payback for criticism?

[legerdemer]

So we're all here, in this cozy little corner of Lit, doing our thing - which includes giving and receiving criticism. Sometimes it's nothing more than "I (really) like this." Other times you've spent a significant amount of time thinking about a poem, and have tried hard to be thoughtful about your feedback - what would you like in return, if anything?

I've been thinking about this off and on for a while, and was stimulated to ask the question in part by the reaction of a "poet" on a different site I recently explored (which I don't like as much as this here corner of the universe).

Would you like to know whether your feedback helped?

Would you like to hear why the poet decided not to take your suggestion?

Would you simply like a thank you and don't care what s/he does past that?

Just curious.

 

[Lyricalli]

I think a thank you is generally sufficient. If the author wants to respond with reasons suggestions weren't taken, or what feedback helped, that's a bonus. It's nice to hear that something helped, and interesting to have conversations about why suggestions given might not work for that author.

 

[Magnetron]

Would I like to know if my feedback helped or not? Sure. But I ladel it out like I'm working in a soup kitchen. I don't expect anything in return.

I enjoy being vocal with my critiques ( and having a few laughs in the process ), because it let's others know who I am and what I am capable of. I'm not a social butterfly nor am I here with a bicycle pump in hand for your egos. But the door is always open if you want a helping hand. People serious about improving will know I'm serious about improving as well.

 

[butters]

hi mer

not got my poetry head on enough to offer much worthwhile here right now, but this i can answer:

it's nice to hear back if something helped - either clarified a confusion as to where the author wanted to take a piece or confirmed they liked what they'd written anyway - but i'm not too fussed. i get enough out of the actual process of evaluating a piece, the learning that comes from that. a simple thanks is good, but really when i'm done posting a crit/review/opinion i'm done.

doesn't matter to me if someone uses my suggestions or not, but if they've got some better insight into how others perceive what they've written then it's all good and might help them later down the line to look at their writings from various perspectives.

 

[Angeline]

I agree with Calli: a thank you is good. I'm not offended if people disagree with me. It's their poem, not mine, and they'll do what works for them. There's plenty of room for interpretation in poetry. And even if I do think that my advice, which would make the poem better, is ignored--it's still not my poem, so no big deal.

I really appreciate it when people return the favor by giving me honest feedback on my poems. It's helpful whether I agree with them or not because it's insight into how someone else is reading what I wrote. I don't expect "return feedback" though, so it's always a nice surprise when it happens.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

I agree with Calli: a thank you is good. I'm not offended if people disagree with me. It's their poem, not mine, and they'll do what works for them. There's plenty of room for interpretation in poetry. And even if I do think that my advice, which would make the poem better, is ignored--it's still not my poem, so no big deal.

I agree with this but, if it's my poem receiving the advice that I have decided not to take, I always try to explain why. That often makes me think twice and it either makes me change or stiffens my resolve.

 

[todski28]

I often put more effort into a serious comment than I do into my own writing, so I figure if the person doesnt at least have a thank you even if they think Im full of shit, then why should I waste what little time I have?

Comments that make you analyse your own wtiting, turn it around and see it through someone elses eyes is gold, and those that do it deserve at least a thank you, even if you dont agree.

 

[legerdemer]

I often put more effort into a serious comment than I do into my own writing, so I figure if the person doesnt at least have a thank you even if they think Im full of shit, then why should I waste what little time I have?

Comments that make you analyse your own wtiting, turn it around and see it through someone elses eyes is gold, and those that do it deserve at least a thank you, even if you dont agree.

There's a heartfelt thank you on my thread for you, darlin'.

 

[todski28]

There's a heartfelt thank you on my thread for you, darlin'.

See that, I can feel the love and will continue to offer up my fractured, semi retarded and honest opinion on your work till the thank you's stop

 

[UnderYourSpell]

One small niggle it's critique not criticism.

 

[legerdemer]

One small niggle it's critique not criticism.

Good point.

Thanks, everyone - I learned interesting things about what people would like to know about their and others' feedback.

 

[Piscator]

Getting back from 6 days feeding blackflies, I fine I agree with everything that's been said. A thank you is more than sufficient, anything else is a bonus.

And yes the process helps at both ends, giving and receiving, kinda like another oral perversion.