Poetry / Six-word contest.

Basically, creative minds labor to be understood, and often this is not achieved.  Many people simply do not have the capacity.

And believe me, I tried to put ‘self-definition’ in as two words.  That’s why this is the second version – it did not accept it.  So apparently hyphens are allowed.

The theme of the contest is “A memoir of a writer or artist/the creative life in six words”.  This is basically saying that creative people work to express themselves, and many times they go misunderstood; it is in vain.  

I would submit your review for a refund of credits, because it’s a waste of my time and effort, but I can’t because your honest reaction is valid – you just aren’t intelligent enough to understand, I guess, which is still a good viewpoint to have.  If frustrating.

I have to say, there’s something sadly ironic in this: you have written a piece attempting to say that writers write to express themselves but often fail to be understood…and you have failed to be understood. Since all of your reviewers are having the same problem, I’d suggest that you stop assuming it’s them, and consider the fact that it’s you. It’s extremely difficult to say a lot in six words, but I can say this in less: You need to keep trying.

Actually, it isn’t every reviewer; it’s simply the majority of a small number of reviewers.  While I agree that it’s important to get a feel for how others interpret your work, and to judge your success at getting your intended meaning across by that, it’s also important to take into account the caliber of the reader.  As you can see, this person can hardly navigate the English lanague, let alone figure out a theme that’s crammed into six words.

Using the title to create a context is defeating the purpose of writing a memoir in six words.

If you’re interested in an explanation, check the comment on the above reviewer (eminemslove85).

I am sorry you called eminemslove85’s intelligence into question.  

You are reacting poorly to honest criticism.  

It’s difficult to take a reviewer seriously when they do not use proper spelling or grammar, especially on a writing site.  I am not referring to their review on this piece in particular, but on another one.  I have a poor opinion of people who don’t make even a small effort for professionalism.

Stop it.  You insulted her.  That’s bad form.  Now go write something.

So, when I get worthless criticism from someone who does not even appear to be making an effort, I’m not allowed to feel insulted myself; I’m not allowed to honestly respond, even though it’s how I feel, because it’s ‘bad form’ to speak your mind on a literary site.

Just because someone reviews something (which they do not do for free) does not mean it is quality criticism.

This is obviously a difference in opinion, and while it’s noble of you to stand up for eminemslove85, I feel it is waste of our time.

I am not defending the person you insulted.  I am helping you.  

I was in a cafe recently.  A man who was obviously mentally challenged sat at a table near the door.  This man would interact with customers, saying hello or commenting on the pretty shirt they had on.  These customers would all react.  Some did so by ignoring the man.  The various reactions of the customers did not teach me that the man was handicapped.  That was obvious.  The way people reacted taught me something about the customers.  Some were kind and some were mean and some were in between. As time passed the simple generosity of the man began to show a beauty I had not noticed at first.  That time also showed an ugliness in some of the people.  The people reacted for their own reasons.  I am certain most were not evil, but only self-protective, self-defensive, insecure.  Their parents had never taught them to be generous and to show simple courtesy for the unfortunates among us.

This isn’t about intelligence.  It is about qualities of the heart.

Your writing tells the world who you are.  I am certain you are simply a young sensitive person who needs to learn to take criticism with more grace.  

If you are not directly implying that eminemslove85 is mentally handicapped, you come dangerously close to it, because otherwise your story, while a very good example of people, is still irrelevant to the current conversation.

I understand what you are trying to stay, I really do.  And I take criticism well when the criticism itself is relevant and, in my personal opinion (because this is all anyone has to go off of), worth consideration.  Again, there are levels of quality in criticism, just as there are levels of quality in writing.  And just as there are levels of quality in understanding, or intelligence, or even empathy.  It’s not fair or unfair or right or wrong, it’s just a fact that we do what we can with.

At any rate, thank you for sharing the story.  I appreciate that you are trying so honestly to do whatever it is you’re trying to do.  Again, I believe it is a difference in opinion, and even a difference in personal philosophy.

Certainly not to jump into a conversation, but I would like to say that titling this piece with more meaning than the phrase itself would absolutely be detrimental to adhering to the parameters of the memoir.  It would be a very foolish thing to do, and would probably result in a dismissal.  

That is also my feeling on it, DarkHuntress, right along with an explanation in the Notes for Reviewer section.

Yeah, in the first version I’d counted ‘self-definition’ as two words, and it didn’t accept the entry, saying it had five words and that it was too few for the contest.  So apparently hyphenated words count as one.  I’m not sure if it’s strictly allowed, though.

Thank you for answering my question!  It just sort of changes the pace of the sentence since you were forced to add an additional word.  Is there anyway to dispute the entry denial of five words?

I mean, it’s possible it could be a formatting issue they haven’t thought of.  I mean, I can always resubmit the original version if it comes to that.  I just feel that the hyphen is necessary, so any way I can take it, I will.