The Word Cloud

GROUP PURPOSE

This is experimental both in terms of the writing, and in forming a Group to critique and comment on a specific work. Thanks to Ancient Woodland for setting up the 'New Writers, Please Read' thread in Critiques, Tony who suggested this as a solution, and all those who supported Tony's idea or contributed to the thread.

The main aim of this Group is to test whether this is an acceptable solution for all Cloud members. Posting several chapters or sections of a work in Forum>Critiques can lead to it becoming dominated by one member. This can happen even if the chapters are diligently posted separately over time as new comments return the posts to the top of the Critiques list.


CRITIQUING IN GENERAL

The fundamental principles of Critiquing on the Cloud that are outlined in AW's thread are for the benefit of everyone here and we hope will contribute to sustaining this Writer's Forum as the extraordinarily helpful and friendly place that it is. Two of these key principles are:

1. ANYONE CAN CRITIQUE.

Even if you are new to writing and feel that you can't offer the same level of critiquing as more experienced members, your comments are actually just as valid. It is often the case that simple or general statements about how reading a section made you feel helps the writer to improve the piece even more than in-depth analysis.

2. YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE

Collectively we all benefit from receiving critiques AND contributing critiques on others' works. Those who spend a lot of their own (writing) time offering critiques to others have earned and deserve reciprocity. The overwhelming consensus from those who give is that critiquing the work of others helps them to look at their own work, improves their own editing considerably, and they become better writers.


GROUP WORKINGS

As this Group is essentially a template to see how this goes, please feel welcome to offer suggestions about what is working/not working with this on the Group Wall.

Some prefer to attack the complete work in one long post. Others prefer bite-sized chunks to dip in and out of. To that end, the threads of the Group Forum will contain the complete work to date, and smaller chunks in numbered chapters/sections. If you think there's a chapter missing, try selecting 'View All' - the threads are likely to be completely out of order at any given moment. I mean that in the sense of non-sequential. I hope.


THE BOOK ITSELF:

Love and Intensity is an experimental work. We are trying to create something fresh and original, but if you feel this has been done before anywhere, then please tell us on the Group Wall.

It is written as a work of fiction (romance genre) for adults, presenting both the female and male perspectives separately and alternately. It begins before the two protagonists know each other, and describes how they meet through this very Word Cloud. Is it possible for a romance to blossom between two people on the opposite sides of this planet?


WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

You may critique this work on any level and from any perspective from the smallest typo to overall structure. The work has been thoroughly edited before posting by two individuals who would still miss things after a thousand sweeps.

Most importantly, we want to know if the work holds your attention overall, and the parts where it doesn't.
Does the concept work for you?
Is there enough intrigue?
Does it bore your pants off?
Do the two contrasting writing styles grate?
Do you want to read on?

We hope that there is some enjoyment for you, but do not feel obliged to read on if you're not enjoying it. Just tell us where we lost you, even if it's the first word of the title.

Aiyla & Steve.