Is there enough interest in a poetry section of the Hatrack River Writers Workshop forum for us to create space for it?
Because of the 13-line/protect your work from electronic publication problem, I would want to make a poetry section private (meaning, only those who are participating will be able to read and post in the section--like the Literary Boot Camp sections at the bottom of the forum page).
I know Crystal does cowboy poetry, but I don't remember if anyone else does any kind of poetry. Please speak up if you do and would be interested in participating.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
My major poetry-writing period is long past, but I'd be willing to drop in and comment...honestly, I don't know how active something like that would be.
Thirteen lines would prevent anyone from posting the whole of a sonnet...
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
quote:Originally posted by Robert Nowall: My major poetry-writing period is long past, but I'd be willing to drop in and comment...honestly, I don't know how active something like that would be.
Thirteen lines would prevent anyone from posting the whole of a sonnet...
That's why Kathleen wants to make it a closed forum, Robert. Anything posted would not be available for the public to read. So any poem posted would not be considered published .
Kathleen; I haven't written anything recently and not sure if cowboy poetry would be appropriate for a science fiction/fantasy website. I do dabble in writing poetry about nature too from what I've seen when out hiking and horse trail riding. Of course I'd be more than willing to contribute to a forum of this kind and help anyone seeking advice... or asking for it for myself. Just not sure if my kind of poetry would fit in.
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
I dabble in poetry too, have published a few pieces, and have participated in several poetry workshops. My poetry lexicon is as broad for poetry as for prose. I'd participate ocassionally in a poetry forum, more commenting on than posting original work.
Prose poetry appeals to me more than formally structured poetry. I also like lyrical free verse, accentual verse, and slant rhyme.
My poetry pursuits have been an adjunct to my prose writing, for False Document features of my prose writing. They lend a degree of verisimilitude and voice variety to prose. And they further development of artful prose writing.
One feature I've noticed about my writing that advanced from writing poetry is developing a stronger ear for how narrative voices appeal. Everyday conversational voices in poetry don't appeal as much as subtle yet artfully excessive language voices. Prose poetry tends to be difficult to distinguish from short-short fiction, which favors elaborate voice features reliant upon artful rhetorical figures, for example.
Markets for poetry are as open as short fiction; however, they are a different venue in most regards, like pay, reading periods, type of publication, and category. Fantastical poetry has a small niche audience, for example. But short-short fiction markets are generally open to prose poetry that's not too overtly poetry. Part of the reason fantastical poetry has a limited audience is because no one has yet really stood out in mainstream culture. The Rhysling Award is the only major award in fantastical poetry, awarded since 2005 by the Science Fiction Poetry Association. The Bram Stoker Award honors horror poetry collections.
[ June 02, 2013, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: extrinsic ]
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
I think it was Flannery O'Conner who said that poetry was a nasty habit for a novelist. I do indulge in it from time to time though and I would like to have access to that forum.
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pyre Dynasty: I think it was Flannery O'Conner who said that poetry was a nasty habit for a novelist. I do indulge in it from time to time though and I would like to have access to that forum.
But there are times when my thoughts and emotions flow more freely in poetry than in stories. You say "novelist". I wonder if this was meant to apply to the short story writer too?
Writing poetry gives me another outlet to create and explore new ways to tell stories. Almost all my poems tell of an experience I had in my life that I know would've been hard to get across by telling it straight out. More than anything else, it sure makes you appreciate finding just the right word to make the reader "feel" what the poet intended. And, in turn, that seems to me something that would be a big plus for the novel and short story writer.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
As Crystal said, a private forum wouldn't need the 13-line rule.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
And if it isn't open to any kind of poetry, then I wouldn't consider starting it.
Heck, the only kind of poetry I've ever written would only qualify as doggerel.
Just as here, no one would be required to comment on anything that didn't appeal to them.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
.