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The importance of being earnest (voiced)!
By
Keiron
| Posted:
12 March 2010
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Hi,
Thinking aloud here, just after another occasion where I find myself reading and commenting on another writer's work for the first time - a poem incidently, proving another fine example of how enriching and varied an experience this continues to be.
Mostly though, I thought it good, as a poem clearly written with passion, communicating strongly and effectively across many conflicting emotions, but especially for its exuding throughout what you might call a distinct style or confident written voice.
As I wrote here previously, I am an inexperienced commentator of others work, but think I have learned something thus far in picking up on the above-mentioned 'written-voice.' In my reading many new writer's these past few weeks, stumbling along without a map so to speak, this has I suppose become a point of consideration, a sense that the writer of the piece is at some level too aware of this, and writes as a means to first find - then develop this voice, until it becomes uniquely their own.
Unsure if this makes any sense, but if not, then not to worry, a half-thought is better than no thought! Hah!
All articles on this website by
Keiron are copyright ©Keiron and should not be reproduced
without the author's prior written consent. All opinions are the opinions of their
respective authors and are not necessarily the opinions of The Writers' Circle.
| Comments | |
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I share your thoughts. I am fairly new to appraising other peoples' work but the more I do, the more it helps me as a growing writer and hopefully it will help the reciever . Any comment however small, for or against is useful and helps towards finding thst 'voice' I tend not to give negative ones cos it may hurt the writer but if i feel a change might help, I give a subtle hint.
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Keiron,
In a world where our written thoughts are judged by its merits, it would be important to note that all of us (well, I should say most) are inexperienced commentators (me included). The rest might think they're God's gift to critique heaven :-).
English is not my mother tongue and I, too, stumble along in giving my comments, good, bad or indifferent. The most important thing to remember is that we are here in a micro community of the world expressing different opinions and each opinion counts because if we get lucky and land ourselves a cushy publisher willing to print and disperse our work, we will be faced with harsher criticisms, or glowing comments out there in the real world. In order for us to get the *feel* for it, we might as well say what we really feel about a piece here and not sounding like a writer's relative or best friend forever . . . giving rave reviews when it's unwarranted. We'll be giving the writer false hopes. This is a good forum to develop a *thick* skin and take our lumps when we deserve it.
We all have our inherent responsibilities in life (like picking our personal hair off the shower soap) and being *writers*, we also have an inherent responsibility to honestly express our opinion in order to help other writers. We have strengths in some areas and weaknesses in others to share. It's all a part of *scrubbing* our abilities and learn in the process. There are times when writers feel attacked and would respond negatively. But I don't see it that way . . . it's just a clash of opinions (it's only human nature sometimes to defend oneself, and we could learn from it too) but in the end, each of us will benefit from our own misteaks or from others' misteeks or learn from others' excellence in writing.
Lately, there are so many excellent submissions that it is sometimes difficult to read all and comment without sacrificing our own time to write.
Keep in mind that if a *view* had counted and there was no comment or kudo, two things might have occurred and you either could look at it in a positive or a negative way . . . a.) the reader was speechless and in awe or b.) the reader was throwing up in the sink after reading your work :-).
Grampa Pogi
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I'm not sure if I'm understanding you right, Keiron.
My friend, Robert Frost, once said ". . . a poem is written by an author, but it is spoken by an invented speaker" - - although the speaker's voice often rings of the author's voice.
You might be alluding to the pace or meter or rhythm used by the poet; which seems to give the poem a melody when read out loud.
As Keats said, "Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter."
The problem I see is when poets overuse the same meter in every poem. It's like hearing the same broken record, or melody, or song over and over again, even though the lyrics have changed. I'd like to say, I love the rhythm of the iambic pentameter. Shakespeare could play with it without making us cloy of it. I don't think most poets can.
What you might be hearing is the speaker's voice in the poem as distinguished from the author's voice.
The speaker might be Keiron the lover, or Keiron the cyclist, or Keiron the man, but not simply Keiron the poet.
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Thanks both for sharing your as usual insightful and thought-provking thoughts on this.
Have to say, yoy write so wisely on some thing Grampa Poggi It leads me to think that as is now commonly believed true of (to name but two) St. Patrick and ancient Homer too, both held formerly as actual individuals, but are now thought rather the amalgamation of several wise or highly esteemed individuals! Conveniently, and for many other good reasons, combined into one easily more memorable whole!
---------
Really like the point made too, about who the 'voice' of a poem might be - could happily spend the rest of the day discussing this.
As for iambic pentameter I count as a fan. My poem (posted earlier this month) 'Cycling in Heavy rain' is written to its conventions (and at least as far as I know) measured out in iambic - and an experience I think which added not detracted from the fun I had writing it. A little like, getting the lyrics to fit the tune!
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This makes sense, Keiron. We are a small community and our styles are different from each other. I reckon any criticsm or comment received should be taken as constructive. It will be a very good learning activity.
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I thought Cycling in Heavy Rain was Shakespeareian
and the iambic pentameter gave it a rhythm that was interesting
It was a high five for me
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From 3 votes
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Total posts: 75
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Roles:
Writer
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Neath, UNITED KINGDOM
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A passionate writer, I am currently writing a historical novel, inspired by my Grandmother Courtney, who delighted me always with stories from her childhood about life on the family farm in the ... (Read more)
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