Linda
Photograph by Kate Gardiner
Welcome to Post-weekend Poetry and the ninety-fifth poem in this series. This week’s piece welcomes back Linda Eve Diamond.
The Wrong Writing Circle
Welcome to the Poet’s Circle! We do wish you’d come on time.
The first poet’s already read. Now we’ll round the room for critique…
and remember—keep it helpful, specific and brief!
… I liked the part about the goldfish. I have a poem about a whale.
Have you read my chapbook? I have it here for sale.
… I assume the poem’s an allegory about war, and the boat’s a metaphor.
But that wouldn’t make sense. You need to work this one some more.
… I don’t trust rhymes that scheme, and the rhythm is too tight.
Did you overplay that meter? No, something isn’t right.
… I’d prefer this piece…
as a haiku, wouldn’t you?
Have you tried haiku?
… The poem had good intentions, though I don’t think it’s your best.
I wanted to see it go in another direction—maybe out West.
… Your poetry strains to grow, but it’s dying on the vine.
I teach a series of classes for $59.99.
… Sorry I dozed. No comment on the poem.
Was up late writing something interesting of my own…
Great advice, everyone! So insightful and true!
Who’s next to share a poem with us? …How about you?
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From The Beauty of Listening (Aventine Press, 2013)
I asked Linda what prompted this piece and she said…
I’m sure, as writers, we’ve all stumbled into the “wrong writing circle” somewhere along the line (hopefully not as thoroughly wrong as this one)!
Of course, we also find wonderfully supportive circles and people who strive to maintain certain supportive, respectful guidelines for feedback and critique.
Most people genuinely want to be helpful, though, and critiquing someone’s work is a bit of an art form in itself.
So, even though we see some misguided (sometimes painful attempts), we have to know and support each other in knowing when to listen and when to just laugh and learn.
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I loved it. I run two writing groups and belong to another (technically, two) and it sounded eerily familiar. Thank you, Linda.
Linda Eve Diamond is the author of several books in the areas of business, education, self-help and poetry.
Her work (and play) earned two awards from the International Listening Association and a Coffee House Press Poetry Award.
Her poetry and essays have been published in journals, anthologies and online.
Her websites are: http://LindaEveDiamond.com, http://ListenersUnite.com, http://www.thebeautyofpicturebooks.com.
This poem is included in “The Beauty of Listening”, available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
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If you’d like to submit your poem (60 lines max) for consideration for Post-weekend Poetry take a look here or a poem for critique on the Online Poetry Writing Group (link below).
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I welcome items for critique directly (see Editing & Critique) or for posting on the online writing groups listed below:
Morgen’s Online Non-Fiction Writing Group
Morgen’s Online Novel Writing Group
Morgen’s Online Poetry Writing Group
Morgen’s Online Script Writing Group
Morgen’s Online Short Story Writing Group
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