I need help, people!!!

[singblueeyes]

OK, so I'm taking this creative writing class which basically amounts to me paying a few hundred dollars to participate in a critique workshop that's less helpful that posting my stuff on FF.net ... but that's beside the point for the moment.

My problem, and I need help soon - like before this evening - is that I have to go in to class today and

Comments

[plutospawn]

Just be honest, ahahahaha. I know, no matter the age or background, the majority of folks regard their writing like their children so no matter how nicely you word criticism sometime it still comes across as calling their kid fat, ugly and worthless.

Maybe try redirecting? Instead of saying that most people move on from rhyming every word after fifth grade, ask if they've tried different kinds of poetry forms like sonnets or villanelles. Or maybe point out that you missed out on the beauty/tragedy because the silly rhyme scheme distracted from their message.

[singblueeyes]

I have no g'damned idea what to say to this. I hope to god our so-called 'teacher' grows a pair and let's this young man know how he can improve....

[plutospawn]

Well... why can't we give a crap about Jack or Jill? Because they have no semblance of personalities, the poem just defines them by their horrible, emo-ridden actions upon themselves

[singblueeyes]

Unfortunately, the role of "Blowhard" in this production will be played by Uilleand. *sigh*
The other unfortunate thing is that the 'structure' of this class is that the author has to sit, without comment, while we all talk about his work.

[prisoner__24601]

Oh geeze hahahahah. I don't know where you'd start with that kind of stuff. Usually, people say that you're supposed to start off with something you like about the piece before delving into what's wrong... but gah... that stuff is really really bad. Some times you really have to stretch for the (like here you could point out the fact that they use a bit of rhythm, rhyme and structure - kinda anyway).

I guess the only thing you can do is try to be honest, but in a way that doesn't bring out the emo. Maybe point them in the direction of less wanky, cliched topics other than drug use and cutting themselves? Challenge them to write about something a bit harder than the typical "omg life sucks" poetry?

Damn that stuff is bad though. How old are the people writing this stuff in your class?

[singblueeyes]

There are TWO FULL PAGES of the Jack and Jill one. *headdesk*
The people in the class range from mid-40s to just barely legal. (I'm sure this dood falls into the 'barely legal' category)
Funny thing is, the other poetry we got this week was from a girl about the same age whom I would have expected something completely different. Mostly because every word out of her mouth comes out sounding like a question? Y'know? Like a Barbie Girl? Someone you just wanna smack?
Andher poetry's this angry fem-rant about pissing on her territory and not masturbating with plastic....WTF??? Good stuff tho. Totally surprising, but good.