Don't Be Shy....
 

Now, let me preface this by saying: I know I'm rather new here.

There seems to be a good group of creative people on this board. This is a Good Thing. We are all amateurs, really. This is also a Good Thing.

But, I want to ask everyone, why do you post on here? For recognition? To be praised? To grow as a writer? Or for no reason at all?

If you post for recognition and/or praise, then why? I hardly ever see anyone criticize anything that is posted here. A piece is either crowded with identical "i like this. it's evocative. post more" comments or it is completely ignored.

I see this as a Problem. There's nothing in the rules that outlaws constructive criticism. There's nothing stopping you from saying that you don't like something.

And if you do like something, why not tell the author why?

-D.S.

Good point. I'm new to this thread here and I really have not read any of the works - yet. I have posted my own, so that people can read and offer their opinions and constructive criticism.

It does not bother me to hear someone criticise my work. I take each comment into consideration and use their suggestions as I feel is necessary.

I agree with your last comment.

Well said.

I post here because I like to share my work. Plain and simple. I'll take comments, good or bad.

We all have different styles and I like to come here and get a feel of what others do. It gives me a sense of the writer.

I personally don't feel there is a wrong or right way to place our feelings on paper. To do it at all can be a huge release for some.
Even if it is a little stumbled and rough, it comes from their heart and soul, therefore I don't feel the need to criticize them for that.

I encourage everybody to write and to post what they have accomplished. With each piece of work they pen, they grow. I like that they feel safe to bring it here to this community, this "family."

hmmm.... Maybe if we would like to have constructive criticism we could say so at the end of the post. I know some good rules for giving positive criticism, if anyone's interested. I learned them when I was getting ready to go to Clarion (the finest science fiction/fantasy writing workshop in the world). Some of the other people there followed these guidelines, too, and a good time was had by all. Educational, fun, intense, tiring.

P.S. Feel free to go to the ministories thread and read mine, and put up some of yours, too. I cna't be the only person in this vast palce who likes them.

You have a good point.

Maybe I'm just cynical, but I, personally, feel... inadequate, I suppose, when I write something that is just "my feelings on paper."

People absolutely should feel that it's "safe" to post here. I just wish that people knew that constructive criticism is safe.

Unsung - why don't you post those rules? They might be interesting, at least.

-D.S.

I post because I want criticism. However, few have felt the need to post replys, and that's a bummer. I was really hoping I could find a place that was more active than somne of the othe boards.

What little work of my own I've posted here in the past has received some constructive criticism, so I would not say it doesn't happen. Though, I've also been pretty hasty in what I've posted. But, I do agree, at times there is not a lot of feedback at all. I don't think there are as many regular visitors to the Lit Thread as there are elsewhere on TFP.