tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post3771610199330046695..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: Please wait...Misha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-89858883367128445992012-08-16T20:10:57.233+02:002012-08-16T20:10:57.233+02:00I agree. I also look for things that yank me out o...I agree. I also look for things that yank me out of a story. <br /><br />Like characters appearing out of thin air or doing things that are physically impossible based on what was described a few seconds ago. <br /><br />:-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-43380312810483033702012-08-16T20:09:01.908+02:002012-08-16T20:09:01.908+02:00I wish I could afford an editor. But I have about ...I wish I could afford an editor. But I have about $500 a month. <br /><br />If an editor charges $0.50 per word, it's $55000 to edit Doorways. <br /><br />That math just don't add up. :-(Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-73875229128728131122012-08-16T20:05:29.452+02:002012-08-16T20:05:29.452+02:00I'd almost tell you to give her Doorways to re...I'd almost tell you to give her Doorways to read. But that would be murder. Her head would explode from all the characters she'd have to keep track of. <br /><br />;-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-77890131381306495592012-08-16T20:04:07.519+02:002012-08-16T20:04:07.519+02:00Hahahaha I might steal your mantra. ;-P
Seriously...Hahahaha I might steal your mantra. ;-P<br /><br />Seriously, from our previous discussion about this CP of yours, you know I think she's a Bitch and has NO clue what she's doing. <br /><br />Because she's seriously out to find fault with everything. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-56494790767907707762012-08-16T20:02:05.667+02:002012-08-16T20:02:05.667+02:00I know! Another thing I saw in crits to me. People...I know! Another thing I saw in crits to me. People have no idea what's telling and what's showing. Really annoyed me, because I'm pretty sure all of my true CPs will say that my story is at least 70% show. <br /><br />If that little. Because telling is one thing I've rooted out ever since I finished my rough draft. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-14969182009839729462012-08-16T19:59:24.661+02:002012-08-16T19:59:24.661+02:00That's so true. Apparently people got annoyed ...That's so true. Apparently people got annoyed because I don't start with action. <br /><br />"Taking too long showing her riding her horse..." <br />"Too much introspection."<br /><br />But my doing that did something no action sequence does. It lets people get to know and care about the character before something happens. A lot of time I read stories opening with action and all I'm thinking is: "So?" <br /><br />I hate that, so I promised never to put my writing through the same thing. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-87323246901358670162012-08-16T19:56:37.974+02:002012-08-16T19:56:37.974+02:00I actually like more rather than less CPs, because...I actually like more rather than less CPs, because then I can weigh opinions up on each other. <br /><br />Say I have six CPs. If one points something out and I disagree, I just ignore it. If all of them point it out, I know I have to put in some thought. <br /><br />But a forum where there's only a limited amount of pages to crit is pretty much useless. :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-401089376212100442012-08-16T19:54:28.600+02:002012-08-16T19:54:28.600+02:00I definitely learnt a lot more from having my Quer...I definitely learnt a lot more from having my Query critiqued. <br /><br />Reason is twofold: 1) On night 1 a ninja agent gave me tips. <br />2) I knew next to nothing to start with, so I had to learn SOMETHING. <br /><br />:-PMisha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-89423723230787605152012-08-16T19:52:52.756+02:002012-08-16T19:52:52.756+02:00Hahaha that's a unique issue to have. You prob...Hahaha that's a unique issue to have. You probably make a great Beta reader, though. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-29681034968934169182012-08-16T19:52:01.919+02:002012-08-16T19:52:01.919+02:00I also get sucked out of reader mode, even when I&...I also get sucked out of reader mode, even when I'm only reading. But then my fall-back is still writer-mode. I.e. if I'd written the story, would I have put the answer in right now? No? Why not? Yes? Why? And then if the answer's yes, I'd comment on it and my motivation in the crit. <br /><br />I never crit as a critic. It just never helps anyone.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-54913668430255677472012-08-16T19:49:20.160+02:002012-08-16T19:49:20.160+02:00Yeah so true. Just annoyed me that writers (who ar...Yeah so true. Just annoyed me that writers (who are supposed to know about info dumps in the first chapter) could crit and demand info dumps.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-4592879572926930522012-08-16T19:47:54.488+02:002012-08-16T19:47:54.488+02:00Hahaha for what it's worth, the 5 pages and 25...Hahaha for what it's worth, the 5 pages and 250 never went up for critting. Not really. They were purely as companions to my Query, in case someone wanted a look-see. ;-)<br /><br />You're still my one and only copy-CP extraordinaire. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-27016950688040041212012-08-16T19:44:48.818+02:002012-08-16T19:44:48.818+02:00Definitely. When I write, I pick what feels right ...Definitely. When I write, I pick what feels right and what feels wrong about what I've written. <br /><br />So it didn't bother me to ignore 90% of what I read. Still doesn't. <br /><br />What bothers me is that I had to ignore them. People spending so much time writing should know better. :-/Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-18339559023177805952012-08-16T19:42:20.803+02:002012-08-16T19:42:20.803+02:00I know, right? I came to the point where I read th...I know, right? I came to the point where I read the comments and only edited to fix the REALLY valid points. <br /><br />Even with the Queries, which I admit I know very little about. Learnt a lot. Especially after an Agent gave me some crit. <br /><br />But everyone's like: add this add that add the other. And then towards last night, they were like: ... your Query's too long... <br /><br />So apparently querying's just another art I'll have to learn on instinct. ;-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-46887400363454938562012-08-16T19:39:15.922+02:002012-08-16T19:39:15.922+02:00You're right. Some people really don't hav...You're right. Some people really don't have a clue. I also learnt the hard way how to crit, but before I ever start with any CP, I always ask what they want and how intense they want me to be. :-D<br /><br />It's worked thus far. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-70132349207580221342012-08-16T19:37:36.492+02:002012-08-16T19:37:36.492+02:00Very true.
In some cases, I can see some of the ...Very true. <br /><br />In some cases, I can see some of the writers even tried to imitate my critiquing style when they came by to return the favor. <br /><br />In a way I think it's sweet. Difference being though that I critted where I saw issues. I.E. a person not being introduced in a scene and then suddenly talking and other characters reacting like he'd been there all the time. <br /><br />What I got back was: (after I pointed out it in writing that came by suddenly and without warning - as it always does) This came out of nowhere. What is it? (answer coming out later) Why is it there? (answer coming out later) etc. And it really... annoyed me. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-33803748037122371322012-08-16T12:35:45.497+02:002012-08-16T12:35:45.497+02:00When I read a few pages or a chapter I tend to con...When I read a few pages or a chapter I tend to concentrate only on what's in front of me--voice, dialogue, style, tension. I don't look for the big picture, although I do want the characters to be doing something and be headed somewhere. I only critiqued one sample last summer on the boards. I read it several times and gave pointers on how to make it stronger. People should be more careful, as well as supportive, when posting feedback.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-58912143202510555782012-08-15T23:39:10.446+02:002012-08-15T23:39:10.446+02:00I hear ya! I just got two crits back on my first c...I hear ya! I just got two crits back on my first chapter. They loved my writing, loved the opening, voice...just didn't love my character. Waaaa! Now I'm hiring a professional editor. I need solid advice.<br />Karen Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01522178275164058849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-87961669303422993752012-08-15T21:10:45.086+02:002012-08-15T21:10:45.086+02:00I have a local crit partner who I get that kind of...I have a local crit partner who I get that kind of crap from all the time. Thank goodness not you. No, you should not tell the whole story in chapter one. Your job is to prick curiosity to keep the reader reading. But perhaps some of the CPs in the conference like predictable books. They're not your audience.<br /><br />Husband Unit doesn't want to hear about my wayward CP any more. Siigh. If I could dump her, I would. He told me to hum greasy grimy gopher guts [a stupid kids's song] whenever she give me my feedback from now on. Last time she felt The Backworlds needed a character list and a prologue. I did my best not not roll my eyes, but I think I did. There's maybe 12 characters between the two books, and I introduce two more in #3. My fans would crit me worse if I did what she wanted. Jeez. Not my audience. Not my audience. Not my audience. lol<br /><br />But I get what you mean. It makes you feel like you write in a foreign language. OK, I'll quit ranting now ...M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-82172229895019802502012-08-15T19:46:07.033+02:002012-08-15T19:46:07.033+02:00I really hate the trend I'm seeing a lot of no...I really hate the trend I'm seeing a lot of now, people ONLY critiquing what they didn't like instead of mentioning what they did like. I tend towards a slower, more literary, more old-fashioned writing style myself, from all the old books I've read. For example, I had one beta reader who didn't work out, who criticized just about everything from a first chapter, like she didn't understand that's just my writing style. She also didn't like how I had one character explaining to the other a few things about how kosher works, and some other things about her level of religiosity. Sure I show her observance level plenty of times later on, but in the beginning, that's just establishing information, not an infodump or "showing"!Carrie-Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05810154378449825641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-89222540908255465762012-08-15T18:43:44.734+02:002012-08-15T18:43:44.734+02:00Well, some readers/critters are just impatient. I ...Well, some readers/critters are just impatient. I see nothing wrong with setting up things more slowly (as long as it isn't molasses-paced, and things are happening). Draw the mystery out a little! That's intriguing. :)Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-60086895497899028532012-08-15T15:01:00.535+02:002012-08-15T15:01:00.535+02:00To think I've been wondering if two people cri...To think I've been wondering if two people critting was enough! Clearly it is. Though I don't mind the obvious being pointed out because it shows me my crit partners 'get' it, if you know what I mean. <br />But too harsh criticism is counterproductive because it slows up your thought process - you end up questioning what you intended when you probably don't need to.Barbara Elsborghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825994197656747262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-89196738399482065132012-08-15T07:03:56.434+02:002012-08-15T07:03:56.434+02:00Yeah, see that's why I don't put my stuff ...Yeah, see that's why I don't put my stuff up on public forums. You're brave to do so and I hope, despite the over doing of the criticism, that you gained a lot from the experience.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-63206642378499470572012-08-15T06:21:04.529+02:002012-08-15T06:21:04.529+02:00I think I actually wait too long when critiquing. ...I think I actually wait too long when critiquing. I'm patient to the point of not giving enough feedback. I'm working on this.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-27807666298222243912012-08-15T06:00:58.173+02:002012-08-15T06:00:58.173+02:00I agree - it's a tricky line to balance. As a ...I agree - it's a tricky line to balance. As a CP, you're automatically in the mindset of trying to find ways to make it better, and sometimes that inadvertantly pulls you out of the "reader" mindset. You're absolutely right that, as a reader, I'm willing to wait and trust the author to give me the answers in time and in the most exciting way possible!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.com