A New Board.

A great idea I read in a post by Dwelt on one of the other boards. We should create a board for harsh and honest critiques only! We need this because many writers are too immature for harsh comments and get all spiteful, vengeful etc and its hard for those who really want to write and to IMPROVE, that they can do so without upsetting anyone.

Please consider this, it would be a GREAT help for many writers who are seeking honest opinions and critiques but no where to get them.

Setting up a fence will not keep the neighbors out. And I don't know why you'd seek harsh criticism -- there's a difference between being honest and being harsh

The fence wont keep the neighbours out but at least they can't complain because thats what the board is meant for. Sometimes there is no difference between being harsh and being honest, but we need to do something rather than sit back and get the comments "great poem 5/5" it does nothing but make posting poetry seem pointless.

I'm with you because harsh to some people, mostly those people who love great job comments, is really just honest comments to the rest of us.

I don't think having a seperate space for "serious" comments would work in here as doesn't work very well, as far as I'm aware, in many of the private groups, many of which are created just for this purpose.

There are only a handlful of people I've seen on this site who gave what I consider to be quality, honest criticism, but I am talking a handful, like maybe 10.

How could a group be limited to these kinds of people without being elistist?
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instead of being harsh or honest why don't we call the thread "for brutally honest comments"

It's worth a try anyway isn't it? Giving people who want critisim, critisim will help other people learn what they believe is good or bad in a poem and learn to help constructivly critisise as well. I think this is the only way you will let poets who want to improve in their work to improve.

Ok well when Janis the Mythical creator of this website get back in here and fixes the 101 other things that need doing, mabye he will add this idea as well.

is it a bird, is it a plane....oink oink..

Aashik, JH, Kevin, Beesley, Gardiner, Bret, Ed, and maybe about 15 others whose names escape me at the moment (sorry) know about iambic pentameter, trimeter, and things of that nature that could really be helpful to aspiring writers.
^^^^

I know nothing about iambic pentameter and things like that. I'm tired of being confused about those terms when I read them just because we barely touched on it at school and nobody decided to help me with it when I wanted to know. I wish people here would take more time to help people who want to know. That's why I think it's a good idea to make a board for people who are serious about teaching and for bettering themselves.

Yes Kaylee, on another site that was suppose to help improve people, a guy went on and on about those things in a huge paragraph. I'd like to learn and improve, but I can't when people don't have the patience to rephrase what they wrote in a easier way. I can't learn if I don't understand.

I've never even been talked to about poetry, literature, writing, etc, in school, ever before. I've read books, and I write when I experience deep emotions or thoughts. That is all there is to me. If there was a board that could truly help me, I would be grateful, because not everyone has a professor kind enough to "tear up their work" enough to improve it.

By the way, thank you dwelt for your critique on Misery's Door. Although I have not said so before, it was most gracious of you to bother reading my stuff.

//T.L.//

Yes Kaylee, on another site that was suppose to help improve people, a guy went on and on about those things in a huge paragraph. I'd like to learn and improve, but I can't when people don't have the patience to rephrase what they wrote in a easier way. I can't learn if I don't understand.

^^The same thing happened to me aswel, Noni.

But I think this board would is a great idea aswell, speshly for those who are wanting a more in depth comment on their work.

As always I am open to "harsh" comments as long as they are truthful and offer advice.

I am not open to comments such as "You poem sucks because you are a *****" or things along that nature.

Bob: you seem to have hit onto something here, but I must say that before someone opens the doors to having their writings truthfully critiqued (sp?) they must be willing to accept the fact that not everyone is going to love what is read.

over all I think that this is a good idea if done in a positive manner and by mature individuals.

--Sher

And yes, still drugged lol ....

There are some nice Articles on this website, including my own [plug plug] which offer advice on ways to improve ones writing.

Also, I offered the idea of mentoring a while back, in fat i really fanned the notion out, but only one person took to it with me, and that was friends [yeah their name] and they never completed the first task I set them.

Basically the idea was, that anyone who wants to have a mentor, puts their name in a thread, saying what they would like help with, or anyone who wants to mentor does the same...and people hook up in sets of two or three...and help each other.

I would love to be a mentor to someone, but only someone I actually liked in terms of writing.

Talking about mentor....

There's a site that's setting up a special Mentor and mentee program.

People apply to be either a Mentor or mentee..of course mentor needs certain qualifications. Then each mentee is paired up with a mentor. The mentor will edit a poem of the Mentee's choice in which they must accept. They also must write a poem together..etc

Really?.. What site's that?..

*does a dance* I would love a mentor!

The idea of trying to improve my writings is invigorating.

//T.L.//

Mentor and mentees would be a great idea and maybe Kevin Murray, we could try that out again! I'll set up a board to see what interest it sparks. If this site won't give us a board for those who want constructive critisim or a mentor mentee program, we'll do it for ourselves!

--Board posted on "Writing Poetry" board.

Hey Nat, that site is poetsanctuary

bump