Who do you share your poems/fiction/nonfiction with?
After reading this post, I thought it would be an interesting question to pose here.
While in grad school and then for several years after, I had a small group of friends who read my poems and offered feedback. And I did the same for them. We’d find the best places to publish, and commiserate when rejected (which seemed more often than not in the early days).
But now, my college friends have published more extensively that me, with books and grants and paid reading gigs under their belts. I went a different path by starting a family and temporarily stepping away from poetry.
Who reads my work now? You do. When I post a new poem, it’s hot off the computer screen. My husband, while supportive, could care less. He’s happy that I’m happy to write and blog, but that’s the extent of his interest. (Love ya, babe!) But who reads your work before you send it off to be published? Do you have a group or a trusted friend who will tell you, “eh…I think you should take a second look at this.” If you’re in a writing group, do you worry about your vision being rewritten by someone else?
Who reads your work?
While in grad school and then for several years after, I had a small group of friends who read my poems and offered feedback. And I did the same for them. We’d find the best places to publish, and commiserate when rejected (which seemed more often than not in the early days).
But now, my college friends have published more extensively that me, with books and grants and paid reading gigs under their belts. I went a different path by starting a family and temporarily stepping away from poetry.
Who reads my work now? You do. When I post a new poem, it’s hot off the computer screen. My husband, while supportive, could care less. He’s happy that I’m happy to write and blog, but that’s the extent of his interest. (Love ya, babe!) But who reads your work before you send it off to be published? Do you have a group or a trusted friend who will tell you, “eh…I think you should take a second look at this.” If you’re in a writing group, do you worry about your vision being rewritten by someone else?
Who reads your work?
Comments
http://www.everypoet.org/pffa
Cate: I'm jealous that you have such a trusted network. We should all be so lucky.
Vlaw: Thanks for the link to PFFA. I'll definitely check it out.
People ask all the time why I need criticism from others--and isn't the writer the best judge of a story, anyway? I always say NO WAY! if your intention is for your work to be read and enjoyed by others, you need to know if you're communicating effectively to your audience. If my writing group doesn't understand something, I change it. And I thank them for giving me the perspective needed to see the complication in that piece. Sure, there are times when I don't agree with their point, or I don't want to change something, and that's my perogative. But 98% of the time, I end up changing the scene/chapter/whatever because I'll eventually realize they're right.
It also really helps to build confidence, believe it or not--because you learn to see your work from an objective place, realizing that rejections aren't about YOU, it's about the work. Which can be revised.
-bostonerin
bostonerin.livejournal.com
I'm also tired of the contest and publishing game at the moment - sending out my stuff, waiting six months for word, then possibly getting word if a poem will publish or not, then waiting another year for the poem to maybe come out, unless for some reason the magazines folds, or they push the issue back into oblivion, etc. I recently decided to just post whatever I choose on my blog (with or without critique from others), self-publish my own book and offer it on my site, and welcome the feedback I get from other bloggers. (And I must say, it's been joining the blogging world that has helped me re-evaluate my writing process.)
Granted, this is just where I am now, and in a few years time I may be of a totally different mindset, but getting away from my attachment to workshopping and getting published by others has been liberating!
Erin: You're lucky to have a community to tap into when needed (and I'm lucky to have you in my corner)!
Twitches: Coming from a workshopping background, I know EXACTLY how you feel. And like you, my writing has been greatly improved by blogging--which starts out as a solitary process and turns into a group collaborative.
I definitely need outside perspective on my work! And other people do push me to be better than what I thought was my best.
I'm a real newbie and always hope that kindness will prevail when someone leaves a comment on my blog. They aren't the publishing type of poems anyway, just expression therapy as I continue to seek my place in the world.
My hat is off to all of you who are brave enough to seek out constructive criticism (of course, you all probably have some clue what you're doing in the first place!)
Thanks for all you share with us, January.
Find another good group of writers whose opinions and ideas you trust. If their comments are sincere, use those you feel work, and throw the rest away.
A good workshop is helpful, but ultimately, it comes down to you.
Do you know--is the stuff you put on your blog considered already published? Can you then still send those to a publisher? or what?
Great posts, everyone!
I have considered trying for an MFA to have that feedback again, but I find myself unusually resistant to taught creativity. I also find myself very suspicious that it almost seems you *have* to have an MFA to get yourself published nowadays. I read all the bios in addition to the poetry:-) Many of the great works in literature were written by people who never even did higher ed..My gosh how'd they do it without academia over their shoulder?;-)
I would love to find/form another group. There are writers in my life, but not many poets.
As for poetry published on blogs, depending on the publication it may be considered already published and hence unacceptable to them. It depends on the publisher.
If it's poetry...no one. It's too personal! I'd rather have strangers read them and comment!
The poem does have to be yours, not someone else's, but after all you know all about your poem - what you are trying to say. It is very difficult sometimes to judge for yourself whether your meaning is actually in the poem or is still inside your head.
What was that about peas in a pod? :-)
Star--you are not alone. There seems to be a lot of us relatively new to blogging (and poetry). This Internet poetry community seems to be a very kind one, so I doubt you'll get comments you don't wont on your blog. Just make that clear in your discussion threads.
Pepek: Yes, I, too, have had so much fun posting on my blog that I haven't sent out as many poems to publishers. I am curious about the value of self publishing, however. The writer controls the inventory, gets more of the profits, but works harder to sell books. Or at least, that's my take. If others have different experiences, please share.
Also, from what I've read on other blogs, I think posting on a blog is considered publishing in the strictist sense. But, most journals or reviews don't really consider personal blogs in the same category as journals (print or online). So I guess it does come down to the submission guidelines. If a journal requested no simultaneous submissions but I have poems from my blog, I would probably send them in without telling the publication and see what happens.
Pepek: Also, if a publication pressed me on the subject I would come clean about publishing poems on the blog. But I would give that info out on a need-to-know basis.
That's just my opinion.
Bug: I like what you said about outside people pushing you to be better. That's the value of having a trusted friend giving feedback.
Jeanne: In my humble opinion, an MFA is an expensive method for feedback. But when I was in classes, I really enjoyed having the time to focus solely on my work. And I did have a strong community of friends that motivated me long after the program ended.
As for MFA programs, the proliferation of them has been both wonderful and detrimental to poetry at the same time. You're right, poets who never took a creative writing class have written some of the best poetry. It's a myth that you have to have a degree to be a poet. (I'd much rather see MFAs teach students how to use their degree once out of college. How can you make a living being a poet? Teach THAT!)
On self-publishing: I've been against it for years, because "anyone can self-publish a book." (my husband has been calling me a snob for years, too). The thing is, I don't care anymore. I'm not above anyone else. Your comments about the work involved are true - and I'm going to do very little of that! Just a linky on my blog, and if before I die three people buy my book, I'll be happy. :)
First, is my wife. Since I "seduced" her with my poetry, I know she'll keep me honest. I'm lucky in that she's a writer and not a poet, and so we don't get too tight with it. Still, she does know a good deal about contemporary poetry (Eavan Boland and Mark Doty are her favs), and so I do trust her judgement.
Otherwise, I occasionally share work at local open mics, and but I more or less rely on trying to satsify my self. He's a pretty severe guy, really.
And yes, I'm one of those awful M.F.A.s. I had a very good experience where I went, and I think I was especially fortunate because I was so young. Most of all that has washed off (this is 22 years later!), and I'm working my way through, as I think I would be one way or the other.