Poetry conferences without rhyme or reason
Today began the 2006 Philadelphia Writer's Conference, where I attended not one, but TWO poetry workshops. Or, really, the start of them -- they're set to run over three days, and so I'll be back tomorrow and Sunday for the rest.
Here's my take on poetry conferences for people who are at least sometimes poets. They are a Very Good Idea. Now, if you are an aspiring poet, you may be inclined to quarrel with me. "But Kelly," you say, "I am merely a novice, and am not experienced enough/good enough/worthy to attend." PSHAW, say I. And I'll offer some examples to explain that one-syllable answer.
This is my third year at the PWC, yet my first attending any of the poetry workshops. Why? Well, because in the past, I didn't consider myself an actual poet. Never mind that I've sold two poems for publication, won an award, and received favorable feedback from an eminent poet and poetry editor. I wasn't thinking of myself as a poet. But here's the thing -- it's just like being a writer. If you write, you're a writer. If you write poetry, you're a poet. Sure, you may be a less-than-good poet, but you're a poet nonetheless, and you therefore merit a place in your local poetry seminar(s). Seriously.
A brief digression. Both my kids play soccer. When I asked S, who plays at a more competitive level than her sister, whether she wanted to spend a week at a sleep-away soccer camp this summer, she responded that she "wasn't a good enough player" to go. As a grownup, I know she's wrong, although she can't be convinced of that. The soccer camp is there to reach her at her present skill level and improve her skills. And she's on a team that's ranked fairly highly, and I've seen her play, so I know she has mad skillz. Still, she doesn't feel she belongs at the camp.
Just the way I thought I didn't belong at the seminars. And now that I've been, I'm reporting back. There are folks of all different skill levels at the seminars. Some of them have been writing poetry for years and aren't particularly good. Some of them have only started and are amazing. But mostly, there are folks in the flabby middle, who've been writing poems off and on for ages, some of which are brilliant and some of which, well, suck. And each poet can take what suits them from the course.
And so, I strongly suggest going to a poetry seminar. Now if only I could work up the nerve to attend a poety workshop (poet slang for "critique group", as it turns out).
Here's my take on poetry conferences for people who are at least sometimes poets. They are a Very Good Idea. Now, if you are an aspiring poet, you may be inclined to quarrel with me. "But Kelly," you say, "I am merely a novice, and am not experienced enough/good enough/worthy to attend." PSHAW, say I. And I'll offer some examples to explain that one-syllable answer.
This is my third year at the PWC, yet my first attending any of the poetry workshops. Why? Well, because in the past, I didn't consider myself an actual poet. Never mind that I've sold two poems for publication, won an award, and received favorable feedback from an eminent poet and poetry editor. I wasn't thinking of myself as a poet. But here's the thing -- it's just like being a writer. If you write, you're a writer. If you write poetry, you're a poet. Sure, you may be a less-than-good poet, but you're a poet nonetheless, and you therefore merit a place in your local poetry seminar(s). Seriously.
A brief digression. Both my kids play soccer. When I asked S, who plays at a more competitive level than her sister, whether she wanted to spend a week at a sleep-away soccer camp this summer, she responded that she "wasn't a good enough player" to go. As a grownup, I know she's wrong, although she can't be convinced of that. The soccer camp is there to reach her at her present skill level and improve her skills. And she's on a team that's ranked fairly highly, and I've seen her play, so I know she has mad skillz. Still, she doesn't feel she belongs at the camp.
Just the way I thought I didn't belong at the seminars. And now that I've been, I'm reporting back. There are folks of all different skill levels at the seminars. Some of them have been writing poetry for years and aren't particularly good. Some of them have only started and are amazing. But mostly, there are folks in the flabby middle, who've been writing poems off and on for ages, some of which are brilliant and some of which, well, suck. And each poet can take what suits them from the course.
And so, I strongly suggest going to a poetry seminar. Now if only I could work up the nerve to attend a poety workshop (poet slang for "critique group", as it turns out).