07-08-2015, 01:04 AM
Hello all, Obi, Claire, Thomo, Hannah, and anyone else I missed because I obviously can't be bothered to be civil.
So thomo to your question, which comes down to: I'm a new poet, and how is my critique valid? How would I even go about it?
Let's start with something easy: You eat something that you like, can you explain why in specific ways? Maybe it tastes like rat turds, assuming your a taster for a school of chefs, would it be kind to not tell them that their food tastes badly?
You are a reader of poetry. When you read something you might think: This is great (say why specifically). Or this sucks (same drill). Or it leaves me cold and does nothing for me (again just explain why).
Of course, there may be things you miss. But most of the time, there is a problem with the poem (whether that's a problem with clarity, emotive power, imagery, execution, meter). You may not even know the terms that are the problem, but you'll learn them over time. The important thing in critique is to be a reflective reader and key in on what you think and feel about the piece, and then describe that to the writer so that they can hopefully improve.
I hope that helps some.
So thomo to your question, which comes down to: I'm a new poet, and how is my critique valid? How would I even go about it?
Let's start with something easy: You eat something that you like, can you explain why in specific ways? Maybe it tastes like rat turds, assuming your a taster for a school of chefs, would it be kind to not tell them that their food tastes badly?
You are a reader of poetry. When you read something you might think: This is great (say why specifically). Or this sucks (same drill). Or it leaves me cold and does nothing for me (again just explain why).
Of course, there may be things you miss. But most of the time, there is a problem with the poem (whether that's a problem with clarity, emotive power, imagery, execution, meter). You may not even know the terms that are the problem, but you'll learn them over time. The important thing in critique is to be a reflective reader and key in on what you think and feel about the piece, and then describe that to the writer so that they can hopefully improve.
I hope that helps some.
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson