July 14, 2005
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I want to talk about criticism. Because I’ve been guilty of encouraging something that maybe not everyone is comfortable with.
In the writing class I took, it was all about critique. You read your piece and they ripped it to shit. But see, we all did it to each other and after a while you didn’t even care. It was worth it to get the feedback.
But on Xanga everyone was so positive. And I loved all the kind comments but it’s too hard to find the problems all by yourself so the first time that glowing report changed into “I didn’t like,” the very words I used myself, I kind of stopped for a second and felt a wee bit sad. Just for a second and then I was glad to have the input. And Pina and Jeri this does not apply to you. Because I begged for the help and you were both so kind and careful about giving it.
I’m just saying I probably owe some of you an apology. So from now on I’m not gonna say anything negative unless I get an e-mail from you asking me to and I’ll try to remember not to start with “I don’t like,” because is there anything more obnoxious?
I, on the other hand, am desperate for your input, as long as it’s not malicious. Anything you can tell me about how to make my stuff better — I’m keeping a record of it and will make the changes when I edit — will be greatly appreciated. Does anyone know how far back they store your posts?
Comments (19)
On Xanga or nay online public blog, you gotta learn to have thick skin. Not that mine is more than a few micrometers… And Xanga is supposed to store your posts inperpetuity, which probably means until their computer has a major crash or they go out of business. That’s why I back up all my posts on Blogspot.Since they allow you to archive by month, I will eventually back up the files onto a CD disc when I find the time…
Honey, please feel free to take umbrage with my stuff any time you want. I would have learned nothing and never grown had it not been for those knocks upside the head.
Yeah, Pru, don’t you dare stop blurting out exactly what you think & feel when you’ve read something I’ve written. You are coming from a good place; there’s absolutely nothing malicious in the way you approach a piece of writing. And I learn much about the effect of what I’m saying, and about technicalities, from your comments, as I am sure everyone else who is lucky enough to have your writerly attentions. xo
Does. That last word isn’t there! It’s 4am here ~ sorry! xo
I don’t write much in the creative genre, but you can always pick at anything I write. I don’t let myself be too vulnerable, somehow, and I like others’ ideas.
Dear Prudence,
I will try again, as I am a persistent sort. I recently left you a comment (your July 10th entry) and intimated that I would like to be added to your “protected list” so I could read your story. Perhaps you didn’t read the comment (from 7/12) since I wrote it a couple of days after you posted the entry, or perhaps you haven’t had the time, or are just not interested in having me as a reader. All are solid reasons for not adding me to your list, I guess.
Criticism is a subject that can (and has) been the subject of long books. Most people like “critiquing” as long as it isn’t “nasty”. Some people tend to criticize the person instead of the work. I notice a lot of the writing on Xanga is “personal” or “autobiographical” in nature, and since a blog is essentially a journal program, this makes perfect sense. On the poetry group I run (or, used to run, since I’ve “retired” from commenting on all the poetry posted there) my “job” as moderator was to “critique” each of the poems, and as you say, when every writer is commenting on the plusses and minuses of each other’s work, the feeling is that these critiques are helping.
When commenting on Xanga posts, I always try to be positive. As my mother (bless her soul) and probably many mothers thoroughout history have said: If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
I think that you can access any post unless you delete it or unless you overuse your space? Hope you find what you want because that can be so darn maddening.
I take great pride in being mercilessly honest, but I do generally ask if they are seeking constructive criticism first.
That and I enjoy giving people zero eprops because, well… eprops are stupid.
my own rule of thumb is that unless i know the person is trying to be a serious writer (which few on xanga are) i rarely critque their writing, and comment on the content or form positively. if i have a relationship w/them and i know they are serious, i will leave brief critiques. rarely is it more than one point. taking a negative positively hurts, even if it’s from someone you trust or admire and i find myself having to rethink/reframe the comment myself. that said, i learn more from negative comments than positive ones and am glad that what i wrote provoked the other person. oh and if you haven’t added ^^ baldmike, you should! he leaves great comments!!!!
about xanga… do you do the archive step when it zips everything in a file for you to download to your computer. i do that at least once a week– more if i’m writing alot..
I know what you mean. I like to get feedback, even if it is negative so I can learn & improve but then when I get it I’m like, “Ouch!”. But I do need to hear it & especially if it comes from someone from your stature. You have been very helpful to me with your feedback, so please continue to do so. I have a hard time giving “constructive criticsm” because I’m afraid of hurting someone’s feelings since I really don’t know the Xanga people I comment on, you know? I will get caught up on your work in the next few days & try to offer constructive feedback instead of the standard ”great job”
It wasn’t meant to be obnoxious… I suppose in the lack of clarification the interpretation went awry.
The comment was out of appreciation for someone who recognizes the tone in which most comments are received.
Blind optimism, quick skimming with elaborated positivity, and no Real feedback.
Maybe the point was lost somewhere between my head and my fingers. I type fast but sometimes these things just weren’t meant to make it all the way out.
Simply rest assured that I meant no disrespect.
I recognize eprops as a silly little system for judging ones contect, but in a larger sense it becomes a popularity contest with ‘random props’ being thrown around in hopes of them being returned. Of course, I also realize that they are seen as a 3 choice scale for judging your feelings towards the author. Depending on how much emphasis you give this near-binary feedback feelings may get hurt by anything short of full.
Once again, no disrespect meant… I guess that is all.
I know I’d appreciate the honestly and I know your intent isn’t negative. Thats the biggest part about the comments, the writer/commenter’s intent. I also know mine is positive/honest. And if I feel particularly grr about something, I tend to simply not leave a comment (but this doesn’t mean I have to be grr in order to not comment either:)
One lesson that took me awhile to learn was that whole, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all…and I think that should apply in general to xanga.
I am thankful you understand and are all about the critiqueing. (I look forward to the next bits:)
There are ways to offer suggestions to a write without ruffling feathers… as an editor, I like to think that I do this. I’ve never had a client rebuke me for what they perceive to be ad hominem attacks. I do find if I am editing directly for a client that my hands are often tied since they simply want what they’ve got to be better rather than a rewrite that might make it brilliant; whereas working for a publisher gives me that option, the one of rewrite, this will fly if you do such & such. In either case, I need to cushion my words, to make sure that the person doesn’t feel as if their validity as a writer is being called into question, only this particular phrase, this paragraph or chapter’s omissions that need to be addressed. Editing, which commenting here can be a form of, is as much work as writing I think! I consider the art of editing without ruffling feathers an art in itself… xo
I have no idea what girl you keep referring to… are you confusing me with someone else or am i REALLY losing it?
You should write about unicorn robots. Everyone loves robots.
Dear Prudence,
We share a birthday (shhh). Don’t sweat criticism, the work is no longer yours once you put it out there; it will be whatever whomever is looking at it decides that it is. Positive shmositive, it’s all just wind and eventually we shall be dust in the wind…
Isn’t that a poetic thought? Care to critique it? Well, ciao….
I like negatives. I like criticism. I just don’t like nastiness. I’ll edit aggressively if asked, or challenge people, or say what works and doesn’t – assuming it is, as jerjonji said, a writing issue. But if I simply don’t get into the writing, its not my style, I’ll say little or nothing.
My issue with what I got at my site was the fake attitude. Bash me if you want if you can produce the credibility behind it to explain specifically why. Then don’t do fake apologies. I don’t like fake.
what’s worse is when you don’t realize you are being critical. i’m always leaving posts that, because it’s written and people don’t know me, the sarcasm and drollery are overlooked. i offend without intending too. which is why i always forgive, so feel free to be critical on my account. i probably need all the help i can get
well shucks, now I need to go read what I commented. I want positive and negative feedback to improve my writing. I feel that silence means negative tho…. ?!