cidermaid, our intention is never and will never be to "crush" anyone (I'm actually a little taken aback that you might think so) -- advice in Serious Critique is generally intended to allow you to see more detailed possibilities for your poem. Whether or not you use the correct terminology, we will if we're familiar with it and in time you will become familiar with it too.
There's no requirement for you to post in Serious Critique anymore, at least not until you feel more comfortable with your writing -- it does take time (that word again) to develop the confidence (or thick skin, if you like) to know what changes you'd be happy making and which suggestions are just someone else trying to impose a personal choice on you (which happens less often these days, because for the most part we have excellent critics in that forum who do their best to remain as objective as possible).
Asking questions is never "poor form" and nobody here will ever think less of you for admitting you don't know something and trying to find out. Sometimes we have the answers, sometimes we hash it out with quite violent exchanges of words (but never spill our drinks), because in poetry there are very few absolutes and a whole universe full of questions.
Please keep asking, and know that you're most certainly a valued member here.
There's no requirement for you to post in Serious Critique anymore, at least not until you feel more comfortable with your writing -- it does take time (that word again) to develop the confidence (or thick skin, if you like) to know what changes you'd be happy making and which suggestions are just someone else trying to impose a personal choice on you (which happens less often these days, because for the most part we have excellent critics in that forum who do their best to remain as objective as possible).
Asking questions is never "poor form" and nobody here will ever think less of you for admitting you don't know something and trying to find out. Sometimes we have the answers, sometimes we hash it out with quite violent exchanges of words (but never spill our drinks), because in poetry there are very few absolutes and a whole universe full of questions.
Please keep asking, and know that you're most certainly a valued member here.
(11-21-2012, 04:33 AM)Todd Wrote: *The thread may now continue
It could be worse