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User	mae | 2006-08-27 |
Subject	untitled
Message	Strive for fresh language, an original take on a subject; a succinct way of expressing your thoughts; and to write about other things than just yourself. First person poetry is okay but it is extremely limiting - and if done too much, can get really boring to read. Whether you write in rhyme, free verse, blank verse, haiku, whatever, good poetry needs those four things. If you’re going to write in rhyme, you’re going to also need perseverance because writing rhyming poetry well is difficult - very difficult. If you are new to writing, especially to poetry, don’t be discouraged if your first attempts are not particularly good. Writing is a craft as well as an art and it has to be learned just like anything else. Seek and consider well honest critiques - they can sometimes be hard to take when they’re negative. And, like buzz says, read other poetry, especially other good poetry. mae

User	abuzzbuzz92 | 2006-08-20 |
Subject	untitled
Message	That’s a really difficult question to answer. It really depends on the reader’s interests. It’s good when you can relate to a poem, but that’s not something the writer can help. I think the only characteristics it should possess is that it should have a lot of emotion and depth in it. I think the best way to learn is to read other’s.