It's perhaps safe to say, the old Pied Piper tune of group poetry projects for publishing, as tweeted by WEbook in the past, is no longer a working model. More importantly, the webooking poet has a platform here at WEBook to collaborate, make friends, and stretch their poetry writing and reviewing skills.
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This _Simply Poetry Series of Seven Sister Projects_ can provide a defined place to do just that -- 3 Poetry Skill Level projects (SP VII-IX); 1 review practice project (SP V); 1 poetry article reading project (SP VI); and 1 project for Simply Poetry IX - Skill Level 3 participants to write their topical essays about how their poetry studies benefit them (SP X).
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What is the difference between a beginner and a studied poet? A brief analogy: Beginners are using naturally available resources for constructing their poetry - sticks and straw. The practicing poet is learning to recognize the need to turn the straw into bricks; use the sticks to fire and harden the bricks; and to collect and crush stone for mortar. The studied poet is creating designs for using these bricks and mortar to construct their poetry.
A studied poet will be able to grasp and appreciate most literary papers on the subject of poetry. A studied poet can pursue the study of poetry on their own. The Studied Poet is able to read a map and road signs to chart their own course in the world of poetry. That is the goal of this _Simply Poetry Series of Seven_.
Simply Poetry VII - Poet Skill Level 1 of 3 - Practicing:
http://www.webook.com/project/Simply-Poetry-VII-Poet-Skill-Level-1-of-3-BeginnerSimply Poetry IX - Poet Skill Level 3 of 3 - Studied:
http://www.webook.com/project/Simply-Poetry-IX-Poet-Skill-Level-3-of-3-StudiedSimply Poetry X - Essays on Poetry by Studied Poets:
http://www.webook.com/project/Simply-Poetry-X-Essays Simply Poetry XI - Tips, Tricks , and Thoughts About Poetry:
http://www.webook.com/project/Simply-Poetry-XI-Tips-and-TricksAs in any discipline there is theory and praxis. Simply put, how aware you are of poetry and literature in general is a fair gauge of your skill level - not your level of natural talent. I expect a degree of 'vetting' or evaluation by reviewers participating in this _Simply Poetry Series of Seven_ will help you determine which level you should be submitting to. However, there is surely a degree of overlap from one level to the next.
Submit to whatever level you are comfortable and use the resources to grow your skills into the next level. If you use and absorb all the resources that I've offered in this _Simply Poetry Series of Six Sister Projects_ you will be a Studied Poet (autodidact - self taught). The final level will be an invitation from me, to submit your essays to Simply Poetry X. There, you can use your knowledge to write essays on the why and how your choice of studied influences benefit your poetry, so that other poets may in turn - learn from you. In the final project, the open community _Simply Poetry XI - Tips, Tricks, and Thoughts About Poetry, is where all webookers can voice their knowledge and opinions about poetry.
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I have constructed two training projects for the interested poet. Simply Poetry V - Converse is a project where one can learn the art of basic poetry critique (evaluation not subjective critical opinion) and thereby the need for skill with the bricks and mortar of poetry. Simply Poetry VI - Arts and Crafts is a multifaceted and highly varied introduction into the craft and artistic literary aspects of poetry. I'm not smart enough or predisposed to create one from a general point of view. Do you need to be an 'English Major' like those on the PBS weekly _Prairie Home Companion_? No, but it can't hurt - can it?
Simply Poetry VI Arts and Crafts:
http://www.webook.com/project/Simply-Poetry-Arts-and-CraftsSimply Poetry V - Converse:
http://www.webook.com/project/Simply-Poetry-V-Converse
My kind regards,
~gonzodave