Why post in Critique?

This came up in another thread, but it is an interesting topic, and I thought it deserved a discussion of its own. I was wondering why people post in Critique, and what they hope to get out of it. And why others chose not to post in Critique.

For myself I write alone, and, for the most part, do not socialise with other writers, so it is an opportunity for feedback. I do find the technical advice thought-provoking and suggested tweaks can be helpful, but the question I really want answered is, is it funny? Partly this is because I am never entirely sure that an individual sketch is going to work (and I am often astonished as to which are well received and which are not); but I am also posting in the hope of positive feedback which is going to encourage me to continue. (And if I am crap, I want to be told that as well, as frankly there are other ways I could be spending my time.)

Writing on your own, it is easy to lose confidence in yourself, or indeed to become deluded as to the quality of your work.

For those who have writer friends, whose opinion they trust, with whom to share their work, that's terrific. But otherwise I would recommend posting a few pieces in Critique and exposing your work to the objective scrutiny of strangers. It can be eye-opening.

Also a few more people posting in Critique might make it more interesting for those doing the reviewing.

All I can do is throw a big ole DITTO right back at you Timbo.

But I can also add that 80% of the stuff I post in Critique is through boredom and I end up writing a sketch on the fly, not really looking for constructive feedback, more so to amuse myself and any other potential readers.

My reasons for posting in critique were pretty much the same as Timbo's.

I actually started off getting quite a few positive comments for my first postings in critique. I'm not entirely sure why as I now cringe when I read those early postings. However, the encouragement made me keep on writing and I soon found my skills improving.

The most useful critiques I've had though, I have to say, have come from TV producers and not Critique.

Quote: Winterlight @ September 25 2008, 11:49 AM BST

I actually started off getting quite a few positive comments for my first postings in critique. I'm not entirely sure why as I now cringe when I read those early postings. However, the encouragement made me keep on writing and I soon found my skills improving.

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That's right. I think most reviewers attempt to pitch their comments to the poster's perceived level of experience. The more you post, and the higher the standards you set, the less likely people are to pull their punches.

The most useful critiques I've had though, I have to say, have come from TV producers and not Critique.

No doubt, but the critique I want from a producer is, that's fab, sign here! Honing skills in Critique just might make that more likely to happen.

I haven't posted in Critique for a while, but I used to and I found it very useful to see peoples thoughts were on the nonsense I was creating.

Quote: Leevil @ September 25 2008, 11:41 AM BST

All I can do is throw a big ole DITTO right back at you Timbo.

But I can also add that 80% of the stuff I post in Critique is through boredom and I end up writing a sketch on the fly, not really looking for constructive feedback, more so to amuse myself and any other potential readers.

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DITTO as well.

First and foremost I post it for myself. I know that may seem odd but it's just nice to see a draft new piece or daft idea off the scribble pad and "somewhere". I don't post finished pieces, just stuff in development.

It's good to get any feedback (positive or negative, constructive or not..) and especially if it's feedback from someone who's work you admire. Of course, even better if they like it.

I think feedback from the Industry or any well known commercially successful writer who earns their living by creative writing (not newspaper 'hacks', btw) is the feedback I really want, if I can get it, and that only when I am ready to go and seek it, which is not now.

Except for the Junk Males stuff, which we are attempting to market at the mo via my illustrious colleagues efforts!

Personally, I've found Critique very useful for the same reasons Timbo has. It's also enabled me to find likeminded writers who I am now able to pass my work to directly for an unalloyed opinion. As my confidence as a writer as grown I no longer feel the need to seek outside opinion as often as I once did - that said, I occasionally write something the merits of which I'm entirely unsure of. If find Critique a good test bed for that sort of stuff.

I remember posting the first few pages of a sitcom I wrote in Critique and remember it getting ripped to bits...

...well, maybe not "to bits" but a lot of advice was given, i.e. bit joke light in some bits, bit too much exposition, one character too similar to a well-loved character in another sitcom, etc.

Then I looked at my script and re-wrote it.

So Critique is good for that.

Mind you, nowadays I post sketches in Critique just to be enjoyed rather that get any advice.

I like reading Critique, there are often some great sketches in there.

I don't post in Critique for reasons I listed yesterday:

1 - I'm fortunate that I don't need to, as I have writer friends I can bounce ideas off. By the way, if you don't have any writer friends, I'd recommend getting some if you're in this for the long haul. There's nothing like having a real human being to bounce ideas off, or just bitch about things to, over a pint. Go to some courses or comedy conferences/events and meet some friends. Go to a writers meeting for NewsRevue or Treason Show and meet some writers. Join a local writing group. Email someone on BSG who you like (but I think friendships where you occasionally meet in person are way better.)

2 - I don't want a permanent record on the Internet of my work-in-progress.

3 - Actually I don't trust the overall quality of feedback on Critique. There are some on BSG who know how to give excellent constructive feedback - Marc P is a shining example - but there are many who don't. "I'm afraid this is rubbish" is no help to anyone and only serves to make the reviewer feel superior for a moment. If it didn't work for you, at least try to explain why. I don't even want to read "it made me laugh" or "it didn't make me laugh". (I know some people find that useful, I'm just saying that I don't.) Also some people's feedback is often motivated by personal agendas. If someone has argued with someone elsewhere on the board, I've seen this reflected in feedback on Critique. So I don't want to trawl through 20 unhelpful comments to find the one or two useful ones. I realise this viewpoint won't make me popular. Popularity is easy, comedy is hard etc.

4 - I'm not precious about people seeing my work, by the way, or scared of negative feedback. Anyone wanting to judge my stuff can come along to NewsRevue, Treason Show, Sitcom Trials, or any of the other shows I've got involved with, and make their own minds up. I've watched my sketches die on stage in front of a totally bored audience several times. That's a much more harsh critic than "this is rubbis i d1dnt L0L !!11".

I think what you have to remember with letting other people critique your work is just how subjective comedy is. You only have to read the 'most loved/most loathed' thread on the General Forum to see. But it is interesting to see if other people like or don't like something you've done - just don't then presume that they're right. There is no right or wrong.

It's always good to get suggestions for bits to change, bits to add, etc.

Quote: Griff @ September 25 2008, 12:23 PM BST

I don't post in Critique for reasons I listed yesterday:

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1 - Yes, I need to take that step out of my comfort zone

2 - Not too bothered on that score. Particularly on a site that doesn't have a functioning search engine...

3 - Yes the feedback is wondrously variable, from the enlightening, to the over-generous, to the simply barking. But while I am not necessarily confident in my writing, oddly I am confident in my ability to be discriminating about feedback. Being a genial chap, I am not too concerned about personal agendas, but if there is feedback which I think is unhelpful, or which I think is interesting but which am not convinced by, I will tend to challenge it in order to bottom the issues out. And will then often find myself convinced by the argument, if not necessarily at the time!

4 - Yes, that is the real test. Mind you, audiences can be idiots as well..

Can I just ask what other websites there are out there similar to this that feature a critiques forum? And how they compare?

Quote: Frankie Rage @ September 25 2008, 12:22 PM BST

First and foremost I post it for myself. I know that may seem odd but it's just nice to see a draft new piece or daft idea off the scribble pad and "somewhere".

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Yes, I can relate to that. I tend to post as soon as I have a first draft.

I have only ever posted a couple of times, but by the time I found this site I was sure enough in my own ability not to feel the need to seek that sort of feedback. I can see how, if you've just started, you might find it a useful tool to some extent; but of course it does rely on getting GOOD feedback, which I don't think a lot of stuff really does get. I know I don't give very detailed feedback, because it takes time. One thing Critique has done for me is bring to my attention a couple of writers who I like and want to work with. Without it I obviously would never have made the connection with them.