the craft of poetry

[abu nuwas]

Thinking that poetry is easier than any other art form is probably half the problem. Plenty of people think that because they know a bit about words, they should automatically be able to write poetry. I can use what I know of woodworking to build a pretty damn good fence, but I'm not ready to tackle a Louis VIX cabinet. Mind you, if I found someone who was prepared to show me how to do it (and some spare time) I'd do my best to learn.

One of the worst mistakes people make when commenting on other people's poems is to ridicule their lack of knowledge. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to happen here (or at least not much). If it's clear that a writer is just starting out, always pitch your comment to that level. If, of course, someone's been writing for years and they're still at the same level, maybe it's time to get a bit tougher But that rarely happens, when you're in an environment that is conducive to learning.

Yes, I hate this carping business----- Louis the what?!