1. AliceInBookland

    AliceInBookland New Member

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    Hello! Could anyone direct me to...

    Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by AliceInBookland, Jun 2, 2009.

    ...a good run-down of the html allowed in posts? I see there's a sort of system to critiquing work, and I don't want to disrespect that, but I don't know how to make my changes red. Is it bracket-red-bracket, blah blah, bracket-backslash-red-bracket?

    Also, hello! I love giving criticism, and it seems like there's a lot to give around here. I was wondering, what is the etiquette as far as reading the thread through before commenting? Obviously, repetitions will occur, but isn't that reinforcement of good advice? :]

    Speaking of good advice, I notice, sometimes, people giving BAD advice. What's a polite way to point this out? Should I just give my critique, suggest my adjustments, and let the difference between my advice and the other advice speak for itself?

    What's too harsh for criticism? I find myself reading someone's work, and simply put, it's so bad that any criticism would be a drop in an empty bathtub. I read a few pages of a screenplay on here, and it was terrible! The dialogue would sound ridiculous coming out of anyone's mouth, there was far too much character direction, not enough scene setup, and the whole thing was paced horribly. I wanted to say: "Your writing style doesn't seem at all suited for screenwriting. Perhaps you should read over some produced scripts and get a feel for the format before you attempt to write your own." Is that too harsh? In those circumstances, I think it's almost a waste to finely critique a work that will not, without a complete overhaul, be marketable or considered to be well-written.

    Sorry for all the questions, this is my first time in a critiquing forum (though I'm not by any means new to the practice!).
     
  2. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Hello Alice, Welcome to the Writing Forums.

    Chack the FAQ link mentioned below for information on the vBulletin markup codes. HTML codes are not supported.

    Posting your own work 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.

    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!
     
  3. TheHedgehog

    TheHedgehog Contributor Contributor

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    Hey. I'm Greg, or Hedge. Whatever you feel like. You seem like the kind of person who is aware of their skill, so hopefully you won't be afraid to put it to good use around here. Just be careful not to be too assertive. Since you love to review, what do you like to write? Any genre you're fond of or you like to writ? Hobbies, in particular? Anywho, it's nice to meet you.

    Catch you around.
     
  4. TragicJuliet

    TragicJuliet New Member

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    Hey Alice I just wanted to give a quick hello, good advice about criticism is also try and highlight the good points of people's writing. and If you disagree with advice you could just politely say "I disagree with * * writing, however this is their opinion, I would do it this way though ** " I hope you have a great time here!
     
  5. AliceInBookland

    AliceInBookland New Member

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    Nice to meet you, too! I like to write fiction, generally fantasy, though I also love writing about being a teenager and the hilarious drama that goes with it. I've recently gotten into writing screenplays, and I think I've found a good match for myself! I'm a big fan of the Georgia Nicholson and Jessica Darling books, but I'm also (somewhat ashamedly) a fan of chick-lit, period romances, and any sort of good vampire/werewolf series (good is subjective, of course). Yes, I did enjoy the Twilight books. Hopefully that doesn't destroy any budding credibility I have as far as having taste!

    Thanks, and I will try to point out the good as well as the bad (or 'needs improvement')! It's easy to forget one when you're caught up in the other.
     
  6. fantasy girl

    fantasy girl New Member

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    Hi alice, if you want some critiquing to do, you can always look at the latest version of my monologue I have posted. I will be truely greatfull.

    Welcome to the forums, love the name by the way. LOL.

    What genres do you like to read/write?
     
  7. wildthing

    wildthing New Member

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    Hi Alice! Welcome! I can't wait to get your critiques and read your material. Have fun.
     
  8. AliceInBookland

    AliceInBookland New Member

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    Thanks! I addressed my favorite genres in my previous post, I think we posted at the same time, haha! I took a look at your monologue and left some feedback! It looked good! I'm abusing exclamation points!

    Thanks for the welcome, Wildthing!
     

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