I thought the main reason people asked for critique in poetry was because they were going for publication.  Then after spending time here I feel like it's mostly people who are going to be graded in a class somewhere (seasonal boosts in membership).  And of course the random ones writing for a loved one or event just making sure it reads as they intended.

I used the critique forums mostly for clarity, like I don't exactly know what I wrote and can't see all the angles.  Most of what I write I don't really care about anymore, just having fun with words, if I use the critique forums nowadays it's mostly so other people have something to crit, in order to post their own stuff, but also if there's lag in posting.

It's like waiting to eat, but I fill up quickly.

(01-16-2026, 09:19 AM)CRNDLSM Wrote:  I thought the main reason people asked for critique in poetry was because they were going for publication.  Then after spending time here I feel like it's mostly people who are going to be graded in a class somewhere (seasonal boosts in membership).  And of course the random ones writing for a loved one or event just making sure it reads as they intended.

I used the critique forums mostly for clarity, like I don't exactly know what I wrote and can't see all the angles.  Most of what I write I don't really care about anymore, just having fun with words, if I use the critique forums nowadays it's mostly so other people have something to crit, in order to post their own stuff, but also if there's lag in posting.

It's like waiting to eat, but I fill up quickly.

I post for critique for ammo to edit the poem. I might post having just written, I might have worked with it over a period of time. But when it's my own work I've often gotten used to reading and saying it to my own liking, always good to get another ear.

I also want to see if I'm getting my point across, if a metaphor is working, if there's a tweak I haven't noticed that would make a difference. It helps to hear what people like about the piece, what not to cut. 

I may stop working on something but without publishing it's never finished, always free to mess with it, come back with a fresh view.

But mostly I enjoy discussing it with other people, chewing on word choice, picking the brains of writers with more experience and education. Always something new to learn, it's fun.

Poetry (especially in forms) is problem-solving, and critique (1) shows where the solution was bad or could be improved, and (2) presents new problems to solve.

Because/also, as a master programmer said about bug hunts, "I'm better than you are, and you're better than I am."  As a total amateur, I can still look at a published poet's work and (occasionally) find a problem - even suggest a solution.  And (drop the high-low) you can look at something I sweated blood over for weeks and put your finger on an obvious deficiency after one reading.  It's not necessarily fresh eyes, just different.

(01-16-2026, 11:08 AM)dukealien Wrote:  Poetry (especially in forms) is problem-solving, and critique (1) shows where the solution was bad or could be improved, and (2) presents new problems to solve.

Because/also, as a master programmer said about bug hunts, "I'm better than you are, and you're better than I am."  As a total amateur, I can still look at a published poet's work and (occasionally) find a problem - even suggest a solution.  And (drop the high-low) you can look at something I sweated blood over for weeks and put your finger on an obvious deficiency after one reading.  It's not necessarily fresh eyes, just different.

Also, it's a kind of socializing, and I don't go to bars.

Perfectly articulated.
Critique is indeed problem solving.

I would also say that to be a good critic, you need a lot of heart.
It is difficult to provide feedback on poems that bore you, and also difficult to comment on poems that sway you. Finding the patience to explain what you liked - and first of all, to really think about what it was that you liked or disliked - is not easy. Far more tempting to say “this sucks” or “this poem could only
have been written by a god”, out of laziness.

Which is one of the reasons I don’t post often in the critical fora. It’s asking a lot from a critic, and I go there only when I really, really want to workshop. The rest of the time it feels like an imposition. 

We’re too polite and considerate as a bunch, I say.

(01-16-2026, 03:58 PM)busker Wrote:  

(01-16-2026, 11:08 AM)dukealien Wrote:  Poetry (especially in forms) is problem-solving, and critique (1) shows where the solution was bad or could be improved, and (2) presents new problems to solve.

Because/also, as a master programmer said about bug hunts, "I'm better than you are, and you're better than I am."  As a total amateur, I can still look at a published poet's work and (occasionally) find a problem - even suggest a solution.  And (drop the high-low) you can look at something I sweated blood over for weeks and put your finger on an obvious deficiency after one reading.  It's not necessarily fresh eyes, just different.

Also, it's a kind of socializing, and I don't go to bars.

Perfectly articulated.
Critique is indeed problem solving.

I would also say that to be a good critic, you need a lot of heart.
It is difficult to provide feedback on poems that bore you, and also difficult to comment on poems that sway you. Finding the patience to explain what you liked - and first of all, to really think about what it was that you liked or disliked - is not easy. Far more tempting to say “this sucks” or “this poem could only
have been written by a god”, out of laziness.

Which is one of the reasons I don’t post often in the critical fora. It’s asking a lot from a critic, and I go there only when I really, really want to workshop. The rest of the time it feels like an imposition. 

We’re too polite and considerate as a bunch, I say.

As a critic you also have to be willing to take the risk of seeming the fool. I totally missed the metaphor in 2 poems yesterday, or was it the day before? And sometimes I realize after someone else posts that I missed a subtlety that I should have caught. It's probable that if I wait until I'm sure I see it all I'll never get back there. So I read until I have a few things to say that could possibly help then post. The poetry police haven't come to my door yet.

I don't think we need to individually feel we're imposing or being imposed on, sometimes 5 half-assed crits can add up to one expert one.  I think it's best as a group effort.

Another angle: (after having this happen yesterday) - if I completely miss the point of the poem, and furthermore can offer little technical criticism, just laying out my take on it will at least show the author one way it *can* be read/interpreted so the ambiguities that allowed it can be fixed.

I actually just love reading and discussing poetry It is something I have become pretty good at and I don't mind at all if I am wrong about something - lord knows I've been called a fool on occasion. Some writers find value in it - some do not but I have no intention of stopping.

I also think that no other single activity has improved my poetry to the extent as reading and discussing poetry so my own writing benefits as well.

Why do I post my own? It is two-fold. One - it is the coin of the land. I have participated in many forums where I did not post any poetry (this one in the beginning, actually) and inevitably - if people see you talking the talk, they want to see what you produce as well. Pound said something to that effect and while I don't agree with it 100% there is definitely some merit to the perspective.

And finally, back to step one, I love reading and discussing poetry - others', my own whatever is available. Nothing has improved my writing so much as . . .