| Author | Message | ||
| Penelope
New member Username: penelope Post Number: 11 Registered: 07-2005 |
Wild poets, just wanted to say that I find the quality of the critiques here as fine as the poetry. I surfed a lot of sites before settling on this one because of that. I am always impressed with the generous spirit and skill you all bring to the critque process. It’s amazing. I was wondering, though, if you could talk a little about how you’ve dealt with your internal critics over the years. While you may be way past that problem, I’m guessing it had to be dealt with one time or another. Did you befriend them, behead them or just stick a sock in their mouths? | ||
| Christopher T George
Advanced Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 1821 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Penelope Could you please define "internal critics"? Do you mean critics on this site, within one's family circle or group of friends, or within oneself, that is, the little voice that is the doubter that says "I shouldn't do this, this could be better..." and so on? Looking forward to your clarification, Penelope. Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ http://chrisgeorge.netpublish.net/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com | ||
| Penelope
New member Username: penelope Post Number: 13 Registered: 07-2005 |
Chris, I meant that little, very big voice, within one's self. Penelope | ||
| Christopher T George
Advanced Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 1824 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Penelope As I sense that you are probably a newer writer, I think I can say from experience that the key for you or any writer is to keep writing. That is, expose your poems to others in the workshop process, either on-line or in person, submit to magazines and get the feedback of critics and editors. By their reactions and help, you will grow, and receiving reassurance of the worth of what you are writing in such workshop and publication in the magazines, you should find that the inner critic is stilled since you will gain confidence as you progress as a writer. The other part of the process is to read as much as you can of good poetry, both contemporary published poets and the established poets of the past. Good luck, Penelope. All my best Chris George (Message edited by Chrisgeorge on August 09, 2005) Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ http://chrisgeorge.netpublish.net/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com | ||
| Penelope
New member Username: penelope Post Number: 14 Registered: 07-2005 |
Chris, oh, to be new again. Let's say I'm not a newer writer but certainly an interrupted one as far as intense effort goes. I've been in love with language and particularly poetry since I started reading. What you sense is my limited experience with public forums. I've participated writing groups and have loved the experience and potential to grow. It's never too late for that I'm thinking. I quiet my inner critic with the truth that writing is as much about the process as the product. Somehow,that works most of the time. But every time I read a poem that moves me, I know that's not entirely the truth of it. Thanks for the encouragement. | ||
| Veronica Yvonne
Valued Member Username: yvonne Post Number: 115 Registered: 03-2004 |
When that critic's loud, listen to it. Make it be specific; maybe it'll help you find what it is that isn't working right in the poem at hand. Train it to help you write better instead of just feeling like the writing isn't good enough - ask why it doesn't feel good enough, what specifically, and don't stop till you figure it out. Be as hard on the internal critic as it is on you.  | ||
| M
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 4801 Registered: 11-1998 |
Dear Penelope -- Thank you for joining Wild and thank you for this question. I do wonder after reading the question thoroughly as well as your further expositions, if what you call an internal critic is really nothing but ordinary fear. Fear of the public, fear of exposure, fear of failure, fear of not being as talented as your contemporaries. I am very familiar with fear, Penelope, and I can almost smell the scent now on someone else. *smile* The question you really need to ask yourself is if you want fear to rule what you attempt to accomplish in this life. What is stronger? The fear or the need to express yourself? My therapist gave me this handy little exercise to help me conquer fear. Image you are driving a bus. Image that your fear is bullies who sit in the backseat of that bus, taunting you and telling you that you are incapable of driving. Try to imagine that you can only see them in the rearview mirror. What these bullies want, dear, is your attention. They want you to stop driving that bus. Try as much as you can to ignore them and keep on driving. The less attention you pay to bullies, the less control they can exert over you. Keep checking in the rearview mirror on occasion. You will see that the bullies become smaller and smaller and less able to frighten you as you continue to ignore them and just drive that bus! Keep your mind focused on what is truly important -- driving -- and not on the bullies who try to keep you from doing that. Hope this little exercise helps you, Penelope. Don't let your fears, or internal critics as you call them, stop you from realizing your dreams. Keep reminding yourself that it's not really important at first whether you succeed or not at writing. What matters is that it's something that you enjoy and love and no bully has the right to stop you from doing it. Love, M | ||
| Penelope
New member Username: penelope Post Number: 15 Registered: 07-2005 |
Dear M, I'm sure that's not fear you smell on me because I don't make bad smells or funny noises.*smile* Of course, you're right. Fear is what gives rise to that voice and keeps us from being truly alive and fully whole. It also keeps us from expressing our authentic selves whether it be through simple being or art. I'll remember the exercise to keep things in perspective, especially those bullies. And, Veronica, I like what you said about making the critic work for its keep. There's often a lot of intuitive truth waiting to be heard after fear's din dies down. Penelope | ||
| marty
Advanced Member Username: marty Post Number: 605 Registered: 10-2003 |
Penelope, Hi there. Just keep writing and someday, you might not even be aware of it, the fear will be controlled. Not gone, for I find that sometimes, fear is as good as any motivation to accomplish one thing, but to be able to control your fears is more important. First and foremost though, you MUST believe that you have something worth saying, and that it means something extraordinary to at least one human being (you most importantly). The rest will follow sooner or later. Cheers Brethren | ||
| Kevin C.
New member Username: task Post Number: 43 Registered: 07-2005 |
You know, one thing I've noticed since coming to this site is that I can constructively critique other's poems with ease, but I just have trouble disassociating myself from my own work...that’s where peer feedback comes in. It helps to get a fresh perspective, perhaps even ease your own "inner critic" | ||
| Emusing
Moderator Username: emusing Post Number: 1507 Registered: 08-2003 |
Hi Penelope, I second Kevin's thoughts. Having a supportive forum like Wild can help keep the critic at bay. Sometimes when I am working through doubts I find that reading and commenting on other's work helps to lighten the process. Not allowing yourself to introvert too much is good too. Balance your creativity with walks (in nature if you can) and try to associate with people who grant you a lot of space to be yourself. I also find it helps to have a close friend who shares my poetic interests. You can be a support to one another and a source of encouragement. Go easy on yourself. Find things that you can admire in your own expression. And remember, no one else can do "you" but you.  E (Message edited by emusing on August 10, 2005) | ||
| Laurie Byro
Advanced Member Username: lauriette Post Number: 1140 Registered: 11-2003 |
penelope, I read once that a man in california sent his editor a book and said "I really blew this one this is TERRIBLE, I'm ashamed to say" the author was john steinbeck, the book "the grapes of wrath" with assaults it is hard to shoulder on, members of other boards have lamblasted me for poems I felt strongly about and later won awards. I had 5 poems up for nominatin in July and invariably chose the one I felt was my best work and had not gotton too much notice. I won first place. Right now my inner voice is telling me I'm not writing well. Perhaps it's because I am not FEELING well. Regardless. I think the trick is to keep honing your craft and never get too big for your britches. The more I succeed the more I know I know very little. Keep plugging along. Good luck and best wishes. laurie | ||
| Penelope
New member Username: penelope Post Number: 21 Registered: 07-2005 |
E, thank you for your perspective. I've loved watching some extraordinarily fine poetry evolve on these boards and the candor authors have shared about the sweat and tears that it takes to birth and rear a poem. Finding Wildpoetry is like finding just the right book when browsing the library. Being tethered to home for this particular moment in my life makes the site even more valuable, so I hope I can be a good citizen of the realm. And, Laurie, I hadn't heard the Steinbeck story, but yours was even more meaningful. I' m sorry to hear you're not feeling well, but I haven't seen it in your poetry. Congrats on the first place win. I plan to plug away at writing and one fear I don't have is getting too big for my bitches, except literally, perhaps. *smile* I'm not fragile when it comes to hearing how my poem works or doesn't work for someone else. It's just getting past that pesky personal critic. I've taken something from all of you. Much appreciation. Be well. (Message edited by penelope on August 11, 2005) |
