Of potential communities.

[active_apathy]

(From discussion with analise and kittydesade)

Sometimes people write things. Sometimes those things are posted on LiveJournal. And, sometimes, the posters of those writings posted on LiveJournal would like very much for other LJers to comment and critique, so that they can improve, and grow, and develop their skills.

Or fix that embarrassing typo that changes the entire meaning of half the piece.

The problem, the obstacle, the difficulty comes from those other LJers. Maybe they read and enjoy the piece, and just leave it there. Maybe they make a note to come back and comment later. Maybe they don't comment, for fear of upsetting the writer. Maybe they don't think to, because they rarely see comments of their own.

And maybe, just maybe, there's times they simply forget.

I know I've done it, or rather not done it, for each of those reasons at one point or another - and for many others that aren't listed there.

The simplest solution would, of course, be to ask people for their comments, their opinions, their critiques and their responses - if only it actually were that simple, if only it didn't feel like complaining, if only it didn't seem like an imposition on your friends list, if only it didn't feel like hypocrisy to ask for comments even though you know that you've been lazy about them yourself.

If only.

So, instead, the next simplest solution is to find an appropriate audience. To find people who've offered to give you a critique or an opinion, should you but ask - people who'll do so honestly and usefully, without devolving into elitist fangirling, empty praise, pointless viciousness or meaningless nonsense. And, for that matter, people who would actually want valid, useful comments on and responses to what they've written.

In short, a community - if there's interest enough in there being one.

Discuss.

Comments

[analise.livejournal.com]

I do feel compelled to ask: people who'll do so honestly and usefully, without devolving into elitist fangirling, empty praise, pointless viciousness or meaningless nonsense.

Where do we find those people? Or more to the point: how do we know when someone is one?

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

(a) Um, good question, and (b) thumbscrews. Or optimism enough to think that people who'd join such a comm would play nice, and that there's more chance with some comments than there is with no comments.

[analise.livejournal.com]

Optimism, yay!

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

No thumbscrews?

But, yes. I'd be content to just say 'if you want useful critique, give useful critique'. Or something. You do not fluffily faff about in critique club.

[analise.livejournal.com]

Rule #1: You do talk about Critique Club.
Rule #2: YOU DO TALK ABOUT CRITIQUE CLUB.
Rule #3: You do NOT fluffily faffa bout in Critique Club.
Rule #4: If you want useful critique, give useful critique.
Rule #5: If this is your first post, you have to crit.

[kittydesade.livejournal.com]

*cracks up, spits out a paintbrush, and gives Dragon fits of < ??? >*

*and EDITS HER GODDAMN COMMENT YAY!*

[analise.livejournal.com]

*bows*

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

Hee. And... critique_club is an available username! So, do we wantsssss it?

(comment_dammit is also available, but it'd have to have different rules)

[analise.livejournal.com]

Ahahahah, I'm good with the CC instead of the CD.

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

COMMENT EDITING! YAY!

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

Hooray. I think I'll summon it into being later-ish, then. :D

[analise.livejournal.com]

Woo!

I'm off for shower and bed now. Cause I've OMG got work in the morning, eep.

[kittydesade.livejournal.com]

I loves me some comment editing, oh yes I do.

[daphyn.livejournal.com]

I would LOVE to do something like that.

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

And behold, the LJ link, it is different.

[analise.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! *goes!*

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

And as my enabler for the day, can I interest you in modlike powers?

[analise.livejournal.com]

Phenomenal, modlike powers?

i can pass on the itty bitty living space, right?

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

*nods* Phenomenal modlike powers.

And, yes, but only if you sign up in the next 15 minutes. Or the 15 after that. Or... whenever, really.

[analise.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

And, done. Next comes making infostuffs and finding memberpeoples.

*ponders*

We can has press-gang?

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

Hoorays! There's a comm at critique_club.

[analise.livejournal.com]

*sics Loki on 'em?*

I can at least pimp it in my blog. And stuff.

Also, your icon mesmerizes me.

[active-apathy.livejournal.com]

Would Loki actually help? Discuss with reference to Sturluson.

And, mmm, stuff. Yes. Remember, rule 1. And 2. :)

[analise.livejournal.com]

Right!