Don't forget your duty to AW!

But your avatar is so... lovasmushable!

Seriously: Great idea. A Share Your Work critique pledge drive!

How many works will you pledge to critique this week?

I'll pledge, and I'll start with 2. I'm sorry, this will be a hard week...

Oops. I meant that as a general question to all.

great idea Spooky, but umm hello, why are poets exempt??

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=625813#post625813

Well, if anyone would like to take a gander... here's mine. Other than my roommate, you all are the first wide-spread audience I've *ever* shown my writing to. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. But hell, no pain, no gain, right?



Dang ETA: This isn't a critique, it's to be critiqued. I can move it somewhere else if you like.

I am glad you reminded me. I have been way delinquent in my real AW duties (joking, having fun and riling people up were supposed to be secondary).

Come to think of it, I can't remember the last critique I gave on here, although I did a couple of manuscripts privately so far this year.

I used to do it all the time.

I will make it a point to go back and git 'er done a lot more.

You're a good guy, Spook.

When you're not farting.

Good call Spooky. It's easy to get caught up in Office Party because...well... it's a party. And critiquing is almost kinda sorta like work... and who wants to work when you can party?

But the critiques are very important. For people who don't know anyone who can really scrutinize their work, point out the positives and the negatives, it's a great opportunity for them to get some constructive feedback. In fact, I think I'll go do some critiquing right now...

I'll just go ahead and pat myself on the back for spearheading this effort May 23 at 4:33 p.m. (which is, ironically, 29 years, 363 days after "Star Wars" first opened). Just by coincidence, Spooky is publicizing it. ;-) But I love the enthusiasm, kids. Keep it coming while the REST of us are contributing to the greater good (and you CAN see the broad smile, tongue in cheek and wink/nod I'm doing at the same time as I am typing this, right?) <---- Look, a smiley to indicate humor.

However, I think it's also important to let your butt hang out a bit and have your own work critqued as part of the exchange. Regardless of how high we soar, the sun still melts wax.

Excerpt of Chapter 8, "The Cerberus Dream" is here. Go crazy.

I'll provide some feedback for others later tonight, too.

Okay, spooky. I guess I'll forgive you for all the vomit and booger talk. Hang on... I'm ill again.

Damn! This reminds me. I told Saritams8 that I was going to finish reading her chapter up for crit and haven't gotten back to it. Sorry Sarah! I'm on it today!

And Maybe I'll throw one out there for crit too. (but why does that make me feel like I'm in that dream where I'm walking around naked and people are pointing and laughing?)

But I'm terrible at critting!

Okay, I'll do two when I'm done writing for the day. And to those poor souls whose work I choose, I'm so sorry!

rtilryarms said:

I have been way delinquent in my real AW duties (joking, having fun and riling people up were supposed to be secondary).

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I don't know, Mike... Reading my Dad's 450 page whopper has to count for something.

I started 2 weeks ago trying to do one a week, so far, so good. I'm going to keep it up. I still have to find my victim for the week. I don't count my comments on the poetry board because I do those for fun.

maestrowork said:

When you're not farting.

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is that what that is?

Saritams8 said:

I don't know, Mike... Reading my Dad's 450 page whopper has to count for something.

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I read every 153,721 words of it. I liked it.

I often read works presented in 'Share Your Work-threads'. I hardly think that I am qualified to give a critique, though. First because I have a hard time with the language myself, and second because I am so inexperienced a writer. Don't think my inputs would be appreciated.

Tilly said:

But I'm terrible at critting!

I'm so sorry!

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Most people are intimidated by the word critique. Critiquing is usually defined as "ripping it apart". But that is not true. A critique is a review and a commentary to a piece of work. It's OK to like it.


My role, as I see it, is as an evaluator from the viewpoint of a typical reader. I rarely delve into the technical aspects of writing because there are people far better than I to do this. I just tell people if it works for me or not. I f i like it, I should be able to identify why just as i am able to explain why I don't like it.

Sometimes I will be the only one who likes it or not like it, alone in the pack, but that is valuable information to the contributor too.

The works are open to be reviewed by everyone. There's something you could add that might help; it might turn on a light for a writer that wasn't lit previously. There always is.

Melisande said:

Don't think my inputs would be appreciated.

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Of course they would! Even if you just pipe in and say "Wow, I loved it!" or "I can't see anything that needs to be changed" or "That main character is really interesting." Input on any level is valuable to a growing writer. And by making your comments, you're encouraging others to join in the conversation, which is always a good thing!

The AW Forums acquired me at a little shop in the Heathrow airport, leaving England and heading for the United States.

Yes. That's right. I don't have to critique a THING!

MWHAHAHAHAAA! I'm duty-free!!