Pawn

Hello,

This thread is primarily for first time posters in the Poetry forum, and is designed to help avoid the major pitfalls.

Adapted from Rules & Guidelines:

Your first posts

• Please don't flood the forums with new submissions. We realize you are eager to share your writing, but please add your work at a reasonable pace. This allows repliers time to view and comment on your work individually.
• It's advisable to keep to one poem per thread, else people will find it more difficult to read and digest your work. (Penelope)
• If your work is of an adult nature or otherwise potentially offensive, use the disclaimer tags to say as much. Information on this and other special vB Code can be found here.
• There's no need to attach copyright information to the end of your work. It is already assumed that you wrote - and hence own - the work.

Subject lines

• Please do not ask for reviews in your subject lines. It is given that you want feedback. Standard practise is to use the title of the poem as the post subject. Avoid titling your poems 'Untitled', as this becomes tedious and confusing.
• Using CAPS LOCK at all is inadvisable, and in extreme cases against the forum rules and subject to deletion. It is particularly appreciated if you refrain mass caps in your subject lines.

Getting replies (Revised from original by eleutheromaniac)

• The most important thing you can do to get people to reply to your work is to reply to theirs. People will always appreciate your thoughts, and will often return the favour in future. More on replying and critique later. It's a good idea to spend some time in the forum, viewing and replying to new posts before you jump in with your own work.
• If you want to get the most out of the feedback you're given or have a particular issue with your work, don't be afraid of asking specific questions. The 'Authors Note' BBCode is useful for this.
• Try not to bite the hand that feeds you. If you feel someone has crossed the line between critique and insult then you are justified in saying as much. However, reviewers will often simply be trying to give their opinion on your work, and mean nothing personal by it. Remember, bad feedback is infinitely better than none at all, and in many cases preferable to more positive reviews.
• As a rule of thumb, the better your replies you give, the better you'll get. People are more likely to take time over an in depth critique if you've demonstrated the same commitment.
• Be passionate about what you write. Why would we want to read something you yourself are negative about? If you're empassioned, we're more likely to be.
• Get to know us. Chuck a few replies into The Lounge and Word Games to get yourself noticed. People who know you are more likely to look into your work.
• Always reply to comments people leave on your work. It's not just good manners: if members find you unresponsive they'll stop looking at your work altogether.
• If all else fails, you can always PM one of the mentors. Polite requests are always well recieved.

Posting replies

• Don't be afraid of replying! However lame you think your critique might be, it will almost certainly be appreciated. If you've got an opinion, you're best to voice it. Members will usually tolerate even the lamest one liner from a newbie.
• Like any skill, critical analysis improves with use. As you read and constructively comment on more poems, your ability to do so will sky rocket.
• Avoid posting replies along the lines of "Good job!" or "Not bad." Whilst marginally better than nothing at all, they give the author very little to work on. Rack your brains, is there anything at all constructive you can say? Did you like their use of language, or was there a particular line which you felt was out of place? Simple comments like these are very much preferable to unsubstantiated opinion.
• Posting negative feedback is even more vital than posting positive feedback. Never mediate the truth to the feelings of the author - we're all here to learn and improve, and we've no chance of doing so without absolute honesty.
• However, there is a line between negative feedback and rudeness. Just as positive opinions should ideally be justified, it is imperative that you justify your criticisms. This helps make sure nobody takes undue offense at your words and keeps the atmosphere professional.

Useful WF.com Resources

• Useful information on different poetic forms can be found in this thread. You might also want to check out this thread for different types of meter.
• Writing 101 houses the site's in-house reference section.
• The Reviewers' Handbook is a brief and very useful guide to the art of critique.

If you've any problems or questions, ask a mentor or moderator. It's what we're here for. (Bea)

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Relevant suggestions welcome via PM. I'll add them to the above and include a credit.

__________________
C.A
Carpe Noctem
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