Why do you want critique?

[wasellajam]

I thought the main reason people asked for critique in poetry was because they were going for publication.  Then after spending time here I feel like it's mostly people who are going to be graded in a class somewhere (seasonal boosts in membership).  And of course the random ones writing for a loved one or event just making sure it reads as they intended.

I used the critique forums mostly for clarity, like I don't exactly know what I wrote and can't see all the angles.  Most of what I write I don't really care about anymore, just having fun with words, if I use the critique forums nowadays it's mostly so other people have something to crit, in order to post their own stuff, but also if there's lag in posting.

It's like waiting to eat, but I fill up quickly.

I post for critique for ammo to edit the poem. I might post having just written, I might have worked with it over a period of time. But when it's my own work I've often gotten used to reading and saying it to my own liking, always good to get another ear.

I also want to see if I'm getting my point across, if a metaphor is working, if there's a tweak I haven't noticed that would make a difference. It helps to hear what people like about the piece, what not to cut. 

I may stop working on something but without publishing it's never finished, always free to mess with it, come back with a fresh view.

But mostly I enjoy discussing it with other people, chewing on word choice, picking the brains of writers with more experience and education. Always something new to learn, it's fun.