How do you critique poems on YA?

Question

I notice that in many of the answers sections, most of the comments are things like “Excellent! You’re a really good writer” which doesn’t seem to help people improve their writing. Do people here feel like if they were honest about not liking a poem they shouldn’t say anything?

Answer 1

I pretty much feel that I ought to only leave positive comments.  If I read some lame doggerel and someone wants my opinion, I will withhold it and will not post an answer.  I think most people really don't want brutally honest criticism, they want to know if anybody liked their poetic effort.  However, if I did like the poem and I post "excellent" or some such, I really mean it.  I may point out a spelling error, but that's about it as far as my critique goes.  Some answerers actually put it out there that they majored in English lit or are accomplished poets and that they think almost all of the stuff posted here is too bad to even be called garbage.  So there you have it.

Answer 2

For me to critique another's work becomes a rather monotonous process after reading numerous submissions. I do give kudos where due however. Having been an editor for a Canadian poetry journal and reading myriad pieces of work I have got the lingo down, though I do tell the truth when confronted with a piece off work that seems self absorbed and has no melody, rhythm, or music within the piece I tend to express myself rather succinctly perhaps with a sense of maliciousness on account of I have become rather narrow minded when it comes to the art of poetry.

Answer 3

well i think that ppl just want their 2 points lol

Answer 4

Well, since %99 of people on here have never had any experience in literary criticism, barely anybody knows how to critique a poem in the first place.

If I wanted some real feedback on a poem, I definitely wouldn't come to Yahoo Answers. Most of the poems posted up here are really bad. I think it's mostly 14 yr old girls who are posting poems and then telling the other ones that "Oh, it's so pretty! Wow, I wish I could write like that". Meanwhile, most of the poems read like a pop song or something.

Answer 5

Very few people want to hear something like "your poem sucks". Some people do want to hear constructive criticism, but on balance I'd say that most aren't interested in that either. When you consider that most of the poems posted on YA are frankly not very good, often not even at the level where they're worth critiquing, it's understandable that people don't usually bother writing negative comments. Thus the flattering ones predominate.

Answer 6

I pass on the ear-hurters. When they have talent, I point it out to them. I have some contacts that deserve a professional critique. I hand them out sparingly. Even then, I rarely make editorial commentary because I am not their Editor.

If I used the changes to my poems suggested here on Yahoo!, I would have to also make the attributions. TD

Answer 7

yeah i get that alot