I Need to Confess...
And something of a Challenge too!
It's confession time, folks. I do realise I am posting this into the Critique community, and there is a reason for that. More on that soon.
Anyway, where was I?
Oh yes.
I want to be honest.
So, my confession is this:
I love praise.
I love positive feedback.
I love knowing that I've been a success at something. Especially something that means a lot to me, like writing.
I love that people enjoy reading my poetry, stories and mumbles.
I love that people enjoy what I have to say about their writing.
I love and appreciate the support I have recieved on this platform.
I know I would never have pushed onwards with writing for me, if it wasn't for all of the above.
So, thank you. Thank you everyone who has given me support during my time publishing on Vocal. It is very much appreciated!
In my head, I feel I can be a great writer. I am not there yet. That's fine.
I am enjoying the journey.
I am always looking for ways to improve things. Especially my fiction.
So...
Challenge Time - Sort Of!
Taking a leaf out of L.C. Schäfer's book, I want to issue a a challenge of sorts. Following on from her piece - Schäfer's Gloves-Off Iron Maiden Challenge, which you can, and should, read here:
I am going to list fiction pieces I feel extremely proud of and I want to ask for some constructive feedback.
Don't come at me with your samurai unsheathed and rip my work and me to shreds. In fact, don't rip me to shreds at all, haha!
Offer ways you feel I could improve things. Tell me what you liked. All that funky stuff.
Everyone on this platform is really great at giving positive feedback and that's what helps us all have the guts to keep publishing, but I am going to put on my big man, fireproof pants and suit and be brave and ask for critique.
Feel free to pick just one of them. I am not expecting anyone who takes me up on the challenge to go through all of them and then offer detailed critique. I know we are all busy, so any constructive feedback would be helpful and appreciated.
Obviously, these is no obligation attached and I will not be offended if you don't feel comfortable doing it. If you do, try and use the #ironmaidenchallenge somewhere so people know it relates to LC's thang!
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Thank you for reading!
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (7)
Sir Paul, I'm so sorry because I suck at giving constructive criticism. Like there wasn't any of your pieces that I've read and thought that you should have done anything differently. They're all perfect for me! 🍩🥐
I've made it through the list. Thanks for inviting us to participate in this, Paul. I'd say that it takes a lot of courage, but it might not take quite so much given the wonderful quality of your writing in each one of them.
I will get right on this very soon!
I do have one creator that gives me honest feed back. They are in Australia. We all live to receive comments. Usually, I DM a creator who has a typo, missing words, etc.
Paul, I am always humbled by your humility. Bravo for this! I'm getting together a list of my own, actually. It's exciting seeing the constructive side of Vocal finding its footing. I've always been a fan of workshopping. It's nerve-wracking, though, isn't it? Takes guts, and I applaud you. I hope I can offer helpful feedback on one of these. Do you have one that you'd like more input on than the others, or are they all equal in your mind? I noticed that LC had a list of questions for people to answer, which was helpful to me.
I think a lot of us are just uncomfortable critiquing because we know we are the best either. Plus, we never know how someone will take a critique, and we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
I think you are already a great writer. We can be our own worst critic.