Writer....Reader and Critique....This post is about learn...

Writer....Reader and Critique....

This post is about learning more about myself and my writing through the eyes of others.  


When I first began writing "Awakenings" it was initially titled something completely different.  As the 'writer' I believed it fit.  The original novel was 154,000 words... yes I like to write a lot....


Once I was taken on by Limitless 


and they read and re-read my work a new title came to life..."Awakenings".  
As I was writing I believed that my idea was the best one and if you would have asked me if I would have changed it prior to someone else re-titling it I would have said it never would have happened.

It  wasn't until I sat back and looked through the perspective of others that I truly saw how others views of my writing would be something I could work with... good and bad. 

 I recently received some critiques from people who have read my debut novel.. Some good....some bad.  At first I was a little put off by the negative ones.
But after speaking with a few friends... family and God, I realized that without the bad you'd never have the good.  People are people no matter how you look at it.  There are those who want to see you succeed whether they know you or not and then there are those who are just plain negative and really don't give a crap about others.From some of the negative reviews I received, I actually went back and looked at few reviews I'd put up in a couple of social media places.  I changed some of the reviews.... It's okay to be honest, it's okay to be brutally honest...it's not okay to be mean.
When you have something you believe in enough to take the time to comment about, you should really think to yourself..."How would I feel if someone said this about me?"
Again, nothing wrong with bad reviews...we all learn from them...there is however something definitely wrong with mean, hurtful reviews.
Now, to the positive side....When I first was published I didn't realize how much the reviews of the readers who take the time to read my work would mean to me...
I've received a few reviews that I wanted to share here.  I also wanted to say to those of you who took the time to write them.....Thank you:) 

It's the reviews and the thoughts of the readers that I find now give me the ideas to correct, the passion to go on and the excitement to share my work!!!

Here are some of the reviews I received via personal message and email:)
I received permission to share  Michelle's views:)

[image error] Michelle McKellar So I got really busy at work and thats why its taken so long to get back to you. I am currently rereading "Awakening". I have so many favorite things about this book. I love how easily engrossed I get with it. I get completely lost in it. It flows so easily and the characters are so likeable. I love the way that Jacey thinks, I lvoe being able to know how she is feeling and what she is thinking. I love her and Hudson's relationship. I love the different kind of magic in this book. I picked it up and read it for the first time and I thought, this is new, this is something I haven't read before. ( I read a lot! and I get bored quickly with books) I love how everything just flows together. Its an easy read but its also very intricately woven together. I really could go on forever, I am just in love with this book and all the characters and I cant wait until the next book comes out! [image error] Michelle McKellar As for my least favorite... there really isnt anything. There was something about the different dimensions that confused me a little bit, but when I get to that part in the book I will tell you and maybe you can explain it to me?? Thank you!! 


Josee   .....  (I didn't ask if it was okay to use her review....so I cut it in places)Hey Hally,
I just finished reading your book and it was AWESOME! I enjoyed every part! I can't stop ranting and raving about it to everyone and am getting others to read it  (but they aren't allowed my signed copy of course;) lol). I can't wait until the next one is ready. How's the second one coming along?
thought I'd let you know that I absolutely LOVED the book it was amazing and a joy to read. You have a great way with words! Can't wait for the next.... you have me wondering so many things.... had to be a cliff hanger eh? 

This one is from Jackie:  (I didn't get her permission to use her whole name or contact info)Jackie:  hi hally, I know we don't know each other, but I am halfway thru Awakenings right now, I hope to finish it by the end of the week. We have a friend in common who steered me towards your book. Our common friend totally knows what I'm into reading and your book has been a wonderful addition to my reading collection. I find that knowing you are a fellow Sudburian and a woman and an author is truly inspiring to me. I would love to be friends with you on FB so that I can keep track of any new stories you are publishing. I am a fan and would love to continue to be so. Again, many congrats on the book, it must have been very trying at times to get published. Know that you have a die hard fan in me, thanks for writing Awakenings. you are an inspiration.
have a wonderful week.
Me and my mornal self look forward to hearing from you. No rush. I know you are busy busy. i appreciate thee time you,re taking in reading my message.
jackie


I asked for this review but didn't ask to use the reviewers name or contact info:
This one is a little long... and I LOVE it!!! It is good, and thorough ... I have cut it in places...There are some spoilers for those of you who haven't read "Awakenings" yet...Heads up!I didn't ask if I could publish the full name of the reviewer so I have cut it as well....
Overall the book was awesome. When we met with you I was very curious and somewhat confused with your brief description of the story. I could tell it was going to be a complicated plot which made all of us excited to read it.  The plot was very deep and unique. I am a speed reader so I don't necessarily read every word. There were some comments about the editing errors. Due to my style of reading I didn't catch as many. The errors frustrated me... I am concerned that these errors take away from the book in the sense that it loses credibility. In my opinion and based on the reaction from my girls this book would be a great addition to a senior level English class.Even in the brief time I had to meet with the girls it was obvious that the book provoked a lot of discussion and deep thinking. It was exciting to see the enthusiasm from the girls. They can’t wait to discuss it further with you at our fall Book Club meeting. The last general thought I want to add about the book is about the cover. I am all about getting students to read and this comment is from both a personal and parental view. As a parent I would see the cover and think I wouldn't want my teen reading that. Perhaps it is because of all the hype over other books of the “sexual” nature lately but I know there are so many good books to read that don’t dwell on sex. On a personal side and please don’t think that I am just an old conservative person,  it is just that we are all bombarded with sex in every form of media that frankly  I get tired of it. So what about the cover really upsets me is that it poorly represents the plot of the story. This isn't even remotely what Jacey would look like or even be caught having her picture taken. We are trying to make our teens aware of the dangers of taking and posting provocative pictures of themselves. So this cover doesn't serve the story well at all. I am only making such a point of this because I am hoping that you share this with the company that you have signed with so that they take this into mind when designing the next cover. The girls were very adamant about this as well. They also wondered about the roses and wanted that to be tied into the story more-or did we miss something?          Now here are more specifics opinions regarding the story.   My thoughts may be a bit scattered so I apologize in advance. These comments are not necessarily intended as negative it’s just thoughts that popped into my head as I read it. I may have over thought things since I knew I would be giving you a review. Also, by now you must have heard it was wonderful enough times that you are eager for some constructive feedback. At first I thought the death of the parents was presented a bit too lightly and therefore a little unbelievable. Yet I was glad that it wasn't overly dramatic since this would be a very sensitive issue for teens. So once the whole story came together I was appreciative of the balance you created. Perhaps if the parents came to Jacey earlier in a dream it would have made the mild feeling of loss more acceptable. We immediately liked Jacey’s character. She was very likable and we were able to relate to her. She would be considered an ‘invisible” type of student. One that tried to just blend in as she never quite fit. As the story unfolds we realize there are so many reasons besides moving a lot that creates these traits. That makes her even more likable  We picture her as a natural beauty but she would be totally unaware of it and very down to earth. She would be unaware of her beauty in a humble way and not lacking in self-confidence way.          The concept of the portals was quite interesting and it was very creative that you made a private school to cover that the characters weren't going to the regular school. I had to wonder if the portal should have been somehow tied into them actually going into the building. Would others wonder why nobody went into the building? In the real world I think people would have noticed this. The naming of the school being a “St.” to me implies a reference to the ideology of Christianity particularly Catholicism  It didn't offend me but since this book theme challenges those beliefs I wondered what you were thinking with this choice. The book might have to deal with some controversy over this similar to when the Harry Potter’s books first came out. Controversy however, isn't necessarily a bad thing sometimes. The other idea that provoked me a bit was making the hot tempered nasty character, Chanary, to be a redhead-perhaps too stereotypical.           I liked how you handled the relationship with Jen and Hudson. It was just the right level of attachment and respect particularly keeping Jacey’s feelings into consideration and the couple keeping their feelings publically appropriate. I also thought you handled Jacey’s reaction well-nice balance of anger, disappointment and then acceptance. We all loved the idea of being able to feel others emotions by a touch. That would be so much easier to deal with people having that immediate clarification. However, was Chanary able to hide her essence or intentions from Vincent or was he able to ignore them? Surely Chanary would have known that Vincent was not going responding to her but that helps to develop the plot nicely. We all agreed we think she is going to be a major factor in future books. We hope you develop her character even more.We had some questions about Jen and Hudson’s relationship in terms of timing? When did they start to date as she was at his awakening but it gets confusing based on their “real” ages?  I realize in order to fill in all of these details it would make the book three times the size-we would have been fine with that so you can understand that we are very anxious to read the future books. Vincent’s character is extremely likable as well. However, the whole blue eyes visions went on a little longer-we figured out this was Jacey’s special person and couldn't understand what the mystery was for her. Was she that naive for her age or is she actual that distracted by all the resent events or are we just so familiar with human attractions?  We would like this character to be developed more. We wonder how old he is in “real” years and how long has he know this special girl was meant for him. Why has he been chosen for her? We were shocked and delighted with the twist that Jacey had a cousin who wasn't really evil and this is the part that really catches the reader so they beg for more. The last two chapters seemed a little rushed and we would have liked for details to have been included. Perhaps a little more relationship with the characters from other realms would help to hook us even more. We are hoping that you develop or tie in the ideas and characters of the fairies, Greek and aboriginal mythology as well as the fairy tales. We are hoping that you don’t go into the vampire/ware wolf concept because that has been overdone in teen books. I know there are so many other things I want to mention or discuss with you and I’ll make a list for our book club meeting. I will probably also have a different perspective and even more questions as I am planning on reading the book again just before we meet. Your writing is so much fun to read and it is inspiration to see such a fresh story line. What a wonderful imagination you have-I truly appreciate this special gift you have been given.Thank you and I look forward to our meeting and discussion. Respectfully, Michele


Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did:)