Congratulations on your engagment! June is a lovely time for a wedding. Good luck with your application! Though it sounds like you'll do just fine.

This is an older post, so you may not see my answer, but I have to disagree a bit on both points. What do you rate a poem or story that is not terribly inspired? It may be hard to point to a specific problem, but giving it a 5 feels wrong as well, since it just isn't that great. Some writing is fantastic, some is okay, some is mediocre and some is awful. While it would be great to take an okay poem and tell somebody how to make it fantastic, it isn't always possible.

But I have a stronger statement for your second point. I agree that people should not critique your poem if they don't understand the format, but the flip side is that it is not enough to just give the name of the format and expect the reader to research it. For one thing, not all sites agree on the format. For this reason, I strongly suggest you give an abbreviated explanation of the format if it is at all unusual. As an example, look at "Alas, my lass!" , where I used a Rondel format. I still got one person who said I should have shown more originality rather than repeating lines, but when I pointed out the format, he saw what I meant and changed his review. Many others have said they appreciate the format description in the bottom. Anyway, just a suggestion.

Religion is a touchy topic at WDC. I know Wiccans, Muslims and Mormons here ... and atheists. I'm a Baha'i. It is so hard trying to educate people beyond what their own church has taught them about 'others', usually negative comments at that.

A separate blog is not a bad idea. Sharing is fine. Just try to show your readers what you are saying rather then merely preaching at them. A humble gentle kind approach works best.

I was in college when my folks told me that Robert had died in a crash ... I flunked one exam in my major that week and got a C in another.

It's been years. I have not forgotten ...

Be glad if the trip was arranged before the prices went up. How will you afford to eat? The dollar is worth less than lettuce.

Can you live at WCU for that year? I've commuted before. It can be exhausting. And a BSN degree can be too.

"All fantasy is derivative".

Which includes mine.

I'm trying to make my newest novel different...TRYING...TRYING...

NOVEL WRITING GROUP!!!

Take a peek in here: "The Novel Workshop" 

It is by far the best novel workshop I have wandered upon. It's a bit of a time commitment, but the reviews are always fantastic. I'm part of the YA group.

Aaaanyway, shameless plug aside:

Cool! A new novel! I can't wait to read. Japanese culture is always interesting, and there are so many fantasy elements in Asian culture. I think you'd do a great job harnessing them.

Hi, I was just breezing by and stopped in.

I need to get motivated and do some of what you're saying here. I'm terrible at putting things off. I know there are several groups for novelist on this site somewhere, but I'm going blank.

Have you read the Saga of Recluse? It's a large series by L.E. Modesitt Jr. It's quite different.