Which Foot to Start On

[dukealien]

Here's a question for those who watch such things (I do, a little, but don't know the answer).

Is a newbie more likely to become a long-term member if the newbie's first submission for critique is to Intensive, or to either Moderate or Basic?  That is, in a purely statistical sense, is self-confidence or self-effacement a predictor?

[Magpie]

When I first joined I was slightly terrified of intensive critique, I suppose it was somewhat more brutal back in the day when there were certain folks who would definitely tell you that your poem was not quite ready for intensive.

It took me a long time before I started posting any critiques in intensive never mind poetry. It probably would be better if some people were encouraged to post their poems in a different forum. Some people will be too confident in their abilities or simply misunderstand the differences in the forums.

Good poets have posted poems in basic and mild just to get a rough idea of how the poem might be received.

I don't really know an answer but it would seem more likely that newbies would stay on if they posted in lower forums before attempting the intensive forum, if I had of posted in intensive with my first rubbish poems I may not have lasted so long. Basic and medium are more nurturing and therefore more conducive to growth.

[wasellajam]

Here's a question for those who watch such things (I do, a little, but don't know the answer).

Is a newbie more likely to become a long-term member if the newbie's first submission for critique is to Intensive, or to either Moderate or Basic?  That is, in a purely statistical sense, is self-confidence or self-effacement a predictor?

That's an interesting question that I don't have an answer to. I think wherever a newb posts they are more likely to stay if they have an interest in improving the poem. I think the lines have blurred somewhat as far as adhering to critique guidelines which doesn't bother me.

Personally I usually avoided posting my own poems in Intensive because sometimes a critique focused only on one point can be key, I didn't want to miss that and it was discouraged in Intensive. I found that members who were able to give a more intensive critique could be encouraged to do so through discussion in Moderate.

I would think you could check all the one time posters and see where they posted, but I don't know if that would be meaningful.
Also, crit can be gentle or brutal in any workshop depending on the the critiquer. ? critic?
I'm curious as to how you think you could apply an answer to this.

[milo]

Agreeing with ella here so long as the lines being blurred.  I comment the same in all three forums.  The guidelines were never really that clear and I say that as someone who helped develop some of them.  I suppose at this point it is just a statistical curiosity as to what type of person sticks around - one that is more likely to post in serious or mild.  I would think one that gives good feedback first because they enjoy talking about poetry would be most likely.

I think that it might depend on where they were on their poetic journey.  I have noticed a tendency for members who are brand new on their poetic journey, regardless of what forum they start in, to leave for greener pastures sooner than later.  People who are more experienced - maybe at the top of the range so far as knowledge and experience - also don't usually stick around as long as they don't have a lot to "gain' really. Our sweet spot seems to be the mid range - people who have some experience with giving and receiving comments and a decent grasp of poetry basics.

[rowens]

My first thing was posting three poems in less than five minutes and not giving any feedback anywhere else, as I wasn't interested in reading anyone else's poetry.

It was also the first time I'd used the Internet since 2002. And I was simply looking for places to dump what I'd written over the last decade and then forgetting about it.

I wasn't aware that there were online communities where people talked to each other. I thought it was like a do it yourself publishing thing.

Then billy told me what the site was about. I didn't read the rules when I came on the site because I didn't care. I also posted on other sites like that. People made all kinds of positive comments and even marked some of my poems as having won a prize, which didn't seem very impressive as almost every poem anybody wrote had a prize, and the prize was simply someone pressing a button saying that you had won a prize.

Bimbo didn't want to be a member until he realized that all the other members where Betty Boop.


Give each new person a name under their username instead of Newbie based on their first poem. Sometimes just make it something random. For instance, under Fruitiper's name, write
Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!

[brynmawr1]

I don't think it matters much in which forum they first post.  What matters is that they get some sense that the advice they get comes from a place of respect and encouragement.  Right now the site has fewer active members, but those that are active aren't the type to disrespect posters to feed their own egos.  I think that is most important ingredient to keeping people posting.  

I also think that a lot of first time posters think they've just written the best poem of the century and are just checking to make sure they are right.  There's little that critique can do to help these individuals and I'm not sure we want them to stay.

[wasellajam]

My first thing was posting three poems in less than five minutes and not giving any feedback anywhere else, as I wasn't interested in reading anyone else's poetry.

It was also the first time I'd used the Internet since 2002. And I was simply looking for places to dump what I'd written over the last decade and then forgetting about it.

I wasn't aware that there were online communities where people talked to each other. I thought it was like a do it yourself publishing thing.

Then billy told me what the site was about. I didn't read the rules when I came on the site because I didn't care. I also posted on other sites like that. People made all kinds of positive comments and even marked some of my poems as having won a prize, which didn't seem very impressive as almost every poem anybody wrote had a prize, and the prize was simply someone pressing a button saying that you had won a prize.

Bimbo didn't want to be a member until he realized that all the other members where Betty Boop.


Give each new person a name under their username instead of Newbie based on their first poem. Sometimes just make it something random. For instance, under Fruitiper's name, write
Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!

 So coherent but an ending with a bang . 
But that actually is a good idea, makes someone feel noticed and part of the group. Only problem is you would need a mod with time on their hands to do it and they probably have enough on their plates already.




 So watchable