Check it out! Jennifer Eaton of http://jennifermeaton.com/sunday-snippets/ has initiated this Critique Blog Hop. Read the rules and sign up. Sounds like a fun way to get good feedback.
I offer these next 250 words from Leap of Faith. The beginning can be found here: https://letscutthecrap.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/sunday-snippets/
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“That new girl, Irene, is stealing from everyone. No-one lost anything until she arrived.”
Olivia, Reddy’s mother, cut thick slices of crusty olive bread. She stirred a thick zuppa on the stove and filled shallow bowls for their supper. With shaking head and busy hands, she watched father and daughter sparing, but kept quiet.
Everett put his hands on his hips and copied Reddy’s hand toss. He rolled his eyes and sat down at the wood kitchen table. “It’s up to the teacher to right this, not you. Come sit.”
The room was too small even for the miniature table, let alone a man of his girth. Her mother set down a bowl in front of Reddy and brushed the short coiling wisps of hair which framed her face. “Mia bella,” her mother whispered, sat down and crossed herself. “Nel nome del padre,” she began…
After supper, hours of daylight still remained before the sun withdrew into the horizon. Her father excused himself from the table. Reddy bounced her knee up and down beneath it. Her mother tightened her lips as she cleared the dishes away. “Come, Rosalia.”
Reddy groaned and slumped in her chair. “Okay, Mama, I’ll help with the dishes, but can I go outside for a while after? It’s still light out. Please.”
Mother and daughter eyed each other. Reddy hated this tug of war between them. “Small time,” her mother said as she pinched her thumb and forefinger together.
Reddy dashed out of the back door.
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Click on over to these great writers to check out and critique what they’ve posted!
http://mermaidssinging.wordpress.com/
http://caitlinsternwrites.wordpress.com/
http://wyrmflight.wordpress.com/
http://www.mandyevebarnett.com
http://womanbitesdog.wordpress.com/
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http://threepiecebikini.blogspot.com/
http://itsjennythewren.wordpress.com/
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http://wordsbreathedupon.wordpress.com/blog/
How the Cookie Crumbles 
February 10, 2013 at 12:59 pm
I can see the little girl’s leg jumping up and down impatiently 😉
Still a good story so far Tess 😉
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February 10, 2013 at 6:12 pm
I see you using italics two different ways–emphasis, and to indicate non-English language. Maybe you should indicate these things differently?
Tiny detail–I think you mean they’re “sparring” not “sparing.”
I like the body language between mother and daughter. You can tell they don’t see eye to eye.
And dad’s definitely not helping. 🙂
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February 12, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Hmm. How do I do that? The non-English SHOULD be italicized, but how do I emphasize the odd word word here and there? Any suggestions, because I really have no idea?
You are correct, thank you, Caitlin, regarding the sparring (typo here). I now believe sparring is too stronga word and not correct here. I appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
Do you have any thoughts about Reddy’s name? Like? Dislike? Cute little chip off the old block (dad)?
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February 12, 2013 at 10:03 pm
Maybe bold? Or underlined?
I think the nickname’s cute. I like how her mom refuses to use it.
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February 16, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Thank you, Caitlin. About the nickname, I tried coming up with a name not Rose, Ruby, Red etc. The mother, on the other hand as Italian as the father is Scottish.
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February 10, 2013 at 6:25 pm
She rushed out of the door prior to helping & eating? Continuity here I believe? Maybe use some internal dialogue to show she is anxious to leave while doing the dishes?
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February 12, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Thank you, Mandy. Great point. You’re not the first to catch this oversight. Reddy was supposed to have done the dishes. I had no idea she slipped the door. Back to the drawing board.
What do you think of the name Reddy? Acceptable? Jarring? A chip off the old block?
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February 13, 2013 at 1:04 am
Not sure about Reddy to be honest…let me ponder it . I’ll get back to you OK?
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February 13, 2013 at 1:07 am
I think that for a family to nickname her they would most likely use Lia. It depends on how you want to portray Reddy really…if she is a tough nut maybe Lia is too soft so Red would be more suitable. Anyway just my thoughts. Hope they help a bit.
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February 16, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Thank you, Mandy. I thought I was original (drat), and also, I was going with the idea at one time what men wanted was what they got at home.
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February 12, 2013 at 9:09 pm
Thanks, Mandy. Yours was the first catch. Oversight on mine part. Dinner happened quite quickly, didn’t it and she raced out the door before doing the dishes as promised. I thought she’d done them too, the little rascal. Back to the drawing board. I so appreciate your input. I seem to screw up on the small things the most…
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February 13, 2013 at 1:03 am
I’m sure you would have caught it with another read through.
Good luck with the revisions
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February 11, 2013 at 2:34 pm
Good scene. Still want to know more about where this story is going, and I know that’s frustrating with only 250 words. Tiny error: Reddy asks to go outside AFTER she helps with the dishes but runs out the door when her mom agrees she can play for a little bit. I don’t know if that’s on purpose or not, but it was just something that stuck out to me.
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February 12, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Good pick, Jordanna. A slight oversight on my part. Somehow she got away on me; I thought she had helped with the dishes as promised. I appreciate your comments.
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February 11, 2013 at 6:26 pm
How are Reddy and her father sparring? Is this just there emotional sparring?
I like the emotions between the three. What you have gotten thus far as feedback are the only things I would have pointed out to you Tess.
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February 12, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Hi Valentine. Hm. I suppose, now that I look at it, sparring is too strong a word and incorrect. He’s teasing her, making fun, while she is serious. Back to the drawing board. This is why I like feedback. I’m pleased you took the time to comment. Thank you.
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February 12, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I enjoyed the cultural details and especially the cuisine that brought the family’s surroundings to life. You catch the tension between parents and child very well, with the daughter pushing her fences by leaving before she actually did her chores. Very small correction, “sparring” has a double R.
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February 12, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Thank you for your sharp eyes. Sparring is a typo and I see I blew it on the daughter running out before helping with the dishes. My idea was she had done them first to use as leverage to RUN. Back to the drawing board. I appreciate your comments.
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