How This Critter Crits
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "WHY This Critter Crits"GROWTH? ADULATION? HURRY -- CHOOSE!
127 total reviews
Comment from Meia (MESAYERS)
Fantastically acerbic and biting, this is a superb write which I think more people on the site have responded to than any other! It is certainly very interesting and just fascinating to hear you talk in the witty way you do, my dream is to produce a book although I have been published in several, however if I am realistic my work would not have broad appeal. This is excellent and pithy, kind regards Meia :)
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Fantastically acerbic and biting, this is a superb write which I think more people on the site have responded to than any other! It is certainly very interesting and just fascinating to hear you talk in the witty way you do, my dream is to produce a book although I have been published in several, however if I am realistic my work would not have broad appeal. This is excellent and pithy, kind regards Meia :)
Comment Written 24-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Bless you, Meia, for your kind words and generous rating. You must keep working toward your dreams, whatever they are.
Comment from Mustang Patty
Hi Jay; thank you for sharing why you call yourself a 'critter,' and the science behind your story.
To say the system is flawed is the grossest understatement there is. I think sometimes people post their work here to be 'corrected,' and not 'critiqued.' I am in the habit of making corrections and pointing out errors on the first one or two posts I read of this type of person's work. After that, I simply hit 'skip.'
On the other hand, it is pure joy to read something highly edited and highly polished by the writer. Helping them with fine points of grammar and word usage is a blessing for both of us - I look up the rule to make sure I'm right (most of the time,) and they have new knowledge to make their writing better.
When I give out 'fours,' they are usually met with resistance - but few writers come back with legitimate reasons. Few make the corrections needed and ask for another review. Is this laziness? Or are these writers less interested in the craft?
I enjoy your reviews or crits, and I appreciate your candor. Thank you for the help you've given me,
~patty~
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Hi Jay; thank you for sharing why you call yourself a 'critter,' and the science behind your story.
To say the system is flawed is the grossest understatement there is. I think sometimes people post their work here to be 'corrected,' and not 'critiqued.' I am in the habit of making corrections and pointing out errors on the first one or two posts I read of this type of person's work. After that, I simply hit 'skip.'
On the other hand, it is pure joy to read something highly edited and highly polished by the writer. Helping them with fine points of grammar and word usage is a blessing for both of us - I look up the rule to make sure I'm right (most of the time,) and they have new knowledge to make their writing better.
When I give out 'fours,' they are usually met with resistance - but few writers come back with legitimate reasons. Few make the corrections needed and ask for another review. Is this laziness? Or are these writers less interested in the craft?
I enjoy your reviews or crits, and I appreciate your candor. Thank you for the help you've given me,
~patty~
Comment Written 24-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Thank you for your kindness, as usual, Patty. For me to give out a three nowadays, I have to feel a person is not only not trying but has a sense of flaunting about wasting my time. I appreciate your views on critting, Patty. Glad to have you aboard.
Comment from lyenochka
Thanks for sharing your publishing journey with us. I'm not sure you needed yet another "review" or "crit" but enjoyed the humorous touches. Writing is deeply personal so naturally, we may be defensive of the writing we "birth" and dare to share.
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Thanks for sharing your publishing journey with us. I'm not sure you needed yet another "review" or "crit" but enjoyed the humorous touches. Writing is deeply personal so naturally, we may be defensive of the writing we "birth" and dare to share.
Comment Written 24-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Thanks, lyenochka, for your kind words. Yes, posting is a risky thing to do. But we only learn by risking, right?
Comment from Spitfire
Good thing I checked the front page. This didn't come through in my messages.
Clever analogy for an opening to help the reader understand where you're coming from.
Interesting story about your first novel.
we had a message board which the publisher owned, and on which we could chat, share ideas about marketing our prides-and-joys, pluck a person up when he was down, bring a person down a peg or two when he was too full of himself. We had a brotherhood, a sisterhood. And life was good in the hood! (sounds like the FS forum!)
The newbie's honest review reinforces what we've found to be true on FS.
But then I'm sure this is all about another writing site.
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Good thing I checked the front page. This didn't come through in my messages.
Clever analogy for an opening to help the reader understand where you're coming from.
Interesting story about your first novel.
we had a message board which the publisher owned, and on which we could chat, share ideas about marketing our prides-and-joys, pluck a person up when he was down, bring a person down a peg or two when he was too full of himself. We had a brotherhood, a sisterhood. And life was good in the hood! (sounds like the FS forum!)
The newbie's honest review reinforces what we've found to be true on FS.
But then I'm sure this is all about another writing site.
Comment Written 23-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 24-Jul-2017
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Thanks, Shari. I'm glad you searched this out. I don't know whether I posted this right. All I did was pull it up out of my portfolio and re-promote it. I think it's considered a re-post, and those never notify those who follow me. At least I think that's how it works. And if you end up re-reading a post and find you already commented on it, you don't get credit for the new post. It sucks. Thanks, anyway, Shari. Glad you liked it.
Comment from --Turtle.
Hi, Jay,
I got to read through this chapter of the Critter book. You have the kind of grasp on the ins and outs of writing and reviewing presented in this chapter that I can really cling to. You effectively take your own experiences and lay them bare in a grown up/ keen sort of, wisdom in the words... and yet with a smile sort of way. Baseball references aside, the invisible thread to the ego that praise effects is presented in a shown, engaging way... The sense of a person going out of bounds for saying anything other than praise, and what that means here, leaves a cringing sense of it not feeling right.
The transitions from one point to the another, smooth and easy to follow.
As I read, I found nuggets of my own impressions and fears, things I take for granted, and things I paused to think about some more.
(Years ago, when I used to address my guy as 'my male' at work, people would ask me why I didn't call him a boyfriend... along the parallels of some parts of this chapter... the term boyfriend brings with it definitions that I reject as... that's not what he was. Not all people apply the same definitions to the same words, but one cannot detach from the essence that experience might have tainted. Redefining using a new word gives the freedom to wipe the slate clean in your own inner chalkboard, to deviate from the status quo and apply your own drum rhythm.
Anyway, I scrolled down her crit to the response box(,) and after thanking
(suggest this comma for the coordinating conjunction with semi interupt)
I found the need to invent "Critter"(.) After all, what was wrong with "reviewer?"
(missing puctuation... be it if you put it inside or outside the quote... that I'm not sure because I agree with your next sentence looking wierd to have "reviewer"?
I almost wonder if itallics would be better than double quotes but... ah... It's not a big deal whatever way it's done, I just know you're missing a punctuation around the word "Critter." or "Critter". (cause there's a capital letter starting the next sentence)
place on the shelves of every library in the United States. Of course it got neither.
(I enjoy how you do this. The voice with the reading remains consistent. It's conversational, but concise, the flow has bits and places where the reader is coaxed along as if they might be reluctant to come along.
thinner, and how she was saddened for the tree that gave up its life for this novel.
(oh, snap... poor tree abuse, and the parallels of reviewing over critiquing get established from your perspective... while giving the flavor of critiquing over what we actually do here --I can see it being a step between... the layout not one intended to chirp praise to sell books, as our comments don't do that, but not the vicious non-community ice that might come from true editors)
By the end of this chapter, I got a better sense on the whys of terminology, also got a satisfying glimpse of how expectations vary... (tell me I'm great, or tell me how I might take another step towards getting where I want to be), as well as a good dose of food for thought on not only giving reviews, crits.... feedback, but getting them, too. I really like the point of looking at others work in terms of this is the best I got right now, what can I do to make it better.
(save for a few commas to consider, I didn't pause much throughout this work. I enjoyed reading. A treat.)
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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Hi, Jay,
I got to read through this chapter of the Critter book. You have the kind of grasp on the ins and outs of writing and reviewing presented in this chapter that I can really cling to. You effectively take your own experiences and lay them bare in a grown up/ keen sort of, wisdom in the words... and yet with a smile sort of way. Baseball references aside, the invisible thread to the ego that praise effects is presented in a shown, engaging way... The sense of a person going out of bounds for saying anything other than praise, and what that means here, leaves a cringing sense of it not feeling right.
The transitions from one point to the another, smooth and easy to follow.
As I read, I found nuggets of my own impressions and fears, things I take for granted, and things I paused to think about some more.
(Years ago, when I used to address my guy as 'my male' at work, people would ask me why I didn't call him a boyfriend... along the parallels of some parts of this chapter... the term boyfriend brings with it definitions that I reject as... that's not what he was. Not all people apply the same definitions to the same words, but one cannot detach from the essence that experience might have tainted. Redefining using a new word gives the freedom to wipe the slate clean in your own inner chalkboard, to deviate from the status quo and apply your own drum rhythm.
Anyway, I scrolled down her crit to the response box(,) and after thanking
(suggest this comma for the coordinating conjunction with semi interupt)
I found the need to invent "Critter"(.) After all, what was wrong with "reviewer?"
(missing puctuation... be it if you put it inside or outside the quote... that I'm not sure because I agree with your next sentence looking wierd to have "reviewer"?
I almost wonder if itallics would be better than double quotes but... ah... It's not a big deal whatever way it's done, I just know you're missing a punctuation around the word "Critter." or "Critter". (cause there's a capital letter starting the next sentence)
place on the shelves of every library in the United States. Of course it got neither.
(I enjoy how you do this. The voice with the reading remains consistent. It's conversational, but concise, the flow has bits and places where the reader is coaxed along as if they might be reluctant to come along.
thinner, and how she was saddened for the tree that gave up its life for this novel.
(oh, snap... poor tree abuse, and the parallels of reviewing over critiquing get established from your perspective... while giving the flavor of critiquing over what we actually do here --I can see it being a step between... the layout not one intended to chirp praise to sell books, as our comments don't do that, but not the vicious non-community ice that might come from true editors)
By the end of this chapter, I got a better sense on the whys of terminology, also got a satisfying glimpse of how expectations vary... (tell me I'm great, or tell me how I might take another step towards getting where I want to be), as well as a good dose of food for thought on not only giving reviews, crits.... feedback, but getting them, too. I really like the point of looking at others work in terms of this is the best I got right now, what can I do to make it better.
(save for a few commas to consider, I didn't pause much throughout this work. I enjoyed reading. A treat.)
Comment Written 23-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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As usual, Turtle, you make the whole idea of writing my thoughts out to Fanstorians worthwhile. Thank you for that--sincerely! Also, for the couple of punctuation nits. I made those corrections. Thank you for taking the time to read it so slowly. If I ever do send out anything for a shot at publication, I couldn't hope for a greater kindness that to have it accepted by an editor with your savvy and tenderness. You are a rare gift for any writer.
I wish I had a "thumbs up" to give you. But your name has been added to my list for next month!
Thanks again, Turtle.
Comment from Rasmine
Hello, :)
Very well written!
My favorite part:
A few minutes later, his reply came sizzling back. "Honest? Honest!" he seethed, while, I'm sure, flinging spittle over his keyboard. "Who the hell told you we're supposed to be honest? We're here to help each other sell our books. No more, no less!"
:) TC
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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Hello, :)
Very well written!
My favorite part:
A few minutes later, his reply came sizzling back. "Honest? Honest!" he seethed, while, I'm sure, flinging spittle over his keyboard. "Who the hell told you we're supposed to be honest? We're here to help each other sell our books. No more, no less!"
:) TC
Comment Written 23-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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Awwwwwww, thank you, Rasmine. I'm always appreciative of having you onboard. And your sixes add a gorgeous chartreuse sparkle.
Comment from apky
I have a feeling here,
but not quite sure,
that I already reviewed
this piece of writing
in my own views.
Could it be I'm wrong?
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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I have a feeling here,
but not quite sure,
that I already reviewed
this piece of writing
in my own views.
Could it be I'm wrong?
Comment Written 23-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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Could be, but you'd know right away since your review would still be in the box. All I did is re-promote this, even though I added a few things and improved at least one sentence.
Comment from Jake P.
I enjoyed your rant on critiquing, and you have a very humorous way of explaining your thoughts. The rambling way you make your point...like a stand-up comic...is wonderful.
Please keep writing, and consider writing some advice for beginning FanStory critters.
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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I enjoyed your rant on critiquing, and you have a very humorous way of explaining your thoughts. The rambling way you make your point...like a stand-up comic...is wonderful.
Please keep writing, and consider writing some advice for beginning FanStory critters.
Comment Written 23-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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Bless you, Jake. I was told when I last posted this book that somewhere around the 4th or 5th chapter it switched to a treatise on writing, instead of reading. And it's true, one never learns to write deeply until one learns to read deeply. Thank you so much for the six stars.
Comment from giraffmang
Hi Jay,
I get the word invention. There is a world apart from critiquing and reviewer. The term critic has too many undesirable connotations as well.
Some people can't handle honesty it seems. Although I do believe tact should come with honesty as a pair, never to be separated...
"This is the absolute best, most highly polished, work I can offer at this moment. Please help me find ways to make it better." - Ahem... if only this were the case...
All the best
G
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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Hi Jay,
I get the word invention. There is a world apart from critiquing and reviewer. The term critic has too many undesirable connotations as well.
Some people can't handle honesty it seems. Although I do believe tact should come with honesty as a pair, never to be separated...
"This is the absolute best, most highly polished, work I can offer at this moment. Please help me find ways to make it better." - Ahem... if only this were the case...
All the best
G
Comment Written 23-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 23-Jul-2017
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That content of those last two sentences is something we should always aspire to, in my opinion, and also something never fully attained, particularly the last sentence. Thanks, G for your kind words and astute observations.
Comment from country ranch writer
People claim we have what it takes to be real and published. The in another breath someone says you are good butt....no rhym or reason why they said what they said.
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2017
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People claim we have what it takes to be real and published. The in another breath someone says you are good butt....no rhym or reason why they said what they said.
Comment Written 22-Jul-2017
reply by the author on 22-Jul-2017
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Thank you, BJ. To true. There is no universal agreement on anything.
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Smiles