Completed review on Matthew's Ch.2 on the 17th.

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(281 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Jube wrote:

Has anyone had to break apart and create new chapters out of their old one? I'd like to know the best way to do that, if you don't mind.

So lets say you have 7 completed chapters and you wanted to break in half 3 of them. After ending up with an extra 3 from the separation, you don't want them numbered out of order, so do you just list them as chapter 2.5, chapter 5.5, and say chapter 7.5? Or is it something like chapter 2v1? I'm guessing after you decide to break a chapter in half you would use the edit function to round out the existing chapter then pay points for the new other chapter? Something like that?

I'm going to need to consider doing that maybe for a few of my chapters. I've got probably the longest chapters you will review and that's mainly because I'm heavy on Milieu writing which is sort of one of the main cylinders that make the engine go in heroic fantasy.

When you get to that WTH? moment on my chapters and find out its 10k words in length. I assure you, I never try to just fill the chapter for the sake of length. Nevertheless, if you are pressed for time, I will consider it fair to post on my turn that you've reviewed half the chapter then you can post on my next turn the review of the other half, if you'd like. I'll be the only frog in this well. The rest of you have chapters that are fairly close in length to each other.

Hi Jube!
In the last version of this website there was a mandatory limit of 5,000 words, in other words, the site wouldn't let you post more than that. I experimented to see if that was still the case and ended up posting a super-long chapter of my own.
Personally, as a reviewer, I like the long chapters. You get twice the points while while only having to do one review. wink
Actually the real reason I like the long chapters it allows me to get into rhythm with the author's style. You get more information on the plot arc to comment on. And a better feel for the characters. It's hard to comment on chapters that are cut in half because of space- as a reviewer you don't know if it was intentional or not. You might get comments like,  you need a better chapter hook, etc.
The inline feature lets you save your comments and work on it through as many sittings as you need, so if pressed for time, I just finish later. 
That said, I have become mindful of chapter length, and do end up breaking chapters up where it may make sense to do so, even though the final novel will have the chapters differently structured.

Reviewed Cobber's State of Vengeance.

I, too, have issues with commas. Also learned the pause rule, which has shown itself to be arbitrary. I find that Jack the Knife is well versed and follow his advice.

405

(281 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Ann, I do that all the time, as it takes me several sit downs to finish a review. You should just be able to open the draft and hit submit.

Reviewed Stefanie's Day of Darkness, Ch 2

Reviewed Alkemi's Souring Seas, ch 1

Completed Jube's 'The World Of Phyries' chapter one.

Completed Randall's chapter 2 on the 26th,
and Ann's chapter 8 today.

I think naming the characters depends on their use, also.
We never learn the names of the red-shirted officers destined to die in Star-Trek. I don't think you need to give your non-essential throw-away characters names, even if they are speaking. However you still need to identify them. You could use their position, or rank if military, or job title. Keeping them in the background, thusly, the reader infers they are non-essential and can keep their focus on the main characters.

Completed review for Matthew Abelack, chapter 1.

Got ya. Some people are very rigid when it comes to POV. When I was growing up- there was this thing known as Omniscient POV and I've tried using it on this site and been dinged. Sometime you need to switch POV so the reader gets a better sense of what is going on in all the character's minds without making the storyline huge.
Slow build- not a problem- I have that going on with my first book- I love complicated storylines and multiple plot arcs. I think it makes things more interesting. Slow builds draw the reader into the story, action bludgeons the reader over the head. Either way works for me.
I don't know why anyone would have an issue with either a single main character or multiple- that seems odd to me.
Punctuation is not my strong suit, so I'll probably not comment on that much.
I'll give your story a go tomorrow on my lunch hour. Looking forward to it.
CJ

Are we reviewing starting with book 1? Or book 2?

414

(9 replies, posted in Alpha to Omega - Review Group)

Hi Jube,
1. Wow, great outline, sounds like a workable plan. Looking forward to getting started.
2. How did you know I suck at poetry?
3. So glad Ann is joining. She's a thoughtful and consistent reviewer.
Thanks for putting this together.
CJ

Actually, I'm pulling that one soon for the rewrite.
Can we do "Raven's Curse" instead?

Thanks Jube!
I'm glad to be invited. And just so you know, I will only start a novel at the beginning. Sometimes they go to print before I finish reviewing them, usually when I'm late to the party. I'm slow. Though the new inline reviewing has helped with that, immensely.
Looking forward to working with you all.
CJ

417

(8 replies, posted in Fight Club)

- about the blender: Because the packaging said "mix well."

When you say unresponsive- do you mean they don't respond to your review. Or they don't reciprocate your review?
I've only had a few people who don't respond to a review. People get busy. Or maybe they're new and don't realize they should at least say thank you. I know I have slipped behind responding to reviewers- been away and not looking at the website as often as I'd like.

As for not reciprocating. I will always give a reciprocal review. If I review someone and they don't reciprocate, I'll review a few more times. But I have (as most of us do) limited time to review. I'd rather dedicate that time to those who give me help in return. I'm here to hone my writing skills after all and hope to publish in the near future.

And then there is the likelihood that someone meant to review my work and didn't like it enough to choke their way through it in order to leave even a "this sucks" review. That can happen I suppose. sad

CJ

418

(8 replies, posted in Fight Club)

mikira (AKA KLSundstrom) wrote:

I'm pretty sure it does say that. Even though it shouldn't have to be in those review rules, since it should be common sense. But just like having to put warnings on things that should be obvious not to do with the product. Such as "Don't hit your fingers with the hammer when you're pounding nails into things." <---- I know hammers don't have a warning like that on them, at least not yet, but you never know someday they just might.

Don't be too sure. I do labeling for the swimming pool industry and years ago we had to add to our precautionary statements to, add the product to a bucket of water and stir with a wooden spoon to dilute because a consumer put the calcium hypochlorite in a blender to mix and blew up her house.
I think she sued.

After completing the assignment, I can say- I like past tense much better. Present tense felt tedious and boring. However, that said, maybe a story meant to be told in present tense would fair much better than one already started and thought of as in the past.

CJ

personally, and though I know the rules, I have problems with comma usage.

I've read it a while ago, but it is one of my favorites.
Douglas and Child: Still Life With Crows.

Writer uses 3rd person.The POV in the chapter is always from one character- though it switches characters throughout the book. The author uses the switch to describe his main character Agent Pendergast from someone else's point of view.

422

(22 replies, posted in Intro to Creative Writing - Spring 2015)

Hi SoIN-
I am joining late, please don't hold that against me. I've been writing since college- More years than I care to admit. Nothing published- been working on a book series, for years. I've had creative writing courses in college, but I was an art major and took up Graphic Design as a profession. The writing fell off to the way side. But I so enjoy it. It relaxes me. I think I am more than guilty of those common mistakes, and would love to improve my writing. So here I am. I don't know if I can catch up- but I will try.

(1) What type of writing (romance, horror, science fiction, etc.) do you like to do?: I'm not sure. I like complicated plot fiction. I like to lead the reader in one direction then blindside him. I like mysteries, suspense and stories of the supernatural.
(2) When did you start writing? Since 5th grade.
(3) Who are a couple of your favorite authors? Liked Stephen Kink until he wrote Pet Cemetery and It. Like Nelson DeMille, John Connolly, Micheal Connolly, John Sanford, Lee Child, and the dynamic duo both together and apart, Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston.
(4) What's a fun or quirky fact about you? I'm a dog loving liberal.

CJ

423

(8 replies, posted in Fight Club)

I was just looking back at my reviews and I think she reviewed me twice, using different accounts.

Here was the second review from alayton:
very good structure and words. I am trying my hardest to publish my story which has been very hard in getting the points I need in order to publish it. I am new to this site and still trying to figure out how it works. I just know I want to enter the contest and need points.

The weird thing- they were reviewing the same chapter- two days apart. The picture of her is different- but it is the same person.
So now I wonder, what's her angle, anyway?

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(8 replies, posted in Fight Club)

I think I got a review from Alex. Though mine differed from yours- so its not all cut and paste.
Here's what she said to me:
I like your hard work. I too am a writer and write short stories and blogs and I have a blog page with all my work. I know it is hard to compete with so many people doing the exact same thing, but if its your passion it doesn't matter. Keep up your dreams.

Inspirational, though not so helpful.
CJ

425

(6 replies, posted in Je Suis CHARLIE)

Hi Max, thanks for the invite.
I'll try to do satirical, though my normal mode is sarcastic. I do like the left slant, though. The right is just plain crazy, these days.
I like the concept of using humor to do battle against the masses that take themselves too seriously. And I'll try to channel the great prophet John de Stuart.

Take care,
CJ