O Pinions!

Quills?

I commented to Steven:

"My best efforts don't necessarily win contests. When judges aren't familiar with what they are judging that's a problem. Some of the best in their field are not consulted. Or some... have semi-retired. Contest winners are not necessarily nominated [for a Quill] by the owners of the contests.

Very few people are involved with the Quills. They desperately need readers who aren't stuck in just one genre or put off by the ratings. At times WDC feels like a white-middle-class sorority at a Christian Bible School. Without the global diversity of participants this site suffers from cultural blindness. Certain genres are absolutely avoided here and the site-wide rating system allows members to avoid anything that may offend them. 18+? "Can't read it or I'm going to hell."

And then there's ignorance. I have a friend who doesn't post haiku here because his style is quirky. And I hesitate because this site adheres to the 5th grade 5-7-5 = 17 syllables rule while ignoring what haiku really is. I try to stifle my opinions. Tact is not my strong point.

I feel like I'm in grade school writing essays for English class with a teacher complaining about my grammar or spelling (or typos) while focused on my smudges (I'm left-handed) and not the content. Writing Hallmark greeting card schlock is one way to appease the masses as intellectual prowess isn't evident in many people's writing. That said, IRL, university students can be either self-absorbed or elitist and that doesn't amuse me either. I just write. Sometimes I find an audience!

Or not... I self-nominated a couple pieces. Got a finalist or two. 2023 wasn't a productive year for me. But other years were... and no nominations. I did win one genre quill one year.

Final thought: Quills needs more support. It's a huge undertaking. I don't have the energy to offer my services. I've been burnt over the the years. Now? Burnt out. And, frankly? WDC is not my only concern. Many here are struggling IRL as well. I'm here because I write not because I'm a great writer."

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