Raging_Hopeful

Okay people, if your work is incomplete or an extremely rough draft, don't post it to the forum and expect everyone else to do the heavy-lifting for you. Now, I enjoy editing and helping people revise their work but what I cannot abide are writers who begin their thread with "I know there's a lot of mistakes in here..." or "I wrote this in 20 minutes, what do you think?" etc etc BULL.

Take pride in your work people. If you won't take the time to edit, revise and take care to present your work effectively, then please don't expect US to. If you need an in-depth revision or editing session, pay some hardworking stiff to do it or equally pathetic friend... Don't expect us to cater to your literary laziness. And DON'T whine when no one responds because you didn't take the time to correct blatant typos or demanded that people tell you what we think. You want to know what I think? I think you suck and that this sense of entitlement crap needs to stop. Be THANKFUL for all the feedback that you receive, good, bad or otherwise.

I'm just tired of reading half-assed threads where the writer just wants an answer as fast as possible.. or someone who wants others to do the work for them. Take pride in your craft and especially in your work.

Of course there are exceptions and this is not a blanket statement. But you know what I mean. Newcomers welcome and do not be intimidated to share your work. Just take the time to make it shine and we will respond with constructive criticism, suggestions and praise. Keep writing!

Cheers,
Lindsay

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Farror

I believe what Raging Hopeful is saying in a somewhat wordy and agressive way is that you should do your best to improve your work before handing it over to the forums. Which is absolutely correct, but could be worded in a much gentler way.

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A minifridge... The doll house of the alcoholic.

Farror

(From one tiger-bunny to another.)

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A minifridge... The doll house of the alcoholic.

Raging_Hopeful

You're right. I apologize.... but I still stand by what I said. I like your icon by the way. Looks familiar for some reason. Huh.

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Raging_Hopeful

*laughs* We wrote that at the exact same time. Awesome.

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Hodge

Yes. When you write something and want a critique, make sure you PROOF READ it, and don't just post it up for the hell of it. If you don't want a critique, don't ask for one. Nothing is more infuriating then giving a critique and then having the person say, "oh, I don't revise" or "this was just for fun."

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Science

Redrust422

I just read this really fucked up post and can't seem to get it out of my head that it's aimed directly at me for posting my work in progress. You know there are plenty of forums that have dedicated WIP (Work In Progress) threads and it may be a common mistake (as in my case) that people come into this forum and post a WIP looking for feedback. I could understand if I had said "Comon people what the fuck is the problem. Give me feedback NOW!!" But I didn't and it should be abundantly clear that I JUST SIGNED UP on this forum and MAY NOT KNOW ALL OF YOUR UNSPOKEN RULES.

Let me point something out here, the Writers Workshop Thread (where I posted my oh-so-offensive WIP) has this explanation -

Writer's Workshop Members-only forum for the purpose of workshopping with other writers. In order to protect first publishing rights, guests and search engines do not have access. Posts are automatically removed 45 days after creation, so be sure to save all such material for future reference.

Well I don't see anywhere where it says only pathetic people post incomplete work so don't do it here loser, do you?

Also I didn't ask for anyone to edit it, or tell me how to write, or go in-depth with this story. I said "I wanted to post this work in progress for anyone to take a look at and tell me what they think so far." Man that's some damn "heavy lifting", reading a short story and saying something to the effect of "Wow, I really liked it," or hmm, I thought it was pretty boring." It's like someone handing you a piece of art that has only been outlined in pencil but will later be filled in with colors and a background and asking for your opinion of what they have done so far. And it's like you looking at that person and calling them an idiot for not handing in the finished product.

Soooooooooo, if your just all up-tight about writers looking for encouragment and insight or just an opinion on their incomplete work- Start a WIP section of the forum and Voila! If you don't want to soil your computer screen with what you obviously deem petty attempts at writing don't go into the WIP thread.

Oh, and if this gets me banned, whatever. My first impressions of this forum is that it's a snobby place to be anyway.

Hodge

There's a difference between a work in progress and a work that hasn't had any attention paid to it before being posted. Wanting feedback to improve as a writer is what this forum is for. Fixing spelling mistakes that can be fixed with spellcheck and grammar mistakes that can be fixed by proofreading is not.

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Science

Raging_Hopeful

Whoa whoa WHOA. Redrust... that post WAS NOT directed at you actually. There were much more irritating ones that I read. Like I said... it's not a blanket statement and yes, if you are not looking for revision then no, I do not revise and others shouldn't either. Did I give you feedback? Yes. Did I revise? No, because you pointed that out in the beginning.... buuuuuut I still think some general proofreading is in order for the general public. If you've made an effort, it shows. But keep looking around and you will see the posts of which I speak, and no, yours wasn't one of them.

Honesty is not snobbery and honestly, you can't workshop a piece if you haven't put your own personal best into it. If someone handed me a sketch that had a single circle on it, would I be able to give any sort of feedback other than "uhh... nice circle?" No. If they handed it to me and it was smudged so badly or had grease stains all over it, would I feel it was a concentrated effort on their part? No. If someone handed me a nice rudimentary sketch, I would smile and encourage them to keep on... maybe not offering any feedback only because there isn't much to critique.

This is an issue of perspective and I'm sorry if you were offended. But I do stand by what I said... and you know who you are.

Cheers,
Lindsay

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Jolly McJollyson

I hope it's not me!

This mystery is disconcerting.

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I'm not a writer.

Critique my writing.

Or my lyrics.

Raging_Hopeful

Oh lordy... must I compile a "Lindsay Shit List"? Really unneccesary I think... It's funny... the people that this post WAS directed at will probably never read it and I'll just end up offending everyone who WASN'T a target.

>.< I hate it when it backfires.

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Jolly McJollyson

It's ok, remember how the traps from Scooby-Doo would always backfire? But then everything would turn out ok anyhow? Yeah, I'm sure it'll be like that.


I always wondered what the point of those traps was. It seems like they caught the guy regardless of whether or not they worked. The gang might as well have just built half the trap.

I wonder how much those traps cost...

I need sleep.

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I'm not a writer.

Critique my writing.

Or my lyrics.

Raging_Hopeful

I knew there was a secret message in those cartoons!!

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Raging_Hopeful

Besides the smoke and the van of course...

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Cornish Maid

Ok. Hands up. I'm guilty for posting things like 'this is rubbish' etc. But that's me hiding behind my own insecurity (my problem, not yours). I personally go over anything I post again and again but it still sometimes seems like rubbish to me! How do you know that the person whose work you're reading isn't doing the same?

There are people on here who make mistakes in their work (sometimes repeatedly), but isn't it our job to look at the work and help them improve? I thought that this was what this forum was all about; looking at the work - not the person.

I'm sorry if I've offended but I had to come back and have a rant.

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Proof read carefully to see if you any words out. unknown.