| Author | Message | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 8672 Registered: 07-2002 |
I have been thinking for quite some time that it might be useful to have a thread/discussion/virtual class on how to offer critique. With that in mind, I've been collecting internet resources and offer these as a starting place. If you have any to add, please do so and if you have any specific questions about how to critique a poem, ask them here. I'd like to compile a Critique 'FAQ' for Wild. Thanks! ljc poets.org thread on 'How to critique a poem' http://www.poets.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6481 What I like about this thread is that they give some overal suggestions about how to offer critique and they follow it with examples of what they feel is good critique and why. An academic perspective here with examples from classic poems. http://www.martinturner.org.uk/martins-notes/how-to-critique-a-poem/ Another academic perspective about offering and receiving critique: http://www2.le.ac.uk/projects/adelie/examplelearning/Howtocritique A thread from another forum (Room to write) with an excellent critique overview and a link to the pdf that follows. http://www.roomtowrite.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=975 http://static.scribd.com/docs/bno9zag1el3id.pdf Once in a Blue Muse Blog LJCohen | ||
| Mariah Wilson
Intermediate Member Username: mariahwilson43 Post Number: 480 Registered: 11-2007 |
I think a thread on the art of critique is a splendid idea. When a person is new here, or even if they've been here awhile, giving crit's is the hardest part I think. Those people that say anything is possible obviously have not tried to slam a revolving door. | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 27989 Registered: 11-1998 |
An excellent idea, Lisa. Thank you. I wasn't sure if you remembered this, but we have a very rudimentary page discussing how to critique in SUBLUX. Perhaps you can take that as a jumping off point, refining and adding to it with the links you have gathered. That page was constructed so long ago it is probably very outdated, and I haven't had time to update it. But perhaps there is something in it worth using and expanding, rather than reinventing the wheel. When you get what you want in order, send it to me and/or steve. We can then update that page. Again, thanks for your work on this. It is much appreciated. Love, M | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 8673 Registered: 07-2002 |
M--I had to laugh--I wrote a lot of that page and had forgotten where it had gotten to. Ah, senility. Thanks for reminding me. One of the ideas I had was to do a mini workshop on critique sometime this winter. xo ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog LJCohen | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 8674 Registered: 07-2002 |
This is the checklist (from the link M posted) I put together some time ago. I think it is a good overview and structure to guide the reader in offering critique of a poem. Not every critique will include all these elements; however, I believe some will be relevant to every poem.
Once in a Blue Muse Blog LJCohen | ||
| Lazarus
Senior Member Username: lazarus Post Number: 2853 Registered: 10-2005 |
Wow, that's a great list. I'll be sure to check back as the subject develops. Thanks for all your work on this, Lisa. -Laz | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 28008 Registered: 11-1998 |
Well, now you've got me sitting here giggling too, dearest Lisa. I'd forgotten you'd originally written that, so you've got nothing on me in the senility department. And here I've insulted you besides, calling the page rudimentary and telling you to refine it. *ROTFLMAO* Forgive me, dearest -- I am very, very old woman who should probably be taken out back and shot. Love, M | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 8680 Registered: 07-2002 |
Well, it's true--it is rudimentary and it does need to be updated.  Written when I came on as a mod, somewhere around the dark ages. LOL. Do they have a two-fer deal for dealing with senile mods? xo ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog LJCohen | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Moderator Username: garydawg Post Number: 21599 Registered: 07-2001 |
Are the stanza breaks working? Where are the ings? Do stanza breaks work? Grin Smiles. Gary | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 28014 Registered: 11-1998 |
I'm considering changing our titles from moderator to member of the senility brigade. Whatcha think? *ROTFLMAO* Love, . . . Wait a minute . . . it'll come to me . . . | ||
| Fred Longworth
Senior Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 3031 Registered: 05-2006 |
Modsenile . . . modsenility * * * * * Wild but Woolly * * * * * Muderators * * * * * Derf Unofficial Forum Pariah recent victim of alien abduction | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 7142 Registered: 12-2003 |
Just adding: On the gerunds, "ings", IMHO it's okay to use a few, but is the poem overburdened with them, do they take over the poem? And once, Lisa, you mentioned to me something about the use of adverbs, those ly's, but I don't recall what it was except to say that I have avoided them since. So maybe something about the use/overuse of adverbs. That's all I can think of for now, KYou're invited to: Wild Flowers How do I explain these poems? Not at all. -Anne Sexton | ||
| Teresa White
Intermediate Member Username: teresa_white Post Number: 710 Registered: 01-2005 |
Lisa, Thank you so much for this. I've been writing since jr. high school and only critting for a few years. I still have trouble doing crits the way I would like to. I've always felt boards should have exactly what you've done here. I will be reading and studying the great advice on how to crit. Best, T. | ||
| Kathy Paupore
Moderator Username: kathy Post Number: 7211 Registered: 12-2003 |
Lisa, this just came to mind, have you come across anything on how to critique a poem so it doesn't change the author's voice? I've seen some crits that maybe don't try to but would do just that. Something like that would be a good addition to your crit class. KYou're invited to: Wild Flowers How do I explain these poems? Not at all. -Anne Sexton | ||
| Emusing
Senior Member Username: emusing Post Number: 5223 Registered: 08-2003 |
This is eeeeexxxcellent. It may be mixing colors here but I try to look at poetry from a publisher's point of view. Would this poem be publishable? Of course it all depends on the type of journal, the viewpoint of the editor etc., but I try to stay with a sort of neutral view. One of the interesting resources I found was from Pascale Petit. She was an IBPC judge and someone I made contact with when I was in London last year. I paid her for a critique of my work and received some very helpful feedback. She has an ebook one can download called "Toward a Collection" which not only advises the poet on the mechanics of assembling a manuscript but what an editor might be looking for when reading a poem. she was the editor of Poetry London which looks to be the equivalent of our Poetry magazine in the states. Many of the things you mention Lisa are included in her list as well as some that I would never have thought to articulate in the way she had. It gave me a whole new perspective. I would list them, but then I'd be giving away her goodies! The booklet highlights the following topics: Extending your Limits Getting Published in Magazines Pamphlet Publication and Other Opportunities Structuring a Collection Ordering a Collection Editing Poems Part One Editing Poems Part Two Titling Poems and Collections Submitting Manuscripts to Publishers From Manuscript to Book It's only 10 PBS or about $20.00. You can find the booklet at http://www.poetryschool.com. Look at the on line courses tab and then choose Advanced Courses and choose Toward a Collection. You'll find it there. x e www.wordwalkerpress.com |
