 Poetry: February 24, 2016 Issue [#7498] |
  Poetry
This week: Audience Edited by: Fyn-elf  
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Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.~~Robert Frost
Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.~~Carl Sandburg
Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before.~~Audre Lorde
Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.~~Muriel Rukeyser
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We, as poets, write. We take our thoughts, our emotions, our fears and our triumphs and phrase them in a way that is fresh and new or stark and telling or visceral and wrenching. We express ourselves because we must, because we can't not do this. We are wordsmiths who must find that new combination of expressing that catches the illusive and nails the thought down.
An odd pairing of two or three words gleaned from almost anywhere is enough for the poetic mind to grab hold of and proceed to play with, manipulate and weave to our interpretation. It matters not if it had anything to do (at all) with original context: we take them and fly: creating the new and different.
But the question is: when we do this --to whom or for whom are we writing? Does this change from poem to poem?
Do we write merely for ourselves, for our pleasure, for our ego? Or are we, as poets, writing to communicate that thought, impression, idea or epiphany to others? One? The other? Both?
Does it matter? Yes. We know our thoughts, the context of the moment. We have the background, the colors and the brush. The act of creating the poem, of putting pen to paper to make it concrete is so that others can share what we have created so that it may touch them in ways beyond which we may even have considered.
Thus, audience is entered into the equation. Audience varies. As does the why of the poem. Is it created because an idea has been stewing around in our mind, simmering, coming to a boil and exploding out of us? Is it a result of a prompt that sang or a prompt for a contest that we muddle over, manipulate and create to fit? Is it a poem we create because the concept has burst forth or because we plan to enter it somewhere specific...for a contest, perhaps? Sure, it can, when the fates and muses smile, be both. This is where the audience comes in, plops down and becomes a factor.
When we write because of an idea, when we write 'just because we need to expel this poem from our psyche, we write it to thrust it out into the world and can but hope that it lands on fallow ground, sprouts and then grows and blooms into a lasting effect in someone's soul. While, tis true, we would hope that is always the case, often it is something different entirely.
A prompt (picture, words, piece of music, category) is tossed out there for us to react to ... or not. Does the writing follow because we want to enter the contest? Because we want to win said contest? Or does the writing follow and if we happen to do well in a contest - hallelujah - and if not - oh well, no biggie?
Audience, in this case, your judges, (regardless if for publication, a contest here at WdC or whatever else) does factor in. In a class, your audience is your teacher. Pure and simple. In a contest, it is not the world (so to speak) but that judge.(or judges) Knowing your judges, figuring out what sorts of things they like, what impresses them, what turns them on or makes them crazy does factor in! No two people are alike. Their perceptions, their level of experience in writing, their life experiences all come into play. How your work is perceived is dependent upon the eyes that person reads with, the mindset that person has, the ability your poem has to be accessible to them as the reader. Knowing the work of a judge allows the writer to have a concept of what response the reader may have.
This knowledge may have an effect on the style you chose, on length, on subject matter or vocabulary to name just a few. Within the constraints of a contest or completion how a poem is presented can have a positive or negative affect on the reader/s. Some folks shudder at long poetry; others at the conciseness of a super short poem. Some don't like (read that as enjoy) reading about vampires or abuse or happy little trees -- others do. Knowing this can have a huge impact on how that poem is perceived by the reader and thus on how well (or not!) you do in that contest or competition. It is a big step up from a general reader who will choose to read (or not) based on subject or style or form.
Bottom line: we write to communicate our thoughts. To do so, the poem (or whatever else) must be read. When your audience is captive, in other words, when they have to read a set number of poems (or books or assignments etc.) indulging their likes can go a long way to how a piece is received. If I, for example, read the beginning of a poem and I am not grabbed by the language, the fresh use of words, the syntax, the style by the first few lines, the writer has lost me as an audience. If I trip over grammar or typos or am faced with a line such as, "The fluffy clouds floated in a blue sky," my first thoughts are a) boring! b) couldn't they describe it better than that? and c) nothing new here. Not good. Too simplistic? Perhaps, but it happens (in a similar vein) all the time. You are entering to win (or turning in an assignment for a good grade) not just tossing it out there and hoping for a 'happy little landing.' It will be assumed (rightly so!) that you feel your work is good enough to be entered/turned in/read! Think of your work as a resume for a job you really, really want. A single poem, or your body of work gives others a perception of you!
"I just write for me. I don't care what others think! If they 'get' it, great, if not, oh well. I only write what makes me happy." All fine, well and good. But there's nothing worse than writing a review, offering a sound constructive critique and getting that as a reply. It can make one feel that as part of the 'audience' that they mean nothing, that their thoughts and feelings mean nothing. For those who wish constructive reviews in order to make their writing better, it sends a mixed message and diminished their desire to improve their craft. It would seem to me that any writer, practicing their craft, should have some interest in becoming better at it. Might it be a protective response to cover feelings that their work needs improvement? Perhaps. We are such a magnificent community with all levels of writing abilities that everyone has something unique to offer even if it is simply a fresh pair of eyes or an unusual experience that may relate and thus be in a position of offering a perspective that might make the difference between an okay review/rating and a stellar one. The audience is an important part of writing. It should never be discounted or overlooked!
Keeping in mind your intended audience can go a long way in how your writing is received. As a publisher, I read a lot of manuscripts on subjects that, personally, are not within my framework of 'books I like to read.' That being said, when I read a manuscript I am always thinking about the perceived audience. Then, when I am reading a book on (for example) baseball, and it keeps me reading, keeps me turning pages eagerly, I know it is well written and if it keeps me entertained, then I also know it will appeal to those who are already interested in books on that subject. As I read manuscripts, I am always keeping in mind things like potential marketability as well as whether or not it is well written, ready or still needs major editing. Do I believe it has an audience? If it does not, then it matters little if it is well written or not. If it isn't something that bookstores will want on their shelves, if I can't see folks coming to hear about the book or wanting to attend readings, then the audience isn't there. If is does have a potential audience, has a chance of attracting buyers, then even a book that isn't quite there yet may possibly be chosen go through a revision/editing process to get it where it needs to be. Again. Audience. The publisher as well as the potential audience of readers.
Does this matter if you have no desire to ever be 'published' or have your work in print? Yes, it truly does, for what is it we do here at writing.com? We 'publish' our work on a site for others to read, comment on and hopefully, enjoy! Just because it isn't on a best seller list doesn't mean, shouldn't mean that we don't want to get better at what we do. We are all on (to my way of thinking) the best writing site there is! Let's aim to give reader the best we can. Let's put our work out there with the intention that someone might make a suggestion to help us improve as a writer. Let's share our knowledge so that beginner and advanced writers alike are appreciated for what they, as the audience, can and do offer. Let's promote the idea that any level of writer has much to offer and that we all can learn from our readers.
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Before I get to this week's Editor's Picks ... A reminder that is now accepting submissions!
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Patrece ~  writes: I rarely read the poetry newsletter, as I am not a poetic person. I prefer fiction writing. But I read this newletter, and it is packed with some very useful points and information. I agree 100% that we only grow as writers, when we are pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone. Sometimes that means being put in an uncomfortable position, but if we push ourselves to broaden our horizons, it can only serve us in a positive way.
💟Crissy~Hijacked requests: Rhyming poems are easy for me. My challenge for myself right now is metered non-rhyming poetry that tells a story. Please view "Invalid Item" Thanks for the uplifting NL.
Mara ♣ McBain  notes: Your newsletter struck a chord.
Writing is work. Three little words so not understood by the masses. Since I chose to turn my efforts toward writing full time I often hear 'So, you're not working.' They don't understand that I work more than an eight hour shift at my job. I just do it from home in my pajamas most days.
If we do not continue to grow we are stagnant. Those that I look to for both criticism and support tell me my writing is improving with each book. Sometimes that is hard for me to see, but recently I went poking around here in my WDC portfolio and there it was. If you've been here a while like I have take a look back at your early works. Compare them to your new pieces. I hope that you will see the growth I found in mine. At the same time I have only to pick up a book by one of my favorite authors to see that I have a long way to go.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences and encouraging me to look at myself. 
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