Should professional poets search this engine's Home Page to discover new poets?

Question

In my opinion, professional poets often become a sort of clan. However, new poets can be discovered with a brief, daily search. It is a very rewarding activity to me, personally, especially when the newcomers are seriously looking to learn the art of poetry.

Answer 1

I have found many talented writers on Y!A, but yes it is easy to get into a rut by reading only that which our contacts post.  If I have time, I like to go through and read the work of young children to see what they have learned so far, and to try to teach, or at least point them in a direction to learn.  The ones I walk away from are the ones who think there are no rules for poetry, and do not accept that there are rules, and there are many different forms for poetry.  There are also those who think there is only 1 type of poetry, and all the rest is junk.  I like to read, sometimes comment, sometimes star, but there are many with talent who will someday be the poet laureates of the world.

Answer 2

What we enjoy is reading poetry; good, bad or otherwise.  Starring  ones that we like is an easy way to let our contacts now that something is worth checking.  Now as to professionals...I still have a day job!  lol

Answer 3

Most definitely.  I remember the first poem I posted.  I was so nervous and unsure of myself, but I did it anyway even though I expected the worst.  However, despite the fact that I only got three responses to my first poem, ElaineP was the one responder who gave me the courage to post again.  So long ago, but It was because of her kind words that I'm still here today.    Thanks to her and the many others who came to accept me, not only I have found my place among friendly poets who are more interested in being helpful than hurtful and who love to learn, share, and challenge each other, but I've been given an opportunity that I only ever dreamed was possible.  It is also because of them that I have grown as a poet.   This is a great group of people and I care for them all.  As a result of all of this, I find myself frequently haunting the home page hoping that some day I can somehow give others the confidence that this group has given me.  Also, I do it because I'm afraid that I'm going to miss out on some fabulous works of art.  There are some amazing poets out there.

Answer 4

Depends on how one defines the term 'professional poet'. Just because someone has had their work printed or been paid for it doesn't necessarily qualify them as 'professional' in my view. THAT depends on the standard and quality of the work, I would suggest.  

Answer 5

Wait  a minute...You're asking ME? You want my thoughts on your question? There aren't enough words and not enough space here for me to begin. But I'll try.

The notion that such a group of talented individuals could extend their knowledge as well as their hearts to a total stranger, based on viewing words posted on a global forum and in doing so change that persons life, is all the reason I would need to endorse such actions.

If I never pen one more piece and burn everything I have penned to date, I would walk on having been given a new lease on life. A life, that when I stumbled in this room of magical happenings, I carried more burdens and weight from life than any one life should have to carry.

I did not come seeking favor. I did not and in ways, do not want to write. It has become a necessity for my well being to purge and ingest. The thought of "being discovered" only meant that I would be found out.

But, one day a friend in this community replied to my words  and I stayed. And then I answered a young girl who was destroying her self and truly appeared to be near the end. She is still with us. I will not take any credit for her being still, but I pondered heavily, the notion that, words...just words....my words...could have helped her make the decision to carry on. That my daily releases could get others to see through the darkness. That I could find a purpose in my life after staring down the awfulness that befell me and by sharing, another could do likewise.

And at the end of these moments of solitude and deep thought, I now see a few things. Maybe I should write. Maybe I do have something to say and someone may want to hear it. Maybe, just maybe, that because a professional poet took the time to read my words and show an interest in my well being, my life can have a purpose again.

I'll stop now. Please forgive the length.....This is hands down the best question I have answered on YA and I want to thank you from the deepest depths of my heart for asking it.

Answer 6

It depends a lot of your type of writing and personality. I doubt very much that Kafka, Poe or Lovecraft would do that nowadays.

Answer 7

I can't say whether or not professionals should, but aspiring poets should.

I'm from a small town--been here for twenty eight years--I know a lot of people in this town, have had the same friends since elementary school, but I don't know anybody to share my love of poetry with here. I enrolled at the local community college in hopes to meet people with similar interest. I had to take a lot of prerequisite classes to get into the good creative writing classes I wanted to take--classes that involve discussion groups and peer reviews, and, while it did better my writing, I found only one person (other than my instructors) that openly shared their opinions and ideals.

What I'm trying to say is: I get just as much, if not more, here, for a helluva lot less money.

Maybe I didn't understand the question. What's a search engine again?

Answer 8

Yes, I think that is a good idea. Only a couple of months ago I was taken under the wing of many professional poets here and it has helped me grow as a writer and person tremendously.

Hydropro, you're going to make me cry

Answer 9

I would like to shout a resounding "Amen" to most of the answers here. As a newcomer and new writer, I've never experienced such support, encouragement, guidance and generosity of spirit in any other life endeavor. I am honored, I am humbled, I am grateful.

ma

Answer 10

sure.

there is life everywhere

no matter what kind of search it is.

i bet there are poets to learn and

experience even in other places too.

Answer 11

The thought of writing had never occurred to me.  I didn't think I could write any more than that which was demanded of me professionally.  Had it not been for a very good friend who encouraged me to write something and post it, I would be watching the news or doing dishes now.  How amazingly gentle and supportive the poets of this site were and are to anything I wrote, offering suggestion, criticism and hope that I might eventually write something worthwhile, something that might touch someone's heart and mind.  My debt to the Poets of this site can never be repaid.  Should professional poets search...they'd be silly not to search.  I'm actually looking forward to retirement in a few years, and time to write...

Answer 12

In the end, this is the only true virtue of the virtual world. I was a long-forgotten poet until the web found me. Now, look what's happened.

Answer 13

I don't believe in formats because I'm stupid.