09-02-2016, 09:36 AM
i don't see the point of mild critique, either. i don't entirely see the point of any division, really. i mean, i kind of understand from the critic's point of view [time and effort and all that], but surely everyone wants their poem to get maximum critique [agreed with or not--let's not get into that again]. and it all seems to work backwards, anyway. because apparently, by the time a poem reaches 'serious' it should be honed, making the majority of critiques there either about typos or taste; or, they're just offering a more formal, sunday paper style, review [being of benefit to the critic more than the poet]. 'novice' is where the real fundamental transformations happen, where structural choices are made, and intentions decided. it seems to me that 'novice' is where the brutality of critique is at its most potent. it's in 'novice' where we are actually forced to confront the possibility that we may have to, god forbid, actually change that comma to a semi-colon: "but it's my baby! why! why would you do this to my baby! oh the humanity!"
to be sure, i think this is why quite a lot of new poets shy away from formally structured poetry. it isn't just that counting syllables and stresses is boring as fuck, but also there are relatively clear and definitive rules. and errors can only occur in a system. the more complex the system the greater the potential for error. and we can kinda live with the accusation of cliché concept, we can justify that sort of thing to ourselves any number of ways; but a wonky iamb and it's "fuck you poetry! you suck!"
personally, i don't write poetry enough now to have much of an issue about which forum to post in. it goes in fun or misc. both titles adequately describing my commitment, not only to the stuff i write, but also to poetry itself. my life has lately become detached and insubstantial. i feel nothing but the most superficial connection to the world around me. and it's difficult to fill a poem up when everything seems so empty.
however,, back in the day, i only posted in serious. like Leanne said, i'm pretty confident that i know enough, am aware, at least, of what i'm doing, not to need to make major changes. this doesn't mean i'm great or even any good [i am of course both of those things], it just means that i can usually pre-empt a lot of the criticism. . . or just don't care. one of those.
to be sure, i think this is why quite a lot of new poets shy away from formally structured poetry. it isn't just that counting syllables and stresses is boring as fuck, but also there are relatively clear and definitive rules. and errors can only occur in a system. the more complex the system the greater the potential for error. and we can kinda live with the accusation of cliché concept, we can justify that sort of thing to ourselves any number of ways; but a wonky iamb and it's "fuck you poetry! you suck!"
personally, i don't write poetry enough now to have much of an issue about which forum to post in. it goes in fun or misc. both titles adequately describing my commitment, not only to the stuff i write, but also to poetry itself. my life has lately become detached and insubstantial. i feel nothing but the most superficial connection to the world around me. and it's difficult to fill a poem up when everything seems so empty.
however,, back in the day, i only posted in serious. like Leanne said, i'm pretty confident that i know enough, am aware, at least, of what i'm doing, not to need to make major changes. this doesn't mean i'm great or even any good [i am of course both of those things], it just means that i can usually pre-empt a lot of the criticism. . . or just don't care. one of those.