I just finished qhml1's new story Money Well Spent. And I think that is the ball game for me. Never gonna get within a mile of that kind of talent. Sayonara, Baltimore Rogers.
But seriously ... Wow. Just. Wow.
I just finished qhml1's new story Money Well Spent. And I think that is the ball game for me. Never gonna get within a mile of that kind of talent. Sayonara, Baltimore Rogers.
But seriously ... Wow. Just. Wow.
As a person who likes to know a little about what the story is before I start on it, I find a description and codes of:
Just another fairy tale I've had for awhile. I hope you enjoy it.
Tags: Ma/Fa
Sex Contents: No Sex
as being way too light to be of interest to me.
I'll consider reading it if someone can give a better synopsis of the story.
Okay, how about this: "A lonely man returned from war finds a home, a family, and (here's the tricky part) a purpose in life, all in the same place. What a bargain, huh?"
Oh, and this: "Many, many possible tags not given to avoid spoilers of delightful plot points."
Personally, I think the author could have been a bit freer with the tags and not given too much away. "Romantic" and "Tearjerker" would have been fine, for example.
Okay, how about this: "A lonely man returned from war finds a place to live, a family, and (here's the tricky part) a purpose in life, all in the same place. What a bargain, huh?"
Oh, and this: "Many, many possible tags not given to avoid spoilers of delightful plot points."
Sounds a lot like the general plot of Recluse and Ghost and several other stories. However, the synopsis the author wrote, and the lack of appropriate tags means many readers will avoid the story.
Based on your synopsis I'll have a look at it, but I would totally ignore it based on the author's synopsis.
I guess. My previous history of enjoying this author made it easy for me to take the plunge.
My available information about the story was just as sparse as yours. But my available information about the author and his oeuvre were not. So I gave it a shot and was glad I did.
And I am glad you decided to share your enjoyment of the story so that those of us that did give it a pass may take a second look. Reviews and recommendations have much more weight in my book than scores and blurbs.
My previous history of enjoying this author made it easy for me to take the plunge.
Me too. And nice synopsis. Ernest is right, it has a lot of similarities to 'Recluse and Ghost' and merits mentioning in the same breath..
Would it be too mealy-minded of me to wish the author had used a proofreader?
AJ
Based on your synopsis I'll have a look at it, but I would totally ignore it based on the author's synopsis.
qhml1 is famous (infamous?) for a sparse description and tags. That's about the only fault I can find with any of his posts here. If he wasn't so damn good, I could really get pissed at him. But I find that impossible.
but I would totally ignore it based on the author's synopsis.
I have to agree, for I read the synopsis and decided to skip the story. I also checked to see what type of stories qhml1 typically writes. One of his story descriptions was:
As usual, I'm not going to tell you what it's about. Just read it.
Very short blurbs that tell you practically nothing about his stories and very few codes are typical.
As usual, I'm not going to tell you what it's about. Just read it.
That tells me he doesn't want anyone to read it as there's nothing there to get my interest.
Or he's targeting his followers.
If that was the case he needn't say anything at all.
Or he's targeting his followers.
You first have to get followers. That's difficult with those descriptions.
Well I guess you could consider me a follower now. I liked "Split Tails Ranch" and some of his other stories. That was enough for me to add him to my "Favorite Authors" list in my library.
Being in that list pretty much guarantees I'll give any of his new stories a chance (at least a whole chapter before giving up). He certainly validated that level of faith (and then some!) with this story.
He's one of about 20 SOL authors whose "books" I do not judge by their "covers".
Some authors have earned a reputation and have followers who will read their work based on their library of work. qhml1's work has provided me with hours of entertainment and I will give his every effort a try. Provocative descriptions sometime pique the interest, but established authors will always get a read from followers like me! Oh, and thanks qhml1 for an impressive body of work (please keep it up!)
My initial thought was Arrogance.
I just finished 'Split Tail Ranch' and I'm thinking arrogance as well - thinks he's too good to use a proofreader, at least. A very nice story made almost painful to read by the stupid errors.
Nope, not planning on reading any of the rest of his stories.
Or maybe he's like me.
I tried like hell to get an SOL proofreader or editor to help me with the first story I wanted to post to SOL. No luck. Three response emails: one declined (interested, but too busy), another had a grammatical or spelling error in almost every sentence, the last turned out to be one of the biggest arses with whom I have ever had the displeasure to exchange correspondence.
After that I had pretty much no choice but to go it alone. No arrogance, just a lack of alternatives.
Or maybe he's like me.
I tried like hell to get an SOL proofreader or editor to help me with the first story I wanted to post to SOL. No luck.
That might be easier to believe if not for his refusing volunteer help. That said, he is still one helluva writer. However, this one is lacking. I think he was just having fun throwing every cliche situation into the mix while aiming for every heartstring. Personally, I think he wrote it just for fun. It sure isn't up to his usual standards. Or at least those I've come to expect from him.
Personally, I think he wrote it just for fun.
That would be my opinion, and I'd add not just that story. Some folks just take themselves entirely too serious.
I don't understand people assigning characteristics to a person based solely upon grammatical or spelling errors. There are several authors here with better than average technical skills. However, their works suffer from a lack of imagination and storytelling ability.
Maybe they could learn a thing or two from people writing just for the fun of telling a story.
That might be easier to believe if not for his refusing volunteer help.
Ah. Well, that was certainly information I didn't have before. A shame. Some of us would love to have some volunteer help.
That might be easier to believe if not for his refusing volunteer help.
I used the wrong word in "refusing". More accurate would have been "ignoring".
It sure isn't up to his usual standards. Or at least those I've come to expect from him.
A first reviewer has just rated it 10 for appeal.
'Recluse and Ghost' has two reviewers, both rating it at 10.
So are readers supposed to assume those two stories equally appealing?
AJ
So are readers supposed to assume those two stories equally appealing?
That relies on so many different things. First, do the different reviewers approach the scoring scale the same? An 8 for one might not be the same as an 8 for another. Second, do the different reviewers have same or differing story likes/dislikes? What turns off/on for one may not do the same for another. Third, do the different reviewers share the same life experiences as this will shade viewpoint? This gets into married/single, 30 years old/60 years old, hetero/gay, male/female, political views, etc. These only scratch the surface.
That may have been the editors wanting to know what type of writer you are. They may have been waiting to see if you were any good or just a flash in the pan.
I went for more than a year without an editor. Then one of the popular editors on this site volunteered his assistance.
I also enjoyed that story. It has been a while, so I don't recall the errors, but I don't doubt they were there.
Thanks for posting about this story. A very good read though I too had passed it by due to the description.
I did read Split Tails Ranch after browsing through his stories which I enjoyed as well.
He also posts stories on Lit. or has in the past.
There they have a 50 character limit on the 'synopsis' (including punctuation and spaces between words).
He may be in the habit of using the same blurb everywhere.
Hey, are you guys talking about me? Thanks.
I do need an editor and I have started using one. I have little patience, though, and when I finish something I want to post it and move on. I know I drive the grammarians crazy and I am tryng to reform. Erikthread has offered to edit for me in the past, I think if he's still willing I'll let him have a crack at a few. Couldn't hurt.
As for being lacking in description, I've always felt if there's too much, it kills the story. I tend to stay away from stories with a half page synopsis. It's like movie trailers where they show you all the good parts and when you get to the cinema all you haven't seen is the dreck.
Thanks for reading my stories.
Q
Thanks for reading my stories.
Thank you for writing, and sharing the fruits of your talent.
AJ