Words-the blade of the knife

To open the eyes of the blind

For years many writers have sent work out for others to read and receive in reply comments that have shattered their dreams.

             My reasons for writing this article our personal and shall not be explained at this time. But I shall share this information; when people put you down enough you tend to believe it.

            For my part I have always tried to review fairly, encouraging other writers that their passions are worth pursuing. And if I have ever caused offence to anyone in a review I apologies most deeply. I always try to advise on improvements and provide reassurance, but I never lie. If I find the piece enjoyable I will say and if I think it could be better I will say. When it comes to reviewing writing I cannot lie for I know how I would feel if someone did it to me.

            At the same time I cannot and will never condone harshness in reviews. Telling someone that his or her passion is falsely justified is just wrong. And anyone who does this is in my mind no better then a criminal.

            The reason I joined this site was because I wanted to be close and befriend people with the same passion as I, with others who put their mind, body and soul into their art. Ones who lived and breathed it with all their heart. And I have found so many good friends here, and we read each other regularly and converse about all sorts of things, not just our writing. But when I hear of or even receive reviewed that are putting someone down I often wonder: why? Why must people do this, belittle others? Is the purpose of this site changing, I though it was to critique kindly and share experiences, not to destroy and ridicule.

            A few months ago I received a series of reviews that destroyed all my hopes of ever becoming a good writer. And that is all I have every truly wanted, is to be a good writer and one day get published. It took me a long time to regain any enthusiasm to write again or even the hope that I might one day be able to achieve that which I have dreamed of for so long. Now this has nearly happened again, and in my current state of misery I came upon a notion that inspired this article. How many writers have given up their dream to other people’s cruel heartessness? How many?

 

            Too many!

 

            It can’t go on like this! When I was young everyone said that I would never amount to anything, telling me that because I couldn't read and write I would be a failure. When I finally read my first book at 13 and realised that if I worked hard and taught myself how to read and write then my passion for making up stories could go further and I could possibly be that which I had always admired, a writer. I had hope, it wasn’t a lot of hope but it was enough. People, including teachers, family and friends laughed in my face when I told them that I wanted to be a writer. But I have tried. For nearly six years I have spent every spear moment tutoring myself to learn to read and write and when I succeeded no could believe it. I may still be a poor speller but frankly I don’t care. Loads of people are dyslexic, some worst then I but why should that stop us? The truth is it shouldn’t.

            I guess what I am asking is why do others belittle to big themselves up? So here is a question to anyone who has ever said anything to someone else in an insensitive manner. Why did you do it?

            Yesterday I had all the intention of leaving this site forever and never writing anything ever again. I am glad I reconsidered this, as writing is such a large part of my life that I would be stone without it. So for anyone to say to me that my words aren’t worth the effort will have shone me the knifes blade. But any more attempts to kill my passion for a time at least will not succeed, but a person can only take so many beatings before they break. And I would like to advise any other writer or just anyone, not to give up your dreams because others can’t dream with you. It’s pointless. Give it your all and be content in the fact that you tried.

            Rant over but its reasons never forgiven.

 

Reviews

[Legion]

First, you should never write for others to begin with. You write for yourself. If someone doesn't like what you write, that is their opinion. You should only care about what you think. If you expect critiques, that is fine but be prepared. If they "dog" your stuff that is their stupidity (or jealousy). Pay no heed. If they give you difficult critiques, that aren't down-and-out right bashing you but honest critiques, then pay heed. I will be as honest as possible in my critiques (and sometimes that may seem rough), but I will not be rude or tell people they shouldn't write. That is wrong.

[Michael Raymond Robinso..]

Well said. Only recently I've been hit hard with reviews that were as I would say a bit harsh and by far not useful to me. I thought the same, Why do I do this? I do write for my self, but I enjoy sharing my hard work with others. And when they return the favor with the "This is basically Crap" kinda remark it hits hard. I nearly myself walked away, but a good friend...Met on this site, helped realize that thier are jealous people out there and others that "just don't get it".

Again well said, and please keep writing.

[.]

Im so sorry hun it took so long for me to review, ugh, im so sorry :( I just wanted to say that this was absolutely amazing work!!!!!! I just wanted to cry in this piece. I did have some tears because of what u said; it just moved me so much. I just wanted to hold u because it was so moving. Not only do i agree with everything you said here, but i stand behind you 100% in everything. This touched me so much, hun. I, too, believe that when a person writes a piece, and they put all of their heart and soul into it, only to get a poor review in the end, it would tear the writer's heart up for days. The reviewer who reviewed it, I think, is such an a*****e for leaving such a bad comment, and doesn't know how to think, really; doesn't know how to feel what the writer, (the composer of the piece), feels. If the reviewer cannot establish that mind-thought (putting themselves in the writer's shoes), then, that reviewer is such an a*****e hehe. I loved your piece here, hun. U did a wonderful job speaking your mind. *Applause*!!!

Mikey

[Ice Queen of the Vampir..]

I agree with Legion, you should never write for others. Writing for yourself is the most important thing. I feel so sorry for writers on here when someone leaves them a cruel review or comment because there is no reason for it. You obviously have a passion for writing and I encourage you to keep at it no matter what anyone tells you. This is a nicely written rant.

Never give up on your dream. :)

Heather

[Angel Bird]

Hi dear friend

Look at it as in real life - in real life from time to time you bump into a jerk, and you tell him to go look somewhere else to find his equals, and you don't bother much about it. So please just do the same here. Brainless individuals you'll find everywhere, just turn that page - it was a useless one anyway, and simply delete those reviews or better said 'insane words' and go on pursuing your dream, because I as many others here know that you have a LOT of POTENTIAL.

Ask yourself one question: Are the words and opinion of such an immature person more important to you than your own ambitions and wishes and goals are to you; or are you yourself more important. -- The winner takes it all!!! So I hope you win so I and many others get to read more of your great pieces ...

I think we all hope for honest critics, and in the best case we'll get constructive critics that will help us to improve and grow...

[Ruby Moon]

^-^
i like the way you put this "rant"
it is more structured then it would be if it is a spur of a moment thing
i am guessing you put some thoughts into this?
i think that you for one hit it on the nail for me

[Jenny Davis]

Well, I can honestly say I have never been cruel in a review, EVER. I don't think it's my place to tear someone's art and views apart. Further, some people take what you've written to another degree and write mean comments, it's pitiful. There really are some that do this and like some others here have said, those are the people who have serious issues with themselves and they need to validate themselves by being harsh. NEVER give up on your dreams, especially because some of those people want you to...there are so many successful people in this world who were turned down over and over again...but they kept trying, a good example is the author Beatrix Potter...she blew all the naysayers out of the water, LOL! You could too...keep writing :)

[hyancynthstofeedthysoul]

You are in good company. Here are a few famous dyslexics.
Frank Dean - Writer, Writer'scafe.org
Whoopi Goldberg - actress
Tom Cruise - actor
Cher - singer/ actress
Keira Knightley - actress
Will Smith - actor
Susan Hampshire - actress/ writer
Orlando Bloom - actor
Harrison Ford - actor
Anthony Hopkins - actor
Bob Hoskins - actor
Dave Foley - actor
Tracy Gold - actress
Jeremy Irons _ actor
Jack Nicholson - actor
Steve Mc Queen - actor
Fred Astaire - actor/dancer
Liv Tayler - actress
Keanu Reeves - actor
Zo� Wanamaker - actress
Jerry Hall - entertainer
Felicity Kendal - actress
Marlon Brando - actor
Patrick Dempsey - actor
Robbin Wiliams - actor/comedian
Ben Elton - comedian/writer
Guy Ritchie - film director
Steven Spielberg - director/producer
Walt Disney - cartoonist/ filmmaker
Eddie Izzard - comedian
Billy Connolly - comedian
Robbie Williams - pop star
Enrico Caruso - opera singer
John Lennon - singer/ songwriter
Britney Spears - singer
Toyah Wilcox - singer
Jewel - singer/actress
Harry Belafonte - singer/actor
Daniel Powter - musician
Lugwig Van Beethoven - composer
Nigel Kennedy - violinist
Noel Gallagher - Oasis guitarist
Lynda La Plante - screenwriter
* Roald Dahl - writer
* Hans Christian Andersen - writer
* Dame Agatha Christie - writer
* Gustave Flaubert - writer
* Ernest Hemingway - writer
* Edgar Allan Poe - writer
* Sir Francis Bacon - artist/ writer
Sir Joshua Reynolds - artist
Leonardo Da Vinci - artist/ inventor
William Turner - artist
Auguste Rodin - artist/ sculptor
Vincent Van Gogh - artist
Andy Warhol - artist
Pablo Picasso - artist
Michelangelo - artist
David Bailey - photographer
Ansel Adams - photographer
Lord Norman Foster - architect
Jorn Utza - architect for the Sydney Opera House
Charles Renie Mackintosh - architect
Woodrow Wilson - politician
Thomas Jefferson - politician
George Washington - politician
Franklin Roosevelt - politician
Nelson Rockefeller - politician
Andrew Jackson - politician
Lyndon Johnson - politician
J F Kennedy - politician
Benjamine Franklin - politician
Michael Heseltine - politician
Winston Churchill - politician
Napoleon Bonaparte - leader of France
King Carl XVI - Gustaf of Sweden
Jackie Stewart - racing driver
Muhammad Ali - boxer
Charles Lindbergh - aviator
Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr. - astronaut
Fred Epstein - neurosurgeon
Jamie Oliver - chef/ presenter/writer
Marco Pierre White - top chief
Sir Richard Branson - businessman
Erin Brockovich- the real person
Henry Ford - Ford cars
Kerry Packer - businessman
F W Woolworth - businessman
William Wrigley Jr. - businessman
Lord McAlpine - property construction
Anita Roddick - bodyshop
Charles Schwab - businesman/inventor
Michael Faraday - scientist
Sir Issac Newton - scientist
Alexander Graham Bell - inventor
Charles Darwin - scientist
Galileo Galilei - scientist
Orville and Wilbur Wright - inventers
Thomas Edison - inventor/scientist
Albert Einstein - physicist

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[Rain]

Excellent reminder of showing class. I wrote a long post, but it was personal and I don't know what reaction you might get. I would say have Charlie kick a person who is so thougtless and cruel off the board, or everyone block him..or her. They probably have a history of being mean and inconsiderate. Great reminder. Rain..

[R J Askew]

Ignore snipers. You have done marvellously so far and will continue to learn and advance towards your aim. Your determination is admirable, your talent obvious and your skill already considerable. You have a great appetite for writing and have shown you can write in different styles. Keep at it, keep practicing and tyring new things and do not be put off by sneer. People will knock anything. There was a guy called Green(e) I believe who was totally jacked off that some guy called Shakespeare -- who had not been to a university no less! -- was a mere actor, no less! -- was daring to write verses like a properly educated gentleman.