J.R.

634 reputation

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	location	United States
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visits	member for	1 year, 3 months
	seen	Apr 16 at 22:20
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"My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little problems help me to do so." (Sherlock Holmes)

I enjoy embedding puns and subtle self-references into many of my answers and comments.

This question inspired me to create this web page.

	634 reputation	bio	website		visits	member for	1 year, 3 months
16 badges		location	United States		seen	Apr 16 at 22:20

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Nov 8	revised	Does this opening paragraph grab your attention? (very normal setting) added 244 characters in body
Nov 8	comment	Does this opening paragraph grab your attention? (very normal setting) That revelation might change the situation some, but the narrative still plods along. For example, don't say that he decided to sit on the stool, just have him sit on the stool. Also, "He scratched his ear and lifted his head" is your third sentence. How is that supposed to grab a reader's attention? It makes me feel like I'm in a long line at the bank – not getting strapped into a roller coaster for an exciting ride. Instead of focusing on his insignificant tics or who is in the store, try describing his panicked mind.
Nov 8	comment	Does a Haiku needs to have exactly 17 syllables? This is contradicted by the Wikipedia article about haiku. However, many people are taught the 5-7-5 syllable pattern for haiku, and it's become a commonly-held misconception. So, although I'd disagree with this answer in a technical sense, I think it reflects a widespread belief nonetheless.
Nov 8	answered	Does this opening paragraph grab your attention? (very normal setting)
Oct 26	awarded	Critic
Oct 3	awarded	Editor
Sep 24	comment	Is it okay to call the reader's target audience stupid? @Lauren: As I age closer to 50, I'm amazed at how many electronic devices have an array of buttons labeled with a tiny (3-point?) font, often black on black. (I even took a sharpie to the front of my television a year ago.) And when I first grabbed my DVD Recorder's user manual, I figured they had printed it in 10 languages, owing to its thickness. Nope, all English ~ all 118 pages :^\
Sep 24	answered	Is it okay to call the reader's target audience stupid?
Aug 21	comment	What is it called when the outcome of the plot is not told? I thought that was addressed (albeit indirectly) at the website, which says: "by leaving the major conflict unresolved, they [open endings] can also force us to confront your themes." Might that not be one way of emphasizing the journey over the destination? Just a thought.
Aug 20	answered	What is it called when the outcome of the plot is not told?
Aug 7	comment	How can I catch more errors when I proofread? @ShantnuTiwari: I never intended to mock the user; not all humorous remarks are caustic. Sometimes humor can be used to communicate a point in a concise and memorable way. The O.P. (who responded to my answer 3 days after I wrote it, and even edited his question with "all these responses are great!") did not seem offended. When pointing out the irony or humor of a situation, two can chuckle together, there's no need for one to feel an affront. At no point did I attack the user with belittling language, like, "This is a stupid question." I'm sorry that you misinterpreted the tone of my remarks.
Jul 25	comment	Which tense to use when writing a diary? That seems to be what I've seen most; even this diarist used past tense as well :^)
Jul 17	comment	How can I catch more errors when I proofread? @ShantnuTiwari: I certainly don't find anything in this question irrelevant, or deserving of a flag. I was using the expression "asking the wrong question" idiomatically; as in "barking up the wrong tree," or "following a red herring." One other thing worth noting: my answer was migrated here from another forum when this question got migrated, so it may not be as ideally suited for a writers forum as it would be in a language forum. Still, I stand by it, and believe it makes a contribution to the overall discussion – albeit a minor one - as did the two people who upvoted it previously.
Jul 16	comment	How can I catch more errors when I proofread? @Shantnu: Perhaps it doesn't answer the question directly, but it does address the issue of whether or not the right question is being asked, or if the question has a valid answer. The O.P. wanted proofreading tips to help shave the process down from "hours" to "a few minutes". Most of the answers here allude to the fact that there's no magic solution to this hard problem. Even tricks like "read from the bottom up" might help make the proofreading process more thorough, but not necessarily more quick. The O.P. asked, "does anyone have any experience...?" I do; I've learned it takes time.
Jul 8	comment	How/When to create deliberately boring characters? In the old Star Trek series, they simply put on a red shirt. (Of course, that could have meant disposable just as easily as it meant boring.)
Jul 8	answered	Should cliffhangers be used in every chapter?
Jun 19	comment	Does my story beginning hook the reader? (dialogue + narration)? @JohnSmithers: I completely agree; which is why I specified "maybe" on my last suggested revision. However, such branding can be overused, and sound forced. Care must be taken in both directions. We've got a whole novel to reveal what kind of cigarettes she smokes; it needn't all be packed on Page 1.
Jun 19	awarded	Commentator
Jun 19	comment	Some doubts on the use of Italicized words Italics are rude? You've got to be kidding me!
Jun 17	comment	Does my story beginning hook the reader? (dialogue + narration)? To become a good writer, one needs to realize how much rework is required. Usually, it takes several revisions to turn a mediocre passage into forceful and effective prose. You have let three people give you brutally honest criticism, thanked them graciously, and improved your piece. To me, that shows you have great potential. Once you've learned how to recognize these shortcomings in your own writing, and make incremental improvements, you'll be hooking readers in no time.