From: megazone@joseph.WPI.EDU (MegaZone23)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.poems
Subject: Re: Criticism
Date: 8 Oct 92 23:58:18 GMT
Organization: WPI USAF -- United Society of Animation Fans
NNTP-Posting-Host: joseph.wpi.edu

In article <steele.718574987@chip.aem.umn.edu> steele@aem.umn.edu (Stephanie Steele) writes:
>i disagree that criticism is unimportant to writers.  i believe
>that serious writers are also serious critics, must also be serious
>critics, for two reasons- reading poetry seriously involves an ability

I know that for myself I do not feel that I am any where near the level of 
ability I want before I start criticizing other works. I don't have that great
a level of confidence to tell someone else that the could have done they're 
work differently.

Of course I love to receive criticism. A few of my poems were posted elsewhere
before I knew of this group and the were changed a bit due to input from 
others. I tend to use words like "to, for, by" etc a lot more than needed. I 
just took them out of one poem at someone's suggestion and the scanning 
suddenly became so much clearer.

I feel that someday, if I continue to write, I may reach the point where I am
confident enough to make suggestions to others. For now I do it for friends, 
I've helped other authors over rough spots, but I guess I'm too insecure to
write to someone out of the blue and suggest a change...

>all agree that good writers are good readers, and my point is that

I was a reader long before I was a writer, and I still prefer reading.

>far as "beginning" poets go, or poets that are still exploring and
>learning the craft, criticism is an invaluable practice that will
>only help poets understand why things work and dont work in particular
>pieces, and this in turn helps the writing process itself.

Hmmm. I have to be honest. I didn't plan on writing anything. Some friends 
talked me into writing Undocumented Features with them and I found that I 
really liked it as a way to relax. At first I made no real attempt to be 'good'
as it ws just a fun pasttime. As I got more involved with the characters I 
became more intense and really tried to improve.

My poems just sort of happened. Not once have I set out to do one. I just get 
an idea and it ferments for a while and then out comes this poem, usually I do
little clean up on the final product.

I don't plan on being a poet, nor do I plan on learning the proper names for
what I write, or the styles, etc. I just write what feels right to me, whatever
comes from the heart.  

Criticism will help me form the ideas in a clearer form, to find the words and
styles I need to express the ideas as they come. There have been times when I
have trashed an idea because I couldn't make it work.

>a class of about 17 students the same five are always critiquing
>works brought before the class, while the rest sit silent. next week

Sounds like a typical High School or college class critiquing papers. No one 
seems to want to point out errors in others works, many seem to think it is a
personal attack.

>work with....i mean why do people post their poems in rap? i do it
>with the hopes that somebody might be able to offer some critical 

I do it to get the ideas that have been gnawing at my brain out in the open 
in a public forum where others can see them. And hopefully to get some feedback
on how to do a better job next time. An, to be honest, I like to get 
compliments on my work. I'm human, I have pride and an ego.

###############################################################################
# I have one prejudice, and that is against stupidity.  Use your mind, think! #
#Email megazone@wpi.wpi.edu  Moderator, WPI anime FTP site 130.215.24.1 /anime#
###############################################################################
Newsgroups: rec.arts.poems