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How This Critter Crits

Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "WHY This Critter Crits"
GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!

127 total reviews 
Comment from joelh605
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I hear a powerful storyteller opening a vein - except this is the jugular vein of the immoral @$$h01e who openly professed that the purpose of the site was to gull the unwary into exchanging their mad money, and their trust, for trash. We need more of that.

Personally, I've seen a trace of the same phenomenon here; some folks review the splat out of each other. Others come, dabble, get bored, and drift away. Others have been here for years and are mainstays of reviewerdom / critterdom.

Thanks for a very readable rationale.

Best regards,

Gil

 Comment Written 05-Oct-2006


reply by the author on 05-Oct-2006
    Gil, you are my mainstay. I thank you for reading the whole thing (I can't believe I read the whole thing! Remember that commercial?) I'm feeling kinda goofy. I think I'm up to about 50 crits on Macro Critting that I can't seem to keep my traction on my next segment. I keep stopping in mid-sentence to see that someone else has popped a "review." I find myself trying to find a more creative way to say "thank you." Anyway, my friend, it's nice to have someone to talk with that lets me be informal and goofy.

    Thanks, buddy,

    Jay
Comment from miskko
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Another fun and informative read. I love the humor in these pieces and, for one, certainly appreciate the peek into the why and wherefores of your critter mind.

I agree with you that we are here to learn how to be better - not to stroke or be stroked. (Although, if you want, I can personally always use a free pat on the head...LOL)

Honesty is key to improving our craft. And as we all know, sometimes that sucks.

Bravo for sharing with the rest of the class. I hope everyone learns something from you.

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2006


reply by the author on 04-Oct-2006
    Welcome back, miskko. Your crits are always so rewarding and so appreciated. Stay tuned. Thank you.

    Jay
Comment from Kyrielle
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Very interesting, jaysquires. You make some very important points in this. The question, of course, has to occur to any reviewer on this site. Should I be really honest here, or should I sugar-coat my review and give the wrong amount of stars?

When one browses through on FanStory, amazing! Almost all poems receive five stars, and some six stars. These poems are supposed to be publishable. Well, they might be in a Vanity Press.

I think any attempt to make better writers and better reviewers on FanStory is a worthy endeavor, so write on. As for honesty, each of us has to wrestle with our own conscience. However, many have taken the easy road--just give praise and get points and money. As for what you said about those critters on Amazon---friends helping friends? I think that goes on here too.

Anyway, your essay is provocative and I want to read more.

Kay :)

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2006


reply by the author on 04-Oct-2006
    Kay, thank you once again for your genuinness (with probably one too many 'n's), and your wanting to stay aboard. Be patient. It'll probably be another couple of weeks for the next segment.

    jay
Comment from Nescher Pyscher
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Oh wow, dude. Are you EVER setting yourself up to get roasted around here.

this place lives and dies on flattery, Jay. You've figured that out now, right?

Looks good to me. No SPAG issues of any kind.

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2006


reply by the author on 04-Oct-2006
    Nesher, thanks again for your comments. Yes, I thought I was setting myself up, too. So far it's been well received.

    jAY
Comment from LittleEmpress
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It was a good.. in between chapter I guess. I, for one like your term, crit. It's different. I seem to like thigs like that, different. Challenge the ideas of everyone. Well, as I said, I would read the 2nd chapter. And it is just as great as the 1st and 3rd.

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2006


reply by the author on 04-Oct-2006
    LittleEmpress, thank you for putting your money where your mouth is and read what's not going to get you any pumps and precious few centivos in your account. Do it 'cause it's right. Yea!

    Jay
Comment from GrandmaSharon
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You are an intertainer. I like your writing style. Have you posted a novel here on fanstory. Oh I know I am supposed to look in your portfolio. But I am lazy okay? Oh okay I will check you out for myself.

Keep writing
Sharon

 Comment Written 03-Oct-2006


reply by the author on 03-Oct-2006
    Hi, Sharon. Thank you for your vote of confidence. Yes, I posted a novel, several short stories (everything's loooong) and some poetry. I welcome you to browse about... and in the meantime just know that I appreciate your comments.

    Jay
Comment from dmjones
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I have been on Fanstory less than a month and I can identify with the newbie. I made the same mistake. Although, there are those that are here for honest opinions and I am one. I find if I don't like something I don't review even though I wasted in some cases five minutes.

I am going to have to watch for chapter 3. Good work. (and you know that because I reviewed)

 Comment Written 03-Oct-2006


reply by the author on 03-Oct-2006
    Oh! I just finished thanking you for your last crit and here the critter is again. You are so kind. Allow me to thank you again. Stay tuned.

    Jay
Comment from deRanger
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I enjoyed reading this installation of your book, and I think your story is instructive and gets close to the heart of one of the limitations of this type of site, which is, after all, a construct of the creators, serving their needs as well as those of the participants. I have learned not to take the rating system too seriously, since it is somewhat impaired by self interest on the part of reviewers who seek means to promote their work, and by lack of honesty , no doubt brought on partly by the kind of defensive response to even mild criticism that you describe in your story. Flattery is available in good supply here, as is encouragement , but I think we all gavitate towards the five, which , when you read the criteria means that there's a heck of a lot of exceptional talent here that the larger world has not yet discovered.
Of course, I'm supposed to be reviewing your work, not going on about my own views and thoughts, even if they were stirred up by your story. I should say that I have onlybeen reviewing poetry of late, so when I undertook to read your piece I hoped it would not be too hard, and I was gratified to find it easy and engrossing , partly due to the subject matter, which is of course a subjective matter, and also due to the style and the fact that it seems well written.There was one sentence near the beginning that threatened to overtax my retentional capacity in relation to subject- object relationships, but it passed, and the rest was pretty smooth.Going back, I can't even find it.
I like the chatty, informal style and the way you found a way to make answering that question a part of this book. I imagine it's an important part, touching on the roots of your motivation for the book, and your aim in writing it.
good luck.

 Comment Written 16-Sep-2006


reply by the author on 16-Sep-2006
    Thank you deRanger for your well thought out and well structured crit. I do appreciate it. Please climb back aboard in a couple of weeks when I will be posting the third installment. Your kindness and thoroughness is very helpful

    Jay
Comment from annem3
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From the title, I was prepared not to like your work. I was wrong.
You have a wonderful voice and a sharp wit.
Your 'asides' to the reader work well and I found myself nodding along.
Aside from your writing (which I thoroughly enjoyed) I heartily agree with your sentiments.

 Comment Written 16-Sep-2006


reply by the author on 16-Sep-2006
    Thank you so much, annem3. I appreciate your candidness about first impressions, and the fact that you went beyond them -- and that you nodded along and not nodded off. Appreciation for you, annem3, and I invite you to visit the new segment which should be coming in a couple of weeks. Look for it, okay. And, if you think it might have slipped past you, check my portfolio for it.

    Bless you,

    Jay

    Jay
reply by annem3 on 16-Sep-2006
    I just realized that you wrote my first review for "Christmas Shopping." Your comments mean more to me since I've read your work. Thanks.
Comment from Ryn Martin
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Hmmm, at first...I was thinking that this is about Dungeons and Dragons, a role playing game. Silly me. ;~P Anywho, this is an interesting piece JS. I didn't see anything wrong with it. Keep up the writing. Good luck, and god speed.

Peace, ~Lucas

 Comment Written 16-Sep-2006


reply by the author on 16-Sep-2006
    Hi Lucas and thanks for your comments. No, I left D & D to my sons capable hands 15 or so years ago. They went off in the direction of "Magic" or "Magik" and other such role-playing games and we haven't talked on the same level in years. Thank you, Lucus, for waiting until you read it before going off in another direction. The real stuff is coming in a couple of weeks. I hope you'll keep your eyes open for it and climb aboard when it arrives. Should be a decent ride.

    Blessings

    Jay