ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Fair comment - thanks everyone - going to start again...I can re use most of it

You would be correct I think Zondrae. I have never known of a poetry comp with a 'Minimum' word count. If you can pull off a short poem which can capture a story or emotion in a bare minimum of words, you have truely created something amazing. To have to portray the same in, say 1000 words, is nowhere near as clever or imaginative. So never look upon the word limit as having to produce 'up to' that many words. It is only ever, as far as I have ever seen, to keep people from entering 3 or 4 page poems. Be Savage, savage, savage, rrrrrrrrrraaaahhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm savage - down to 770

Hi Maureen,
I just had another look at my one, about 750 words. I felt at the time that was ok because it says - 'poem to be limited to approximately 700 words' - perhaps I should look at the poem again?
It's a bit ambiguous isn't it, you would think say a 10% allowance would be acceptance, otherwise surely they would say 700 max you'd think. or am I grasping at straws again?
I recently shortened a poem by 2 stanza's to fit a 40 line limit, I thought in that case it might have improved it.

Terry

....as the Vicar once said to me....'It is better to seek forgiveness than ask permission, my dear.'....I think it was the Vicar?....it mighta been the Devil...??

Thanks all for your help and Terry for your info.

Received this back from the organizers of BS so that is from the horses mouth as they say

Yes, you are right. A poem with 1000 words would be too long for our competition, and the committee suggests that “approx. 700 words” allows a 5-10% range, without having to count every word.

So if I can whittle a few more words out I should be right I hope

Cheers

Maureen

You people are lucky - having poems that have to be whittled down!!! I have trouble getting enough words!!
I have never entered the BS because I don't feel that my poems are long enough. However, this year I have written one with 690 words which is just about a record for me, so I am thinking of entering it for the experience. Have another one half written, and thought if I get it finished, I may enter it - depends on whether I like it or not!! (or rather, if I get it finished!!)
My problem is that I get busy, the time goes, and so does the closing date!!! So don't get the poems entered!!

Catchya
IRene

Just a passing thought. Maybe a better question to ask is why do we write poetry?


A.To win competitions. B. Collect awards

C. To get attention. D. Be a celebrity

E. To tell stories.

F. Preserve the memory of who we were, how we got here.

G. To say something in a way that hasn't been said before. H. To be creative.

I. To make money. ( not much chance of that )

J. Because we have to.

K. No reason, we just do it.

One of those, two three or four of those, all of those, none of those???? !
I suppose whatever the reason, we just write in a way that suits the aim.


ps. Neil and Irene make the most sense in this debate.

Gooood morning Neville. '....why do we write poetry?'
Apart from the obvious...that we can't help it.....I reckon it's all the above....but....the degree to which each motivates is the important thing. If a good balance doesn't apply, that's when trouble arises. Watchareckon?

Cheeers
Glenny

Very interesting, Neville. We are all different, but my answers would be

A.To win competitions. B. Collect awards

Not on the agenda. Won a lot of awards early on, but don't even enter anymore, as I would rather perform and entertain than to sit and reminisce over a trophy

C. To get attention.

Oh, yeah, now here is one I like! Of course Poets are attention seekers. We need to attract people towards what we are saying through our poetry or otherwise we don't exist.

D. Be a celebrity

Not really, although working with celebrities certainly is interesting and broadens the horizons. Just did a show with Leo Sayer as well as the likes of Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole and Co. and it was a wonderful thing talking to and hearing from someone of his experience. You certainly put a lot of things into perspective.

E. To tell stories.

The essence of our craft

F. Preserve the memory of who we were, how we got here.

A great vehicle for this, although not a pre requisite

G. To say something in a way that hasn't been said before.
& H. To be creative.

Again the essence of our chosen trade.

I. To make money. ( not much chance of that )

Not No. 1 but nice when you are recognised as being financially valuable to entertain with your own writing.

J. Because we have to.

Never. Laziness is almost essential!!

K. No reason, we just do it.

Probably a key reason here. We are just born to do it and our lives seem headed towards that target all through our lives.

I will add

L. Because it is a journey, both personally and socially.