Wednesday Writing Essentials: June 3, 2009

Good luck, Susan ... you have taken on a heavy workload - and I don't envy you.

You won't see much of my work because I now seldom post anything on Wednesday ... and you can count your blessings for that.  LOL

Best of luck...

Congrats on your new position of Wednesday's Writing Essential Editor.  Sounds like you have given much thought to the idea of encouraging writing among Gatherites.

Well I may or may not write something this week but have a thing in mind.  I will try to remember WWE.   You have a big job ahead of you and I do not envy you at all.

Congrats on your new position.

Susan, your post is excellent. You are doing a really good job. Your piece is very interesting, a sound advice, it is earnest and above all very informative. I am a retired person. You may find most of my posts interesting enough. But however hard I might try I have been find it difficult to break into print. Editors dismiss mine as opinion pieces. It doesn't matter even if it appeals to one's sense of reasoning. I believe we can arrive at some solutions to some complex problems through open debate and an open mind.

Thank you so  much for a really worthwhile post for a fellow like me with links to more worthwhile information. I am a computer novice and often fail to post my pieces to WWE.

Great article Susan.

IMHO, the best critiques have two topics: what works, what needs work.

All the best, thanks for the share!! Hope you have a great week!   : )

I love your list of aspects that contribute to a writer's improvement.  I look forward to having you as a WE editor.

Just from reading this, I know you will be a good editor.  I've not submitted anything to WWE before but I will put an effort into doing it today.  Welcome and the very best of luck as well as, blessings on all you do.

This sounds like it will be a great way to hone my writing chops, and to learn more about the craft itself. Thank you for taking on the WWE, Susan.

I look forward to reading those submissions - fun, concise and interesting!

Good luck and congratulations, Susan.

Best  of luck as you take on this new adventure.

Welcome to WWE! Hope you don't get knocked out!

I posted mine :)

I wish you all the luck.  Congratulations to your daughter's graduation.

I LOVE this, and hope to find time to do it. What fun!

Here's mine: Cold Comfort

Congratulations Susan.

If I enjoy the work, I'll make my remarks here in comments.

If the writer did not proof his work or made awful mistakes, I take my words of encouragement to gather's private email.  

Let's play, 'find the oxymoron.' It's somewhere in "Worthless Pit."

I think this article is very enlightening and encouraging for writers.  Thnks for sharing it.  I look forward to participating.  Thanks, Anne

Susan, welcome as moderator.

I like the focus you have for Wednesday. Good article.

Having done a stint as a WE moderator,  I know the work involved. Thanks for contributing to this group.

Welcome! Interesting article.

Glad to have you.  Your experience is greatly appreciated!

well that sure is an interesting combo of things to write about.  perhaps later in the day when i'm more awake i can attempt to tackle that.

An interesting challenge!  I may have to give this one a shot.

Great job! Enjoyed it!

Love the concept.  It's so wonderful to find that there are significantly more people interested in writing and liturature than I had first imagined.

I am very impressed by your credentials and have submitted a little bit of prose with your prompts for perusal. However, I never cosidered myself a poet, just a guy who likes to write poems. Memoirs are my specialty and I have published a few.

My credentials include membership in the MWA, (Mystery Writers Association) and the Florida Romance Writers. In additon to memoirs, several other articles of mine ware published and paid for.

I am a retired artist , metal sculptor and think of writing as my second life and would appreciate any and all help.

I also suffer fat finger sydrome and have to correct my comments several tiimes and the fingers still escape me.

Thanks for this post. It goes a long way towards what I look for.

Congrats Susan. I'm looking forward to posting to WWE. Thanks for your fine approach to helping us improve our skills. Thanks for the challenge. I'll give it a try. 

Good job. You did a great job of communicating what you expect.

Hi Susan - wonderful article.  I am so glad you addressed 'feedback' first.  I have a friend online who writes for fanfiction.com.  She is a WONDERFUL writer.  Well researched, thought out and written.  Unfortunately there are people who like to tear down peoples work (on that site) but don't seem to care about the consequences of their thoughtless words.  I just sent a link to your post to encourage her and let her know I stand behind her.  Hopefully, she'll join us.  =0)

Thank you so much! - Tina 'The Book Lady'

Quote:

Today I want to address feedback.  Here on Gather, it's not uncommon for someone to write a poem or short story and receive a dizzying assortment of superlative praise.  There's value in that, however there's also value in objective, constructive criticism.  

 The components of constructive criticism include:  **Thank you!**

• objectivity  No need to run down someone's work because it doesn't appeal to you.
• encouragement   Your goal is to educate, not embarrass.
• honesty that reflects sensitivity to the writer's feelings
• specificity   Rather than ramble about the article's weak spots, get to the point.   

I'm happy to meet you, Susan. Thanks for a great post. Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts.

Beverly

I'm slightly stunned at the amount of time it takes to go through today's submissions and for me to comment on each.  I'm half-way through, but must go to a media event now and then work on my paid-work.

Hi Susan,

This is a great post!  It looks like you're off to a wonderful start.

Congratulations, and thanks for taking on Wednesday's Gatherers. Sounds a fun prompt. I'll see what I have time for, but I certainly plan to read.

This sounds great.

I really like your advice and your approach.

I'll take part as much I can; which may not be much.

Welcome Aboard!

I like your no nonsense appeal to the writer to improve his craft. I agree with you that often working within limitations, such as poetic forms,  forces us to write more interesting work. I will check out your prompts from time to time, and if one really appeals to me, I shall definitely give it a go. Thanks for always bringing out the best in your fellow writers, myself included, Susan.

Susan,

I know you will do a wonderful job! This is a great first post. I have always enjoyed your posts and the kind and compassionate  personality that you bring to them.

Again, congratulations. You're a hard worker with a great heart. And best wishes for your family events.

This sounds excellent!  I hope all readers will adhere to these rules.

"The components of constructive criticism include:

• objectivity  No need to run down someone's work because it doesn't appeal to you.
• encouragement   Your goal is to educate, not embarrass.
• honesty that reflects sensitivity to the writer's feelings
• specificity   Rather than ramble about the article's weak spots, get to the point. "

The truth is, Jan, if people do post belittling, hurtful commentary, I will call them on it.  As y'all get to know me, you'll find that I am not shy.  :-0  ;-)

Susan, this is wonderful and I am looking forward to being a part of this.  Thank you for doing this.

Welcome and thank you for including me in this writing piece. I look forward to doing it, but will probably post it tomorrow. Thanks again.

I wish you much luck

read your comments on my poem then this editorial  commitment.Iam happy that u live your convictions with rigor.congrats dear editor for your new free expressions.

I missed this on Wednesday. Looking forward to WWE in the future.

I like the discussion of feedback - we at Gather seem to either toast or roast, whereas what I need is much more specific.  Hope we can generate some in this group.

I'm not sure I'll get to this week's assignment but I really like the prompts!

Susan- congrats on your new position as Member Editor...as a former Gather Essential ME, I know how busy this will keep you, but the rewards are priceless. I am a bit busy at work of late and unable to get on Gather as much as I would like, but hope to catch your post this week.

Excellent article and I especially like your thoughts on constructive criticism, as a writer it is what I always hope for here on Gather.