| Author | Message | ||
| Lisa E
New member Username: diamondwife Post Number: 8 Registered: 08-2007 |
I know we are supposed to critique the work of others in this forum, but I am terrified. Help, I don't even know where to start. I know if I like a poem or not when I read it, but I know very little about the mechanics of a poem. I just wanted it to be clear that I am well aware that this is expected, and I'm going try, and try not to look like an idiot while doing it. (Message edited by diamondwife on August 12, 2007) | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Moderator Username: garydawg Post Number: 18334 Registered: 07-2001 |
Most of us who have been doing this since the Flood still feel like idiots when we do it. Smiles. Gary | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 26223 Registered: 11-1998 |
No need to be terrified, Lisa. Even those of us who feel as if we can't help technically are experts in our own feelings about a poem. When you read something, just try to respond to the author honestly about what you did and did not like. What moved you, what confused you. That kind of information is as valuable as help on the more technical aspects of things. Here's a resource that might make you feel a little more comfortable in your first attempts at critique: Critiquing Tips That will at least give you a starting point. Don't feel intimidated. Lots of people here are not concerned with or interested in the mechanics. You are definitely not alone. Best, M (Administrator) | ||
| Fred Longworth
Advanced Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 1898 Registered: 05-2006 |
Lisa, I print out the poem, and take scissors to it. I cut out the words individually. I put the nouns and verbs in one pile, and the adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, conjunctions and interjections in another. Then I weigh them on a triple beam, much like people my age are reputed to have weighed illegal substances back in the sixties. If the nouns and verbs weigh at least twice as much as all the other parts of speech I consider the poem to be a success. If the poem is NOT a success, I take my scissors to the poet. Cut off a finger, a hank of hair, a toe, maybe an eyelid or an ear. Work my way down to blood and sweat. Fred | ||
| Lisa E
New member Username: diamondwife Post Number: 11 Registered: 08-2007 |
funny | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 7757 Registered: 07-2002 |
Lisa--please don't panic. Like writing poetry, critique is partly art, partly a learned skill. As a starting point, look at crits on the CV (creative visualization) and BFB (biofeedback) boards. If there are crits you think particularly helpful, look and see how the poster formatted the critique. You can pattern your own comments on that template. Another idea is to simply move through the poem telling the poet what your reactions as a reader were. I find that extremely useful when readers offer that for my own work. Welcome and jump on in, the water's fine. Best, ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog LJCohen | ||
| Ron. Lavalette
Valued Member Username: dellfarmer Post Number: 129 Registered: 05-2007 |
Lisa: Just FYI: Fred wasn't kidding. He does that. --Ron. http://eggsovertokyo.blogspot.com | ||
| bel_canto
New member Username: bel_canto Post Number: 20 Registered: 06-2006 |
Lisa, thanks for posting this. I've felt much the same way, knowing this site depends on such reciprocity but,like you, not feeling very confident about my own ability to give helpful feed-back. I'm encouraged by reactions on this thread though, have just posted another poem after a long silence, and will get to offering my thoughts on the the work of others asap. | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Moderator Username: garydawg Post Number: 18361 Registered: 07-2001 |
Construction technigue aside, one thing that helps is to no if the mood works. If we write a sad poem and you laugh...! Smiles. Gary | ||
| Lisa E
New member Username: diamondwife Post Number: 12 Registered: 08-2007 |
I think what it is for me is I feel that I don't have the right to look into someone else's vision and tell them what to say.I just have to get over it. If I'm way off base they will hopefully know that and not listen  | ||
| Fred Longworth
Advanced Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 1915 Registered: 05-2006 |
The unspoken rule, which I will render spoken, is that if you post here you hereby offer up your poem to the critical eyes of the community. Fred |
