06-20-2019, 08:04 AM
So I’m brand new here, and you don’t know me yet. But I have a few thoughts you might consider implementing which, I think, will help weed out hit-and-run posters and help form a core of dedicated critiques.
1. An enforced, mandatory number of quality crits before a new member can start their own thread. Five, perhaps? Once a mod recognizes a new member has met the standard, they can unlock the members ability to start threads. Perhaps even add a 3 day waiting period in addition. I don’t know how this done, but from past experience I know it CAN be done. This alone will cut out hit and run posters.
2. A critique to poem posting ratio of 3 to 1. This can be confirmed through site stats, probably, and spot checking can confirm quality critiques. Members who post mostly “Oooh I like this” criticisms will rapidly develop a reputation and can be reported to mods.
3. Discussion and education on prosody, including challenges directed at specific tools or techniques of the craft. ‘Craft’ isn’t a word I hear used much any more, more’s the pity. The idea that a poem is something that is crafted needs to be encouraged, I believe. IMO, a poem a day - a good poem - isn’t feasible; especially when one is considering revision based on others input. So only one active thread at a time. Perhaps a one per week limit (possibly 1 per week per critique forum).
Reading these standards will prevent a lot of non-dedicated people from signing up. That’s a good thing, I believe. More won’t stick around when they realize they have obligations to other members. That falls into the good-thing-category for me as well. From my experience, it’s best to have a small group dedicated to learning, improving, and assisting each other than a large group of people posting merely for self recognition.
If there’s even a small group of members willing to to work together consistently, and if you get to know me well enough you think there’s some way I can help, let me know.
1. An enforced, mandatory number of quality crits before a new member can start their own thread. Five, perhaps? Once a mod recognizes a new member has met the standard, they can unlock the members ability to start threads. Perhaps even add a 3 day waiting period in addition. I don’t know how this done, but from past experience I know it CAN be done. This alone will cut out hit and run posters.
2. A critique to poem posting ratio of 3 to 1. This can be confirmed through site stats, probably, and spot checking can confirm quality critiques. Members who post mostly “Oooh I like this” criticisms will rapidly develop a reputation and can be reported to mods.
3. Discussion and education on prosody, including challenges directed at specific tools or techniques of the craft. ‘Craft’ isn’t a word I hear used much any more, more’s the pity. The idea that a poem is something that is crafted needs to be encouraged, I believe. IMO, a poem a day - a good poem - isn’t feasible; especially when one is considering revision based on others input. So only one active thread at a time. Perhaps a one per week limit (possibly 1 per week per critique forum).
Reading these standards will prevent a lot of non-dedicated people from signing up. That’s a good thing, I believe. More won’t stick around when they realize they have obligations to other members. That falls into the good-thing-category for me as well. From my experience, it’s best to have a small group dedicated to learning, improving, and assisting each other than a large group of people posting merely for self recognition.
If there’s even a small group of members willing to to work together consistently, and if you get to know me well enough you think there’s some way I can help, let me know.
There is no escape from metre; there is only mastery. TS Eliot