Writer-centred or reader-centred
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I have been pondering if a good poem should be writer-centred or reader-centred.
A poet is like a performer to the mass but inevitably the readers will some how relate to the poet's background most of the time. Its like a 2 way interaction, so if the poem only make sense to 1 or 2 readers, can we consider it as a good poem? -
Writer centered,
I think in view of a practising Artist's perspective, in view of Arts. It will always be focused on the true feelings of what the writer have in mind and how he wants to express it.
It would be best if the writer could write in dual perspective so that he could gain acceptance from readers.
However, if being reader centered is watering down the intention and intensity of each expression. Then I'd say - writer centered. -
Hello and welcome to DPS!
If you have a specific audience in mind to address to, and the poem you write is understood by your target audience, then one would probably count that as a success.Originally posted by marque1999:I have been pondering if a good poem should be writer-centred or reader-centred.
A poet is like a performer to the mass but inevitably the readers will some how relate to the poet's background most of the time. Its like a 2 way interaction, so if the poem only make sense to 1 or 2 readers, can we consider it as a good poem?
Of course when you post a poem out in the open like in a forum, one would assume you are trying to communicate with the readers of the forum, so then your poem would be better recieved if you wrote with reader considerations in mind.
Whether a poem is good or not, is more than just about being "writer" or "reader" oriented, arguably these may only be side concerns. A poem is judged mainly in regards to its construction, choice of words and imagery among quite a lot of other things.
Just my 2 c's. -
HI Marque,Originally posted by marque1999:I have been pondering if a good poem should be writer-centred or reader-centred.
A poet is like a performer to the mass but inevitably the readers will some how relate to the poet's background most of the time. Its like a 2 way interaction, so if the poem only make sense to 1 or 2 readers, can we consider it as a good poem?
Deadpoet had written something about this issue.
Look out for his : Notes on Poetry.
This is a little something extracted from his notes. You can read up more if you're interested
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Poetry is Experience: The Writer's Responsibility
Why does a reader come to a poem in the first place? Is it because she wants to know about the poet? Is it because she wants to know what the poet feels about something? Is it because she wants the poet to lecture her about something? Absolutely not.
A reader comes to a poem for one reason: she wants to experience something herself, to feel something herself. She doesn't care what the writer has experienced or felt; she wants those things for herself. That's why successful poetry is reader-centered, not writer-centered. -
Personally, I don't bother to relate to the poet's background. I either like/don't like the poem I read.Originally posted by marque1999:I have been pondering if a good poem should be writer-centred or reader-centred.
A poet is like a performer to the mass but inevitably the readers will some how relate to the poet's background most of the time. Its like a 2 way interaction, so if the poem only make sense to 1 or 2 readers, can we consider it as a good poem?
I would like to relate rather, to the emotions, experience, sensations in the poem itself.
Also, being able to make sense of a poem doesn't necessarily make it "good" -
writer centred.
it's up to the reader to intepretate what the writer is trying to express...
it can be a good poem as it keeps u thinking and imagining and trying to understand what the writing is saying in his poem. -
Hmm. Interesting discussion. I will comment on it later. Time to sleep.
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Most established poets would tell you that a good poem should be reader-centered and if you ask me the same question a year ago you will get the same answer from me. Please donÂ’t get me wrong I am not suggesting we should all start writing those I-know-what-I-am-talking-about-but-too-bad-if-you-donÂ’t-get-it poems.
Firstly as suggested by Bluesky_Liz in her reply and I quote,
“If you have a specific audience in mind to address to, and the poem you write is understood by your target audience, then one would probably count that as a success.”
Yes, your audiences. Who are your target audiences? Are they your friends, your teachers, your loved ones, members of a poetry-writing workshop, or maybe you are writing just for yourself?
The next question you need to consider is why do you want to write that particular poem in the first place? Is it because you are bored, or maybe you are angry with someone, or you want to submit it for a competition?
You know I really love cooking.
And personally I think cooking and poetry writing share many similarities. If I am cooking for myself of course I will cook something I like. Who cares what my friends like? I am not asking for their opinions so why should they care? On the other hand if I am cooking for other people I will have to take their tastes into consideration. For example if I am cooking for my dad, I would never use garlic in my cooking because I know he hates garlic.
Having said that, it is also important for me to create my own distinct taste. I want my friends/loved ones to be able to tell my dishes apart from the rest. Something in the mushroom stew tells them I cooked it and nobody else.
So how do you create a dish with your signatures all over it and yet able to be appreciated by your target audiences? The trick here is to strike a balance - too much salts or spices and you spoiled the whole dish. You need to strike a balance in your writing too.
And just like cooking, before you start experimenting with different spices or herbs you need to get your basic right. You need to understand the nature of each ingredient and its effect on the dish as a whole. You also need to know the different methods of cooking.
Poets are creators – we create. To be able to create is a gift but to do it right you need to have the correct skills. Thus regardless if you are from the writer-centered camp or reader-centered camp, it is important for you to familiarize yourself with the various writing tools out there.
Most importantly you need to practice, and practice, and practice.
In a Nutshell:
Before you start writing, ask yourself these questions,
Who are your target audiences? Why do you want to write this particular poem? How are you going to get your message across to your target audiences? (Remember, whether you like it or not poetry writing is a form of communication, even if you choose only to communicate with yourself.)
I hope I am not too long-winded.
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If you wanna get your poem published, it better be reader-centered. I mean, hopefully through your poems you wanna make a difference in someone else. You can't just write to express your own thoughts and expect people to read it too. We all write poetry but how many of us actually enjoy reading others' poetry? That's what I'm guilty of. I write poetry but I find it a torture reading other peoples' poetry cause it just doesn't connect with me enough. Maybe that's why poetry doesn't sell in Singapore=/
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write one of each
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Are you Alex K?Originally posted by alexkusu:write one of each -
If it's Alex K the famous intellectual poet then yes.Originally posted by BigDaddyCool:Are you Alex K?
If it's Alex K, a personal friend of yours, then no -
I can assure you he is not Alex K.Originally posted by BigDaddyCool:Are you Alex K? -
Welcome to DPS (S) piper345! I was wondering do you think you can elaborate on the above statements?Originally posted by piper345:We all write poetry but how many of us actually enjoy reading others' poetry? That's what I'm guilty of. I write poetry but I find it a torture reading other peoples' poetry cause it just doesn't connect with me enough.
Thanks. -
I'm thinking it should be more writer-centred. At least that's true where I'm concerned.
I guess I think that way as all my poems have centred around myself in one way or the other. My thoughts, feelings, emotions, experiences.... it all has to do with me in one way or the other. I write my poetry to express what goes on between the two ears of mine, and not for others to read and comment.
Otherwise, if I write for others to read, then it somehow lacks the sincerity that comes with simply expressing my own thoughts unabashedly. -
Well my friend, it is still possible to write poems that “centred around” oneself as you call it and yet are enjoyable to the readers at the same time. Take for example Cyril Wong.Originally posted by fudgester:I'm thinking it should be more writer-centred. At least that's true where I'm concerned.
I guess I think that way as all my poems have centred around myself in one way or the other. My thoughts, feelings, emotions, experiences.... it all has to do with me in one way or the other. I write my poetry to express what goes on between the two ears of mine, and not for others to read and comment.
Otherwise, if I write for others to read, then it somehow lacks the sincerity that comes with simply expressing my own thoughts unabashedly. -
Well said.Originally posted by M©+square:It would be best if the writer could write in dual perspective so that he could gain acceptance from readers. -
Yeah I guess so... just that I'm too used to writing for myself.Originally posted by DeadPoet:Well my friend, it is still possible to write poems that “centred around” oneself as you call it and yet are enjoyable to the readers at the same time. Take for example Cyril Wong.
Damn... I'm a closet narcissist. I love me! -
Well I respectfully disagree. Poetry is intensely personal, and the skill of the poet manifests through how thorougly he engages his readers, how he draws the readers into his personal whirlpool of introspection and help them derive empathy, understanding and knowledge through his words.Originally posted by piper345:If you wanna get your poem published, it better be reader-centered. I mean, hopefully through your poems you wanna make a difference in someone else. You can't just write to express your own thoughts and expect people to read it too. We all write poetry but how many of us actually enjoy reading others' poetry? That's what I'm guilty of. I write poetry but I find it a torture reading other peoples' poetry cause it just doesn't connect with me enough. Maybe that's why poetry doesn't sell in Singapore=/
Gimme a list of "reader-centered" poets, will you? I think you'd be hardpressed to find a list of enduring poets who does just that.
In contrast, just look at Bishop, Shakespeare, Plath, Sexton -- these people write about their sphere of experience, they write about the human condition -- the rites of passage that each of us will go through, albeit on our own unique journeys.