Lost focus ?

[Irene]

Dennis,
I think you have to take the comments in context, rather than just isolating them and looking at the negatives attached to them.
There are also many positive comments made in this thread about the forum, and about the poetry that is submitted.
I suspect that Marty posted the comments initially to stimulate a discussion - which it has.

I haven't entered a competition for a few years - except for the bronze swagman last year, and only then because I had just written two poems, both of which were longer than I normally write, and so fitted their criteria. The main reason is that a) I have not written much lately, and b) my work lifestyle was such that I have been very badly organised, and keep missing the comp deadlines!! While I do intend to enter some in the future - if my muse ever comes back!! - I have always, and will continue to post my poems on the forum when I have written them. So, I do not agree with the statement that no one posts their A grade poems!! However, I am certainly not going to get upset by the comment, and feel that the person making that comment does not consider my poems as A grade!! Neither will I be getting upset by some of the other comments that appear to be negative! I write what I write - and have developed enough confidence over the years to have faith in what I write - regardless of whether they have or haven't won competitions.

I think we need to stop being so reliant on other peoples opinions of our work - though we certainly need to be able to accept constructive criticism - and return to the reason that we write our poems in the first place. At the risk of repeating what I have said before on this forum - there is a very well known poet in WA whose work would never be considered 'A grade' by competition standards, nor in fact by some other poets standards, but he is an extremely successful poet, and his name is known throughout WA, and also avidly listened to via the internet in several countries overseas. Therefore, I totally agree with you that success or otherwise in a competition does not, or should not, form the basis of an opinion on that poem. I have read award-winning poems that just don't do it for me at all - and have read poems that would never win, but touch me in a way that makes it a very successful poem indeed!!

If you are on the forum to get your work onto the net - then please don't consider leaving the forum because of a discussion that does not affect the quality and exposure of your work. Have confidence in your work, and don't take on board comments that are probably offered in a generalised manner rather than a personal attack on any one poet.

Look forward to reading your poetry for a long time to come!!

And my apologies to anyone if some of my comments appear arrogant - they are not meant to be! I just believe we all need more confidence in our abilities, rather than allowing these discussions to affect us personally and discourage us from continuing with what we are doing.

Catchya
Irene

[Heather]

Dennis I think you will find Marty is just stirring the pot! We often have robust discussions here - it isn't nasty, it's just passionate. I for one respect everyone's right to have a say and an opinion and anyone that has met me would know I have a good sense of humour and am pretty easy going. I don't see anything said here as negative (perhaps things were read the wrong way?) and I'd have to say the only frustration is the one David voices about published poems and competitions.

I have been writing for not quite three years. I thought I was so clever when I first started - until I saw what it meant to write in metre and realised I knew NOTHING and it was sooo much harder than it first looked. The tips and encouragement I received here have spurred me on to write better poetry (I hope). I've also seen the forum help most newcomers on this site with their writing.

I write for me - not for anyone else, but as you know, it's really nice to be able to share it when it's written and even nicer if someone else "gets it". The poems that mean the most to me are those that have brought people to tears - they don't necessarily win prizes but that ability is the one I seek - to touch people.

Competitions are one way to guage how your writing is going but they aren't the be all and I think when you are new at writing poetry it is encouraging to get those little accolades. The constructive criticism that often comes back from these competitions is at times helpful while at other times I totally disagree with the judges view of my writing - so be it!

Marty, like the Cat in the Hat, you can come clean up that red spot now......

Heather

[Dennis N O'Brien]

Yes unfortunately you have the wrong end of the stick Irene but then I guess
what I said was open to interpretation.
I don't believe I got the original post in any way out of context.
I didn't see any personal attack, my concern is not about myself but the quality of the forum.
I don't want to post on a forum that is generally regarded as only being
used to post second rate poems - I appreciate now that you do post your best poems here.
With regard to my own poetry people can form their own opinions and express them
or not to their heart's content.

[manfredvijars]

... second rate???

What's the going rate at the moment?

Just want to be sure we're charging the right 'rate' ...

[Maureen K Clifford]

Oh well you mob cop all of mine regardless of the rate Good, bad or indifferent it is all grist for the mill and it never ceases to amaze me how somethings people really take to - which were not my best IMO which then causes me to wonder who is the best judge anyway of what is considered to be top notch??? Having said that the work posted is always as good as I can make it at the time - sometimes as Heather indicated work posted here is not technically perfect but is often written from the heart or with deep emotion and one would never consider that to be second rate surely.

Have never won a dollar from a comp - would be nice but its not my top priority - heaps of my stuff out there on the Internet here and overseas for people to read if they want to - but how do you know if they do? Can't get to precious about it - haven't yet managed to get any of my video clips up to 4 figures - maybe if Heather and I organized a fight scene in one we would do better that always seems to draw the numpties in

My personal plan of attack is to be like Lawson and Shakespeare and all those other famous people you know about. No one gave a toss when they were alive but when they died

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater Dennis. The work on here of our poets is top stuff - were you to go back to their first postings and compare with their most recent postings you couldn't help but see the improvements that they have made in their writing and the heights they have achieved. Some have achieved great heights winning comps and that is beaut and we are all tickled pink when that happens, but it is not the be all and end all.

I doubt you will find a forum to better this one where you are getting honest critiques from people who have a genuine desire to help with a bit of inane conversation thrown in at times and a lot of laughter and never have I seen on this site some of the disgusting an negative comments that appear on other forums. People here are treated with courtesy and respect and have become mates over time. I think that alone is worth staying around for - don't you

Hey Marty - Aunty Gladys must have been able to see into the future You - wrong! I don't believe it Surely you jest

Love you too Mannie and the girls say Hi as well - wag wag, lick lick woof

Cheers

Maureen

[Bob Pacey]

Think I commented a wayyyyyyyy back when this started but trust Marty to stir the pot but what Marty normally says is true if ya don't like the rules don't enter ?


Applies to the site as well.

I'm a funny sort of bugger on this sort of subject as I tend to stew on things quite a bit before I make a decision ( might be a bit of Libra in me )


If ya don't like the content or quality of what is posted on the site then Don't ! Post !

I do not always agree with what is posted re poems or discussion topics but the decision to get involved or not is mine so i do not get to precious about it.

Off to golf now have fun.


Bob

[Dennis N O'Brien]

Replies on this thread seem to have drifted off topic.

Whether I decide to continue posting poems here I'll decide for myself and it
is of no consequence anyway one way or the other.

I realize some of you have difficulty understanding my concerns about the forum itself
but it's become obvious that no amount of backward and forward comment will
resolve that - best we agree to disagree - I won't waste any more time on it.

I don't need any explanations of how this forum works or opinions on how advantageous
it is to be a part of it, no matter if they are given with good intention.

I would suggest that it would be more constructive if comments were with respect
to the original post: "Lost focus? "

[keats]

Hi Denis, yes it seems there is some confusion between this post and David's post about comps. Regardless, the banter between members here over the years is generally constructive and healthy. Yours is sounding a little bitter. I know you have not been here long, but numbers come and go, increase decrease, etc. as do most forums I am involved in and as do social media sites such as Facebook. It is the nature of the beast. We try to live lives away from the computer screen as well. Try living life to gain experience and inspiration to write poetry to share with others. Finding things to be so bitter about on this site must surely be unhealthy for people creative wise as well as healt wise.

Taking things so personally are not healthy and are certainly misconstrued, as there is never any hostility here, we have moderators just in case. As Steven said at the begining, perhaps we know each other too well and are somewhat predictable in our postings. Please don't let your predictability become associated with a spiteful attitude towards others, which is how your last couple of posts read. You have contributed some great stuff to the forum that people have enjoyed. Using any other forums is of no concern to anybody here. Must of us do but that's the individual's personal business.

Anyhow, just a couple of bobs worth. I'm not here every day, but enjoy dropping in and catching up with friends. Hope you will remain here as one of them.

All the best

Neil

[keats]

ps Sorry about the spelling mistakes, these Smart Phones are not as smart as they think!!

Neil

[Dennis N O'Brien]

Incredible Look I know it's Sunday but I don't need a sermon.

I leave a post suggesting readers get back to the original topic which an
objective observer may have considered a little "bitter" and this is posted.