Apr 14, 2013 / Community Pool

Community Pool: Poetry and Fiction

Community Pool

The Community Pool is for those of you looking for input, whether on post ideas, writing, blog design and layout, or anything else. If you have a post, page, or idea you want to bounce off someone, leave a comment. Your fellow bloggers can then click through and offer input either on your site, or in the comments here (feel free to indicate which you’d prefer).

This week, we’re carving out a space for those of your who write fiction. Whether you’re participating in NaPoWriMo or are a Flash Fictioneer, use this post to get feedback. Read on for the ground rules and to leave a comment . . .

  • You’ll get the best feedback if you can be as specific as possible about what you’d like people to respond to or where you’re struggling.
  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. We’re here to help and support one another, not to beat anyone down.
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
  • To keep from losing your place in the comment thread while you visit others’ blogs, right-click on a link to open it in a new tab or window.
  • No running on the deck.

Photo by t_a_i_s.

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  1. Hi everyone! I have a lot poetry and fiction on my blog and was just hoping for some general feedback. Is there anything that resonated with you or that you liked or didn’t like? Why? I recently had a short story published called Neon that can be found under “my published work” or “news/links” if you want to take a look at that.

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  2. I’m participating on CampNaNoWriMo this month (I really should be working on that right now, instead of commenting here!) and I’ve written some fiction in response to the weekly writing prompts here on WordPress, which I find are a lot of fun.

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  4. Hi everyone, I am currently writing nonfiction that reads like fiction (I think!) and would love some real feedback that addresses writing style, voice, content and any possible feedback concerning my goal for publishing this in book form. Other than my blog I am currently an unpublished author. I have been blogging for about a month and have been committed to posting at least once a week because of time constraints. Thanks for any comments/feedback – sincerely appreciated!

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    1. Hi,
      I like the piece, but I think you could improve it by showing us more of Tommy, and yourself, rather then telling us details about your domestic arrangements – the writing improves when you are describing situations, what people look like, for example the differences between Tommy and Brian. The stuff about cleaning and checking accounts doesn’t make for such interesting writing. I am a published writer, and I’m part of a writing group so I read a lot of fiction and non-fiction, and critique it too. Avoid adverbs like ‘excitedly’ too – if fact, try not to use adverbs at all. The story you are telling is a really interesting one, and you use language well. However, try and show us more, and tell us less. The reader can sometimes be allowed to figure out things by themselves! Good luck with it!

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  5. Dear Writer Friends:
    I am an author of fiction for both children and adults. For more on my work, search the “Opus Meus” tab on my online literary bongo club, The Comic Muse (http://thecomicmuse.com).

    I’d particularly love to get some writer feedback on whether they find my site helpful, interesting, fun, and especially whether or not they find it engaging enough to join The Comic Muse community by signing up for the free weekly The Comic Muse email Newsletter. Thanks so much and happy writing!

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      1. Thank you, Sue. I hope you will enjoy the site. There’s a free email newsletter, too, in which I offer weekly craft discussion, advice, and observations on the life of the artist.

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    1. Nice job!I like poems with short lines. I think the design/ layout of the page can be improve. I’m not sure if you will agree but when I’m reading poetry, I like to really just focus on it. I’m not really a fan of the font, and as you know we really cant do much about that unless you change theme.

      You can either drop the sidebar (it can be a bit distraction) or add an image within your post to add some contrast, drawing out the readers attention to the image, then the poetry.

      Not sure if this would work for you though. Keep it up!

      For a poetry Idea, how about starting with an interesting quote and work from there 🙂

      Cheers!

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      1. Thank you so much for your advice. Yes, I don’t really like my font either, but I don’t nessecarily want to change themes. Also, what do you think of the lines on my theme. I’ve been hearing some negative comments about it lately.

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      2. The lines are not a problem for me. Have you tried it without the sidebar? I think it would really fit into the “notepad” effect if the page. Even better if the widgets are at the bottom although, I’m not sure if your theme allows it.

        I think the background image is really good, provides a nice contrast.

        Sorry for the late reply 🙂

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      3. It’s fine. I’ll try putting my widgets at the bottom and see how I like it, but I kind of like having all my information at the side where it can be easily accessed. Thanks anyway. 🙂

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      4. I know what you mean. I actually do too. I guess I was just curious how that blank sheet of paper would look on your blog. I’m often torn between putting up the sidebar versus having none.

        Anyway, the actual content that you write is still the priority.

        Keep it up!

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  9. Dear Writers,

    I have recently featured a “Guest Writer Series” where guest writers can come and write an article, post a short story, an excerpt for a novel, etc. If you are interested, please let me know!

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  11. Been years of trying, but it sounds like truth when you hear ‘no feedbacks, no improvements’. I’ve been writing most of my poems for myself all this time, and I haven’t seen them getting any better since 1996. Mwa! Now I’m trying to write and let the world reads, again. Hoping for someone to read those few poems I posted and point me the things I can improve. Thanks 🙂

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  13. Good morning, everyone! I started writing a YA novel involving time travel a few weeks ago, and am using my blog to post biweekly notes from my protagonist’s point of view of her experience in the novel. I am also using this section of the blog to biweekly post real life scientific research on the topic of time travel. This way, there will be a post every week, whether from myself, or from the protagonist. I would very much appreciate some feedback on this section of the blog. At this time, there is only one post each from the protagonist and from myself, but there will be more to come as the novel progresses. I hope to use this section as a “Sneak Peak” device into the novel, and create discussion about time travel, the protagonist, and the novel. Thank you so very much for your time.
    http://norinesnotebook.wordpress.com/category/loxley-in-flux-notes-on-time-travel/

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  15. Guys, there are two things I need your help on.
    i) Please give my blog a look and suggest me what needs to be improved..here’s the link http://au1688.wordpress.com/

    ii) I haven’t been writing and it’s been really long now. I want to change that. What do you do when you feel a little lost, and find yourself disconnected from your creative side? I know this is just a phase, but I really miss writing. I tried a few times, but just didn’t end up creating something nice.

    Thanks a lot in advance. 🙂

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  18. Hey guys, I’m a budding writer from London and have been participating in NaPoWriMo. It seems that the poems that I write which I think are amazing receive the least likes, and the poems which I think are personally awful are loved by everyone!

    I’d appreciate likes on my NaPoWriMo entries, to try and decide which writing style is most effective and which topics my readers want me to write about.

    Cheers!
    Helena x

    http://helenarollason.wordpress.com/

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