Sabrina Fleur

This site is supposed to be really helpful, constructive-blahblah-and at times I do see it being that; but, I notice that when I [and many other people] post in the (poetry) threads or (lyric) threads..your poem [which may be really good] either gets ignored or shifts down to the next page because a new poem was made and took its spot. No one scrolls to the next page; so us writing our poems never get responded to because they keep getting pushed loowweerrr and lloowweerrr and furrrtherrr and furrttherrr.

And if you actually D0 get your poem or song or whatever responded to--whether it's a good write or not, someone makes it their business to bash your work. And if it's not completely abusive, then it's a half-ass compliment:: "I really liked this poem--however, I feel it still needs improvement" blahblahblah. There's always something negative or nothing at all.

I dont know, I just notice these things a lot in many peoples' threads..

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~We are scriveners of many colors. The dominant heirarch is the mother, and she is mauve. The lost of the progeny is the middle child, and she is crimson. The leader of the progeny is the eldest, and she is sable. The precocious of the progeny is the baby,and she is carnation.~ (unwittingly/unpermissibly by Sabrina Fleur)

Baron

Have you read the guidelines. One of the best way to avoid getting ignored is to leave comments or crtiques for the works of others. You do it for them and most of the time they'll return the favour.

There are many who post who want honest critiques of their work, the idea being to improve it, rather than just a pat on the back and a comment about how good it is. If you don't want people to leave an honest opinion, which may or may not be right, then mention that when you post.

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Sabrina Fleur

..That's not what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is that some people don't 'critique' they 'criticize' and try to minimize your work because they find something 'wrong with it.' And I appreciate help, but not when people do it in a certain way where..they think they're suddenly better than you and grade what you've done and actually tell you, ohhh 'you should have done this that way.' I really dont [freakin] like that at all. Tell me how I can improve, don't try to rewrite my damn poem.

But I see what you're saying too..

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~We are scriveners of many colors. The dominant heirarch is the mother, and she is mauve. The lost of the progeny is the middle child, and she is crimson. The leader of the progeny is the eldest, and she is sable. The precocious of the progeny is the baby,and she is carnation.~ (unwittingly/unpermissibly by Sabrina Fleur)

ClancyBoy

I see lots of poems get good critiques. Maybe your poetry isn't very good. Most people would prefer to say nothing rather than tell you they think it sucks.

(I have not read your poetry, FYI.)

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Baron

There are some good writers here and if you post to a few of their threads then they'll get back to you. Whatever suggestions people make, well intentioned or otherwise, its your choice to reject or accept what they say. Its your work at the end of the day.

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k3ng

And you can always PM a mentor if you think you're really struggling with something. I'm sure they'll be willing to help when they have the time.

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smilinghelps

Or you can BUMP your work back to the top by adding your own comment--like, please read me or feedback requested. I can't speak for anyone else here but I try to be honest without bashing, nothing good can come of that, we're here to support each other. If I read something I really didn't like I wouldn't say anything, but I haven't been in that situation yet.

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Xtlk 1

If you don't get replies its usually because its so bad that no one bothers or its good enough that no has anything to mention.

And that 'half-ass' comment is called contructive criticism. If you get 'its not so bad but need A, X, and D' then you are lucky. There are always the few who comment or bash but give no reply on how to better your work (do I sense robs name?) but just ignore them (or report if your that pissy about it).

And if you expect ppl to hand you a 'Omg! its so wonderful' then don't bother posting your work.


P.S. what baron said is true...people will usually enter a thread from a name they recognize or if you ask after you crit their own.

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-Xtlk - My Hopeful Book!

A shattered daimond does not mend,
Yet pieces of glass are fused again.
The purest hearts are the ones that break,
The guarded and stained are the ones that remain.

Xtlk 1

People tend to dislike bumping but if you really want crit and you are polite then the second time they will usually post.

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-Xtlk - My Hopeful Book!

A shattered daimond does not mend,
Yet pieces of glass are fused again.
The purest hearts are the ones that break,
The guarded and stained are the ones that remain.

Mike C

You need to remember that 90% of crits, even the well-meaning ones, aren't really worth the time it takes to read them. Particularly with poetry, a lot of people get hung up on style and form rather than content. And unless your stuff is of the extremely simplistic violets-are-red-roses-are-blue variety, they're all extremely subjective.

You should expect a little bashing though. If someone tells you it's really good but... they're just trying to do their job. Just saying 'that was nice!' doesn't help anyone. The ideal crit should highlight something the critiquer liked, something they didn't, and something they thought could be done better. Doesn't usually happen, and even if it does, doesn't mean you have to take any notice.

If you want people to read your work, get used to the bashing; it's a tough world out there. Agents, editors, readers and critics will all queue up to slap your face, and if you ever get to make it really big, jealous guys on writing forums will all take it in turns telling each other how crap you are, how you had lucky breaks, and how they write 10 times better.

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The Backward OX

As Mike C points out, reaction to poetry is extremely subjective. That said, it would perhaps be well-nigh impossible to obtain an unbiased critique. It's a contradiction. Why not just write what does it for you, and to hell with what we think? Don't even ask us.

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Johnna

I always try to be polite. I always say "keep working on it" or "don't give up on this piece" or something. And usually the "bad" pieces can be fixed, so there's no point in rude critiques.

That said, when someone's attitude rubs me the wrong way or the piece is riddled with simple grammar mistakes that the writer should have fixed before posting, I might be a bit rude. Just a bit.

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ClancyBoy

It really frosts my cookies when people complain about the quality of free critiques, too.

*~keep writing~*

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"Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons wait for you down there. Little pets they are, little little little pets. Cute little things, they say. Don't you believe it. No man ever saw them and walked away alive. You won't either. That's the final dash, flash. That's the utter clobber, cobber." --Cordwainer Smith, Norstrillia.

The Backward OX

I know it’s only reinforcing what you just said, but when you have a moment you might care to cast your eye over my post (#91) to the thread ‘How The Low Standard of Critiques Affects Writers on this Forum’ in Site Announcements.

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kenewbie

Poetry is nothing but excess adjectives and broken up sentences anyway.

Allow me to demonstrate:

Some people don't 'critique'
They 'criticize'
Try to minimize
And I appreciate
But not in a certain way
Where they think they're better
And grade you
'You should have done this'
Don't rewrite my damn poem fool

Ok, I'm just trolling. Please ignore