Not everyone’s a critic!
Thanks to all the wonderful people who have taken the time to read and comment on my work!
Here are some great comments from visitors to my blog. I’ll be sure to add more
if you write them!
Special thanks to the fabulous writers at the
What Pegman Saw short-fiction writing challenges.
You have been so encouraging and supportive over the past few years and
have penned so many thoughtful, insightful, and well-written comments here!
If you recognize your own comment and want more specific recognition,
or if you want it taken down, please let me know! Comments edited for brevity.
Faulted her, for wandering the streets alone?
(Even in broad daylight!)
Above everything else in your story THIS says so much. I only point that out because everything else says a lot. Well done.
Alicia
On short-short Don’t Ask, Don’t TellI really enjoyed this piece, well written, thought provoking, and deep layered. It surprises (and horrifies) me that even today people often wonder what the victim did to “deserve it.”
Brenda
On short-short Don’t Ask, Don’t TellWhat a horrible event and such a callous view from tourists. So many people see it from such a small point of view.
“Mostly Mexicans,” and
“Afterwards, a dozen ships’ hulls shaded the whispering beach.
As if haphazardly parked, by some drunken valet.”
really pack an extra punch. Very powerful!
Dawn
On short-short Mostly MexicansWhat a lovely story Andrea. So visually appealing and emotionally poignant.
Girl in Niagara
On short-short Midnight TeaIntriguing start then the story unfolds really well. I want her to be safe for obvious reasons but also because I can imagine the homecoming and I hope you write it!
Jill
On short-short NeverWow, I love this piece. It seriously gave me goosebumps. Read it three times! The simplicity of the language belies the power in each line. I could see and hear and feel it all.
Karen
On short-short Big SkyI’ve had the exact same thought as you with all of the furor over children “falling behind” if they’re not in school being a false premise. In many instances, children learn in spite of school, not because of it.
Liz
On short-short Falling BehindWonderful language to paint a picture of a disturbed mind. Well told. Disturbing.
Margaret
On short-short The Light MonkBeautifully written and left a real shudder – which I think was your intention!
Miranda
On short-short Due For a HaircutVery well-written story, Andrea. I love this line: “To watch humanity steam and froth, warmed by the neon’s indulgent glow.”
Ms Jade
On short-short InvisibleYikes – nice job with this respectful Veteran’s piece. Made me sad – and grateful for what our servicemen have done and still do.
Priorhouse
On short-short Good FortuneAndrea, I love this poem. It scratches for attention despite the poet in me trying to look away from its truths.
The rose photo is superb
Robyn
On poem To the PoetI haven’t seen a pair of pinking shears (as we call them) in years. Good story, enjoyed it.
Sandra
On the short short SeamstressNot sure I understand the numerology bit but I too envisaged a male, overly obsessed and paranoid monkish figure who took to numbers because of his failure to interact with others. Funny how a few words portray a character
siobhan
On the short short Numerology“Definitely not fruit punch!”
Nice!
The Dark Netizen
On the short short Monster Mash“King of the Masquerade” is a great line! This poem makes me think of the song “Hotel California.”
Tokens of Companionship
On the poem SmokyWe humans are pretty good at sword fighting and not so good at dealing with invisible threats. Great poem!
Tokens of Companionship
On the poem HorsemenThat last line is achingly beautiful, Andrea. It’s sad to envisage her plight, but hey who are we to comment?
Varad
On the short-short SoonerI loved your photo of “Butterfly pea plant blooming blue…”
I very much like the fact that non-human nature has gotten a little break during our COVID-related slow-downs — although I am also aware that millions of families cannot pay their rent/mortgage/food bills.
Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
Will
On poem QuarantineHow whisky can create perspective for things we dislike. Nicely done
Bill
On short-short Ice Don’t KeepYour lovely poem is a beautiful tribute to your parent’s love for each other. Very nicely done! I’m sure they are together, enjoying year 61.
Brenda
On poem Sixty YearsI do like this reflection on homeschooling an autistic child, it so chimes in with our own philosophy and experience.
Calmgrove
On essay Not Quite up to SnuffI thought it was cool the way you added the art deco theme. That added a whole new dimension to the poem!
Debra
On poem Bombay DecoBoom! Direct hit!!!
I really enjoyed your two characters. So different, yet drawn to the same field. And who knows? Maybe, somewhere, a Pascal will arise to cap the pump 🙂
Linda
On short-short Double-BlindAh, the student beats the master! Great Story!
Jelli
On short-short ZugZwangA foretelling, farsighted well- constructed piece of poetry. A good rhythmic feel.
John
On short-short Green LandBrilliant – even better read out loud!
Keith
On short-short Danged CowFor some reason, I’m seeing this poem in the Childcraft book of poems for children, illustrated with a big, fat orange-faced bully in various postures of temper-tantruming.
Liz
On poem StolenI love this. So sweet and passionate and illicit. And that description of frozen snow – just perfect. Well done indeed, Andrea
Lynn
On the short-short Rendezvoussetting sun weaves threads through the turquoise sky…nice line. Lovely story
Neel
On short-short Adverse PossessionI don’t think she needs to choke back the smile. We will see the rainbow again, and we’ll smile.
Neil
On short-short HopeThis was a joy to read. I loved the lines, Dune sunflowers smiled on either side and Waves occasionally lapping her toes, like a friendly puppy. Makes you want to get away and be somewhere peaceful too.
Notes to Women
On short short The Sandy KingdomThis is one of the best statements/laments on climate change I’ve read. Stunning.
Rochelle
On poem InevitableI loved the water giggling through gentrified neighborhoods. Beautifully written and evocative piece.
Rochelle
On short-short GhostsI loved the name Filcher’s Row. The appearance by the heretofor “silent” partner made this a great cliff hanger.
Russell
On the short short Filcher’s RowI absolutely love these two lines: ‘white candles on a layer cake’ and ‘the last man to ever upstage her.’ I am SO CURIOUS – how does he upstage her?! Why?! Does he mean to?! Please continue this story!
I would LOVE to know what happens next so when you do, please send it my way!
Tara
On the short short 1977Ouch, what a punch in that final line. You set us up with nostalgic memories and then reveal the darkness beneath them. Nicely done
The Reclining Gentleman
On the short short Boundary WatersOh goodness this so scary. Hope your husband heals as quickly as possible and that the rest of your family remains healthy.
The Wife of Bath
On the poem Winter’s TollVery tenderly told. You sound like a very loving and devoted mother, and your children are blessed to have you.
Violet
On the essay Our Stems Are FragileHe sounds creepy to me – don’t go with him Magda !
Woman Walking Max
On the short-short MousetrapA homely romantic tale. Good to know that romance is not dead.
Woman Walking Max
On the short-short A Pearl of Great PriceI think indeed the last stage of cars is getting close… the hood ornament is a great metaphor of the first decline.
Björn
On poem FigureheadsLoved the rhythm of this, and the inherent truth.
CE
On poem A WordThere are always those who feel they are indestructible. Nothing like a roof ripping off to show them what’s what!!
Loved this.
Dale
On short-short Never Underestimate A WomanSuch a tragedy indeed, Andrea; I can’t imagine who was not moved by the sight of that beautiful and historic place burning. I loved it there, and can’t even fathom it. Your story really captures the emotional impact.
Dawn
On short-short Fire EscapeThat’s a pretty ominous last line! I hope she’s not planning on walking home alone…
Draliman
On short-short CorrectionReally excellent. We all have to examine our response to recent events. I hope she will open up her view of the world and find a way to make a contribution. We are all learning we can do that without necessarily having to take to the streets.
Iain
On ProvincialThe rhythm here really adds to the anxiety level, well done! It reminded me of Poe’s the Raven, It doesn’t hurt that I’m not so great about highway driving as it is, and I absolutely hate winding twisting roads and cliffs. SHIVER!
Joy
On the poem FlatlanderLove this. She is such a character. Wily. What a driver!! Haha
Laurie
On the short-short Old JunkExtremely violent symbolism – an interesting take.
Lizy
On the short-short The Night BeforeGreat poem. I love how you captured the elements and her relationship with them and that arrival of a sibling at the end – welcome or not? Well done. Andrea
Lynn
On the poem MackinacGreat last line delivered perfectly suddenly.
Michael
On short-short Boundary WatersI never knew about Josephine’s ancestry, or her connection with roses. I once learned from an opera program booklet that in several languages (including English, of course) ‘rose’ is an anagram of ‘eros’.
Nemorino
On poem Of RosesThere’s some delightful writing in this. “The falling mercury, snow’s harbinger,” Good grief, when was the last time I read the word harbinger? Lovely choice of words, exquisite. And “The pompous, popish napkins folded their arms in disapproval. Or disbelief.” Some discreet alliteration, and such an original and vivid description.
And, of course, your last line. But you already know that’s a cracker. “Sparkling opacity” – wow!
Penny
On short-short SnowedI’m so impressed you can remember what you were doing 15 years ago. I’m lucky if I remember what I had for lunch! Thanks for the list of Word Camps — I didn’t know such existed. Ditto for the Wapuu page. You write really well and no typos — hooray!!!
Southern Rural Route
On the essay Fifteen CandlesI didn’t think the lights on the water was a Christmas tradition; now I do. Nicely done.
Stu
On short short Riverside LuminariaI could hear the noise in my skull! Well done.
Tannille
On short short Girls Night OutOh no, no tequila ?!
Tannille
On short short Never Underestimate A Woman“All your questions shall be answered, then,
Though your knuckles rap no more.”
Love the macabre humor.
Tokens of Companionship
On poem The Other SideWhat a challenge you’ve had. And how lucky your boys are to have someone as strong, sensible and resilient as you.
Sue
On the short-short PrioritiesThat is such an inspiring intro.
Yarnspinerr
On the Welcome pageBeautiful word smithy!
What a clever way to encourage post engagement! I haven’t seen it done before.
I know a lot of online businesses use testimonials for engagement and social proof, essentially soliciting reviews to post on their own site.
This can be persuasive when trying to convince people to buy an unseen product or unfamiliar service in a touchless society.
Many themes and plugins and WordPress itself are equipped with the capacity to do a testimonial page.
I have never dabbled in it till now for two reasons: first, because in the shadow of my parent’s face to face generation, it seemed in poor taste and self-congratulatory. I hope it does not come off this way. 😬
Second I was worried about publishing anything that seemed to praise my own work since doing so used to be a big no-no in the practice of law. Even though this blog has nothing to do with that part of my former life.
This post is done with Gutenberg with a Genesis Blocks template. It looks awful on reader, pretty good on mobile and great on desktop. Fortunately I had a lot of great material to work with! I hope you enjoy these positive comments as much as I do.
I’m finding that getting your voice heard is a great challenge in this space, and people are more inclined to listen or read, when they know someone else liked what you had to say.
It also helps that readers often point out what is special about your work. Things you’re not aware of, because it’s yours.
And receiving and responding to comments is my very favorite thing about blogging. It helps me grow as a writer and meet all sorts of interesting people. Like you Liz!
Thanks for listening to my rather lengthy and guilty explanation of what I hope is a good addition to my site!
Since Im mostly writing creatively, I have to prove socially that in that sphere I can hold my own (or at least I like to think so.) I hope that sharing a few words of encouragement from some of my favorite online writers, will entice a few new people to dip their toes into the water.
I’ll be very interested in hearing how people respond to the new feature and whether it attracts new readers and followers.
Ill let you know.