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User	Raphael | 2008-10-23 |
Subject	untitled
Message	I think if its an awfull poem youve just read you should say so and be as harsh as is appropriate,but not so you can look like a bad-ass,at least give your reason if its a good poem you should either say how youd improve it or why you wouldnt improve it and if its moves you then comment and say how it made you feel and why, thats all people should expect and they used to get it,but now theres a lot of crap that gets thrown around by people with other agendas,as has been said already I dont think about improving critique as I reckon it just improves with practice,If I dont feel capable of giving a rellevant point i dont comment yup...

User	tZar | 2008-01-28 |
Subject	untitled
Message	I only comment on pieces which I think has something interesting in them; maybe a potential that I see, which is not unfolded. Also when I comment I always looks it through for typos and other small nitpickings, things that I hate when I do myself, but appreciate when people correct for me – as they just makes my work look sloppy. I always try to focus on the things I see working in a poem, and trying to elaborate on how/why they work, and then comment on the parts, which are not supporting the general, idea. As I put great value in form, structure and coherence in my own texts, it is natural that that is what I pick up on in the poems I critique. I think good comments are pointing forward. What can be done to develop the poem and make full of the potential that is in it. An elaborate comment on what one saw in a write, can make the author aware of something that he/she did not see him-/herself, and then envelop it tighter into the poem. But most important is still the pointing forward – where do I go from here… Comments like: “I didn’t get it atall, but it sounded great!” and praises or thrashings without reason. I really do not like comment that shows how people think they can just skim through a text, and expect to get everything served on a silver platter, without having to work for anything. I always return the favor if I can see that someone have tried – no matter what the result might be.

User	mae | 2007-04-01 |
Subject	untitled
Message	I try to make my comments helpful. I don’t rewrite someone’s whole poem, but I may suggest an alternate wording for a sentence of section. What makes me mad? When people aren’t really interested in hearing anything but praise or try to explain their poem and convince me that I was wrong in my assessment. If you have to explain it, then there’s something else wrong with the poem. I also don’t like it when people ask for comments. The quickest way to get new comments is to comment yourself - and improve your writing so that people want to read it. I appreciate hearing specifics in comments I receive. Don’t try to change the direction I’ve taken with my poem, but if you think another word would work better, then tell me what that word is. If my meter is off, tell me where. Be specific. mae

User	FireFly747 | 2006-10-28 |
Subject	Goodby
Message	Well, no one is interested?

User	FireFly747 | 2006-10-28 |
Subject	Need Criticism
Message	Please critique the following poem titled, "A Covenant with this Poem" A Covenant with This Poem Dear Lord, how do I make a covenant with this poem Does it want a fresh pair of wings to master the sky and soar through the heavens If a poem speaks, then let it sing in the halls of a cathedral, and let it sing with joy and resonance If a poem is planted like a seed in the field, then it should take root growing strong and vibrant, thus ripe and ready for harvest So, let these spiritual words flow from my heart, through gentle hand, thus holding scared pen, scribing on to bare sheets of paper, and I truly vow to make a covenant with this poem Posted By: Gregory W Golden Dated 21 Oct 2006

User	FireFly747 | 2006-10-25 |
Subject	FireFly747 Here!
Message	Since you have a good handle on providing constructive comments, please stop by to read and comment on my poetry collection. I would appreciate a response. the url is the following: http://www.eliteskills.com/recent?listall=FireFly747 Hope to hear from someone out there in the universe? FireFly747

User	Patricio | 2006-05-13 |
Subject	untitled
Message	I try to comment on something like I’m the middle man before the work is turned in, as though the auther is finished with the work and wants me to cheak it out and give some feed back on it before it reaches its final destination. first off if the author dosen’t care about it why should I (I don’t comment on anything that doesn’t seem like the author might be willing to rewrite this work, or use the feedback to help the next) if someone else have already pointed it out something in the work leave it at that unless you can present a new solution comment on what you know, ask about what you don’t. in my poetry im all about rhyme scheme so i give a lot of advice on how people can improve rhyme tone and flow but I know nothing about free writes so i leave that to people who are better qualified and know that writing style. my biggest problem is i tend to focus on the rhyme scheme and other mechanics more than the topic or idea the author is trying to get across i’m getting better though. and what bugs me the most is when people think they have to comment on every work they read. If your comment doesn’t have a personal connection, problem with a possible solution, positive suggestion, or a sincere question on the topic don’t leave the comment but because I try to follow my own rules and rarely read poems that are anything but comedy I don’t leave very many comments so my works are maxed out on comments till I comment some more

User	littlepoet | 2006-04-16 |
Subject	untitled
Message	we should work together to give better feed back on each others’ work

User	Lost Sheep | 2006-04-14 |
Subject	untitled
Message	Wow, this thread needs more attention!! I look for two things in a comment constructive criticism and people trying to connect with the piece. The first rule of constructive criticism is always to point out the good, then point out what should change. I usually find something in the piece to compliment, then I find some things that I think could use improvement. A critique is always going to the have the possibility of a confrontational ear, so I think that working in a compliment softens that. In the end thoughm, what’s most important to me is that people make the effoer to understand the emotions behind my writing. My words are always simple; I’m not into complexity or form for their own sake. What I really want to do is communicate. I like comments that tell me I’m communicating with my reader and changing the way they think or feel. Steve

User	Spare Change | 2006-03-07 |
Subject	untitled
Message	I don’t know. Sometimes I think, I’m not qualified to comment, but the site urges us to comment as best we can. So I try to start with my overall impression of the piece. I don’t really think in terms of rules for poems, except that it should excite my imagination in some way. I think it’s usefull for a poet to see how people interpret their work. Most of what I see are attempts to illicit sympathetic emotions, which is ok, just not all that exciting. I try to avoid getting sucked into the trap of giving personal advice based on what I read in a poem. I really don’t know anything about the people posting and try to keep my comments relative to the work submitted. If all I see is one dimension from a persons many posts, (ie. life always sucks or I’m always possitive) then I don’t waste my time. I think my own comments will get better with time, as I learn more.

User	abuzzbuzz92 | 2006-01-27 |
Subject	untitled
Message	1. I try my best to mention everything that i think that is not mentioned in another comment. Some people just take things out of the other comments given, but i try not to repeat any information. 2. Well, I used to comment in point form once and i am sure that that would help the other person but not anymore. Don’t know why though 3. A good comment does not have to be a detailed 100 word one. If other people have already mentioned your thoughts then you can just write, " I agree with ****" It should not just keep reapeating things such as, "good write" 4. It particularly bothers me that people, like you mentioned, only find bad things in the poem. Even if they think that the poem was awful, they should suggest ways to improve it. Another type of comment which i don’t like to read is one that just praises( which i often write myself... sorry) 5. Usually, I go to their page and comment on some of their work and then expect a comment back....

User	cabbalistic | 2006-01-16 |
Subject	untitled
Message	I’ve learned a lot from comments other people leave. Some show genuine interest even when they are short while others can be extremely frustrating. What I hate most is when people leave five lines composed mainly of the words ’talented’, ’neat’, ’lol’, ’love the write’ with no sign that the submission was actually read. And to top it all off they end by saying ’oh, by the way could you comment on some of my stuff?" It confirms what you were thinking while you read the praises...it was all fake and supposed to be able to flatter you into leaving critiques. It would be quite amusing really if it weren’t frustrating.. These are the worst kinds of comments. If people want you to critique their work, all they have to do is ask rather than engage in what is their idea of clever manipulation. I personally love reading what other people write and then leave a nitpicking comment...though I guess that’s not what everyone is looking for! If there is a submission that for some reason endears itself to me but I don’t have enough experience to analyse it, which is what happens with me with most of the deeper poetry, I’d rather leave a praise as a message rather than in the comment box.

User	inspirit999 | 2006-01-09 |
Subject	untitled
Message	"and what are they trying to achieve in that comment?" should read and what are you trying to achieve in that comment?