Internet and the Poet

By Gwyneth Box

You are no doubt already familiar with the idea that poetry and modern technology are not incompatible. But are you really getting the most out of the Internet?

Have you realised that the Web can be of use at all stages of poetry writing, from providing the initial idea, through the drafting and polishing stages, right up to presentation and marketing?

Ideas

To begin with, what do you write about? Maybe you're lucky and have plenty of ideas for poems, but at some point all writers come up against the dreaded Block. What can you do about it? Well, there is an almost unlimited selection of websites out there with information on just about everything you could possibly want or need; surely you can find something to get you writing.

Perhaps having a look at some of the classics will inspire you - try Luminarium, or Every Poet, for example. Or surf some of the contemporary poetry websites and see what other people are writing about. Again, Every Poet showcases modern poetry, but there are thousands of other sites. I don't mean you should copy what you find, but perhaps a single line or phrase will start you off. Or maybe skimming through a dictionary of quotations such as Bartleby's may trigger something.

The newspapers contain stories that could inspire you, and you'll find almost all the major press available on-line. If you don't have the website address, go to a search engine such as Google and type in the publication name in quotation marks in the search field. You can add the country (e.g. "The Times" UK) to increase the likelihood of finding the publication you are looking for rather than a foreign or local publication with the same name.
Spending a few minutes tinkering with the Magnetic Poetry on-line version can turn up some ideas, as can running a text through a translator (try Intertran) several times, via various languages, before returning to English. (Most of what these last two methods produce is utter rubbish, but there are gems to be found among the dross and, anyway, it's fun!)

Reference

You also have a full selection of writing resources available on-line to remind you about technical aspects of poetic form - Bob's Byway is one of my favourites. Many modern poets still write sonnets, rondeaux etc. and you may find that one of these structures is perfect for what you want to say.

While you're writing, perhaps you need help with a rhyme? Why not try the rhyming dictionary at Rhyme Zone? Or perhaps you're stuck for just the right word? Maybe you'll find it in the Mirriam-Webster thesaurus. There's a dictionary on the same site, so don't forget to confirm the use and spelling of words you think sound right but you don't usually use: it's so easy to get mixed up, and so easy to check.

Impartial Critique

Once you've got a basic draft down, what do you do with it? Personally, I think it's a good idea to sleep on it before showing it to anyone. Then, who do you show it to? Your mother? Your partner? Your best friend? What sort of critique do they give you? Even if they know what they are talking about, they probably won't want to upset you. Their saying your poem is marvellous is not going to help you make the most of your talent and develop as a poet. You really need an impartial opinion, and there are plenty of places to find that on the Web. There are many forums and news groups which are there specifically for the purpose of commenting on each other's poetry. The Every Poet site has forums for various styles and levels, and so do many other poetry sites.

You can also participate in Usenet news groups. Until recently these were run by Deja, but Google has recently taken over the complete archive.Details of the Google service can be found at http://groups.google.com/ , or you may find it more convenient to use a newsreader. I use a German one to be found at http://news.cis.dfn.de/. Don't worry, the instructions are all available in English! You need to register and a couple of days later they send you confirmation and password details. You then have complete access to thousands of news groups which cover just about everything you can possible imagine. Be warned: there's a lot more than poetry out there, so you may find it hard not to get distracted!

Among the poetry groups there are some focused on specific forms – haiku, limericks etc., while others are more general. Once you find a news group or forum that looks interesting, you should 'lurk' for a while: don't just leap in with your draft and expect to get compliments and encouragement. The different groups have very different attitudes and etiquette. Some will give encouraging comments whatever the poem; this may suit some people, but for my taste you may as well ask your mother if that's what you want. On the other hand, some groups can be very harsh in their treatment of poems which are 'sub-standard'. Read the news group first and decide whether you are prepared to accept the sort of comments that are made. If not, find another group which suits you better.

Don't just ask for comments on your own work: try doing some critiquing yourself. This is actually an excellent way to learn. It's so easy to just read and say 'I like it' (or not) but we seldom stop to analyse why we feel the way we do. By making conscious comments about other people's poems, you can learn to be more objective about your own. You may even realise that the draft you were intending to post needs a lot of work before you ask for feedback.

What to do with your finished poem

Once the poem has been drafted, critiqued, redrafted, polished etc. you have to decide what to do next. Perhaps the question 'why am I writing?' should have been asked way back before you even began, but if it hasn't yet been asked and answered, this is the time to do so.

So, are you writing for your own pleasure? Do you want people to read what you write? Do you want to be published?
Assuming that you want to be read, you need to consider the appropriate medium for your work. Do you want your own web page with all your poems on it? If so, who will visit it? If it's only Mum, Dad and Auntie Em, is it really worth it? If you hope for a bigger audience, you will need to advertise your site. This need not be expensive, but it can be time-consuming. (The answers about how to do it are to be found on the Web itself, of course.)

You may prefer to send your poetry to an e-zine for publication. There are thousands of these web-based magazines to be found, you just need to do some research into which are most likely to accept the type of poetry that you write. Snakeskin, , and Able Muse are two sites to try, the latter focusing on metrical verse, both formal and light. Most poetry sites have links pages which will point you to other possibilities. You could start by looking at the Patchword links page

It is unusual for e-zines to pay, and you should always check what rights you are forfeiting when you submit. Although there is little money to be made from poetry, some unscrupulous editors will demand you give up all rights to your poem. You should think very carefully before doing this - after all it is your work.

Publication in Print

Alternatively, you may want to submit your poems to a more traditional editor in the hope of having them published in a magazine or in book format. The Internet is the place to find information about markets, presentation norms, publishing houses, agents etc. And of course there are no national boundaries here, so if the editor who is most likely to publish your work is based the other side of the world there are no problems.

Competitions

The Internet can also provide information about literary competitions - often a more likely way of getting a financial reward for your poetry than by publication. Open Directory has a list of links to sites which run competitions, and don't forget Patchword's own diary page which lists many international and UK-based competitions.

Beware of scams, though - just because someone has a pretty website or runs a competition doesn't mean that there's any real literary ability behind it, nor that the wonderful prizes will be forthcoming. Wind Publishing has a complete page of links to articles about such scams.

Other options

If you look around, you will find all sorts of other services offered to poets, too. You could always publish your own chapbook or e-book. Or perhaps have a poem printed as a personalised greetings card, or animated to use as a screen saver. It's simply a question of deciding how you'd like to showcase your poetry and seeking out that service on the Internet. If you really can't find what you want anywhere, perhaps you should consider setting up a website offering it!