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What's in a title?
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What's in a title? |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Do you read a poem because the title grabs you or because it was written by a favorite poet? What would happen if on one date, everyone posted a poem by someone else (we'd choose buddies) and the title was: No Title. We'd have to read every poem (the author's name would be at the end)... |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA |
I read poems in a particular order: First I go to Critical Analysis forum and read those written by certain poets listed on my "must read" list. Then those whose titles interest me. Second it is to Dark Passions and the same criteria for reading. Then to the open forum and the same criteria. Finally depending on time, I start at the top of the Open forum and begin to read all the new stuff, when done there I move to CA and Dark Passions. All the while, leaving myself time to go to the discussion forums as well. ------------------ Yesterday is ash, tomorrow is smoke; only today does the fire burn. JP |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
I always start with my fave's first, but usually am caught somewhere in the middle by a title that catches my eye. I think a title is one of the most important parts of a poem. It can be used simply as an eye-catcher, or it can be used to describe the words within, or it can also be used, (and this is my favorite method,)to answer questions, tie up the poem, or raise intriquing questions about its meaning. But no matter what, I ALWAYS read yours ms deVIne! ------------------ A philosopher is a dead poet and a dying theologian. -Roger Zelazny- [This message has been edited by Christopher (edited 09-01-99).] |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
What can we do to improve our titles if they are so important? And a title is the only thing on your posting that you can't edit, a moderator has to do it! JP, what? No adult forum? |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Titles grab me, I admit. Especially when I first started. Now it's titles and faves - but I try and answer at least three people who have only one or two replies or (a crime) none at all. Yet, with so many - you can get title overload. Is there really anything we can do to make them more interesting? Short seems to be better - a short title grabs people and the word(s) need to be impacting ones. |
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Saxoness
since 1999-07-18
Posts 1102Texas |
DeVine, Ok, here is what I do. I always go to the open forum list first, and look through them.Then, I go to The Alley, to see if I can stick my 2 cents in anywhere. Then it's off to Passions in Prose, Then Dark passions, the C/A, then back to the open forum, where I reply to my favorite poets first, then begin at the top and see how far I get. Very dissorderly, but it works for me. ------------------ "Glory remains unaware of my neglected dwelling where alone I sing my tearful song which has charms only for me." -Charles Brugnot |
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Julie Senior Member
since 1999-08-20
Posts 739Houston, TX |
So JP when do you post?? And I thought I was methodical. ------------------ Julie ------------------------- Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Marianne Williamson |
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JP Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343Loomis, CA |
PDV - I do go into the Adult forum on occasion, but I find it distracting for the rest of my day... As for when I post Julie, I find I do that in spurts, I have two or three works I want to post and I put them up before I start browsing... it gets confusing if I read and try to write - I forget where I left off... ------------------ Yesterday is ash, tomorrow is smoke; only today does the fire burn. JP |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I am grabbed by interesting titles - ones that seem provocative... [but not titles that YELL at me...] However if I need a laugh, then you all know what needs to be looked for... From there I go to ones that have the least responses, and especially look for eggs "0" because everyone needs a boost...and then I respond if I can...however, in Open Forum, I have decided not to critique [as there has been flack over that] unless it's requested...so if I don't like it, or if I see that it's hard to read, etc., I do not respond... Finally, I go to my favorite authors, and you all stand in line for that one. |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
Like a book, a poem should not be judged solely by it's title. However the title is what catches the eye enough to stir interest. Admittedly, I hardly reply to anything unless it truly piques my interest, the poem not the title. I start in the Alley here and work my way up the forum lists until I hit Open. I READ much more than I reply to. ------------------ Pain is life, life is short, I will endure. DreamEvil© |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Mz DeVine, It's no secret it's impossible to read even half of the poetry posted here without eyes getting bloodshot and brain going numb. I, like JP, have a must read list of poets who've grabbed my attention with the excellence of their work. (Yours included). Time is a hinderance though. Like DreamEvil, I read much more than I could ever respond to everyday. Other than staying on top of all works posted to the Dark Forum, I believe the attention a title draws towards the piece is the key reason I may choose one poem over another with the poets being unkown to me. I myself often fret over the titles ove my own work. The title has always seemed most more important to me, than any other part of the poem. Michael |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Another to bring to the top - an interesting question! |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Revising answer... lol ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... title - still a drawcard - but I've discovered it really doesn't mean anything at all. Heh Imagine a whole list of poems called 'Untitled' - my my wouldn't we be in a quandary...  K |
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Dopey Dope
Moderator
Member Patricius
since 2000-08-30
Posts 11132San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Well I go in order in places i read.... First i go to the alley, then Feelings, then Anouncements and links.....then dark passions, then corner.....then holiday.....then teen explorer, and then teen poetry (my fav)......... As for titles......i read ALL poems in teen poetry and holiday......the rest of the poems i reply to are due to their catchy titles and WHO the author is.  I was born myself, raised myself, and will continue to be myself. The world will just have to adjust. I hate your socks. I'd like to burn them! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Thanks for bringing this back up Chris ... I missed this one. I usually head to Moderators first, then to Teen ... then I usually check into the Alley, Feelings, Suggestions, Q&A and finally Open, where I read and reply in absolutely no particular order anymore, LOL. And I do think titles are important. If I haven't read someone's work, and they have an interesting title, it will often draw me in. I've gotten to know many wonderful poets this way. |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
If the poet is known to me and one whose work I like, I'll read no matter what. Since I've been posting in a small forum (CA), I read all of the poems there. If I foray into open, it's usually by the title, which is supposed to be from the heart of the poem, though it can often be ambiguous, clouded, or misleading. I feel titles do not have to reveal the poem's meaning, but sometimes, if a work is abstract, it can help the reader to identify with concepts. Titles which immediately put a question into my mind as to what the poem may or may not contain usually grab my attention first. Obvious titles would only get notice if they were of a subject matter I was interested in, and, of course, everyone has their own tastes. As to how to make titles more interesting...I think one should try to form a title that speaks of the poem, yet makes the reader curious as to what it contains. I know...easier said than done. Well, I tried. mia ...got to be somewhere better than in the middle...~Wallflowers |
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angelface Junior Member
since 2000-10-25
Posts 40Savannah area, Georgia |
that is a great question.... Since I don't have my own computer (durn thing died), and I haven't been here that long, I don't have too many favorites. I usually go by title, and then to an assorted number of boards that vary every time I login.  I also read more than I reply to, but then I wonder how that particular person I don't reply to is going to write "better" poetry if they don't know what anyone thinks or what parts people do & don't like. Thank you for bearing the run-on-ness of that last paragraph.  The one thing I've noticed about these boards is that there are no "constructively critical" remarks about anyone's poem. Maybe I'm missing something, or haven't been here long enough. Maybe everyone is that good, although, I know everyone writes clunkers, especially those who are looking to refine their writing (like me!! ). kr |
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angelface Junior Member
since 2000-10-25
Posts 40Savannah area, Georgia |
that is a great question.... Since I don't have my own computer (durn thing died), and I haven't been here that long, I don't have too many favorites. I usually go by title, and then to an assorted number of boards that vary every time I login. I also read more than I reply to, but then I wonder how that particular person I don't reply to is going to write "better" poetry if they don't know what anyone thinks or what parts people do & don't like. Thank you for bearing the run-on-ness of that last paragraph. The one thing I've noticed about these boards is that there are no "constructively critical" remarks about anyone's poem. Maybe I'm missing something, or haven't been here long enough. Maybe everyone is that good, although, I know everyone writes clunkers, especially those who are looking to refine their writing (like me!! ). k |
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warmhrt Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563 |
angelface, Try CA (Critical Analysis)if you're looking for helpful criticism. That's what they're there for (but be prepared for your work to be sliced and diced!...J/K). mia< !signature--> ...got to be somewhere better than in the middle...~Wallflowers [This message has been edited by miapoetess (edited 11-13-2000).] |
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Elizabeth Cor Senior Member
since 2000-10-13
Posts 879Over the river and through the woods |
No order here, of course... I hop to whichever forum I feel like going to that day, and eventually work my way into the others. I look for interesting titles, favorite poets, and "eggs"/few responses... then, if I've the time, work my way about the list until I've at least READ almost all of the new posts... Honestly, the mass of this place is a little frustrating at times. I don't have the time to visit Passions more than once to three times a week, and a person can miss SO much in that amount of time. Often, I find myself just trying to "catch up" once I'm here. ~ Beth |
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SEA 
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 2000-01-18
Posts 22676with you |
I have favorites that I read, I don't like to see the ones with no replys so I try to get those first, then I like titles, if they sound really neat, I'll read, at the same time, if a title looks like it will be a painful subject that I just can't read, I either don't read it, or I wait till I think I won't cry then read it! I try to read as much as I can....... -SEA |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Where have I been? (please, don't answer that, I really don't wanna know) but....I once wrote a poem, and it got very few replies...and a friend said he thought it was a good poem, but a really rotten title...so...as an experiment? I had Nan change the title for me. He was right, and I learned a lesson. |
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