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Eromyna
Member
since 2002-11-29
Posts 306
Pheonix, AZ, USA

0 posted 2003-03-16 08:20 PM


Why do I get the feeling that the only replies I'm getting are pity responses from those people who think I put a lot of emotion into my writing, and they don't want to completely break my heart by giving me no responses at all? What is it about my writing that allows you to overlook it?

"I don't need to scream for you to deem me aggravation."

© Copyright 2003 Shay D. - All Rights Reserved
Cpat Hair
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793

1 posted 2003-03-16 10:13 PM


(chuckling)... I know you are serious..so fogive me a chuckle..what I have seen of your writing it is not pity people respond to..or because they feel it...

wouldn't we all like to know why a poem or a piece misses...noot capturing the response we thought it would...


make you a deal...
no pity from me..if I get none from you.. OK?


Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
2 posted 2003-03-16 10:51 PM


Ok..I looked you up..you post mostly in Dark and I rarely read there, but I will read you and be honest in my reply.
Eromyna
Member
since 2002-11-29
Posts 306
Pheonix, AZ, USA
3 posted 2003-03-18 08:41 PM


It's not just some of them, though. I haven't gotten more than two or three replies to the last ten or so I've posted. And I haven't posted in Dark for a long time now, because less people read what's in there.

"I don't need to scream for you to deem me aggravation."

Cpat Hair
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Member Patricius
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793

4 posted 2003-03-19 05:34 PM


well..as silly as it sounds.. people tend to read the poems of people they know or that have said things in reply to the poems they wrote. Reading other people and leaving your thoughts may help you to gain some readers.

I have many poems in the archives with very few responses..and some..I thought were quite good... who knows sometimes what touches the reader and what doesn't. Don't get discouraged and remember...the main reason to write is to do it for yourself. Do it because you have something to say or share.


wandering glider
Senior Member
since 2001-04-04
Posts 501
aloft
5 posted 2003-03-20 12:23 PM


Who knows?
But it's a good question.
Last one I posted got one response.
The one before that got two or three.
I think it depends on who you reply to, whether or not you respond to replies, how often you reply, which forum you use, when you post, the subject of you poem, and sometimes how good it is (okay, i'm being a little sarcastic with that last one, but frankly, some of the poems here are better than others).
Oh, there are probably many other reasons too.
I tend to respond to writers that I think have something to say and that write well.  I also try to be polite and read and respond to those that comment on my work.
But don't start trying to write to an audience, just to get replies.  Write what you need to write.  If this isn't the place for you to find readers, maybe another place is.  I'm not suggesting that you should leave, but I know from experience that some of the things I write most folks here could care less about.
I'm going to write that stuff anyway.

w.g.

KristieSue
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Senior Member
since 2003-01-31
Posts 1460
PA, US
6 posted 2003-03-20 02:54 PM


I just noticed your name.  I've not seen it before.  However, I am pretty new here.  BUT, there are many people I recognize and have gotten to know on a first-name basis.  Here are some things that helped me, and I think they might help you...

1.  I read a lot of poetry and reply to
    people's poems.  I don't just post and
    hope that people will get to know me.

2.  I have e-mailed people and chat with them
    about life...  

once you recognize someone, you read them.  When you read them, you can't help respond.  If people think you care (or attempt to, they are going to respond).  Notice your post # and notice the people who get many replies....  Yes, we all like to be noticed, but it is most definitely give and take.

Hope to see you around more often, and I hope I'm not out of line....I mean it with the most sincere heart. :-)

KS

[This message has been edited by KristieSue (03-20-2003 02:56 PM).]

Wind
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Member Elite
since 2002-10-12
Posts 2981

7 posted 2003-03-22 08:45 PM


I have a group of favorite poets here. When I find someone who's poetry I love, I read it all the time. They get to know me and begin to read my poetry. I feel that the wisdom of my favorite poets is more meaninfull then just plain heartfelt replys. So pick out someone. Or two or three. It doesn't matter how many. Quality is better than quantity, and if they're not being truthfull, tell them you would rather have them tear your works apart by rabid dogs.

I look and I listen, does not everyone?

-Diane lee Wilson

Eromyna
Member
since 2002-11-29
Posts 306
Pheonix, AZ, USA
8 posted 2003-03-29 11:56 AM


So, sifting out those suggestions that I already knew, or those that don't apply to me, the only new information I've gotten is that people here don't like to read poems by anyone but their favorite writers. Apparently, you mostly just skim over new people (unless it's their VERY first post) and ignore them unless they go recruiting people to pay attention to them. That's sad. You're depriving yourselves of anything new you could have enjoyed.

"I don't need to scream for you to deem me aggravation."

brian madden
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374
ireland
9 posted 2003-03-29 02:29 PM


Eromyna, you have to understand that people have a limited time on line and now our ever ever increasing amount of members it is hard to pay attention to every poet, the sad fact is some very good poems get over looked and some not so good poems seem to get a mountain of replies. If you want more replies then reply to more poems yourself make contact with poets make friends, alternatively post in a small forum where the traffic is not as heavy or if you really want to get replies write crowd pleasing poetry, avoid touchy or edgy subjects....
but what is the point in writing poetry if you are going to take that approach. My advice establish yourself at this site, make yourself known to people.
  

"Aboard a shipwreck train, give my umbrella to the rain dogs For I am a rain dog, too" Tom Waits



KristieSue
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Senior Member
since 2003-01-31
Posts 1460
PA, US
10 posted 2003-03-29 05:30 PM


part of marketing is selling yourself.  MAKE people want to read your writing.  MAKE people want to dig deeper.

No, there are times I just click on a poem because the title sounds good, or I wonder what it is about...but if I spent time reading EVERY poem, by EVERY person, EVERYDAY...well I'd be the internet addict I fought so hard to leave behind.  

I'll be honest...there's only one person on here whose poems I NEVER miss.  The ONLY reason that is, is because I know him in real life...other than that, I strive to read a lot (because it motivates me and I want to know people more), but it's impossible to read everything.

on the other hand, if you seriously just want critiques...my e-mail is accesible through this site and you can write me anytime.  I don't really get much time to respond to e-mail or spend much time online, unless it's in the middle of the night and I am depriving myself of sleep.  I want to help you, and I like people to feel positively about themselves.  Please DO NOT leave it up to strangers in the cyberworld to give you self-worth about your writing (or any other aspect of your life for that matter).

Seriously, e-mail me.  I would enjoy reading more of you work...and on the days I don't have time to skim through EVERY poem here, I will always catch yours.

Hope you feel better and learn to love everyone here like a cyberfamily :-) I know I've been there 3 months (man time flies!) and I am having a wonderful time learning about the people here...

Ciao!

Failure isn't failure if a lesson from it is learned ~ KS

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
11 posted 2003-03-29 06:44 PM


You have been given some very good and well-meaning advice, and I believe both Brian and Kristie Sue have tied it up very well.

You have posted some 36 posts and responded 164 times.  Actually, less then that, if you take away the 36 that are counted in there as originating posts/poems.  Which means you have responded some 128 times and quite possibly a few of those were to your own posts.  Let's say one response for every 36 posts of yours, so subtract another 36 and now you have possibly responded to others some 92 times.  That means, on a ratio, you have posted 2 responses for every post/poem placed somewhere in Passions.

Fortunately, I don't really look at numbers.  We DO look at numbers when someone has posted 1000 posts, 3000, 5000, etc., and we congratulate them on their longevity and their sharing!  So many members post a poem and then spend time, and so many of them, effort, to give wonderful responses, some very indepth critiques, and share stories of what your poetry brought back to mind.

But posting is not about numbers.  It's finding a way of writing that truly becomes "your trademark".  It comes about by expanding your horizons and reaching out to find what people ARE reading.  I learned early on that rhyming poetry [although I still attempt my hand at some] is NOT my forte.  However, some of my free verse seems to please people.  

One of the things I am not, and admire others who can be, is a writer of dark, or despairing, poetry.  I could very well turn my hand towards all of the darker parts of life - I choose not to.  Not that I am not aware of it's reality - but I choose to think that if others have already lived it, been there, done that, perhaps they need something that might give them hope to see them through the next day.  

You've been given a lot of good advice to your question - I hope you don't dismiss it so easily because several people have again put time and effort into telling you what is possible, and how to achieve it.

I know that Poet deVine has found and read your poetry.  I know that I have found, and read, your poetry.  Nothing comes easily.  If you truly wish to write, and be read, it is going to take a lot of finger-tapping, thinking, researching, learning, and sharing.

And that's all there is to it!

Good luck!

        Karilea - If I whisper, will you listen?...

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (03-29-2003 06:49 PM).]

kaile
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Member Ascendant
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146
singapore
12 posted 2003-04-03 12:09 PM


I have been in your shoes before...i remember being so desperate to get replies that i solicited hard for people to read my work

now, i do my fair share of replying...but before you roll your eyes and say duh!, this is not one of those "i replied to others, so now i get tons of replies to my work" posts...nay, usually i will be lucky if i get more than 5 replies to my work...

i reply to others because i enjoy the process...it's fun to discuss at some length how you feel about the poem and stuff...and some of the poets have given me so much that i wish to reciprocate in kind..Cpat Ron, Midnitesun, regards2you, among others are examples of individuals who really take time to read through poets' work and leave thoughtful responses...i am honoured that sometimes they find my work intriguing enough to drop a note in my threads...

i have come to learn that the quality of the reply isn't as important as the quantity of replies...a top-notch response really means more than lots of generic responses...

sorry i am not eloquent and i am clearly rambling off...what i really want to say is that: lots of the fun of being here is due to the process of reading and replying...if you get too caught up in replies to your work, then you probably won't have so much fun....

[This message has been edited by kaile (04-03-2003 12:19 PM).]

Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669
Michigan, US
13 posted 2003-04-03 01:16 PM


One of the lessons a writer needs to learn is to "think in layers." Contrary to pop culture, life isn't a box of chocolates. It's an onion, and even the most seemingly simple things inevitably hide deeper truths. That's both the way we, as people, discover truth and how we, as writers, will often choose to reveal our truths. Think in layers.

Oh, you want an example? Reply to others and they will reply to you. That's both common courtesy and a very simple truth. Now dig down to the next layer. Replying to others infers you have read their poetry, which is ultimately the only way to become a better writer. The more good poetry you read, the more you will learn. So, in effect, replying to others serves to make you a better poet. And, lo and behold, improving your work tends to garner more replies.

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
14 posted 2003-04-03 04:29 PM



I thought I smelled onions!  

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