Upcoming October IBPC 2016:

Our discussion forum for topics related to writer's block, poetry, the literary arts in general, and anything else of cosmic import.
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FranktheFrank
Posts: 1983
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
Location: Between the mountains and the sea

Re: Upcoming October IBPC 2016:

#26 Post by FranktheFrank » 23 Oct 2016, 21:17

People have taken offence in the past when critiquers try to
punctuate their work, they have seen it as a slight as so few
forums bother to proof read and assist.

This had led to a tit-for-tat response in a 'get even mode' and
I stopped helping because of this.

With Meena I found an open door and she seems to love anyone
helping.

I agree with Michael, all this proof reading should be done in
the writer's Block forum.

This last month has caused Michael an enormous amount of work.
Some people come into the forum and just post one poem
a month hoping and sometimes expecting their poem to be
chosen. To my mind if you are in a forum you should contribute,
the demand is for three critiques for every poem posted, this is
not happening and people are expecting critique, even demanding
critique without responding in kind.

Some of the responses are one liners like: long poem or: I read it,
some say I want to thank you, but don't actually say it it is simple,
thank you. Although I do not expect any thanks for a critique, it is
a duty, sometimes a pleasure.

Some poets scream if one make any crit. of their work (thankfully
not on this forum), some people say: don't critique my work, for
whatever reason (thankfully not on this forum).

A proper critique is a careful read of the poem and an opinion
of it's craft, then a detailed read for grammar, punctuation and
English usage. The poet who has her/his work critiqued properly
has a duty to read the critique properly and carefully, not complain
it is too long. The poet has a duty then to implement points that
are valid. The poet always has control of the work, but if they insist
on being stupid and continue to use a capital letter for a tree such as
Yew or a bird such as Larch there is little one can do, it is their poem
and they fly or crash on their own decision. Having said that, Emily
Dickinson broke all the rule son caps.

The poet surrenders the poem for public scrutiny, they are open targets
so critiques should be polite, having said that there is expected from
critiquers a decency, a politeness even if you have to say: sorry I don't
like your poem. It is all subjective, I have had talented poets say:
I don't like that line, yet a judge has awarded a placing and praised that
very line. Neither one is wrong or right, it is all subjective judgement.

What is important is the ability to be professional, to step outside of 'petty',
not to carry grudges because someone said they did not like your poem.
It takes courage, poetry demands courage. I had a guy follow me for
months hating me because I gave a very good review of his work, he
rubbished every poem I wrote in different forums, he only stopped when
I won a placing for my poems three times and twice in a row. he made
himself look a fool, all I did was ignore his comments and to write my
poems.

One poet posts hate messages on a forum and the admin does nothing
about it even though they profess poet fraternal love, a recent exchange
with the person doing this has resulted in a well know admin admonishing
the poet concerned. The hate message against me is still there. I could
publish the poet's e-mail against a fellow poet, but I refuse to do that.
Why should I go agaisnt my moral code and be as vindictive as my enemy.
People are not stupid, in the end the truth will out and they will have to
answer for what they have done, not for what I had not done.

I have been on this forum for a number of years, I have posted sometimes
just one poem in three months, recently I have been more active simply
because one poet in another forum has encouraged me, we can make a
difference. Although we compete we should and could help each other
without rancour.

If you wish to see an encourager in action then read Bernie Henry's
reviews of other people's work. They are: instructive, informative,
encouraging, and master classes in poetic writing. He spends hours
writing these review and packs them with video's and songs, films,
and books. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the classics and the
arts which he readily shares. I told him recently I could not get into
his poem, he did not even blink, no complaint. I wrote a poem
recently about Christmas, how a little boy realised there was no Santa
how the bottom fell out of his box. Bernie was the only one to get it
and then refer to a famous film, when the dying hero said,' Rosebud'.
His ability to relate a modern poem to a past art: event, film, panto,
book or painting is fantastic.

If you want detailed help, ask for it, don't demand, you have no right, not
even if you do your share. But first of all are you being: 1. honest
2. fair. 3. doing the best you can 4. encouraging.

And last of all are you doing your share.

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