Poetry Competition

ooooooh
look who's poking the beehive
ltm
you are the ultimate rogue
xx

Love the pokers .....

X

respect ya views Poet
and i see you got a fair point

one comp..well this one hope you're not referring to the world poetry day one.. i see it as a celebration not a comp...so win or not.. i see the gathering of appreciation from and of poets all sorts there! just being there in the spirit i say is the way i felt it...

love ya straight talk dear Friend!

No wasted words, as discussed

Thx for your POV

You speak my language,  Like

Yo

I'm with you on this one.... perhaps because I'm too lazy/don't have time to make my emotional spills into something I consider "trophy-worthy".... but also, poetry is where I go to escape feeling judged, so why would I want to put it up for judgement? Heck, I rarely even invite "honest critique" on mine!

That said, there are many who find competition motivating. I am that person in many areas of life, just not in poetry. It's too close to my heart.

I kinda love competition myself, it drives me but like you this is a fantastic escape.  Words to paper.  No need for the slings and arrows for me

For me it's not about the contest but the creation.

Good answer T

Should this extend to all forms of art, or just the written word?

All babe

Nah, that's not 2 cents...that's more like a quarter! I take comps as inspiration to write where I normally might not go...but no, it's not about a trophy or acclaim. I'm hearing ya here. Mad respect!

Thx sister L

You get it

Hope you are escaping the floods out your way !!

We got super lucky in my town. Not so fortunate surrounding us. Just got off water restrictions when one of the major water sources in the area was compromised by flooding. I do believe we might pull through. Tough souls, us midwesterners. And I've got my Pixie here to keep my head above water. We're good!  :-)

Righteous

Good to hear

Give pixie a swat on the butt for me, you take one too

Rainy, humid and dank here.
I kinda like it 👍

You are entitled
to your opinion...
as are we. ;D

Noted

dearest Poet you're right poetry is the heart of us
I've been compiling a book of my works for publishing
I'm afraid I won't be taken seriously but I need a way out
of the SSI institution I find myself in or I wouldn't do it...

righteous ink...

love Brenda ❤

Poems for pay - good
Poems to compete against other poets - bad
My opinion, that’s alll

You will look good in print
I wish you the best in your book journey !!

X

very true words, I agree it all creation of a truth

Thanks Heatherjane

Appreciate the nod

slings and arrows?!

Am I missing something?  I've not seen anyone attempt to undermine another person in any comp here.  Did you have a bad experience or something?  Because I see you have entered previous competitions and have 6 Stars to show for them.

What happened?  

It's just the whole idea of competing in a literary arena that bugs me.  It's no big deal though.  I'm just a loner with a boner.  I like posting without a lot of fanfare and rules.

Do you really consider this competing though?  It's not like entering a literary mag competition where there is publication and prize money.      
   
I never really have. It took years for me to begin to participate in the comp forum because I was such an introvert.  To me it's more like challenges that help you overcome the fear of putting yourself out there through your poetry.  Not just on your personal page - but out there.  It's really challenged me to not only expand my writing, but believe in it enough to submit right alongside the others whether it's "trophy-worthy" or not.  Because it's not about being "trophy-worthy", but belief. To me, that is.      
     
I'm somewhat thrown back by everyone who commented on this post in a judgmental way - yet have stars themselves for entering, winning, or placing in competitions.  Maybe I just don't hear the particular "noise" everyone else seems to be referring to.    
     
I'm probably not making any sense so I'll shut up.

I don't recall winning any comps, did I ?  What are the stars for ?
I'm a one on one kind of person.  Group shit doesn't interest me.  In a crowded party I'm always looking for the back door.  Not really an introvert , just don't give a shit about competing here.
Sorry if this sounds angry, it's really not.

According to your stars ( trophies ) yes.  Two first place and four runnerups.  Guess that's why I was confused with this post ( as well as the negative comments from others with more recent trophies as well ).   Which is why I asked if something happened to change your mind.  I was genuinely curious.  

I don't take your response as angry at all.

I went back and reread your comments.  I take you seriously because you are an ultra intelligent human though at times a pain in the ass.  Mind you I say that with all the love and respect.  I'm sure I'm not the only one to say that about you, am I ? You push and dig harder when others would walk away.  I'm kinda fascinated by that approach as i have to do that for work in my sales job.  Everyday i have to step out of my gentle artistic soul and sell and maintain accounts in my lumber job.  That's right, at age 50 I went on the road with no car in New York City and became a lumber salesman.  I did it because I had flunked out of corporate life and couldn't stand to ever work in an office again.   I did it because I love to walk.  Everyone at work gave me 6 months to fail and leave but its 17 years later and I'm there and they are all gone.  No car, no problem.  My customers like me.  I'm as honest as one can be in a viper world.  I only lie to protect them from the heinous truth.  So, in the end maybe the competing in poem contests turns me off because I have to complete everyday.  A digital trophy doesn't mean dick to me.  Posting and having intelligent dialogue with someone like you does mean something.  Loner with a boner, that's a little of my story.  You did ask right ???

Thank you A

As far as believing in one's self, I've had issues with that over my many years but I'm getting better at it.  My digital paintings blow people's minds, and I take great satisfaction in them knowing how they are created with my finger instead of a brush.  On the most basic app ever invented for this purpose. I've pushed that baby to the max, so much so that the conceptual aspect of doing them on such a basic program almost becomes better than the painting itself.  A story within a story. I'm showing them and giving them away at times trying to build an audience.  I had to believe in me to do this,  it wasn't easy. You were the one who challenged me originally wanting to know how they were done.  Remember ?  Now negotiating with a digital lab in Austin, Texas to give me better prices when they print them on canvas and frame them for me.  I'm gonna do something with this medium, I can feel it ....

Your fascination stems from that Scorpion depth we both possess for understanding what most get frustrated with and give up.  When I'm attempting to genuinely understand something for the sake of understanding another person and/or reasoning better,  I do, I will push for that understanding. In this case, I felt something had happened in a comp which may have altered your ( and that of others as well ) perspective about entering. I do know there are some competitive people on this board who take winning way too seriously.  Of course I shouldn't say that ( I admit ) because their viewpoint is their own to possess; however, if I may be blunt - it's just a fucking star ( or, as you said, a digital trophy ).  Relationship and interactions for growth  are both much more important ( when possible ), in my not so-seemingly humble opinion.      
      
What I love about you, PoetSpeak, is that you can take the dig without becoming defensive, or aggressive, for that matter. What I mean by that is you understand I am just trying to understand.  While I may be a pain in the ass throughout the understanding process, and you may become somewhat irritated attempting to help me understand, you do nonetheless.  You don't take it personally or retaliate. In essence, you know how to have a decent conversation and/or debate the old fashioned way - sticking to the subject without becoming personal, feeling small, or abusing power to make yourself feel better.    
     
If anyone can prove others wrong where stamina and determination come into play, it's a Scorpion. "When water is trapped it finds a new way."  Our life is lived a quest for truth and uncovering that truth even at our own expense at times.  We are loners with a boner for life, for understanding, for growth, and for accomplishing.  But, most importantly, yes, for intelligent dialogue sans the personal bullshit so often associated with it.   
     
That makes us ( especially me in a man's world ) pains in the ass.  Wholeheartedly.   
     
As I'm replying to your first comment and can't see the second - so will have to reply further! LOL!

Your digital paintings do blow minds because they possess that artistic depth.  Even in the digital age an artist can find a way to make the creating process personal - in this case via a finger vs. brush. That's what makes them stand out.  Kind of akin to two piano players - one adhering to the mechanics of composition while the other from the heart.  You can tell the difference in the end product.  
 
Oh I remember challenging you because I was a painter, and I could not figure out htw you were doing it.  I'm the one who pushed you to print, remember?  But, also, I honestly think that you should consider a coffee table book of your images and poetry.  But not visibly adjacent - image flip poem, image flip poem.   This way each medium stands on its own without distraction.  
 
You should also ( once you have some canvas ) approach a gallery for an exhibit. Heck I might even have to foot for a ticket up to the big apple for that!  
 
Anyway, thanks for being a man about all of this.  Archaeological digs inside another are virtually impossible today without hurt pride and retaliation.  Still not sure I understand what changed your mind about competitions here, unless it was a natural evolution that brought you to that conclusion vs. a specific incident - we all change, myself included.   Certain things I once held important when younger certainly don't appeal now. Ha! as taste buds!  

There's really no way to explain that, is there?

I love what you wrote here. About me and about the.Scorpian .  
Believe it or not a friend whom I met on Craigslist about 8 years ago has my same birthday, November 5th.  We got  along so well when we met for coffee that one day we asked about each others bday and found out we were linked.  We toyed with being lovers but we were so much alike it was a crash and burn.  Platonic though is a hoot.  
 
I'm older now and better at not being defensive.  66 to be exact.  Up here in the city one can remain ageless.  The great thing about NYC is everyone is equal when it comes to vibe and age.  We all ride the subway together and if you stay here, you grow old together.  It's truly a city where people talk to strangers believe it or not.  I had many lovers whom I met on mass transit ...  
 
I like you A  
You're real and a pain in the ass with heart  
I'm so starved for this kind of dialogue  
Thank you for caring enough to probe

Shut. The. Front. Door. LOL!

That is my birthday too!

I've actually heard that about NYC - it's as ageless as it is timeless.  

I like you too, Cowboy. This type of dialogue is far and few inbetween now without the interference of pride and ego.

WTF  ??

ANOTHER 11/5

CRAZY STUFF

We'll have a DUP party this year!  Let's make it a comp!

LMFAO!!!

Comp me on the quality booze please ....

Hurt and glory!  Spot on.  

That was a good line, I'll admit that...

Perhaps with enough support, Webmiss could create a competition with unlimited winners who can be awarded trophies based on having completed the writing challenge itself, rather than out-performing other participants.

Like with the NaPo/GloProWriMo competition Ahavati and I run every year. We push ourselves to write daily for the results, not the trophies. The trophies are only a reminder of what we accomplished, which is a ton of damn good poetry. Unlike other sites and blogs, where writers skate through the yearly challenge with haikus and limericks.  

I never expected this poem to garner all this attention.  I've kinda written it before with little notice.  It's okay though, writers do love to talk about themselves,  myself included.  I don't love the idea of trophies for just competing.  I think things here are in pretty good shape.  I was just talking out loud Mister

Thx