside-out.
_ Good chapter.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax (*:*)
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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Hi, Jay...
_ Evil is as evil does---case in point who was beyond evil: Jiggs Docherty! (*>*) Just sayin'.
_ Justin Beiber is a case in point of being overprivileged and overindulged AND undisciplined.
_ And of course, I'm speaking of his real character, not one he's portraying.
_ I agree with writers being directors when they know their character inside-out.
_ Good chapter.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'... Jax (*:*)
Comment Written 18-Jul-2015
reply by the author on 18-Jul-2015
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Yeah, Jiggs comes close .... but his comic book first name keeps him on this side of absolute evil. Brilliant of you for that, Jax. Thanks for the crit.