Hi folks.

For the last ten months I've maintained a portfolio on a U.S. based internet writers group. I have a portfolio of my prose and poetry up there which I posted in the hope of getting truly constructive feedback, to try and find out whether I can write or not... The intervening months have been disappointing; all most of 'em want to do is blog and sell virtual raffle tickets...

I've just signed up for the new Open University A363 Advanced Creative Writing Course (I did their A215 last year) and another student recently recommended coming here. I've posted 2 poems and, on the basis of my "American Experience" sort of expected that one or two people might have looked at them by now but, no bites yet...

I'm coming to the realisation that people here are much more serious about writing than my previous experience.

I'm not anywhere near having a body of work worth publishing. I've joined to post examples of my work and get sensible critical feedback. How DOES it work here? Do I just politely wait while the days and my 35 quid fizzle away, hoping someone will chance across what I post? How can I be more active in this site? How does one promote oneself, or is that tabboo? Do you have to give here to receive? etc, etc...

Any advice for a hopeful writer who just wants to get some feedback on his writing would be welcome.

Cheers,

Terry

Hi, Terry, and welcome to WW.

It is quite a serious site - hopefully not that it never gets silly, but in that people are very serious about writing - and also a big one, with lots going on in lots of places.

The main critting action tends to go on in the groups, where people get to know each other and each others' work, which is the most fruitful kind of critting. Have a nose around and see which would suit you best: anyone who's a full member can belong to more than one, and some are more active than others: the dates on things in the group forum will give you an idea. Meanwhile, much of the talk goes on the Private Members (for writing-related stuff) and Lounge (for other gossip and worries) forums.

If you need help, give the Site Hosts a shout, or post here again.

And I know that there are always members interested in courses, so anything you can post about your past experiences with the OU, or how you find the new one, will be received with great interest.

Emma

Hi, Terry, and welcome to WriteWords.
I see you've taken the initial steps to getting started - ie. joining a group, posting your work, and critting other member's work.
As Emma says, some groups are quieter than others, and you can join more than one, so feel free to move around until you find one that's more active. But, saying that, if you are active in uploading and critting, it will pull other interested poets into a quiet group and help to revive it.
Starting discusion threads in the topics section of the group will also bring in interested people.
You can also post a note with a link in Introduce Your Work asking for feedback on newly uploaded work - otherwise it risks being over looked in a quiet group.
If you have any questions, just ask.


- NaomiM

<Added>

I also see you haven't uploaded either of your poems in the group you've joined, so I would suggest you choose one of them, and do that now, along with a note at the top of the piece (or as a post in the topic section of the group) saying what sort of feedback you're looking for. If you don't ask for feedback, them most poeple will think you've posted it to showcase it, rather than for a critique.

Thanks to you both for your advice. It's starting to make some sense now. With my new course starting I don't know whether I'll have time to make any kind of major commitment to reviewing others but at least I have a better idea of how to go about things here. Cheers! Terry

Hey Terry!
I haven't been on here long but the people are so genuinely friendly.
Read over (AKA nose around) other posts to get a feel of the general pace of the site.
Have to sleep now (2am)
Byeee, AL xx