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Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that! I actually would be curious to know more about this guy! What is his background? Does he have any right to be critiquing you? Poetry is different for everyone, some people hate things that other people love, whwo is he to pull it apart?

Please don't take it to heart! I'm sure for every person out there who dislikes your poetry, there is someone else who is really touched by it!

I'm not amazing at taking criticism...but I guess it depends on who is giving it, if I really respect them, and think they could help me, I take it on board and try to use it to improve...

Look at it like this. Who sits around picking apart other people's posts on the internet all day? Does this sound like someone with good judgment? Or does it sound like a complete a** who has nothing better to do with their time? If the latter sounds more likely, then why worry about what they think?

If you enjoy writing poetry then that should be reason enough to keep at it. Don't do it for some random, angry loser to pick apart on the net. Do it because you enjoy it.

Speaking as both someone who used to want to be a writer, and someone who has read some of your work in the guild-- I feel somewhat clued in on this situation. And no, it's not just cause I'm one of the mods and so naturally I heart all the members of our guild (though I do)-- I truly believe you have promise as a writer. When I read your works I never have to ponder about important details, the flow is good, and I'm never bogged down in excessive language.

I know some people might say "Well he's an a*****e" or "he -does- have valid points, remain objective", when writing is so deep in the core of your being it's hard to be calm and cool. Do you have a link to the poem and the criticism? I will say, it's hard to be objective when people can make things so horrendously personal. There is constructive criticism and there is destructive criticism.

Truth be told we all have different tastes. But as a writer nothing is more important than writing to -your- tastes first and foremost. I left writing and lost my touch because I let criticism infect me. I decided to devalue the importance of the things I wrote-- and in time the act of writing itself. While it is important to grow as a writer if you don't write in a style you like, about subjects you love, then writing becomes a chore. Writing should be a form of expression that permits us a delectable catharsis. That's why so many of us hated writing essays on assigned topics we didn't give two figs about-- we loved writing but our voices were stifled.

I can see the validity of your doubt. You're trying to be open to change and progress but vulnerable to harsh words. It's a delicate balance knowing when to assimilate suggestions and when to ignore them. What do you want of your writing? What do your poems do and mean to you? What do you want your readers to get from your writing?

My advice, take it or leave it, is to look back at your poem and think of your intention in writing it. Was it to express a thought, and if you expressed that thought are things like meter, rhyme, punctuation (whatever else critics like picking apart) of consequence? I can't say it won't hurt to hear harsh words. And I know saying "don't doubt yourself" makes it possible to do. But I leave you with two scenes from the movies that I think sum it all up.

-Little Women: I know, I should have read the book so it may have been different in the movie... but when Jo's story is critiqued it really hurts her. It even almost destroys her relationship with a certain charming man. But all Jo needed was an impetus to write to her full potential. You may be down and out-- but when the words boil up inside you once more I hope you will return to the keyboard.

-Finding Forrester (You're the Man Now Dog): There is a line to the effect that those who cannot write become critics of writers.

People often demand perfection in the works of others when their own works are lacking. They must find flaws in the beauty to somehow justify the lackluster quality of their own pieces.

Whatever happens, I hope this set back won't discourage you from writing. I know I am not the only one who is glad that you make good use of the Writing Subforum.

My dad would be the first to tell you I do NOT take criticism well. In fact it breaks my heart and takes me forever to get motivated to work on anything creative again, which is why it takes me sooo long to create a new avatar and enter it into the arena. (Not to mention the gold either. xd )
I do try my best to look at it positively and see what really could be improved on, but usually it just doesn't work right for me. If I want criticism I'll ask for it basically. If I don't want it I don't wanna hear it and it breaks me down...big time!

I agree with Yonsan...if they want to be a poetry critic so bad, why don't they go study to be one?

Harsh critique does make me feel really crappy if I'm not prepared for it...so you're not alone. Don't stop writing! Write about how you're mad and stuff....just try to write through it. You might write something really great when you're angry, if you're like me. wink