Hi, I'm a new member and am attempting to work on Rule Two. I write and read slash fic and have an original fic in progress which my friends seem to like, but I don't feel as though I get a lot of feedback from just them on the writing process. Is this a place to talk about writing process? Can I crosspost the old chapters of my story so far and ask for feedback re where I want to go from here with it? My friends are gentle with the pointy stick and I think I need daily reasons to produce more because I've been dragging out the writing of this story for the last three years.

One of the things I most want to find is feedback from people who are actually GOOD writers or good teachers. All feedback can be useful, but someone who can explain to me how to take my story out of that didactic, too formal, too physically-detailed place that makes what should be emotional become flat and bland, THAT kind of feedback would be a real boon.

Also, re Rule Two - uh, there's a LOT of members here who've posted one fic. I assume I don't actually have to comment on fics by people who are no longer extant (name struck out)? And I have never been in the habit of leaving a comment if I can't find any way to improve a story or think it's beyond help. I'm a little worried about the no flames thing, though, because I've seen people literally throw a fit and accuse someone of flaming when all they did was say "You made spelling/punctuation errors." I'd see that as feedback intended to help if you gave it to me, that's the sort of thing I need to know about. If someone screams "flame!" does the mod review the comment in question and make a call? Am I going to be ostracised if I make what I intend to be helpful comments?

ETA: Should we possibly consider Rule Two to only apply to stuff posted in the last year or two? I'm sure that people who were new writers five years ago may have changed quite a bit since then and may not have much to learn from comments on their old work.