Hello here too!

[Freedom]

Thanks, ReadilyGrey, for getting this up and running!!!!

Used to write A LOT; currently, erm ...

I have a friend who paints -- her daughter said, "You know Mom, all your paintings have something in common ... No, not the style ... They're all UNFINISHED!"

Wise girl. I resemble that remark.

I pledge to dismiss the Critic, and hereby accept permission to do a really bad job whenever I need to

[readilygrey]

Jul 29, 2012 22:22:00 GMT -5 Freedom said:

Thanks, ReadilyGrey, for getting this up and running!!!!

Used to write A LOT; currently, erm ...

I have a friend who paints -- her daughter said, "You know Mom, all your paintings have something in common ... No, not the style ... They're all UNFINISHED!"

Wise girl. I resemble that remark.

I pledge to dismiss the Critic, and hereby accept permission to do a really bad job whenever I need to

I'm excited that you decided to join ;D

That is a very wise little girl! Finishing is hard. Before something is finished it's like this amazing ball of potential. It could be the greatest story of all time...but once it's complete it just is what it is and for me that's always a let down. Giving yourself permission to write badly is wonderful. It takes the pressure off so the story can be created and enjoyed ;D Brilliant!

[scribbliz]

hey freedom and welcome best of luck and i cant wait to see what you write!

[Freedom]

Giving feedback is quite hard for me. I never want to hurt or discourage anyone, ever, yet I want my input to have value.

It's easy in English class to analyze a paragraph by, uh, Famous Writer, and say how much you do like her voice but hate her choice of words right here, and by the way, I think this comma's out of place.

Famous Writer will never hear or be affected by your opinion.

In acting class, we had to learn to critique each other face-to-face, and it was a good lesson. Critique is quite valuable if: it is true; it is kind; it is necessary -- and it's specific.

Anyway, it will take me a while to join in, I 'spect...

[scribbliz]

I'm glad you're here, even if you "lurk" for a while, or post without critiquing others yet. But from reading the comments you've made, I have no doubt that you will be an insiteful critiquer (is that a word???) please don't be afraid to comment, most people here are looking for that I know I will be as soon as I can find the stuff I wanted to post!

[readilygrey]

It's really nice that you put so much thought into how to handle people's feelings. I doubt you will have a problem, but if you want to lurk that's fine too

If you want to try leaving feedback though, you are welcome to start with me. I've become a lot thicker skinned than I used to be. I've even managed to learn from some fairly brutal critiques where my feelings were bruised but I was still grateful for being shown my errors.

Personally I have never been bothered at all by specific feedback. Things like: "In this passage you are telling more than showing." "You've used the word ____ too much." "I had to read this sentence several times before it made sense." "The flow is uneven in this scene." and so on are all very helpful and not hurtful in anyway shape or form.

Stuff that's more likely to hurt my feelings (but won't make me quite writing, at this point I've heard it all and not quit, lol) is broad judgments like: "The whole story is unrealistic." (If a specific part was the issue this would be fine, it's just when it's everything.) "This character is stupid." One person who I actually learned a lot from used to highlight lines that were poorly worded and say, "yuck" or "bleh." It did hurt but I just learned to expect that from her.

The sandwich technique helps as well. A comment can be phrased as compliment-criticism-compliment. The person that was helpful but harsh would do that and it softened the blow

You don't have to comment until you're ready, but feel free to experiment with my stories if you want because I won't be damaged by it