Sweet Journeys

You know, I just wanted to join a writing community and get a little feedback on my writing.  What I received at Urbis was, unfortunately, a reminder of how elitist and angry some people can be.  I expected that some people would understand and enjoy my writing, some would think it was okay and, hopefully, make some constructive criticism, and there would be a few who would completely trash it.  That's pretty much how it turned out.  What I found unfortunate was how the reviewing rules and overall vibe of the community made for an upsetting experience. 

Let me explain.  In order to read the reviews others have made of your work, you must earn points by reviewing the work of others.  Those points are then used toward the reviews you received.  Nothing wrong there.  What I had a problem with was the fact that you could write a good review of someones work and then they could ask for a "refund" because there was no constructive criticism included in the review.  I can see asking for a "refund" if someone totally trashes your work in a very mean and not constructive way, but to be granted a refund when someone liked your work and had only nice things to say about it?  When someone is granted a refund, they receive the points back that they used to read the review.  The person who gave the review then has points taken from their total (either right away or after three reviews given that received refunds). 

The rules say you should try to have your review say something specific about the writing so the writer knows you didn't just say any old thing to earn points and to show that you actually read the work.  I don't know how many reviews I read that were not specific in the least.  I never asked for a refund but perhaps I should have.  Admittedly, the following review is not specific, but would you have complained had you received it?

"OMG!  This is a riot!  I love the word creations and the way the words dance around each other.  Awesome work!"

It is a short review and would not have required many points to open it up.  I won't post the work that was reviewed as that would not be right but I can tell you it was a poem.  I get that this is a "serious" site where people are looking for feedback that will help them improve their writing and their chance at getting published.  However, if someone genuinely likes your work and cannot think of anything that would make it better, are they supposed to make something up to avoid having their review refunded? 

I've read many of the forum entries and a good majority of them are upsetting in that they sound angry and elitist, like a bunch of snobs biting at each other, nip, nip, nip... how long will it take for me to really piss you off?  That's not what I signed up for. 

Urbis is great in that there are often opportunities for people to get their work published.  It is also important to receive feedback on your work, good and bad.  I just don't think it is right for someone to be penalized for enjoying someone else's work.  Not everyone is a reviewer.  This community can help you become a better one, however, that was not my main objective in signing up.  If I like something, I'm going to say so.  If I can't think of any constructive criticism because I think the writing is fantastic, I'm not going to make something up.  Grrrrr!!!  I get the whole idea of receiving and using points for the reviews and a little healthy competition can be good but I think the current system only aides the already confrontational and malicious people in becoming even more so.  Maybe I was just unlucky enough to run into the wrong people.

I enjoyed receiving great reviews at Urbis but overall the experience left a bad taste in my mouth.  To rid myself of that, I thought I'd try another writing community in hopes that it would not be the same.  Enter Editred, a different experience altogether.  For me, it has been a much more positive experience.  It is not just a big feel-good suck-up session as constructive criticism is given but it is just that:  constructive.  People seem to be much more supportive and read as if they truly want others to succeed. 

I'm not saying that you should not try Urbis because maybe you'll find the experience different than mine.  I do, however, think that the review structure should be reviewed and anyone writing nasty forum entries should be reprimanded in some way. 

I am still looking at other writing communities and will report my findings here.  If you should decide to join one, I hope your experience is a positive one!