Some of you are writers...

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by creekster

Outlier took Catblue's comments about first publication rights, I can only imagine how amusing it might be when they started to critique each other's work. The truth is, however, that I spend far too much of my day editing legal writing to really want to edit or review more writing, even good creative writing, in the evening. Moreover, I think the law has beaten any real creativity out of my writing, although I suppose I feel like I could still offer "big picture" ideas and comments on analytical writing. Besdies, I certainly wouldn't want the fact that my eyes were added to the forum to casue Outlier to lose any lucrative publishing opportunities.

When will we get a spell-checker? Do I need to buy more books?

If your skin is thin you aren't cut out for such groups and wouldn't get much out of them. Much of the process involves the writer discerning what he should take to heart and what to ignore, and quite a bit fits into the latter category. Particularly with more extended or complex works, only the author fully comprehends his vision. Still, critique from a perspective outside the author's head can be helpful. And there's usually not an occasion for being defensive. Sometimes a moderator whose views are widely respected (such as a published author or professional writing teacher) can perform the function of recongnizing and responding to unfair or gratuitous criticisms or attacks.

In any event, nobody expects "editing"; what's more helpful is insight from the perspective of the theoretical audience, the reader.