Critique went well. New idea. Driller? Got something to say?

First off, Driller, yeah, your Sooners opened a can of whoop ass on Texas Tech. I couldn't quit watching...it was like the scene of a train wreck and no matter how much you wanted not to see the carnage....you couldn't look away. My SE is not a college ball fan, and many of our local friends (translation: it's the Panhandle = Tech fans) invited us over for "the game". I turned down every invitation. I despise OU...and I love Tech (when they're not playing the 'horns!...especially when they're not playing the 'horns!) But it would take a miracle like Alabama losing out...Florida losing out (not possible since the last game is FLA and Bama!), so I couldn't root for Tech...and there was no way in hell I was rooting for OU...right? By the 4th quarter I was (quietly...very quietly...) rooting for OU...I mean, c'mon! Tech proved to be "rookies" in national play. Harrell looked like Aikman...."Oh no!, someone actually hit me?!" or "Oh, no, you want me to what? Pull something out of my ass or run the football?"
Anyway, I asked SE at half time if he wanted his TV back, I'd go in my office and watch the rest and he said, "Hell no! I wanna see how bad this gets!" See? Train wreck! I still hate your team Driller...but they by golly deserved that one! It took TX out of "need a miracle" to needs a "minor act of God!"

Other than that! My critique went well. All this meltdown over passive voice was for naught! Passive Voice never reared it's ugly head. I don't know if I fixed them all or the simple fact that no one notices (except editors and agents?)! I know to get my story published it's something I should pay attention to...but for my group? Not so much! I love that Solard tells me to turn off my internal editor and just "write"! She's so "right"!

I got some great feedback. The one I especially love said, "these 2 chapters are very well written. The reader is grabbed and pulled into the story." Who doesn't love that? I got smacked on a a few pop cultural references and smacked my own darn self! Pretty funny! There was some typo's (like I used "and" instead of "an" and "them" instead of "theme") Stuff I'd hope I'd catch before mailing it to NY...but spellcheck didn't catch it...and I was concentrating on tone, structure, and chronology more than grammar. I think I know the mechanics of putting words on paper...I just want feedback on how to do so to get people to actually read it!

Trust me, if someone in my group slapped down a manuscript on the brink of flying it to an agent or pub house...I'd fine comb it for those mistakes...and my own as well. But until it gets to that point? I only concentrate on telling a good story.

I'm exhausted today! I thwarted a kidnapping! (by highlighting and hitting delete!) I got shot at! (by mafioso wannabe's that I typed in)...and I saved a little old lady from succumbing to lust with the aid of a couple of bourbon's...I put her to bed in my house...but then blew up her lust object's pickup! I love this job! My main character, Lori, is fun! Her life is wayyyy more interesting than mine! But her accidental sidekick Ms. Boyle (Ms. B), is 8o years old and in danger of taking over the whole story...she's a hoot!

So, I'm thinkin'....(everybody duck..this could get ugly!) My critique group is wonderful....but I'm one of the few that writes in this genre. It's offensive to some and uninteresting to other's. They all spent a lot of time reading and critiqueing my work and I appreciate it so much...but the majority write children's stories, or devotionals, or short stories...and the others are wanting to write their geneological/family histories better....which is awesome! And they're all doing a great job! We've go so much talent in this small county it's amazing! I am humbled that they took time out of their busy lives to read my work and tell me how they felt about it....thanks guys!

But I'm the only one so far who cusses and blows stuff up! God Bless my group for not blowing me up!

SO! If I started a "new" blog...and kicked it out to you guys chapter by chapter (which is an insane thought now that I think about it!....talk about anxiety and 7 different opinions from people I can't smack!) Okay, not sayin' I'm gonna do it...but I'm thinkin'! I think for the most part "readers" critique is more valuable than "writer's" critique (we tend to get nitpicky)...and I'm thinking putting my story out here is a really bad idea...I just can't think of a reason why at this point? I'm thinkin'...."why not?"!)

Would you guys tell me, as readers, what you really think? And at this point? Would you tell me if it was a totally bad idea?

OH! Have a great Thanskgiving! We are hauling poopy tomorrow...I'm cooking my side dishes on Tuesday (hopefully) and we are headed north to Kansas on Wednesdy....crazy to have an N on your compass in November, but we're like, reverse migrators....

So that's it....Tech proved themselves to be rookies in the big 12, the Longhorns chance is...still sucky...and I'm thinking about not writing in a vacuum anymore and asking some of you guys to read me...critique me...and all of that.

Sound off!

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