Favourites

Aw...don't do it in secret. Post stuff on here. I am reluctant to comment on others' work sometimes for fear of all that stuff we've discussed before (people not really wanting critique, people getting offended, etc.) But I'd definately chime in if people are openly asking 'what's wrong with this..?' It's also nice to discuss stuff on the forums in my opinion, especially when there is no notification of new comments on pieces. I for one miss following the critiques of work in the 'discuss writing' forum. (Although I admit I was in favour of comments before they were turned on.)

Without fail, my favorite pieces are never all that well received by others. I sometimes wonder why, and what I've come up with is that my favorite pieces stem from an emotion that is mine, not the reader's. It's silly for me to expect they get the same thing out of it as I do because they don't have the same connection as I do. I don't guess that's what this thread is about. But that's what I got.

I have been wondering what exactly is the point of putting up stories here as the feedback has been, erm, well, minimal. And by not knowing if anyone comments makes me wonder if commenting actually gets noticed by the author. Perhaps that's why hardly anyone bothers? I have to admit it's a bore to open my own stories to see if by chance a comment has been left. Anyway, that's besides the point. My own favourite piece is usually the last one I've written ...only later can I see it's a pile of poo. Distance brings perspective I guess! Better that a piece is posted here btw so we can all follow the crit!

My favourite piece of mine at the moment the last part of the "Ryan's Story" series. Took me long enough to write it even if I did run out of steam towards the end. I also like the first chapter of Hero's Journey. Don't know why, I just like re-reading it again and again. My other fave would have to be the 3rd chapter of Dragonstar. The first (and so far only) time I've tried to write a chase scene and I think it came out really well. I see people put up threads on the forums about their work in an attempt to solict comments on their work but I've always felt uncomfortable about doing something like that.

I agree with photon in that the last piece I've written is usually closest to my heart. For real merit, I can never see until weeks have passed and I am distanced enough from a piece to appreciate it more objectively, once the emotion tnat comes with writing it has faded...but then, I always write with heart, not head, so true objectiveness may never be achieved! I always liked 'Saving Grace' - very, very old of mine. (see 2004, but I think I actually wrote it in 2001.) It's one of my 'where the hell did that come from?' ones...! I also love the ones where I've captured real moments, like 'The Last Summer Night', 'Your Last Weekend' an, just posted, 'Barcelona' - because these are like 'word memory pictures' for me, taken straight from life, the most honest because there is no fiction at all involved!

As someone relatively new to this site, I too wonder at the lack of commenting. When I first joined, I read the site guidelines and have been adhering to the 'post and comment' term. I'm not sure others do, though. I mirror Foster's sentiments about my favourite pieces. I have to be honest also and say I am still quite surprised every time I see a piece awarded a cherry. Usually, it is the pieces I think are ordinary. Ewan, I am going to think about this and forward you a piece (or two, if you don't mind) for your considered crit.

We are aiming for a 'critical analysis' session in the Autumn in conjunction with New Writing in Norwich - there will be a special forum with lots of new ideas on it. More later - but this is being addressed and will give you the opportunity for genuine, deep criticism.

Sounds great, Tony. I think you have to realise that sometimes, we write and do not realise that the simplest things can often work the best... but lit crit is, of course, all subjective... oh dear, I feel another rant coming on...

I'm not sure anybody knows Jennifer. Work the best for who? The reader, the writer or the critic? Sometimes we expect a raspberry and we get a cherry. And vice versa of course.

If it's a piece you like, it seems a bit conceited putting it up here, like saying whaddya think of this, then? Isn't it great? I disagree. This site serves many different purposes and one of them (the most common) is straight praise for good writing. And just because I think something is good doesn't mean it is good - I've been writing long enough to know that, so it's nice to get different opinions. Lastly, I think writers need to be a bit conceited - it serves us well.

Foster, You offer an interesting observation. Self assurance gives a writer confidence in his/her voice. Others may see it as a conceit and indeed it may be. Yet without it,few of us would ever have the chutzpa to post anything, fearing a scathing review or worse the silent ridicule of indifference. I have offered reviews of pieces many times on this site. Most are taken in the spirit they are given, as one scribbler trying to help another with an objective observation. I do however run into the occasional "delicate ego" of a writer who draws umbrage at any suggestion or correction to his/her work. These people give me agita. I always appreciate the time a fellow scribbler takes to read and review anything I wrote. He or she took moments of their valuable time to give me an unvarnished reaction to something I posted.That is a gift from one writer to another. Thank you one and all for your kindnesses. None of us are objective about our work. Like any parent who sees beauty in an ungainly child, we see value in that which we have created. Criticisms are always appreciated. It behooves all of us to remember that comments be offered with tact, lest the parent take offense when his/her child is criticised. Most of us do this gently, knowing how scathing an unthinking observation can seem. Our readers will ultimately be much more harsh. If they think our work a stinker, they will simpy ignore it. This site serves well as a testing forum for ideas and compositions. I get creative feed back here that I would never have thought of in a million years. My Thanks to those of you generous souls who graciously offered me your observations.Hopefully I can learn from them and learn to write even better. May we all live in interesting times. J.X.M