I get this message only when I click on my screen name at the top. I'm otherwise able to use the site fine. I haven't been modded or anything like that (I haven't even been on the site for a while.)

I wrote a blog this morning, went to look at it, and I can't get there.

I've tried clearing cache, history, logging out and back in...any ideas? :?

[QUOTE="mprezzy"]

you're story

Aberinkulas

Oh dear lord.

Ah, and you've never made a typo either! Congratulations! Pointing out typos is generally the last resort when someone has nothing constructive left to say.

You've little room to talk after some of the messes you've posted (including one I spent hours working on for you), so I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish with that, other than being that condescending dick that you think that I'm being.

Oh, and seriously...(this one will sound condescending) grow up. No, seriously. Grow up. If you can't take constructive criticism, regardless of the topic or subject without raging, then you'll never accomplish anything and will be lonely and bitter. I've seen clips of this in your blog: you ask the opinion of others then tell them how WRONG they are. If the only opinion you care about is your own...well, good luck with that, kid. I'll just leave it at that.

You're just mad because you have a man-crush on reviews Ab. One day you'll see. If you're taking anything out of this (condescending, arrogant, antagonistic), it's because of that. Sorry you feel the way you do...but look at you go!

RAGERAGERAGERAGERAGE!!!!!

Because of what? I said reviews are only a stepping stone for being a decent writer? Ok?

Cripes you sound like a three-year old. "But I WANNA WRITE REVIEWS AND NUTHIN' ELSE!!!" More power to you, here's a cookie too.

And, if you can't figure out why you're story is good, maybe you should write less reviews and broaden your horizons.

Muahaha!

@honkyjoe: Thanks, it's good to see you undestand what I'm saying here. Like I said to Ab and I'll reiterate: there's nothing wrong with writing reviews. That wasn't the point, obviously.

As for everyone wanting to become better...that part I really question. I would like to think so, but some people are so obstinate about "doing things my way," it's never going to break through the ceiling to "great writing."

I see what you say, like Flash, about using reviews as a good first step. But, if people are serious about this and want to REALLY improve...then it's time to take the NEXT step. That's all I'm sayin'.

Reviews are easy because (obviously), everyone here loves video games. It's simple to write about what you love, especially if given the topic and only have to write 1500 characters or whatever the hell it is.

But again...won't make you be a writer someday if you don't step outside of that little box.

Well Ab, I knew that you would have quite the diatribe about this one, because I know how seriously you take your review writing. This wasn't unexpected. Unfortunately, you are so defensive about your reviews that you took this personally, rather than read it objectively. I say so because it wasn't directed at you in any way- but you took it that way.

1. I didn't say "Nobody should write reviews," at all. Nor did I infer that reviews were pointless, moot, a waste of time, stupid, that I didn't get it- anything of that nature! Everything you wrote somewhat comes across that way. I said it wasn't a good medium for improving writing for serious writers. Being that you prefaced this WHOLE thing with a "this isn't directed at me but oh well," then why...did...you..write...it?

2. You seriously think I wouldn't click on the link? You don't know me very well then, bro'. I always try to expand my horizons. That's what frustrates me about trying to talk to some of the people here. I feel like I'm talking to an old dog who doesn't want to learn new tricks, but most of the people here are certainly not old dogs. And again, I didn't need somebody to tell me the value of reviews- I didn't say there weren't any! Why is it, that when a person says something simplistic as: "A is not good for B," everyone presumes that OBVIOUSLY YOU HATE A U R SO STOOPID ZOMG.

3. Aside from your naturally defensive position about reviews because they mean so much to you (and that is ok!), I'll just say this: you're too hard on yourself. You sell yourself short. You think you have no talent as a writer- maybe the idea of being one doesn't interest you at all...but you're wrong about the talent. You do have it. The only thing I think you really lack is self-esteem.

Your short story "This Is The Story Of A Relationship," is one of the best pieces I've read from anyone teenager. Bar none. No, scratch that. It's one of the best pieces I've read in all of the classes I've taken on writing- filled with aspiring writers. Doesn't matter whether you're simply doing a re-hashing of real life or not...it's really good. Where do you think authors' ideas come from? La-la land? No! They're just manifestations of real-life experiences, a little tweaked! Geez, man! For all the people here to say they can't write, it's shameful to hear YOU say that you can't do it, and lump yourself in with scragglers.

Sticking up for those who aren't great is understandable, because I know I come across as harsh. There's a reason I do though. It's not just to be a dick. It's because some of those no-talent clowns are the biggest ****-offs in the world about taking advice, and that makes me angry. At some point, people here MUST discern why they write. If it's for fun, yay for them. If they say they want to be writers: then SHUT THE **** UP AND LISTEN TO ADVICE FOR ONCE.

Well, I see your point, but I still am ambivalent at best about "reviews as writing exercises." You pointed it out yourself: it places restrictions on creativity. That being said, I can't really agree with the next sentence: "...as good a way as any." Well, not as good as ANY. It might be useful, but why eat bologna when you can have steak?

As for Aberinkulas, his talents as a writer are waiting to burst out, and they don't have anything to do with his reviews. Some people are born with creativity.

I've been wading through the posts recently, and I have more success in finding questions in my head than anything else- but they feel as though they should be addressed to a group as a whole rather than the same question to multiple individuals.

*Note: this topic is intended solely for those who have an interest in writing as a possible career or who seriously want to improve as writers.*

On posting reviews: I'm confused about them. What is your agenda? What is your quest? What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? (Never mind that, I'm sick.)

I was initially recruited to the Lounge under the guise that it was full of people who aspired to be writers or people who simply liked to write.

So, I find myself a little perplexed about using GS reviews as a medium for improving writing skills.

1. Are those who primarily post reviews looking for a job in journalism?

-From the "teacher," perspective, this is what I would ascertain first and foremost, because it's the most optimistic approach to take. Journalism is not a shameful profession, either. Don't take it that way! Yet otherwise, there are problems. Reviewing as means for improving writing is fair at best; journalism and authoring are completely different skill sets that simply use the same medium- writing. Also, while everyone here may enjoy the prose, I find it to be rather wordy and completely unuseful for helping me get more opinions on how a game performs. (Sorry, Ab.) This isn't to say my personal feelings are what guided me to write this particular piece- just another point from another perspective besides your own.

2. If not journalism as a career, then why?

-Here, the first presumption is that the author is afraid to share stories or can't come up with any ideas. I hope this isn't the case, because these are two very bad diseases to have if pursuing a career in writing.

I think most likely the problem is the public school system: students generally are taught writing by given a subject to write about, which completely negates critical thinking skills and imagination- critical for good writing. Which lead to...

3. If you want to be a writer, don't use reviews to become one.

-Here's where I'm going to hear "Sorry you don't like it Prez, but deal with it. It's what I do." Well, that train of thought is called "uncoachable," in athletics. I have iterated that point fifty times already. If you're not willing to shut the mouth and listen to the advice, you'll never succeed as a writer, and I've already given my resumé for why people should listen. If you're not willing to listen to a guy who's been published multiple times, has a degree in education and has taken hundreds of hours in writing courses, who WILL you listen to??

Reviews set up a situation that has many poor aspects: you're not writing for yourself (you're writing for an audience), you're limited based on censorship and character limitations, the topic is already defined for you (no critical thinking skills used, no imaginative devices used), and you'll create a writing style that is a world apart from authoring. In this case, authoring is used in the context of "writer of books."

One last thought, if you have poor grammar skills and are using your reviews for peer editing...I get where you are coming from, but the same problems listed above are going to develop regardless what you're trying to accomplish. If you want to be a journalist, say so. If you want to be a writer, write some stories. It doesn't matter if they're awful. That can be fixed.

An analogy: you can learn to hit a baseball by throwing up a rock and hitting it with a stick: it will give you the same central concept. Ultimately however, it will fail into making you into a professional baseball player because they aren't the same tools used. Make sense?

Once again, just one author's opinion.

Now on the matter of taking notes: how do you "take notes?" I've never been a fan of reminding myself to do things through bits and pieces of writing; it always ends up feeling tedious, and those bits difficult to keep track of.

iloveflash

There are actually seminars on note-taking, believe it or not. People really struggle with it. Most teachers don't teach it, they just say "take notes."

For me and writing, it often comes down to a blurb of an idea, and I try to write three or four words that will stimulate that back into my head if I don't have the time to write. That's just me, though. Usually, the biggest mistake in note-taking is over-writing. Just a few mnemonic devices, not a whole story on what you want in the story- it's counterproductive.

Oh, and if you find yourself that nitpicky...I'd definitely take a few days away from it and really focus on trying to read it as though you're reading someone else's writing. Easy to say, tough to do.

Here's my suggestion to you after reading this. I'm not going to talk about this story at all to this point, but I think this will help.

Write when you feel the need, itch, calling- whatever. When you feel done, stop. Don't finish the sentence, don't forge on to the end of the paragraph, and certainly NOT to the end of the chapter.

Next, take a few days away. Try not to think about the story (unless it's calling to you again- if so, take notes.) Then, sit down and read as though it's not your work. Don't edit, don't change. Read. Is it interesting? Does it make sense?

Then, re-read. Edit. Grammar check. Change what doesn't feel *right* to you. "Fix," it.

Finally, leave it for another day. Then read it one more time and repeat.

Writing is like painting. You can throw all the colors on the canvas too quickly or when tired or it will all smush together and the end result will...suck. Likewise, you can't do it without stopping and standing back from it, to gain a different perspective and time to let it sink in.

Even when fans or readers clamor for more, they can't have the apple pie until it's finished baking!

I think this will help your start tremendously.