Winning Writers is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in submitting their work in a poetry contest. You can even subscribe for a low fee to be updated with this sort of information. There are links for writer critiques, advice and services, but towards the bottom of the first page, there was a link that I was particularly interested in. It was Websites for poets and Writers. I scrolled through the various essays and saw one titled, "Bad Poets." It expressed that weekly mediocre work comes in, but worthless work comes in daily. Randall Jarell writes that it is like someone ripped their arms and legs off and sent them to him and called it poetry. In other words, many people fall into the habit of expressing their deepest feelings onto paper and think that they have created art. This made me think. I was told to write about things you know. I am only twenty six years old, but I have many issues with the closest people around me; therefore, most of my poetry is based on that. In a way it is therapeutic, but as some critiques I have read about my work say, my poetry seems to be about the same thing and is dull. If I had more time to spend on these assignments, I think I could dig deeper and write about other things, but in this moment, nothing else is as pertinent in my life. I don't want to seem discouraged, but poetry may not be this natural gift that someone has as I have thought. There is structure and language that must be conquered, as well.
Net Verse is an insightful resource. Peter Howard reflects on the advances of technology from when he began writing for the UK "Poetry Review" in 1996 to 2001. It provides links to a variety of e-poetry. I like how he took a neutral stance on technology based poetry. He mentions how some of his readers may view the work as poetry whereas others may not. One piece that I found interesting was Talan Memmott's "lexia to perplexia." There are many parts to her work, but a couple caught my attention and made me think. She has four Minifestos, and the final one contemplates the idea that her cell phone is a part of her. This was intriguing because she uses technology as a part of her poetry. Poetry is part of a person's soul just as her cell phone is a part of her everyday life. The final part of her poem, revealed the prefix "hyper," and several suffixes would flash on the other side such as: "text, texture, sensual, and topic." I enjoyed her play on words suggesting to the reader that there are many things in life that are "hyper." It seemed like a stand for hypertext poetry.
Beehive has a unique varitey of hypertext poetry. Juliet Ann Martin's "Hyperbody" is a sexual poem that uses visuals and hypertext to express the speaker's lust and sexual sensation. Some of the pictures were graphic, which made me feel uncomfortable possibly because of my Church of Christ upbringing and I have a three old running around that asked, "What's that?" I am interested though, in going back to this poem to try to understand it better because I know there is more to it than just the sexual imagery. Some of the other works were more of a novella form, but seemed worth checking into.
6 comments:
I to am church of christ and I don't like graphic sexual scenes either; however, I have also research that site and I wasn't to impressed with it. However, there were a few poems that were ok.
I also reviewed the winning writers site. I had many questions about the contests. I am really interested in what you say near the end of this first review. I think that you are right about poetry as a (or not a) natural talent. I think the challenge comes in creating a poem that will speak to the reader in a way that will make them really feel the emotions, rather than just understand the events. As far as I know, most people write, rewrite, put it away, rewrite some more, etc. before the poem takes its shape.
I'm glad to get a reminder about the winning writers site. I've started worrying about where to submit a poem at the end of this course. I'm clueless - but looking.
Since poetry is a form of expression, I hope you'll decide to keep at it. I realize that in the case of our course, that we are trying to cultivate and develop a skill with publication as the goal - and at least for me, it has been such a learning and growing experience. Beyond that, though, you can be your own audience, writing whatever you - as your audience - would like to hear.
I agree with you about the structure and language that must be conquered in order to write wonderful poetry. Experience and deep feelings simply is not enough, however, I do think that without the individual experiences that make us who we are, we could not write at all. Don't be discouraged! I am not one who feels that I have a gift for writing poetry, but something must be said for the willingness to try and simply to acknowledge my failures as they are.
Some of those sites you dont know what you are getting into until you are already there. It is a long time tested argument. What is art and when does it cross the line. I just learned that there is a cesor board that governs pornography and they have a list of things that cannot be published. I wonder if "art" does as well. Well besides us Parents
The guy Randall Jarell saying that people send in writings that are so bad he thinks the writer has jerked off their legs and arms is why I do not want to submit anything I label poetry. I already know my poetry is not any good, but to describe something bad as that serious an action is just not necessary. Mine is bad because I haven't conquered my structure and language peoblems, and I can't say that my reader would connect with an emotion just because I'm willing to share it. I will stick to writing about sunflowers and dog-food.
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