16.12.11 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Absolutely deserving choices. However,I know I'm a minnow here and where are all the big fish? But this comment is really discouraging.I thought you tried to encourage writers not undermine them!

Thanks very much for picking one of my stories for story of the week, I'm well chuffed :)

All I would like to do is comment on the enormity of the task of reading and reviewing the posts. I would be overwhelmed by such a proposition, never mind identifying the quality, noteworthy submissions. If I was in the position of reviewing for identification of 'awardable' pieces I would be paranoid at the prospect of missing a real gem or even something that was only really good and on this site there is plenty of both. I have only been here for a short time but have been constantly impressed by the consistency of the picking. Yes, there is evidence of occasional shortfall in the process but this is rare. The process of identification of the quality of submissions is subjective and as such there will always be differences of opinions. I realise that this post has drifted from the topic of the thread but I thought that it was worthwhile posting. Tony, I assume that you have a small team to assist with this important process. If you don't then my hat is off to you and if you do then it is off to all of you!

T.Cook. Thankyou for responding. I agree with your comment that that you should speak as you see.But (Sorry.My life is full of buts!) you have an onerous responsibility here, as Scratch says with his usual eloquence. This is hard for me as I hate conflict but I have to say that you also have power here and it's not clear at all how you make these decisions. Your language i.e.'struggled to find quality this week' groups us all as primary 1 at school. I wouldn't bother to reply if I didn't think this was such an important site.But,hell. we are writers here and we should question everything.

T.Cook and all Just come back from church and feeling very uncharitable to you.Scrooge that I am.I regret those last comments and am now eating my words.(Yum,Yum) I know you keep this wonderful site going.No more angst from me. I'm zippin' it.

Indrani Ananda Scratch - "The process of identification of the quality of submissions is subjective" is the bugbear of any kind of creative competition, on sites like this where there are people "in charge". Style and subject matter, as well as what is culturably fashionable, have varying appeal to different people. I have noticed that there is a distinct lack of cherry-awarding on the pages of the science fiction and fantasy poems, and yet with other subjects they occur in plenty. I am still trying to find rhyming poems with a distinct meter on here who are boasting cherries. I am only recounting what I have found so far, as I am a new user, and there is a whole lot of site for me to explore yet.

Hi Indrani Ananda, good to hear from you. I can't comment on the dearth of cherries awarded for fiction or the fantasy poems submissions as I have to confess neither of these are really to my taste so I tend not to read them. I accept that that is remiss of me. However I can comment on and I do agree with your observation regarding rhyming poetry with a distinctive metre. I put this down to the chronic 'unfashionableness' of this style of poetry at this time.

HI TC, I'l take a look at Helvigo Jenkins stuff, thanks for the tip.