Reviews vs. Critiques

I am doing "Show me your Cover" on my other blog for the next 30 days, so I thought I'd share a post or two here on Different Corners in my Life.
First, if you'd like to participate in, "Show me your Cover" you can find the rules here;
http://karensdifferentcorners.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/come-one-come-all/

In fact it's that post that got me to thinking about reviews vs. critiques.

Why is it, when we write a review, we feel the need to critique the book and tear it apart? Pointing out all the flaws, instead of just enjoying the story.

I recently read, Devil's Nightmare written by Robert Pruneda. In fact it is the first cover featured on "Show me your Cover"

It is a beautiful cover and a great story! And I gave it an honest review, but where do I get the right to critique it?

When I ask for reviews of my own books, I do ask for the honest truth. Give me all you've got, but that's because I haven't used critique partners or beta readers and I know I should. I know my stories are good, but my writing sucks, BUT I'm learning. Wow that was a little harsh, but then again, I am my biggest critic and my own worst enemy. I tend to grab the football and run for the goalpost and...Touchdown! Oops...I say as the other team pats me on the back. "Thank's, they say, 'for winning the game for us" It's all about hindsight, Karen. Stop and think before you speak.

But I like to read a book for the stories. I like a book that will give me an adventure. That will take me away. Make me use my imagination, and have me afraid of turning out the lights, and "Devil's Nightmare" did just that.

I'm a big Stephen King fan and have recently started re-reading some of his books. I re-read "Dead Zone" last week. Now Stephen King surely has beta readers, critique partners, proofreaders, and editors up the ying-yang, and yet there were typographical errors. WHAT! Stephen King? No way! Yes way.

I read, "Under the Dome" (long book, by the way) And there was one part in it that I just skimmed over. It didn't need to be there. He could have left it out and the story would have been just fine. But...

Since when did I become someone who critiques someone else's work? That's not me. When I pick up a book, I read it to be entertained, to get lost, to slip away from my humdrum life :-) and to find an adventure.

So from now on, if you ask me (Rob didn't) for a review, you are going to get a basic, "I loved it, or I hated it"
 If you ask me to beta read or critique it, then that's a different story.

Pick up "Devil's Nightmare" and read it. Put your critical eye aside and Read it for the story. It's a thrilling story!

New Book Review for "Eleven"

I just finished reading "Eleven" By Carolyn Arnold last night and am here to share my review.
I am new to this thing called "review" And also new to reading books by authors other than Stephen King!

So here goes,
The first few pages didn't grab me quite like I had hoped, but I pushed on and once I was past the first few pages, Carolyn pulled me in and hooked me through to the end. I am a big fan of the crime shows on TV, but normally don't read that genre. Carolyn really did a great job on writing her story, forming the plot and gave it a great ending. There were some great descriptions and yet she left enough to the reader's imagination. The only complaint I really have, and this is just my personal opinion, was that I would have liked to see a little less of the descriptions and a little more dialogue between the characters. I would have liked to see the character's personalities emerge though their dialogue more than through their actions.

But overall I give "Eleven" a 5 star review.
And if it's ever made into a movie, Tommy Lee Jones has got to play Jack! Or my second choice would be Billy Bob Thorton! He was my favorite character in the story. You did a great job creating him!

If you would like to read "Eleven" By Carolyn Arnold you can find it here
http://www.amazon.com/Eleven-Carolyn-Arnold/dp/146643936X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1325613920&sr=8-6

You can find Carolyn on facebook https://www.facebook.com/carolynannarnold
And follow her on twitter Carolyn_Arnold
And don't forget to check out her site
http://sassy3421.blogspot.com/2011/12/tuck-and-roll-writers-highway-part.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CarolynArnold+%28Carolyn+Arnold+-+A+Writer%27s+Journey%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail

Love to Read!

Good Morning and Happy New Year! I was supposed to have posted this blog post 3 days ago, but... And it was supposed to be about New Year Resolutions and Goals, but...So I thought I'd combine them into one post today.
First, I don't make resolutions. To me they are like "Promises" and "Rules"
"Never make a promise you can't keep."
                  And
"Rules were made to be broken"
So no resolutions here! For me they are just a way to set myself up for failure. But I want to share some other blogger's posts with you this morning on their resolutions and goals.

http://nepheletempest.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/as-the-year-fades-to-memory/
http://www.rachellegardner.com/2011/12/goals-resolutions-words/
http://www.ericaluckedean.com/the-daily-blog/2012/1/2/theres-nothing-like-a-good-book.html?lastPage=true#comment16431943


http://clairejdeboer.com/2012/01/the-difference-between-a-new-years-resolution-and-a-goal

But wait! I do have some goals for 2012!

1. I want to read more books by new authors. I'm a big Stephen King fan, but since I started writing in 2011, I decided to start reading books by new authors and giving them support. (And I'm doing good so far. I have read two books since Christmas by new authors. Richard C Hale and Carolyn Arnold.)
2. To get better at writing reviews. I tend to be short and to the point!
3. To improve my query writing. Here I also tend to be short and to the point. 
4. To keep learning new things.
5. Finish writing the middle two books for my series, "Chris' Journey Turning Different Corners"
6. And last, but not least, to reconnect with family and friends that I seem to have been neglecting since I started writing. I've heard being a writer is a lonely life and boy they weren't kidding!

And this is my tarot card this morning. Sounds good to me!

"The Knight of Pentacles card suggests that my power today lies in practicality. I plan ahead and consider my options to set priorities or define goals that serve my long-term purpose. My values lay in the potential that often remains unseen by others. I am cautious, steady, optimistic and reliable and have earned the new trust or position that empowers me. My asset is accepting responsibility."

So I wish each and everyone of you, "An awesome new year, filled with success for all your resolutions and goals!"

Just Write? Distractions?

Good morning and Happy Thursday! Let's take a journey through my mind today. Just remember to hold on because it could get quite bumpy and turn upside down and...




Okay first I love reading my horoscopes every morning. This is one of the many for today and I thought it might work for my blog post today...

You could toss hours of work at this project, and it would look only slightly different in the end. However, let it roll on without much supervision, and you'll deserve the righteous feedback coming your way.

I interpret it as JUST WRITE!




I want to talk about writing, especially if you are planning on becoming a writer.




I guess I should put my disclaimer in here! I am new to writing, I am not an expert, everything you read here is just my opinion and take everything with a grain of salt. :-))




I was 3 chapters into my first book when I decided, "Hey I should search the web and see, "How to write a book" Okay so I'm a little backwards."




And that's where my distractions began. If you have a story stuck in your head, my advice to you is either




#1 Sit down and write it, just write it however it is in your head. Write from your heart, your mind, and your soul. Don't go searching for writing tips, just write. Then after you have finished your story, then find all the help blogs and edit your story using all the tips you find.




or




#2 Before you even put that first word on the paper, search all the help blogs and make a short list as to what to look for as your are writing. POV, transitions, character development, etc. Then as you are writing your story, you can refer to your list.




NaNoWriMo has the concept right. Just write! No matter if it goes off in every different direction, just write, no editing, no deleting sentences, just write straight through.




And Stephen King agrees;







"Upon being asked by a fan how to become a writer, Stephen King replied, "Write."

— Stephen King







We have enough distractions to deal with. There are the cleaning house, doing laundry, cooking, and all the other every day distractions that pop up.

Then you have your twitter, facebook, blogs, etc. And the blogs are my biggest distractions, because...

I follow a lot of writers, author's and agents help blogs. And when you are writing these tend to be big distractions because...You stop writing and start going back over what you have written and start editing. Wondering did I do this right, or should I have said he said/she said, or...




So either write first, then find all the help blogs and edit, or

Find all the help blogs first, then write your story.




A word of caution. Every person has a different writing style, everyone has a different way of looking at how stories should be written. You need to find your way, your inner voice and as Stephen King says,




"This is a short book because most books about writing are filled with bullshit. Fiction writers, present company included, don't understand very much about what they do -- not why it works when it's good, not why it doesn't when it's bad. I figured the shorter the book, the less bullshit."

Stephen King, On Writing"

— Stephen King




Anyway, I do love the help blogs and one of my favorites that I follow is Paul Dorset's Blog called "Utterances of an Overcrowded Mind"




He has written a book on becoming a writer and shares some great insights on how to write a book.


http://blog.pauldorset.com/p/wfs.html




Okay now that I've told you how I feel, Maybe I should be writing...Or finding another help blog to share to help you on your way. Nah It's time for me to get busy and write

Styles of Writing

  I am writing an erotic romance novel and it's been years since I've read one. I prefer Stephen King for my reading pleasure now. I love his style of writing, how he draws you in and keeps you mesmerized till the very end. That is my goal for my first novel and all others that follow is to give you a story that you just can't put down. Hopefully pulling you in and keeping you mesmerized to the very end.

Questions, Questions, Questions!

I started writing my first novel a couple of months ago, so the world of writing and publishing is all new to me. I have been doing my research, checking out other blogs for helpful tips and tricks on everything from publishing to writing styles, but I still have questions.

   E-Books or paperbacks? Personally I prefer the old fashioned way of curling up by the fire on a cold winter's night with a Stephen King paperback in my hand! I spend enough time with electronics, computers, TV, cellphones, so give me a good old fashioned paper back book that I can fold down the corner on. But in this day and age of electronics people seem to want to go with the new age gadgets. So do you publish in one or the other or both?

   Publisher or Literary Agent? Everyone has their own preference, but for someone just starting out, what would you suggest to them?

Everyone Writes

When we write, whether it be a novel, a grocery list, a letter to a friend, or posts on Facebook, it let's people have a glimpse into our personalities, our thoughts, and our feelings. Whether we print, write cursive, or type on our computers, our words shape who we are, where we want to be, and what we want to do. Our emotions can be felt and seen just from the stroke of the pen or the exclamation point at the end of a sentence. Not everyone can write a novel, but I'm trying. I can't say I will be successful at it, but then who can ever say they will be. Writers need people to want to read what they write, to hold their attention, to give them either something to hope for, or whisk them away from their everyday life, even if it's just for a few short hours. I am a big fan of Stephen King. Just like many others, I like his style of writing, how he keeps you on the edge of your seat, makes you afraid to turn off the lights and has you saying just one more chapter then I'll go to bed! He has a way of pulling you in and keeping you hooked. I wonder, once he starts writing a new novel, does he walk around and think of nothing else. Since I started thinking about my novel months ago, before I even put pen to paper, I find I am constantly in that world. When I'm having a writer's block, doesn't matter what I'm doing, all of a sudden a conversation will pop up in my head and I've got the next chapter working itself out. The novel seems to take over my entire being, my thoughts, my feelings, even the way I do things. And I am enjoying every minute of it.

Have a beautiful and  creative day everyone! I am off to write!