What more can an Old Kitty ask for?
Well maybe not the critiques - harsh though they were! My latest work-in-progress elicited these responses from critique partners:
"I feel detached from the action and the emotion of the story"
"from time to time sentences are very long and cumbersome"
Sigh!!
Awww but look at these sleeping beauties and my lovely sandals....
p.s. Oh I cannot lie!! Charlie and Gumtree exhausted themselves from chasing and bopping and whapping each other for hours and hours! LOL!
Have a great week everyone!
81 comments:
Shorter sentences - you can do that!
Those cats look wiped out. Least they're getting along now.
Well, here's to peaceful co-existence, however that's achieved. :-)
As for the critiques--I don't really know what to say except not to be too discouraged. Not everyone's writing style will appeal to all.
Sorry your critique comments weren't what you were looking for. But the second one will be an easy fix for you. The first one will take a bit of work, but is definitely fixable.
Have a great week!
Well snoozing is good no matter what!
Remember, write for yourself.
Oh Charlie and Gumtree!! You two look SOOO exhausted from playing too hard!! Aww you sleeping beauties :-)
And the sandals look very lovely!
I read through critiques, then put them down and do not read or act upon until a few days have passed.
A necessary evil!
What more can an Old Kitty ask for?
Maybe a comment from Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star, upgraded to superstar status! :)
Penny pawlitely pawforming pawsitive pawfection pawhaps.....
Go with the flow and always try to avoid the overusing of the conjunction word, "and", because using "and" too much weakens the impact and if a sentence is too long and has too much detail it leaves the reader gasping for breathe......yikes!
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, Penny xx
looks like Gumtree is getting bigger! And I'm glad they're playing :)
Oh shoot. That is depressing. But hey, at least you have people who help you fix it!
I love getting critiqued by pros but it's hard to come by. Once a year one of the magazine exec editors tars apart a piece for me and I always learn tonnes. And I'm lucky to have 2 publisher pals who are generous in their devastating remarks.
Paws up, darling! And cuddle the cat before the rewrite!
That's a sweet sleeping kitty! We aren't sure of the justice of the critiques, but try reading some Faulkner for sentences that go on for pages and pages.
A lovely and happy life there!!!
I wish you a lovely week,
purrs
Luna - WE LOVE LUNA and hugs from mammy Léia
Was the whapping friendly? Are Charlie and Gumtree adjusting? I hope they become best pals.
Critiques are only useful if the reader tells you what's good about your book/story and they're specific about the not-so-good parts. Otherwise, you don't know what to fix or how to fix it. Vague remarks like "I felt detached" drive me nuts. So don't get discouraged, darling Old Kitty, because all of us writers have been whapped by readers. I've been downright horsewhipped.
Hi Old Kitty - sorry about the critique notes .. as you say Sigh!
But Charlie and Gumtree - fun to watch .. and they seem to be settling down ..
Have a great week - very thick mist and gloomy here ... cheers Hilary
Well at least they agreed to disagree. Or at least agreed they both needed a nap. I hope they start getting along soon. It could just be playfights right now anyway. That's negative criticism, but it is also constructive I guess. You know what to do to improve. At least they didn't tell you outright that you suck :)
oh, the sorrows of those first critiques coming in. I read, take a few days to eat ice cream and go through the stages of grief before finally digging into edits. Good luck!
Ignore the critics.. At least they are lying relativly close to each other. Progress yes MOL Hugs GJ xx
Awww, your kitties are lovely! This is my first time to visit Ten Lives and second Chances, if you can't tell! So, hi!! *waving*
Tough critiques. The sentences shortening thing would be easy enough to fix, but really...how do you make a reader feel attached? More glue? Duct tape?
Maybe they thought you glossed over parts where they wanted to be deeper into the action and know what the character was thinking and feeling. It's hard to tell with such a general comment.
But good luck! And lots of hugs!
LOL! Oh, no! I was going to say, "Look how peaceful they're sleeping near each other. They're getting along now!" ... LOL! :D Oh, well.
As for those crits, well. Hmm. I guess take a breath and know that revisions only make us better~ :o) <3 ((hugs))
they must of been tired
That is great news that they are playing together!!!
Opinions are like As...... well let's just say that everybody has one.
I love watching kittys play.
Ouch. But I get worried when my CPs DON'T tell me comments like that. (Then I feel like they're not doing their job) LOL!!!
There is an aura of peace on the scene Jenn - is Charlie worn out or has Gumtree finally met his match?!!
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Hi Charlie! I's been doin' lots of nappin' too.
That is good criticism, as hard as it is to hear. Good luck on revising! I know you can do it!
Oh! Total exhaustion after some big time fun! Yay!
Don't let those critics get you down!
Glad to hear they are getting along. Love the picture!
I got the 'detached' comment on my recent WIP from a beta reader as well...
Well it sure sounds like Charlie might be enjoying that kitten and we bet the mom is too. It is fun to have a kitten around. Hope all of you have a great week.
Sending you, Charlie and Gumtree a big hug. Critiques can be brutal but are worth having. One of my first critiques asked whether I might be better off writing for young children. It was a horror story. Obviously not horrific enough!
soooo glad they are getting along so well! That makes me smile! xoxoxo
Those kind of comments are the reason we have our wonderful critique partners. I get them, too!
Sounds like Charlie and Gumtree are good friends now. It's good for Charlie to have a playmate to keep him active!
Aaaw, your kitties look so peaceful and innocent like that - hope they didn't cause too much mayhem tiring each other out.
Oh, man--sorry about the critiques! They would be unbearable if they didn't make us better, eh?
Have a great week too!
Well those critiques definitely don't apply to your lovely blog!
The sleeping ones certainly are beauties xx
Sometimes you can't satisfy the critique partners....
Have they been overturning scatter rugs yet while running about?
Sounds like the kitties are getting used to each other! Love it :)
Those crits are usually the most helpful - but they're hard when you get them!! Good luck - I'm sure you'll have it sparkling in no time! :)
one can not be stressed watching a kitty sleep..
or so I keep reminding myself
Awww! What a cute picture :)Have a great week friends! xx
That sounds very promising.
No more hissing???
Hello you two handsome kitties.
purrs
>^,,^<
✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.
I always feel the sting of critiques, but let them settle before I fix things.
My cats tire each other out at night. It's peaceful when they finally sleep.
It's so cool Charlie has another cat to play with :)
Critiques can sometimes take the wind out of your sails, but it comes back in a day or so. You'll figure out what to do.
Especially with those hot shoes!
There is nothing wring with long sentences... if they say that they haven't read enough.
beautiful Charlie and Gumtree
happy day guys.
Sounds like Charlie and Gumtree are getting along better. :)
We're glad to read (and see!) that the kittehs are giving you some relief from those critiques. :)
KKK?
Or more a case of KKKK? :o)
They're so pretty! Those are two very lucky kitties.
Sorry the critiques were depressing. I've had some like that too. I'm sure the rest was brill though.
So glad your kitties are enjoying one another's company. Fabulous!
Yay! New life to old kitties with young ones around. :o) I'm glad they are getting used to one another.
And those crits: totally things you can fix. Not like being told characters are a mess or no voice or story. YOU CAN DO IT! :o)
xo
Trish is right...
write for yourself. That's the best way to keep it fun and joyful. : )
xo
Shorter sentences make more of an impact. Go for it!
Cute Kitties!
Nas
The main thing is you're writing and putting your work out there. You can't please everyone, and who cares, as long as you're happy with your piece.
Kitty power!
Every one is happy whacking each other.... Don't be hard on yourself. ... you have my vote every time....
Shorter sentences ?
nutters :-) Ah, that should be a cap and well, why say one word when you mean at least a whole three or more sentences :-)
Lots of love young Charlie, be kind :-) x x x
AWWW!!!! Charlie, that little monster wore you out! That is too cute :) ♥♥
aw...glad they are getting along. So fun to see the bond form. I love it!
Small minds...short sentences. 'nough said. lol...
Gumdrop and Charlie look like they passed out from the shock of your critique. :D
I hope it's happy bopping and whopping!
Oh, I'm sorry about your critique. I just got a harsh rejection. Too bad we can't commiserate together--go get a drink or something. You're brilliant, so I know you'll get it right. And what do they know, anyway?
; )
I LAUGHED! Mommy did that is because her sentences are always long and cumbersome and many times there is far too much convolution and wandering about in the sentences that are involved. :-)
Every critique makes your story that much stronger... at least that's what I try to tell myself. :)
at least exhaustion is quiet!
Consider what others suggest...but in the end, trust your own instincts!
There's nothing that will happen that cats can't soothe....
I don't know you, but here:This is Jasmyne.From Cheetah's Imagination. I accidentally deleted my blog. Please follow my new one
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This is Jasmyne.From Cheetah's Imagination. I accidentally deleted my blog. Please follow my new one
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Boy, oh boy, who was whapping on who? Or should that be whom on whom? Purrs...
Ouch! Sorry about the critiques. It's never easy, but I'm sure it gets better with time. Let's hope! ((hugs))
So happy to hear Charlie and Gumtree are getting along so well!
Critiques are necessary to perfect your work, but I guess the same friends who critiqued you over long sentences would critique Marcel Proust too!
It's good to see that Gumtree and Charlie have made peace..at least for most of the time! Keep writing and stay happy..nothing else matters in the long run.
As long as you trust your critics, all critiques help... eventually. :)
And I love the pic of Charlie and Gumtree (Gummy?!) All that 'bonding' is knackering!
I'm glad the kitties had a good day with play . . .I think you should treat yourself to some fun after the harsh critique session . . those are exhausting too.
Your story is unique to you, and so is your writing. Short sentences can give a piece gusto, but not every piece needs that.
Keep dreaming, keep writing, and love on those kitties!
Glad to hear Charlie and Gummie are whacking each other. Now you just need to whack aside that critique and keep writing.
Take the advice, but don't let it change your story. Love those sandals;). Sounds like Charlie and Gumtree rather like each other!
Back again to say hello to one of my favorite peeps. Your comments always make me smile!
Oh how big you are/look, Charlie, all stretched out there.
We're glad to hear you and Gumtree are having such a good time.
Well, Old Kitty, that's a bummer about your writing works. We've always enjoyed you write.
Hugs for u. (((Hugs))). :)
Kitty, there's an award for you over on my blog.
Glad the kits are enjoying each other! Having a youngster around will keep Charlie young!
cats of wildcat woods
they look whipped.
Fear not! That can all be sorted out with a bit of editing, right?
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