I really like the lively narrator in your introduction and the descriptions that you give when detailing the scenery. You can tell the narrator feels very traveled, and yet through all this traveling, they chose this specific place as their favorite. When reading the introduction, it felt like the narrator was my hiking guide which I think is close to what you wanted to accomplish. I do like how you managed to reference other popular tales when introducing the narrator. I am quite curious about what stories the narrator has to tell, and I wonder how they came to know all these stories. Did they really lead such an interesting life that they got to taste a little bit of every adventure? On another note, the images you chose for this introduction were chosen well, but I might suggest moving up the bottom picture with the town closer to your description of the scenery. Great start on your storybook!
Hi Baylor! This is a solid start, but I do have some feedback. First, where is Silesia? I don't think most people are familiar with that term. I know I wasn't. By giving the little detail that it is in modern-day Poland, it will help to orient readers and give them a better mental picture of the scenery. You could put that information on the home page, along with a little introduction that gives the premise of the storybook and any other relevant information.
I like the idea of having a storyteller relate the stories. I used that format in my own storybook, in fact. You set the scene wonderfully, but the story itself is very brief and a little dull. If you used the same level of detail to tell the story of the turnip-counter as you do for the storyteller, I think it would be a lot more interesting. You could describe how the princess comes up with her plan, locked away in her tower. You could describe her daring escape on horseback. You could describe the lord's increasing frustration as he gets called turnip-counter over and over again, only for everything to snap into dismaying clarity as he comes home to realize his bride is gone, and how he earned his nickname. This is a good start, but there is room for improvement.
Hi Baylor, First of all, I think you've done a great job with the website design. The front page looks very professional, and the colors work well together. I found it very eye-catching. Also, I love the end of your introduction where you move into the second tense and throw in a bit of Polish! When did Silesia exist? Is it real, or a fantasy place? Who are the people of Silesia, and how are they distinguished from other people in that area? Geographically stunted readers could use some help :) I would have liked a little bit more of a lead-in for your first story. If you start by clarifying that it is the man in the red coat speaking, it will be a lot clearer for the reader. Also, I would love to know the reader's reaction. It would be interesting if you carried the second tense further into the story ("You see the man approaching... he steps closer and you feel startled" or "You shake his hand and greet him warmly in return"). Looking forward to reading more about Silesia!
Hi Baylor, I really loved your website design. It's very simple, modern, and easy to read. Your title/introduction page are really effective with the large picture of the wilderness.I think your concept is so interesting. I had never heard of Silesia and your introduction does a really good job of explaining what that is and the basis of your website. I liked your story about the Rubezahl road. I had never heard it before and it was really fun and interesting. I was confused at first reading the story because I didn't immediately understand that the person telling the story was the man I met on the road in your introduction. I just wish that had been more clear, maybe by just having him address something about the reader and their appearance or some comment like that would make it more clear. I'm excited to learn more about Silesia and read more!
First of all, the design of your website is reallyl beautiful. The whole nature aesthetic is gorgeous, and it really did help a lot with immersion. Your narrative sense in your first story was fantastic. Also, the flow of the first chapter was lovely. It really did feel like I was walking alongside the narrator! A big positive to your writing is that I never, even for a second, felt like you were being redundant or dragging things out too long. As a reader, I feel like you, the author, understands that we have a certain level of knowledge and don't need to explicitly explain everything. Some stories spend way too long explaining the details of everything, but not yours! I also really liked how you spaced the author's note and bibliography from the main passage. Perhaps the only thing I would suggest is maybe adding a few clues in the opening paragraph about what the main plot line of the story will be? You used second person POV really well, but it left me with even more questions! I can't wait to read more, great start!
I like your approach in your Storybook! You did an excellent job of guiding the reader in the role play so that the reader knows exactly what to imagine. It pains me to say, but I have never actually heard of Silesia before. I am really curious to know have you have heard of Silesia before and what inspired you to feature it in your Storybook. I like your decision to have another individual act as the storyteller – it makes for an interesting experience!
For your first story, I must say that you are incredibly adept at including detailed imagery in your story. I also really like the picture you have in the first story – it really fits in with what you are describing in the story. I really like the ominous note that the story concluded in. What a way to wrap up a story and leave the reader eager for more!
I like the layout of your website. The image is just beautiful and of really good quality. The format that you used makes it really easy to navigate through the website. Having the navigation bar at the top makes it really easy to go through the all of the pages. One recommendation that I have is to use a button in the footer where you specify the link to your comment wall. You can make a button a link, and buttons are a really good way to make links stand out. I also like the fact that you have the link to your comment wall in every page, it makes it super accessible for everyone.
Another recommendation in your design that I have is to make the top image in your first page a banner image, just like the image you have in the intro. I think it would look really nice and add consistency to the design.
Hey howdy Baylor, Your storybook page looks great. I am a big fan of the way you have laid everything out. I have been on the page before, and if I remember correctly, you have done a lot of work taking it further. Even down to the color scheme of the text both in your headers and actual stories work well. The accents do a great job of furthering the theme with such a connection to the natural aesthetic. Your story about going along the Rubezahl Road was fantastic, and the one that really stuck out to me. It is easy to follow along with the narrator, and the text makes it seem like the reader is right there in the Alps. I really enjoyed how the description of surroundings reads similarly to a natural train of thought. It definitely leaves the reader looking forward to the next step in the storybook adventure on the road. Great job
Hey Baylor! Your first story instantly pulls me into the area you've crafted here. Your vivid description of the forest path draws me directly into the imagery of the story, ready to hear whatever tale is about to be told to me. The way you describe how the Rubezahl got its name is interesting and short, but could possibly use a few more details. The second story builds a character over the narrator, this time placing himself into his story as opposed to retelling it from another source. This kind of disjunction is interesting, but paints the narrator in a somewhat confusing light. The second story contrasts against the first very well, but the last paragraph uses a degree of confusing language that makes the reference hard to piece together. All in all, I'm enjoying what you've created so far and I am definitely going to tune in for what comes next.
Hi Baylor, I love the design of your website. The image on the first page is absolutely stunning and I think it was a good idea to have it encompass the entire page. I also like the other images you chose. Something that really caught my eye is how you did all of the titles for your pages. It really makes it stand out. I might have to try something similar for my website! Your introduction is so unique! I think it is awesome how you try to draw the reader into your story. This is something I have not seen in other projects and I think it really makes you stand out. It works too, I definitely felt like I was traveling on the road in your first story. Your second story was very intriguing and had a lot of beauty in it. I am really enjoying your content. Keep up the good writing!
This is my first time visiting your project and I can't believe it took me this long! Right away I was super impressed by the design of your site. It's really clean and the image of the mountains is a great welcome to your storybook. It kind of reminds me of National Geographic in a way!
I love how you've used the introduction page as almost a mini-orientation for the readers. I was drawn in really quickly, and your introduction gave me the right background but still left a little mystery that made me want to continue and read yoru stories. I think ending your introduction with a choice for the readers is a really effective way to keep their attention.
The first person narration for all of your writing is also really engaging and unique. I haven't seen many other stories use it, and I think you use it really well. Reading through your stories, there's nothing I can really think of that would be useful for revising, but I'm just still impressed with your design and images!
Wow, the photos you used for your storybook are extremely beautiful! I had the pleasure of traveling through Silesia myself while going through Poland and the Czech Republic and there are truly some gorgeous areas in this region! I had never heard of Rübezahl until your storybook, so thank you for giving me a glimpse into this interesting character of Silesian folklore! My first thought when I saw the title was "turnip number?" but then it all made sense when I read your first story! Great job on getting the reader engaged--your narrator really draws the reader in and makes them want to keep reading/traveling! I think this is an extremely effective way to make the reader feel like they are a part of the journey and the gorgeous photos really add to this effect! I am now incredibly interested in reading some Silesian fairy tales as I can honestly say I don't think I have ever read any of them before! Fantastic job and I cannot wait to see your finished project!
Just read your storybook and I must say that I am very impressed. First, I felt that your theme of storybook and images that you have is very aesthetically pleasing. I have never traveled much aside from going to Italy, but I would really like to go check out Silesia at some point whenever I get older. I also really like your storytelling style. I think your stories are undoubtedly eloquently written and your introduction really initially interest the reader. After I read it, I really wanted to continue to reading as it made me very curious. I also liked how desriptive you were in your stories. It allowed me to mentally picture what was going on. I think that overall you are doing a great job as I couldn't make any suggestions that have not already been made. I look forward to seeing what else you add to your story book and what revisions you will make. Keep doing what you are doing and I hope you have a great rest of the semester.
Hi Baylor, I looked at your storybook a few weeks ago and I'm really impressed with the changes you've made. The introduction page now has a lot more detail and it gives the reader a much better understanding of what Silesia is. I like that you've included information about the economy as well as the landscape... It makes me think more about the stories as I'm reading them. I also really enjoyed the descriptions you used, particularly around the flute music. I'm looking forward to reading your next story and I'm curious what you'll end up doing with it. Also, I am still very much enjoying the background and color scheme! Your font is very readable and while some of your paragraphs are on the longer side, they don't overwhelm the page. What made you choose to write about Silesia?
This is not my first time visiting your Storybook! When I previously commented, you had only published chapter one. I am proud to announce that my interest in your Storybook has not dwindled at all! My comment this time is going to focus on the author’s note you have included for us in your second chapter.
I must say that your story did not unfold the way I predicted it to. Considering that the Mountain Lord was considered to be a trickster, I thought that he would surely play some sort of trick on Claus. In the end, I was actually disappointed that Claus never got to play for the Lord! As for the author’s note itself, I really appreciate how you walked us through your mentality when you were creating the story. I also like that little bit of information you provided us at the end. I am sure that we will be able to connect the dots later on!
I don't believe I've had the opportunity to visit your site yet. I am so glad I was able to take a look before the end of the semester. What great stories you have and what a great concept you've thought of! Immediately, I was very intrigued by the beautiful landscape shot on your homepage. Such a pretty picture and definitely eye-catching fo reader. I also love the font on your homepage. It really gives your site a fairytale feel and I can just imagine it being in a book of famous fairytales.
My favorite chapter on your site is definitely the second one. I love the video you included and the picture below it. You really are great at giving visual stimuli to the readers. It definitely helps to feel more connected to the characters and setting in your stories. Such a great job, Baylor!
I love your layout and theme! I really loved your stories and you're your beautiful images. It really pulled me in. Honestly, this is the first time I have been to your page. And I’m very pleased that I came across it before the end of the semester. I love the font on your homepage! It’s super cool and is perfect for the fairytale theme! Keep up the good work and I hope you have a great rest of the semester!
This storybook is seriously awesome and I am so glad that I get to come back and read it as a finished product and admire the entire thing as a whole! Again, your website is very well done, and I wish mine looked as good as yours! The imagery and layout really contribute to creating the atmosphere in which all of your story takes place, and it really helps create a fun reading environment and experience for the reader, since I feel that is a crucial aspect of this project! Your stories themselves are also phenomenally detailed and really allow people to get into the background and into the characters as they grow and develop. Great work on this project, and good luck on your finals!
Hi Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI really like the lively narrator in your introduction and the descriptions that you give when detailing the scenery. You can tell the narrator feels very traveled, and yet through all this traveling, they chose this specific place as their favorite. When reading the introduction, it felt like the narrator was my hiking guide which I think is close to what you wanted to accomplish. I do like how you managed to reference other popular tales when introducing the narrator. I am quite curious about what stories the narrator has to tell, and I wonder how they came to know all these stories. Did they really lead such an interesting life that they got to taste a little bit of every adventure? On another note, the images you chose for this introduction were chosen well, but I might suggest moving up the bottom picture with the town closer to your description of the scenery. Great start on your storybook!
Hi Baylor! This is a solid start, but I do have some feedback. First, where is Silesia? I don't think most people are familiar with that term. I know I wasn't. By giving the little detail that it is in modern-day Poland, it will help to orient readers and give them a better mental picture of the scenery. You could put that information on the home page, along with a little introduction that gives the premise of the storybook and any other relevant information.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of having a storyteller relate the stories. I used that format in my own storybook, in fact. You set the scene wonderfully, but the story itself is very brief and a little dull. If you used the same level of detail to tell the story of the turnip-counter as you do for the storyteller, I think it would be a lot more interesting. You could describe how the princess comes up with her plan, locked away in her tower. You could describe her daring escape on horseback. You could describe the lord's increasing frustration as he gets called turnip-counter over and over again, only for everything to snap into dismaying clarity as he comes home to realize his bride is gone, and how he earned his nickname. This is a good start, but there is room for improvement.
Hi Baylor,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I think you've done a great job with the website design. The front page looks very professional, and the colors work well together. I found it very eye-catching. Also, I love the end of your introduction where you move into the second tense and throw in a bit of Polish!
When did Silesia exist? Is it real, or a fantasy place? Who are the people of Silesia, and how are they distinguished from other people in that area? Geographically stunted readers could use some help :)
I would have liked a little bit more of a lead-in for your first story. If you start by clarifying that it is the man in the red coat speaking, it will be a lot clearer for the reader. Also, I would love to know the reader's reaction. It would be interesting if you carried the second tense further into the story ("You see the man approaching... he steps closer and you feel startled" or "You shake his hand and greet him warmly in return").
Looking forward to reading more about Silesia!
Hi Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI really loved your website design. It's very simple, modern, and easy to read. Your title/introduction page are really effective with the large picture of the wilderness.I think your concept is so interesting. I had never heard of Silesia and your introduction does a really good job of explaining what that is and the basis of your website. I liked your story about the Rubezahl road. I had never heard it before and it was really fun and interesting. I was confused at first reading the story because I didn't immediately understand that the person telling the story was the man I met on the road in your introduction. I just wish that had been more clear, maybe by just having him address something about the reader and their appearance or some comment like that would make it more clear. I'm excited to learn more about Silesia and read more!
Baylor,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the design of your website is reallyl beautiful. The whole nature aesthetic is gorgeous, and it really did help a lot with immersion. Your narrative sense in your first story was fantastic. Also, the flow of the first chapter was lovely. It really did feel like I was walking alongside the narrator! A big positive to your writing is that I never, even for a second, felt like you were being redundant or dragging things out too long. As a reader, I feel like you, the author, understands that we have a certain level of knowledge and don't need to explicitly explain everything. Some stories spend way too long explaining the details of everything, but not yours! I also really liked how you spaced the author's note and bibliography from the main passage. Perhaps the only thing I would suggest is maybe adding a few clues in the opening paragraph about what the main plot line of the story will be? You used second person POV really well, but it left me with even more questions! I can't wait to read more, great start!
Hello, Baylor!
ReplyDeleteI like your approach in your Storybook! You did an excellent job of guiding the reader in the role play so that the reader knows exactly what to imagine. It pains me to say, but I have never actually heard of Silesia before. I am really curious to know have you have heard of Silesia before and what inspired you to feature it in your Storybook. I like your decision to have another individual act as the storyteller – it makes for an interesting experience!
For your first story, I must say that you are incredibly adept at including detailed imagery in your story. I also really like the picture you have in the first story – it really fits in with what you are describing in the story. I really like the ominous note that the story concluded in. What a way to wrap up a story and leave the reader eager for more!
Hello Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI like the layout of your website. The image is just beautiful and of really good quality. The format that you used makes it really easy to navigate through the website. Having the navigation bar at the top makes it really easy to go through the all of the pages. One recommendation that I have is to use a button in the footer where you specify the link to your comment wall. You can make a button a link, and buttons are a really good way to make links stand out. I also like the fact that you have the link to your comment wall in every page, it makes it super accessible for everyone.
Another recommendation in your design that I have is to make the top image in your first page a banner image, just like the image you have in the intro. I think it would look really nice and add consistency to the design.
Hey howdy Baylor,
ReplyDeleteYour storybook page looks great. I am a big fan of the way you have laid everything out. I have been on the page before, and if I remember correctly, you have done a lot of work taking it further. Even down to the color scheme of the text both in your headers and actual stories work well. The accents do a great job of furthering the theme with such a connection to the natural aesthetic. Your story about going along the Rubezahl Road was fantastic, and the one that really stuck out to me. It is easy to follow along with the narrator, and the text makes it seem like the reader is right there in the Alps. I really enjoyed how the description of surroundings reads similarly to a natural train of thought. It definitely leaves the reader looking forward to the next step in the storybook adventure on the road. Great job
Hey Baylor!
ReplyDeleteYour first story instantly pulls me into the area you've crafted here. Your vivid description of the forest path draws me directly into the imagery of the story, ready to hear whatever tale is about to be told to me. The way you describe how the Rubezahl got its name is interesting and short, but could possibly use a few more details. The second story builds a character over the narrator, this time placing himself into his story as opposed to retelling it from another source. This kind of disjunction is interesting, but paints the narrator in a somewhat confusing light. The second story contrasts against the first very well, but the last paragraph uses a degree of confusing language that makes the reference hard to piece together. All in all, I'm enjoying what you've created so far and I am definitely going to tune in for what comes next.
Hi Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI love the design of your website. The image on the first page is absolutely stunning and I think it was a good idea to have it encompass the entire page. I also like the other images you chose. Something that really caught my eye is how you did all of the titles for your pages. It really makes it stand out. I might have to try something similar for my website!
Your introduction is so unique! I think it is awesome how you try to draw the reader into your story. This is something I have not seen in other projects and I think it really makes you stand out.
It works too, I definitely felt like I was traveling on the road in your first story. Your second story was very intriguing and had a lot of beauty in it.
I am really enjoying your content. Keep up the good writing!
Hi Baylor,
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time visiting your project and I can't believe it took me this long! Right away I was super impressed by the design of your site. It's really clean and the image of the mountains is a great welcome to your storybook. It kind of reminds me of National Geographic in a way!
I love how you've used the introduction page as almost a mini-orientation for the readers. I was drawn in really quickly, and your introduction gave me the right background but still left a little mystery that made me want to continue and read yoru stories. I think ending your introduction with a choice for the readers is a really effective way to keep their attention.
The first person narration for all of your writing is also really engaging and unique. I haven't seen many other stories use it, and I think you use it really well. Reading through your stories, there's nothing I can really think of that would be useful for revising, but I'm just still impressed with your design and images!
Great job, and good luck!
Hey, Baylor!
ReplyDeleteWow, the photos you used for your storybook are extremely beautiful! I had the pleasure of traveling through Silesia myself while going through Poland and the Czech Republic and there are truly some gorgeous areas in this region! I had never heard of Rübezahl until your storybook, so thank you for giving me a glimpse into this interesting character of Silesian folklore! My first thought when I saw the title was "turnip number?" but then it all made sense when I read your first story! Great job on getting the reader engaged--your narrator really draws the reader in and makes them want to keep reading/traveling! I think this is an extremely effective way to make the reader feel like they are a part of the journey and the gorgeous photos really add to this effect! I am now incredibly interested in reading some Silesian fairy tales as I can honestly say I don't think I have ever read any of them before! Fantastic job and I cannot wait to see your finished project!
Hey Baylor,
ReplyDeleteJust read your storybook and I must say that I am very impressed. First, I felt that your theme of storybook and images that you have is very aesthetically pleasing. I have never traveled much aside from going to Italy, but I would really like to go check out Silesia at some point whenever I get older. I also really like your storytelling style. I think your stories are undoubtedly eloquently written and your introduction really initially interest the reader. After I read it, I really wanted to continue to reading as it made me very curious. I also liked how desriptive you were in your stories. It allowed me to mentally picture what was going on. I think that overall you are doing a great job as I couldn't make any suggestions that have not already been made. I look forward to seeing what else you add to your story book and what revisions you will make. Keep doing what you are doing and I hope you have a great rest of the semester.
Hi Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI looked at your storybook a few weeks ago and I'm really impressed with the changes you've made. The introduction page now has a lot more detail and it gives the reader a much better understanding of what Silesia is. I like that you've included information about the economy as well as the landscape... It makes me think more about the stories as I'm reading them.
I also really enjoyed the descriptions you used, particularly around the flute music. I'm looking forward to reading your next story and I'm curious what you'll end up doing with it.
Also, I am still very much enjoying the background and color scheme! Your font is very readable and while some of your paragraphs are on the longer side, they don't overwhelm the page. What made you choose to write about Silesia?
Hello, Baylor!
ReplyDeleteThis is not my first time visiting your Storybook! When I previously commented, you had only published chapter one. I am proud to announce that my interest in your Storybook has not dwindled at all! My comment this time is going to focus on the author’s note you have included for us in your second chapter.
I must say that your story did not unfold the way I predicted it to. Considering that the Mountain Lord was considered to be a trickster, I thought that he would surely play some sort of trick on Claus. In the end, I was actually disappointed that Claus never got to play for the Lord! As for the author’s note itself, I really appreciate how you walked us through your mentality when you were creating the story. I also like that little bit of information you provided us at the end. I am sure that we will be able to connect the dots later on!
Hi Baylor!
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've had the opportunity to visit your site yet. I am so glad I was able to take a look before the end of the semester. What great stories you have and what a great concept you've thought of! Immediately, I was very intrigued by the beautiful landscape shot on your homepage. Such a pretty picture and definitely eye-catching fo reader. I also love the font on your homepage. It really gives your site a fairytale feel and I can just imagine it being in a book of famous fairytales.
My favorite chapter on your site is definitely the second one. I love the video you included and the picture below it. You really are great at giving visual stimuli to the readers. It definitely helps to feel more connected to the characters and setting in your stories. Such a great job, Baylor!
Hey Baylor,
ReplyDeleteI love your layout and theme! I really loved your stories and you're your beautiful images. It really pulled me in. Honestly, this is the first time I have been to your page. And I’m very pleased that I came across it before the end of the semester. I love the font on your homepage! It’s super cool and is perfect for the fairytale theme! Keep up the good work and I hope you have a great rest of the semester!
Hey Baylor,
ReplyDeleteThis storybook is seriously awesome and I am so glad that I get to come back and read it as a finished product and admire the entire thing as a whole! Again, your website is very well done, and I wish mine looked as good as yours! The imagery and layout really contribute to creating the atmosphere in which all of your story takes place, and it really helps create a fun reading environment and experience for the reader, since I feel that is a crucial aspect of this project! Your stories themselves are also phenomenally detailed and really allow people to get into the background and into the characters as they grow and develop. Great work on this project, and good luck on your finals!