To all GW members:
This poem follows in the footsteps of Jane (Bottleblondesurfer) in her poem below. I added a comment to it, but I think we should be looking far wider than this.
I would ask the members of Great Writing to not only be polite and give a review to the others who have taken time and thought to both read THEIR OWN work and review it, by reciprocating the honour, by kindly reviewing that person's good work also, but to also look into the other rooms which Great Writing has to offer us. I am probably just as guilty as anyone inasmuch as I tend to hover around the area of writing in which I find most interesting (poetry and especially children's poetry). I think we should, each week, make the effort to read something quite different in one of the other areas, and give people help and encouragement. In particular, as far as I am concerned, I think that all too often people don't come to the children's section and give me a review, either because they don't like me, or because they think "for kids" means that this is an area where children give their reviews. (Tongue in cheek statement). So, please, can we be more supportive of the work of others, and remember that even if we don't like the writer themselves, their work is what we are reviewing. Let's make June "Review Month".
The Great Writing Team in their infinite wisdom,
Gave to their writers a workplace for all.
The playwrights, the poets the good story-tellers –
Well, there’s plenty of space for each member to scrawl.
They come to this websites to write for the elderly –
They come to write verse for the young and the old.
They pour out their hearts and give cause for much laughter –
But some don’t give reviews – well that’s what we’re told.
If you are a member who shuns the poetic –
If you shy from nonfiction, sci-fi, or not news.
If you think that “for kids” means reviews just BY children –
Or Extended means hours of long reading and choose –
To only review that work by the writers
Who you know and accept as just part of your team.
I’ll suggest that we all make June the exception
And come, with the fishes, get out in the stream.
Review work of people in areas unknown to you.
Let’s open new doors and quietly peep in –
You might find you’ve missed much that Gw can offer
By choosing one workplace and lurking within.
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Written by Robru (219 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | | I think this is a valid poem with a valid request, but - - -. I, like others, no doubt, think twice about reviewing categories of writing where they consider that their own expertise in that field is not good enough. Its food for thought, though, isn't it? |
Written by fellpony (1617 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | Is Sci Fi only read by rocket scientists? My mother doesn't write poetry but she likes to read it. My brother has never written a short story but he likes to read them.
If you can read, you can respond as reader. |
Written by Josie (2786 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | | Well, I've just written a review in comedy, to start the ball rolling, and written a pm to a member who I've never met before. I actually thought what he had written should go into Non Fiction and said that, but it was so interesting and I am glad that I visited his work. It is good to open your mind to other areas and perhaps review three pieces of work in other areas each week, and they reciprocate. I am just as guilty as anyone else as hovering around my homeground I'm afraid. ha ha. Yes, if it is work that is beyond my comprehension (and there's plenty in the poetry section that is I'm afraid), then I can't review it, but in each area there are lots of work which isn't. Let's give all of us a bit of encouragement, and perhaps after the month has finished, we can continue. We should also make lots of new friends too along the way. I am quite aware that already many members are already doing this, and for reviewing my work I thank them very much indeed. |
Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | I many ways, Josie is right, many more of us could offer a little more in terms of writing reviews - and perhaps reviewing a little wider. It's an old worn out subject that has been discussed many times before on GW, sometimes quite heatedly. I have no wish to rake up old almost extinguished coals.
Where I disagree with Josie is we should review in a tit-for-tat manner. It might be polite to 'return the favour,' - but if that is all we do, little exclusive groups will be created. It's enough for me that members review. Of course, always nice to receive a review myself too!
I can't accept the excuse that because someone can't or doesn't write in a particular genre it disqualifies them from making comment. As far as I know, none of us make a living from writing (Emuttmax excepted?) so we are all amateur in every area. There's an awful lot to be learned from forcing yourself to deconstruct, no matter how simply, a piece of writing.
Phil |
Written by fellpony (1617 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | I think you're misunderstanding Josie's lines, Phil - possibly because the sense runs across the break between stanzas and is perhaps oddly puctuated:
If you think that “for kids” means reviews just BY children
Or Extended means hours of long reading, and choose
To only review that work by the writers
Who[m] you know and accept as just part of your team,
I’ll suggest that we all make June the exception
And come, with the fishes, get out in the stream.
I think she's saying that IF you are curently only reviewing your "pals", this is the time to break out of the pattern and review others' work as well. |
Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | Fair point - only just got out of bed  half term laziness and an evening of Heineken. (Special offer!)
Sorry, Josie. My comments still stand - just take the disagree part out. |
Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | The hardest one of all to read
Because of all the time you need
Is extended.
Just read a chapter once each day
You'll do a book a month that way.
Problem sorted. |
Written by Diddi (80 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | I'm a bit 'gun shy' concerning the old 'chestnut' of reviewing. I prefer to call them comments. I have received many comments on other sites which have been rushed, ill constructed and have hurt me greatly.
Some 'writers' that I know can 'knock' off 30 or 40 'reviews' in an hour.
My preference is: if you don't like what you read on my page, leave it alone and find something more to your liking. I'm not collecting 'brownie points.'
Josie's poem seems to refer to making a concerted effort in June to review. If it means reviewing in an area where you have little or no expertise, no. I believe that could be quite cruel to some. No one knows the person who wrote the piece that you are reviewing, that's not a good place to mess around in.
If you want to make nice, bland comments, that also is not a good place to go.
I play safe and go for: "Cobbler stick to thy last." | HI Josie
Written by jean.day (2283 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | I liked your poem and thought it put the case forward very well for us all doing a bit more to help out those who don't get many reviews.
But although I don't get annoyed if those I review don't read and review my work in exchange, I make an effort to reivew anyone who reviews me - because I think if they have taken the time and trouble, it is the least I can do.
As far as reading things that are not in my area of expertise, I am afraid that I am very unlikely to review things that I have no interest in reading - but I do read, write (occasionally in some) and review in six of the categories, I personally think that's enough.
But I do like the idea of trying harder in June, and will make the effort to do an extra one each day I am on. |
Written by NathanRoberts (277 comments posted) 28th May 2008 | I agree with Phil. No obligation should be felt by reviewer or reviewed. Politeness, yes. Obligation.. no.
Treat reviewing as a gift. I try to thank all reviewers for reviews of my work, within the work itself.
If I give a 'gift' of a review to someone else, I really don't want them to feel obligated to return that gift.
The thought of that would actually put me off reviewing. I haven’t stopped reviewing people, whose writing I respect and enjoy, simply because they’re not reviewing mine.
This brings up the problem of someone reviewing you and being very positive, then you read theirs and can't think of anything nice to say (and vice versa).
Naturally, if someone reviews you, you will then take an interest in that persons writing...they'll appear clearer on your ‘radar’...and chances are you'll end up reviewing them, but let’s not make it some enforced social necessity.
And, let's not forget the value of criticism. You don't learn much from bland nicey comments, comforting though they may be.
As Diddi points out, the other big issue here is time. I have rushed reviews in the past, due to lack of time, and then regretted posting them. A well thought out, relevant and constructive review takes a long time to write (at least for me, but I’m a slow thinker!).
Plus, this is not an even playing field…some people may have all day to read GW at their leisure, plus do their own writing and review. Others, such as myself, have jobs and family commitments.
As for reading other areas of GW, I'd really love to, but I barely get the time to read the latest poems (which is my main area of interest), never mind venture elsewhere.
I think the system works fine, to be honest. Writers who need lots of comforting compliments will go and write lots of comforting compliments, and probably get them in return. Writers who want to socialise and chat will do that in their comments. Those who prefer lengthy constructive critiques will work on that area. Those who have limited time will concentrate on their writing and reading (published works as well as GW), if they’ve any sense.
Now, that's today's free time used up...Doh!
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