  Poetry
This week: Different Ways to Explain Form Used Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Poetry Newsletter by Elf
There are a few different ways to let a reader know about a form used for a poem. More than one location is up for grabs and there are a couple good reasons to explain the form used in items on here when they are open for reviews here on WDC. |
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While I don't write poetry often these days, I am still a fan of trying out different forms when I venture into the lands of poetic writing. Not everyone is going to enjoy or use specific forms in poetry, which is okay too. For those that use form, there is the option of whether or not to list the form or information about such within the item.
I won't go into detail as to the various reasons as to why someone might consider posting form information within the static item along with the poem, it's something that people should definitely consider. There is a plethora of forms available through many different resources and the reader isn't always going to be aware of the specific form requirements if not informed on the form used, or at least given enough to further research later if details aren't in depth. There are reasons one might not want to put even the type of form used at all, as in the name of the one used, but it can help when seeking out reviews to provide some information.
That aside... let's look at some of the options available for providing form within a static item. First up is the simple, mention the form name types of approaches.
Form Name
There are a couple of different locations where you can post the name of the form used. One easy place is within the item description. Aside from offering a little tidbit to catch a reader's attention in order to entice them to check out the poem, you could list the form as long as it all fits within the character limits of the site. In the title is an option but most of the time, I wouldn't recommend it. Unless doing an assignment type poem or wanting to do a poem about the form, would be better off to have something else as the actual title. The final place to just list the name of the form used would be within the body of the poem, which can be at the beginning or end (probably not at random in the middle). The end would be my recommendation with some space or something to separate it from the poetic body (the poem itself).
Form Details
Another thing that you could list is information on the actual form. This is helpful since not everyone is going to know the form or the requirements involved. Unlike the name only, it isn't often going to be optimal to put the details anywhere but the body of the poem. There are occasions where it can be listed in the description but you have to consider whether taking up that space there will get a reader to click on the item and read it.
Within the body of the poem is going to be a better option if you decide to provide information on the details of the form. It can be done either at the beginning or end of the poem, and for me it depends on the reason for using the form and writing the poem as to which is the option I use. If the form is very important and/or it's an assignment, then I might put the form description at the top. However, most of the time I put it after the actual poem.
If you aren't keen on having a long description or maybe want to give the reader the option of finding out details of the form used, there is a great option. Dropnotes are available on static items. How to use them can be found if you click on the ? symbol above the main location where you are writing the poem in the static item. It will be listed as add a dropnote, which will show how to do so. You could also consider footnote or popnote. These are nice options. I like the drop note because it's nice to have the sometimes long information still available but not as a distraction from the poem itself. Popnote is okay but more for small bits of information and some forms need a whole lot of explaining due to their requirements. So, I tend to stick with drop notes when not just leaving the description open in the static item.
In conclusion: If you like to focus on different forms, consider providing information to the reader/reviewer about the specific one you used in a given poem. There are a couple of options so the choice is up to you. And if you don't want to write poetry following a particular form, then you can add different notes, whatever works best for your poem.
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How do you show the form used for a poem or do you prefer to leave that part out?
The last poetry newsletter that of mine was back in June 2015, so it has been a little while. I talked about considering the reader way back then. First, a comment asking a form question from summer of 2015 by flashramey  . Don't know if still curious about doing anything but rhyme, so here is the comment sent in and my response.
Comment: I love rhyme. Some people have said that I need to expand to other forms of writing in order to grow. I have no desire to write other forms. Rhyme is the form I feel is really me. Must I really do what I don't love to be taken seriously? Flash
Response:
Comment by Elfin Dragon-finally published 
Well, you said no feedback but I wanted to answer your questions of If I share my poems with others and how I explain them to non-poet readers. The short answer is Yes, I often do. And if I get someone who reviews and either disagrees with how I've written it or is a non-poet reader I first try and digest what the person has written in the review. Sometimes I can see their point of view and use it to understand them better, other times not. When I explain, I usually explain why the poem was written and what I was thinking at the time. It generally helps the non-poet reader to understand both the poem and myself better.
Comment by jerics
Thank you for this post. When I review I don't pay that much attention to punctuation, or style a writer may use. I pay attention to the feeling and or emotion that is put into an authors work.
I believe anyone who writes or who has written books or even note paper where you can feel, envision or understand what they are putting into words either fiction or not, it is awesome.
Comment by Bob retired
Hi I'm Bob. Poetry is communication and no matter what style you write in. You will get reviews IF your poem communicates with the reader. Having said that, you will still be obliged to post your poem in a contest, or something, to put it in front of the reader. Reviews, good or bad, are helpful if taken in context and are constructive
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Poetry: May 04, 2016 Issue [#7629]
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