06-17-2015, 04:18 AM
Yes there is such a thing as being too open to what other people say about your work. That's why after a bit once you get some of the basics down you should consider letting time lapse between your revisions (1-6 months at least).
Here's what you have to keep in focus: What am I trying to say, and why do I think each particular choice I make is important?
If people point out areas that you agree are not working than fix those. If they offer suggestions sometimes you can adopt those. Sometimes those suggestions will pull the poem away from what you're shooting for. In those instances, you need to come up with your own solution to the problem.
I think just thanking people and acknowledging that you're adopting their ideas is fine. It doesn't become their work. If you agree with them analyze what they did, and why it works better. Part of this is to develop the skills in workshopping so you can be more intentional and deliberate with what you do. The truth is the extreme majority of early poems are like painters copying the masters. It takes time to innovate. What you create in the early years should be saved and reflected on, but much of it has little artistic value on its own merits. So, I'd say its a legitimate concern that you raise, but by the time you get more practiced you'll know where to draw the line.
Time between revisions usually gives you the distance you need to revise properly. Though even that isn't a hard and fast always true thing, just a mostly true thing.
Here's what you have to keep in focus: What am I trying to say, and why do I think each particular choice I make is important?
If people point out areas that you agree are not working than fix those. If they offer suggestions sometimes you can adopt those. Sometimes those suggestions will pull the poem away from what you're shooting for. In those instances, you need to come up with your own solution to the problem.
I think just thanking people and acknowledging that you're adopting their ideas is fine. It doesn't become their work. If you agree with them analyze what they did, and why it works better. Part of this is to develop the skills in workshopping so you can be more intentional and deliberate with what you do. The truth is the extreme majority of early poems are like painters copying the masters. It takes time to innovate. What you create in the early years should be saved and reflected on, but much of it has little artistic value on its own merits. So, I'd say its a legitimate concern that you raise, but by the time you get more practiced you'll know where to draw the line.
Time between revisions usually gives you the distance you need to revise properly. Though even that isn't a hard and fast always true thing, just a mostly true thing.
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson