Curious about a couple of comments regarding critique not improving writing.  

Anonymous said:<< post removed >>

You're right regarding a lack of elemental study.  Also a lack of reading beyond DU poets ( or some have said ). In regards to suggestions, do you think free verse may have something to do with that?  Very few poets write structured in DU.  

Voted. ✔

Still does.

JohnnyBlaze said:Voted. ✔

Still does.

Copy that Houston. 📡

Sumwut, although isn't that just a yes?

SatInUGal said:Sumwut, although isn't that just a yes?

I reckon - but someone always complains there's not a third choice so it's the only thing I could think of.

Anonymous said:<< post removed >>

It's my understanding that free verse is just that: free from limitations of regular meter or rhythm, and does not rhyme with fixed forms. Of course, regular could be the point.  Free verse is without schemes ( rhythm and rhyme rules ), yet are still a poetic expression.

Anonymous said:<< post removed >>

That was my point, exactly.  Not many here write structured poetry.  Outside of that, grammar, spelling, syntax, punctuation, etc. are the major arcana of free verse.

as with everything, depends on the critique, but ALL critique/comments have value since they let me see how my writing's being perceived through eyes (and minds) other than my own. it allows me to take a step sideways and view it from an alternate perspective, see what's muddy and needing clarification/scrapping.

how much i'll edit a piece because of what's been said will vary on:
a} my own respect for the writing of a critter
b} my own emotional detachment from a piece
c} how many people concur with the suggestion - if 3 good poets tell me something i'm doing isn't working? i'll definitely listen
d} if it feels right to me, for my poem's own voice - you can't please everyone all of the time, and shouldn't edit with that attempt in mind!

a critter who tells you what to change in your poem using how they would write it, paying no attention to the poem's voice? that's a non-starter. the best critters suggest changes using the poem's voice, and some can give great links to writing studies that can blow your mind! the improvements have to come from the poet - a critter can only steer in certain directions and if the poem-horse wishes to run there.

for me, the best piece of crit i ever received was from a poet i really trusted and admired; i used to write really realllllllllly long pieces, back in the day when words were white-water spills. he told me ''you know i love your writing, but that longer stuff? kinda gives me the shits'', lol. brutal. but because i respected his eye and ear, it made the hugest change in my writing: i was mortified but it spurred me to take hold of the word-reins and begin controlling my poetry instead of allowing words to control me. i pared back to strictly minimalistic writes, then was able to relax more and expand a little. it was the best writing exercise i could have ever had.

every reader will interact with your poem in a unique fashion - they bring their own life experiences and preferences with them. if i chose to write a piece about - let's just say the wonders of brussel sprouts! - those people who loathe sprouts are never gonna like it.

I feel the same way, butters.  I may not change a poem because of a suggested edit; but, that doesn't mean I don't think it's valuable, nor keep it in mind during my next write.  

Anonymous said:<< post removed >>not quite... blank verse adheres to meter, usually iambic pentameter, but is free from rhymed structure. free verse is free of all of verse's limitations.

i often write in blank, written plenty of structured verse (challenges for sonnets, clerihews, acrostics, ghazals, haiku, all sorts) but prefer the freedom of blank and free verse. a shakespearean sonnet is probably the form i am most comfortable using when going with proper verse; used to spend many happy hours ingesting shakespeare as a kid and it feels natural to me where so many of the other forms i feel stifled as a poet - simply because i'm not good enough to truly immerse myself in them and write freely within their parameters.