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I Guess My Writing is Shit After All









Hello everyone. I got my midterm assignment back from my poetry teacher yesterday. My grade? A freaking C-. In a beginning poetry class. Where everyone else I talked to got an A or a B. Most of the people in that class have never written a day in their lives, and do not even like poetry.





A couple of her comments on my poems:





On my published poem, Unfulfilled (link following)



http://allpoetry.com/poem/941905





"Your poem is charged with wonderful language, but the overall effect is still  abstract and rather obscure-- certainly more telling than showing-- I would suggest that you ask yourself what the controlling idea of the poem is."



(my comment on that comment: the controlling idea is that the poem is about unfulfilled desires, dipshit.)







On Galaxy of Emptiness (link following)



http://allpoetry.com/poem/4593137





"Again, this poem is abstract and vague. Can you move beyond the seduction of the cliched generalities? Your early drafts have more specific images. Can you harness them to your meaning?



(my comment on that comment: there was not one cliched word in the poem, and the poem was clear in its meaning. it was a poem about sleeping and getting lost in sleep, and anyone should be able to understand it. not only that, but the earlier drafts sucked.)





I know I'm not the best poet in the world, but I cannot understand why that woman give me a C-. I would understand it if it were an advanced class or something, but it wasn't. Ugh.....











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  • vieve gold member
    February 18
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    I saw the title & coudln't pass it up. It amazes me - I'm currently in college (after a long time away) & most professors are very generous. I have a bit more experience than the others, being older & more invested. I've only had one professor really give me a difficult time & I believe her status as a frustrated, wannabe professional writer had more to do with that than anything else.
    Your writing is beautiful & comes from that magical, otherworld where poetry should live. Obviously, not everyone will appreciate that. Good teachers encourage strengths while helping to lessen flaws - they don't hold you back & discourage you from moving forward.
    Sorry to rant - it's been awhile since you posted this, so I'm sure you're mostly past it, but still. . .


    • g r e y i s m
      February 19
      Edit | Reply
      no that's fine. thanks for the vote of confidence in my ability. I don't know... it seems in the academic fields (Psychology, Philosophy, etc.) that my teachers love me. it's the artistic fields that I get shit in. like for example, the art chair at school recently told me I am not creating art, and that she could get together 20 people and teach them to draw like me in no time. according to her, it's not art unless it adresses something that hasn't been thought of before. which is funny, because she paints turtles and flowers and such. lol.


  • Immortal Obscurity gold member
    November 13, 2008
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    Well...

    The same thing happened to me and my sister in our high-school English classes. Grades on things like poetry are all based on the reader's opinion, no matter how shallow or narrow-minded these might be.

    I'm not familiar with your poetry, but shall have to read these now. Don't let one shite comment put you off of writing; those poets with talent are few and far-between. As for this teacher, even if your writing is not her style, she should take the time to appreciate it for what it is: poetry.

    Good luck & take care

    Best wishes,
    Laura


  • Mr Vertigo
    October 28, 2008
    Edit | Reply

    hm....

    i thought the entire pooint of poetry was to be "abstract" & "obscure"

    boy they would hate me wouldn't they?

    lmao

    you and tina were the only poets on this site i ever took the timne to read, and im blind. not that that matters its that i like to think i have "taste"

    in poetry as well as women.

    peace''

    ok..... how do you do that multi-million dollar applaud thing.......?


  • Wildequill
    October 15, 2008
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    More often than not I've found that answers to these sort of scenario's are far closer to the surface that meets the eye...
    Let's do a simple assessment - you're beautiful, have an amazing artistic talent in capturing the emotion in your subjects eyes, your poetry is unique and vivid.. you seem to be an old soul with insights beyond the norm..
    Chances are good that "teach" is simply jealous of you - unfortunately human nature is a little more fickle than we'd like to give ourselves credit for.
    Just a thought..


  • Axelle Black
    October 9, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    The woman's a tard I believe. Or maybe she's expecting you to rhyme, be cute and write about things that have been done so many times in the past. I think she's a tard yes.


  • Mhyko
    October 8, 2008
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    :(

    I don't think you're poem are too vague though love. I mean your teacher probably dislikes your poetry because she's too languid to even try. Don't let her pull you down...im still one of your greatest fan! :3

    Lots of Love,
    Mhyko


  • jantastic gold member
    October 7, 2008
    Edit | Reply


    I don't expect I need to click the links as I've read a fair bit of your work in the past. You've had some good support and comments below and I echo much of what has been said.


  • Night Hope gold member
    October 7, 2008
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    First of all, remember the adage: "Those who cannot do, teach." It's obvious to me that she's biased in some way. I've never seen you even think about a cliche. EVER. Remember, too, that "Gone With the Wind" was rejected by every major publisher. You ARE a Poet, a Writer, a Scribe. So what if you got a C-? We all know you're really an A+. Hmmm...maybe sometime ya oughta ask the teacher to read some of HER work.

    • g r e y i s m
      October 7, 2008
      Edit | Reply
      lol I have seen one of her pieces... it was ok I guess. I think what it all boils down to is that she just doesn't have the same taste as I do and can't see past that. which is kind of dumbfounding.


  • SimpleSarcasm
    October 7, 2008
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    Listen Lea...

    Just because someone is teaching poetry doesn't mean they know poetry. Ask this prof -- what they think of Sylvia Plath, or Langston Hughes, or Margaret Atwood, or Billy Collins... see what they say. Their answer will tell you where their poetic sensibilites lay and will probably lay to rest any anxiety you're feeling.

    It's evident this person hasn't really read your poem or is poetically lazy and wants poetry spelled out to them like juvenile abab rhyme.

    I know they're in charge of giving you a grade but sometimes the world of academia is unfair -- especially in literature and history -- and those teaching are undereducated and in this case, poetically tone deaf.

    I read your pieces and the feeling of unfulfilled left me feeling unfulfilled just as YOU the writer wanted we the readers to feel. You did what you were suppose to do...if the prof can't see that...well...you'll just have to suffer through...or drop the class and get some other poetry teacher.

    I can't believe she/he said that, or wrote that.


    • g r e y i s m
      October 7, 2008
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      yes I am dropping. I'd like to take another one but I won't get the chance before I graduate. oh well. no biggie. anyway thanks!


  • -BlackKnight- gold member
    October 7, 2008
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    This is one of the reasons I skipped the beginning creative writing course at my college and took a more advanced poetry workshop--I had the benefit of knowing my professor appreciated actual poetry.

    Is the class one where everyone contributes and offers ideas to make each poem better? Or is it just her?

    • g r e y i s m
      October 7, 2008
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      it's just her opinion. but yeah she has us read each other's work and give feedback to each other. one guy in the class, who honestly is not the best writer, well she told me I could learn something from him. I still don't know what that is. to not use abstract words? to not use pretty or unusual words? I don't know.

      • -BlackKnight- gold member
        October 7, 2008
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        She sounds like the type who wants poetry spelled out for her in simple, concrete language, and seems to regard any amount of abstractness as making the entire poem vague, which is silly. She should base the poem's grade on its merit, not her personal interests. I'm not too big on abstract work, but I'll readily praise a good abstract poem when I see one (yes, yours fit under this category ).

        Anyway, I'd focus more on the feedback you receive from others, and not so much her. I know she's the one handing out the grades, but you also have, what, ten, fifteen (?) other people with ideas too.

        I'm not sure if that helped at all. I hope it did.

        • g r e y i s m
          October 7, 2008
          Edit | Reply
          thanks. well the thing about the grade though is that it will affect my GPA. otherwise I'd most likely stick with it anyway. I get a nice chunk of change every year for keeping my GPA over 3.5, and I can't lose that. I had wanted to take a poetry class b/c I'd never had one before. too bad I couldn't have gotten someone else. oh well!

          • -BlackKnight- gold member
            October 8, 2008
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            Eh, fair enough. I'm the sort that doesn't care much about the grade so long as I understand what's going on. But, it's good to keep your grades up.

            You could try looking up poetry workshops and such outside of college (assuming you haven't already, or there are none available). There's a place nearby called the Writer's Center that does that sort of thing, but I don't think they're up where you are.


            • g r e y i s m
              October 8, 2008
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              not even for 8,000 a year? that's how much I would lose if I let my GPA slip.


  • Pianokidd
    October 7, 2008
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    I think she's just mad cause your writing is different... you're an amazing writer


  • poetryality silver member
    October 7, 2008
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    Sounds as if your instructor doesn't care for "abstract" or "concrete" poetry, which lots of poets appreciate. Is she too a poet or was her major English in college and she skirted around formal English teaching and decided to teach poetry. Hmmmm... I do wonder if she has a poetic bone in her body!? You are one of the most foremost poets on this site. I wouldn't allow here subjective look at your work to be a distraction from what you already know. You don't need a damn "beginning poetry class". When I took such a class 30 years ago, I was truly a beginning writer. YOU are NOT! Personally, I believe WE at AP are better critics than she. Don't know her, not bashing her but I will always support you and give you constructive comments.



    Much Love Always ♥

    Renee


  • logorrhoea
    October 7, 2008
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    What the fuck. I may know nothing in terms of poetry, but you write some of the most serene I've ever read- the abstract even more powerful.
    Grades can be a reflection of where a teacher thinks you are in comparison to your own potential..I agree that she might be challenging you-
    but to hell with that because what you write is truly stunning and can't be assessed through some mid term.
    And I've never seen a cliche coming from you
    -


  • AutoPilate
    October 7, 2008
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    Your teacher appears to have a hard-on for hating abstract art. She sounds like a snob of the lowest order. Perfect American cinema audience.

  • dx d by me
    October 7, 2008
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    There may be a reason she is a beginning poetry teacher. Next time you might try something a little more "Cat in the Hat". On the other hand, mid term C, means little. Its possible she sees something in you and is challenging your gift. (just thoughts) Geo

    • g r e y i s m
      October 7, 2008
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      Perhaps. But a C minus? That's not even passing! I can see what you mean, and I would consider the possibility if it weren't for other occurences which make me think she just doesn't like me. And normally I am not quick to think those things. I usually get along great with my teachers. Anyway... thanks


  • Apocalyptic Scarves
    October 7, 2008
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    poetry is something you are or are not, if you appreciate and feel what you write, then that's all you need. anyone can take some words and rhyme and that's what the masses call poetry.
    what you create is art.

    • g r e y i s m
      October 7, 2008
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      thanks for the comment. that's why I'm dropping. because I will not let her make my writing a clone of her own.

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