Three Most Inane Writer Feedback Comments

I frequent a lot of writing communities.  Some I participate in as a writer.  Others I participate in as a mentor.  Some I just sit back and shake my head at the car wrecks that pass for poetry.  The internet is full of these online writing communities, populated by would-be novelists and poets desperate for attention.  People post their poems and stories, begging for feedback and opinions.

Let me explain something about these communities.  DO NOT go into them expecting actual help with your writing.  Many of the people who frequent these places read one book a year (or they did until  the Harry Potter series ended.  I don't know what they are going to do with themselves now).   Many of these aspiring poets can't even name three poets outside of their circle of internet friends. 

Often, when people in these communities leave comments on the work of others, they are not actually talking to YOU.  They are talking to themselves.  They envision what they themselves want to hear, and repeat it in the hopes that someone will post a reciprocal compliment or encouragement for them.  Very few people leave actual real commentary, because those that do point out problems with structure, form, syntax, grammar, plot, pacing, etc etc etc are shouted down by a chorus of thin-skinned wannabes that refuse to acknowledge that these thing actually matter.  Instead, all feedback comments boil down to the following:

 "KEEP IT UP! Don't stop writing!"

 This is the inane battle cry of people who secretly fear they have no talent (because the reality is, they don't).  They so desperately want people to tell them they have talent that they hope by making this stupid comment people will encourage them in turn.  This is an empty, baseless statement that offers no actual help, but sounds nice. 

"It doesn't matter what people think as long as you like it!"

Um, sorry.  No.  Writing is a two-way communication.  This comment is normally echoed by the passive-aggressive "experienced" writer in the group who has gotten about five hundred rejection letters in his or her career.  While it is indeed important that you as the writer enjoy your own work, if a hundred different people tell you something sucks, it's time to look at it and ask yourself what you are doing wrong.

"OMG!!!! I WANT TO READ MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The more exclamation points, the less time they spent actually reading what you wrote.  Said comment is normally followed by a plea for you to read THEIR story and/or poem and leave a comment.  These folks tend to have the highest post count, because they post almost identical praise/spam on every story.  I dare you to write the worst possible paragraph you can come up with, post it on five separate writer sites, and see how many times you get a comment like this.   Go on. I double dare you.

Now don't get me wrong, I've made some friends in these communities.  I've even made a few valuable contacts.  But I don't go into these places expecting to get real help with my writing.  It's pretty useless to post your stories and poems on the internet with the intention of getting feedback.   If you want real feedback, join a local writer's group.  Many libraries and bookstores have bulletin boards that list groups in the area.  These folks, because it actually requires an expenditure of real time to participate, are more likely to actual read and care about what you write.  Many community colleges have creative writing programs and classes that are relatively inexpensive.  Some organizations, like the International Women's Writing Guild, have mentor programs to help connect young writers with published writers. 

In short, if you truely care about your craft, don't leave it in the hands of a bunch of anonymous teenagers and angry, rejected writers with axes to grind.  Invest the time in looking for real feedback, and leave the online "feedback" to the sycophants.