More Critting Needed, Critical: Too many uncritting critters Options

[Guest_Jox_*]

Ok, not quite critical but take a look, anyway..

I've noticed that Lori's popped into a couple of threads to remind us that those particular ones are for critting and the submissions were going considerably off track.

She is right.

I am as guilty as anyone so I think I may be able to suggest what was happening. On one thread a collaborative poem was set up and thus people kept adding. On another we did discuss the work but it rather changed into a few people chatting about Shakespeare's Greatest Hits.

So, in neither case, was anyone being in the least awkward or unhelpful; we simply wandered off the path.

I actually had to ask Alan to pop into Socrates to see one of my works (thanks, again, Alan) because too few people are there. I think, perhaps, we need to get about and do some serious critting - it will benefit us all. Sure, banter is fine and there are forums for that. Moreover, the crit forums will never stick rigidly to critting. However, there is much critting to be done and we do let people down if we don't all "get stuck in". After all, that is why most of us came to MM in the first place - to learn and improve.

Here endeth this evening's lesson. You may now boogie to Shakespeare's Greatest Hits with Bacon on Sax and Chris Marlow on glockenspiel. (Watch out for Webster with too many symbols!)

Signed, One of The Guilty Ones!

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Lori, James and Sylvia,

Good point Sylvia. Being a moderator in Homer's I like to visit each new posting. Of these I usually offer a crit to at least 95%. Sometimes, I forget to tick the box when I should really like to read all the postings.

The last 5% I read, but do not offer a crit, for reasons that I do not understand the content thoroughly enough, or that the subject matter is not to my taste and therefore I would rather leave the critting to people who can enjoy the piece.

I spend a lot of time in Socrates as well. but must admit that I do not go to the Stonehenge tile anywhere near enough.  This is not due to lack of interest, in fact the stories I have read have been fascinating, but most are quite long pieces requiring lots of concentration and not being an expert on prose I can offer no constructive critism, and cannot see the point in just writing. "Wow, this is really cool" or "Way to go!".
I should rather leave that to the experts.

Nevertheless I should like to read these stories at my leisure.

So Lori, how about a chap book for the story writers among us? What a great read that would be on a cold winter's evening, curled up in front of the fire. I should certainly be willing to purchase such a book.

Love

Grace

Hello Grace!

A few of your comments stuck out to me and I'd like to respond too.

The last 5% I read, but do not offer a crit, for reasons that I do not understand the content thoroughly enough, or that the subject matter is not to my taste and therefore I would rather leave the critting to people who can enjoy the piece.

I see both pros and cons to this as I can relate to your observations. If I come across a post that either is beyond my understanding (hazy) OR not a subject I would write about, I feel THOSE are the pieces that need more help on my part at least. YES - it may not be a subject we like but the challenge is to tell the author what you don't understand about the piece because more than likely, others feel the same way and hence, the result: few crits in that thread. As long as out Crit rules are used when offering a crit (non-personal reactions I mean), I see only a PRO as the result. Thewriter obtains valuable feedback and the critter gains a new understanding. YES - some topics simply put me off and I tend to ingnore them too, but only if others have been providing feedback already.


I relate to you Grace about Stonehenge as I often go there but do not crit as frequently (due to the length of the posts mostly. I must print them out and when I have some time, then I will make notes on the print and transfer them back into my reply...

So Lori, how about a chapbook for the story writers among us? What a great read that would be on a cold winter's evening, curled up in front of the fire. I should certainly be willing to purchase such a book.

I'm open to the idea! I'll start a new tile in Stonehenge to see if anyone wants to participate...

Cheers!
~Cleo  :cheer: