Oh where should I begin this inadequate introduction, Where the words fail thus to capture the truest meaning. So many things to say, yet easily misinterpreted, Like the dashed clouds on a summer's day. Well, where should I begin. I suppose the briefest introductions are perhaps the simplest. Pretty much just an IBDP student at the moment (with EE, ToK, and ahhhh!) Always been wanting to find a more cohesive writing community, and I suppose it would be nice to give any writing community a shot. Better than lofting around listening to people repeat post after post how good you are as a poet without even explaining why. (getting sick of that, btw). So, I suppose, there isn't much more to say. I'm a guy (I'M NOT A GIRL!) pretty much living in an Asian country. Nothing spectacular or special, I suppose. Nice to be part of a new community nonetheless
Well then, you have come to the right place; the feedback here on WF is very good and the best part is, others will give you feedback because you have earnt it not because you want it Anyway, I guess I'll just say 'Welcome, make yourself comfrontable!'
Hello Laxaria, Welcome to the Writing Forums. I agree, vacuous praise is like a sunshine enema. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
Indeed. Guess I learnt a new word today. Vacuous. Lacking content, ideas or intelligence. Thank you for the welcomes.
Your point about hoping for constructive criticism reminds me of a poem I read a day or two ago that got a spotlight over at deviantart.com. It's a rather poignant look at the value of helpful reviews. Be warned, it has a small bit of tasteful cursing if you wish to read it, but it's witty nonetheless. http://niedec.deviantart.com/art/Destroy-This-Poem-79153401 Good day!
That is an interesting read. Thank you for pointing it out. Personally, while the message of the poem is strong, I simply can't see myself relating to the choice of word. It seems to border more on a "rip my poem to shreds" rather than looking at how useless "empty critique" is. Still a nice read.
