I’m feeling what you are saying @prydefoltz.
@d-pend,
Once upon a time I would have loved this critique assignment (in my more academic days, when I was much more aligned to that/this mindset); however, it is pretty far from where I am these days. If there is a piece I need to focus (on a more mundane level) on for constructive critique that I'm actually not inspired by (for whatever reasons); well, that can be a big time investment as one is trying to find ways of communication without offense (and who the hell am I anyway… lol) , this is a concern for me as everything right now has cut my writing time to a short segment in my days and I’d rather focus on writing poetry and making the assorted comments as I have been all along.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly; I am in much more of an introspective space when it comes to others work in the outer world, i.e. I just enjoy the work of others or not and try not to pick stuff apart (constructively as is being suggested), what meaning finds me is personal and I relish it that way these days. I did love critique in all my Lit classes and writing workshops and, of course, that was part of the objective before taking on heavy writing classes and such.
This seems like an aspect that should have been presented from the start as it’s a rather large structural change to this challenge that is now over half way in.
I am not throwing in the towel (as of yet) but this is a crossroad and I’ve not made a choice as I write this.
Respectfully, and in admiration,
N-
Thank you for weighing in, Niish. I did mention in many of my updates that I reserved the right to change how the challenge operates, and it wouldn't have been feasible to institute something like this with a large number of poets.
I can empathize with what you're saying and I know would be content with the operation staying as it is. But I'm not really happy with the quality of interactions that I see between poets in this community. People tend to stay in their own "hollers" and peep out, to tiny degrees. I was envisioning something more substantial, more intense.
Now that we've all written and shared poetry nearly daily for 50 days, it should be almost second nature. In order for this to remain the challenge it was intended to be, I think people need to come more out of their comfort zones if they want to take their craft to the next level. My personality is usually to just allow people to do this at their own pace, but unfortunately my experience is that they do not do so without a significant nudge.
If you have some ideas about how I might be able to do this better, please don't hesitate to let me know, here or privately.
I think my response to @tygertyger pretty much sums up what I feel would be more judicious.
I’m not trying to change anyones mind, that is folly.
It has been a great pleasure and I thank you.
As I said I am grateful to have found a few more people in the world that inspire me and that is a Win.
Best of luck to everyone. <3
He did say at the beginning of the challenge that he might change the rules along the way . I know that this kind of structure might be a bit uncomfortable for a free being like you love, but communication between the participants seems to have become a bit insular. This challenge was born to strengthen the community, but also to inspire budding writers. How are they however supposed to evolve if they do not get feedback on how to grow? And is art not there to communicate and maybe put sparks in others? If we just throw our stuff in the wind and live under glass domes like the little prices rose we become like her self-indulgent I feel and we loose our grounding. And to be frank there will be stuff that might suck but they cannot break out of that if no one gives them the time of day, just something to ponder <3
I am all for a weekly mention with a meaningful reason as to why. I am even all for a mandatory class day, those things seem fine and less structural... critique as mandatory is basically adding on anther challenge and frankly, I would not have entered had that been on the agenda. I am so all for community and that has been a great success for me so far in this as I've found kindred here in this challenge. ;)
This forced critique aspect is just not feeling great (imo).
Would you feel more comfortable in leaving just 2 comments on what the poem invoked in you he did offer both forms as option. and the reason he chose this over mandatory class is that some people cannot come to class as they are in different time zones or work at that time .
I understand the time-zone thing and the challenges here. So many needs to meet. I do prefer that option for sure as that is where I dwell these days. I was wondering if we could do something in a private (Only people in the challenge) "backroom" where we interact on documents through written interactions of feedback and general feelings to pieces at our leisure over the week.. I don’t know. Ugh, it’s getting so complicated.
if the open forum is the issue there is a goggle doc option maybe (what do you think @d-pend ) but I don't know if every one will understand how to use it and it could turn into total chaos. But the atmospheric feedback option is offered you don't need to do a guy LOL ;) let the idea germinate a bit ok? See how you feel about it then :)
I'd prefer to do mandatory class as well @mamadini, but the problem there is time zones, and in some cases technology. I do feel the project is lacking something. It was intended to be more than a motley crue of people all doing their own thing, because that's kind of how poetry on Steemit was before. You definitely could be right that this is not the way to go about remedying it, but I'm just not sure how else to. :(
I was wondering if we could do something in a private (Only people in the challenge) "backroom" where we interact on documents through written interactions of feedback and general feelings to pieces at our leisure over the week.. I don’t know. Ugh, it’s getting so complicated.