Abuse of the forum

[mindsweeper]

I have posted a lot of work and have been hugely grateful for the crits received. I have read during my travels of PFFA that there is some concern about lack of revision work posted - i.e. are the critical forums being used as a showcase or as a workshop? I have not posted much revision work to date for the following reasons: some offerings are simply not worth revision - only apparent to a newbie poet on receipt of criticism. Others may justify revision but need a fresh look from a distance. At the moment, I view the general criticism forum as a way of weeding out sub-standard work - fit only for the bin - as much as offering revision crits. Hope that this explains, at least in my case, why revisions are not yet part of my regular posting.

Thanks to all for your indulgence of a keen but very amateurish would-be poet.

Ruth

[Roge]

Hi Ruth

I am a bit like you and have rarely posted a revised work. I have done a lot of editing of work following the great crits you get at PFFA (these 'edits' range from minor tweaks to aiming the rolled up paper at the bin). I guess you are right and we should work towards a revision to show the value of the crits we receive as this is a workshop. The opinions here are always well regarded and I am amazed how many actually alter my own opinion on my own work - generally by removing my rose-tinted reading glasses.

I find that I continually go back to pieces that have been subject to crits (which I always print out and staple to my original) and keep reading, altering etc. It always provides me with something to do when I am on the road.

One day I will start to re-post revised stuff - one day. I will have to get a bigger folder for all my Piffle crits soon anyway.

A good question though Ruth - should we be posting revisions more regularly?

Roge

[Rik Roots]

Originally posted by Roge
A good question though Ruth - should we be posting revisions more regularly?

Roge

I've no particular thoughts on how quickly revisions should be posted. My own observation has been that a revision given plenty of time to marinade in the bottom drawer is often a more satisfactory read than one stir-fried in two minutes on the desktop.

[Roge]

Originally posted by Rik Roots
I've no particular thoughts on how quickly revisions should be posted. My own observation has been that a revision given plenty of time to marinade in the bottom drawer is often a more satisfactory read than one stir-fried in two minutes on the desktop.

I was not meaning speedy revision but more considered time-in-the-drawer revision as you suggested (good word marinade). Most crits received are very valuable. The occasional revised piece would probably show the value of crits and critters. Even if they say a piece is rubbish that is a help, so if I never post a revised piece then perhaps it is all rubbish *sob*.

Roge
Damned by my own lack of revised postings

[Melanie]

Only my opinion:

There are people here who've never commented on anything of mine,
but I thank them everytime I write a new piece.
Just the same, there are people here who've commented on many,
or just one, and I thank them everytime I write something new.
By improving you show you've been listening, paying attention, I think
that shows great respect.

I'd much rather see someone who posts a new piece every time, improving
with each post, than to see revision after revision with the same old mistakes.
(I like to practice new ideas in new writing.)
I think the best compliment and "thank you" you can give the people
who have commented on your work is to improve your work, whether that be in
new pieces, or revisions.

[HowardM2]

Great answer. I guess this means we're going to have to canonize Melanie.

[mindsweeper]

St. Melanie - your observations have really put my mind at rest - as well as thrown down the gauntlet! Every work to be better than the one before and to demonstrate that crits have been taken on board - that's a real challenge. Thanks.

Ruth

[Melanie]

Now I'm embarrassed.
The only person who ever thought I was a saint
was my Grandma.
Everyone else I know would just like to
cannonize me and fire me to another country.