It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again and this week’s prompt is “critic(al).” Linda Hill says we can use the prompt anyway we want. If you would like to join in visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link
Critic(al) by John W. Howell © 2019
“I see you wrote your review of my book.”
“Yeah, it was tough, but I did it.”
“What do you mean, ‘tough?”‘
“Well, I had to sit down at my computer and think of what to say. That’s tough.”
“Uh huh. I suppose you now have an appreciation of how easy it is to write a book.”
“For one thing, trying to think of good things to say about a book is hard work. I would say writing the book is easy in comparison.”
“So you had a hard time with good things?”
“You know your plot was quite complicated.’
“Some like that.’
“And the characters were hard to like.”
“Yeah, murders and rapists are not the most likable.”
“That cop was very arrogant.”
“Yup so true.”
“The woman was too good-looking.”
“I wonder why I didn’t give her a hideous scar.”
“No one has a dog that loyal.”
“Should have had him turn on his owners.”
“So all in all the hard work was looking for the good stuff.”
“I can see that. So how long have you been a critic?”
“I just started. Your book is the first.”
“Lucky me.”
“I gave it a one star.”
“Oh joy. Why so generous.”
“I thought the cover was nice.”
“Yeah, one of the few things I didn’t create.”
“Want some advice.”
“Sure that is exactly what I want.”
“Write happy stories.”
“Happy stories?”
“Yeah you know where the hero gets the girl, and they all live happily ever after.”
“Sure thing. Let me get right on that.”
“I would be happy to review it when you are done.”
“I’ll give you a call. It might be a while though.”
“I can wait.”
“I’ll bet you can.”
Fiction Favorites 
Great use of the prompt, John. You’ve touched on a topic dear to all writers. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Gwen. It is a love/hate kind of relationship sometimes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Everyone’s a critic, eh? Yesterday you were saying how hard it is to get reviews. Is this a case of “be careful what you wish for?”
Then again the ugly woman with a mean dog who ends up marrying a kind and gentle cop. It might work.
Nice work, John.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Dan. I think you have a great story line there. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy is boring.
Happy is how the story ends; you have to earn that happy ending.
And yes, that is what she said.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can imagine you trying for a short cut to a happy ending. Earn it is. Thanks, Hook. 😄
LikeLike
I have a feeling he’s not going to write the happy ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. I think you are right, GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An enlightening interview that encourages you to look for the book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love a good happy ending after the characters have been through hell. Nice job, John! Speaking of happy…HAPPY SATURDAY!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jill. Happy Saturday to you. *sung to the tune of Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’ve met that critic. It is a head scratcher when the complaint is ‘too positive’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right? 🙄
LikeLike
BAHAHAHAHAHA 🤣🤣🤣! I love it Linda!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Greg.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On my phone and just this was John! Still love it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Greg. I got it the first time. 😄
LikeLike
Fast and funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jackie. 😁
LikeLike
Somehow even a more positive review sounds like this to the writer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John,
Writers might see this no matter the review, LOL. And no way Jose . . no happily ever after stories. That’s been covered. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On the plus side… though no one likes a negative review, it does help the author appreciate the good ones! And when the review is like this one, the author knows it for what it is – a worthless piece of drivel because he says nothing of value.
And, let’s face it: everything all perfect and tied up in a bow for a happy ending is über boring and done, done, DONE!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Thanks, Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great critic(al) thrad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 😊
LikeLike
At least the critic liked the cover…lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Yup. Thanks, Denise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes, it’s better NOT to know what readers think, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tend to agree sometimes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ACKKKKKK! An author’s nightmare. And I know there are plenty of critics like that out there. Perhaps we should put them in a windowless room with a sheaf of papers and one pen and tell them they can come out when they finish one chapter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. Love it, Pamela.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps a musical number at the end would help.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww…one lonely star for the one thing that wasn’t his…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. The breaks.
LikeLike
Lol, John!! Wow! One star and that was because of the cover – tough critic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right? Thank you, Jan
LikeLiked by 1 person