Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.

This thread is simply to gauge interest in a possible poetry contest. The others we've held have been fairly successful, although more participation is always a bonus.

If you're interested in taking part, please post here and also feel free to make any suggestions you think might benefit the contest this time around if it does go ahead.

For the time being, there are only three judges on the panel as we're unsure of the level of interest. Obviously if we have an influx of potential participants we'll need more judges so you're also welcome to make yourselves known if you'd rather judge than enter.

There are only a few basic rules but they will be outlined as and when the contest begins and our moderator, lil bitchiness, will do the honours when the time comes.

Thanks

I guess I'm interested, just fill me in with the facts

I love the idea. Also, we can have several categories from which people can post in if the numbers are good.

i am very interested, and would like to participate and i will with your permission.

i havent been feeling very inspired lately, maybe this will help.


maybe someone should pm some people and let them know, cause people might not come here so often but still frequent the forum.

Wouldn't want to bombard people though. Maybe we should all PM only those friends we're pretty sure would be interested, but might not visit as often for some reason. That way we're not being overly forceful and can't be accused of spamming

hmmm...i like the idea of a poetry contest but i dont have many friends on here but ill try my best to help

I'll give it a go.

Thanks for the PM Syren babe.

I'll give it a go

Yes.... 100%

Just remind me when to start and I'll do it.

Of course I'm interested

Any specifics for it?

Yeah, I'm up for it.

No specifics yet, they'll be outlined soon

i'll do it. *shrug*

I'll do it.

I'm sure I can come up with something nice and inane so as not to amuse anyone but myself...

Count me in!

i love the feeling of people wanting to do this kinda stuff

i will be sooo depressed when i lose, but i love this idea!

lol wow...wait r u serious? runforhills

Serious about the contest? Of course

no not the contest but the depressed feeling...life is confusing...sigh

Originally posted by XvampbenjiiX666
no not the contest but the depressed feeling...life is confusing...sigh

i hold an extremely high opinion of my work, but i know that other people dont feel the same way i do about my work, and still i put myself above all the rest.

im sorry its a little embarrassing to admit

All the rest? So, you're above poets like Yeats, Blake, Coleridge, Keats, Byron, Heaney etc?

That's what she said... and it is her personal opinion

As a runner up in a previous KMC poetry comp, i'm up for it.. just let me know the subject and rules....

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
i hold an extremely high opinion of my work, but i know that other people dont feel the same way i do about my work, and still i put myself above all the rest.

im sorry its a little embarrassing to admit Good. If thats how you feel, you should think highly of your work. I on the other hand am rather shitty and I know it.
Still think it will be fun to try.

Originally posted by chillmeistergen
All the rest? So, you're above poets like Yeats, Blake, Coleridge, Keats, Byron, Heaney etc?

no, those guys are good and i know it, i just hate modern poets.

There are plenty of brilliant modern poets. In fact, Heaney's modern.

Originally posted by Shelbert Lemon
. I on the other hand am rather shitty and I know it.


may I disagree....??? I'll always remember what an old editor told me... "You can't say your stuff's crap.. tha's my job!"

Originally posted by chillmeistergen
There are plenty of brilliant modern poets. In fact, Heaney's modern.

all right, if you want me to be painfully honest, i hate everybodys poem on this forum, and by all the rest i meant all the other people on this forum, not real poets.

no offense meant....

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
all right, if you want me to be painfully honest, i hate everybodys poem on this forum, and by all the rest i meant all the other people on this forum, not real poets.

no offense meant....

Oh right, fair enough. Though I think Ya Krunk'd Floo's is about 400 times better than yours.

No offense meant....

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
i hold an extremely high opinion of my work, but i know that other people dont feel the same way i do about my work, and still i put myself above all the rest.

im sorry its a little embarrassing to admit

Arrogance is a good thing. Just ask Anakin Skywalker.

Well my poem is pretty much written and nearly ready to go, when's this thing gonna start?

its kool i was jk...i feel the same way about my work...and sometimes i dont...its weird but thats life lol

okay fine, I'm out.

Why?

Originally posted by chillmeistergen
Why?

cause you hate me...

Let me know when to submit and what theme or if any. Been a while, but I'll give it a go.

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
cause you hate me...

No, I don't hate you, I'm just not really a fan of your attitude.

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
cause you hate me...

I think it might be a good idea if you didn't enter the contest. Not because anyone hates you, more because of the rather unfair comments you're making about other peoples' work. It's perfectly ok for you to find your own work to be brilliant, but it's not ok for you to say that you hate everyone else's work.

There's no point entering a competition when you're already sure of the outcome shrug

UPDATE.

Suggestions for theme and rules?

okay.


cant change who i am

I'd like to join.

stop the madness please..............oh what the hell im all in for the madness

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
okay.


cant change who i am

It's not who you are, it's the way you're acting. There's no need to be so blunt, is there?

I'm all for you joining the competition as long as you don't behave as though it's a foregone conclusion that you'll win.

Originally posted by Syren
It's not who you are, it's the way you're acting. There's no need to be so blunt, is there?

I'm all for you joining the competition as long as you don't behave as though it's a foregone conclusion that you'll win.


well, since i would like to join the competition, i will, try hard, to be nicer, as a matter of fact, i wont say anything accept for my poem. (otherwise)

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
well, since i would like to join the competition, i will, try hard, to be nicer, as a matter of fact, i wont say anything accept for my poem. (otherwise)

Or if you can't be nice, be constructive. There's nothing wrong with disliking someone's work and letting them know exactly what you don't like, perhaps giving them some idea as to how they might improve.

Just be constructive

Originally posted by Syren
Suggestions for theme and rules?

Originally posted by Syren

UPDATE.

Suggestions for theme and rules?


I would suggest keeping it an unfamiliar theme rather than having it be: seasonal since the holidays are fast approaching. And as some will likely feel comfortable posing such things as love unrequited, a broken heart, anger at a person, place or thing. Suicidal tendencies and some such, which I suppose pretty much eliminates a whole lot of what's written now...I suppose.

I guess what I'm saying is, rather than what we all are familiar with, have them or they or whomever write what they are not used to; think outside of the box.

If not...well hey, it was a suggestion.

As for rules, I leave that to those in the unenviable position of having to judge.

Excellent suggestion, J. I agree with having the participants 'think outside the box' - in fact, couldn't that be the general theme? Ask them to write something that is actually original and witty? A challenge in and of itself, I'm willing to bet

Originally posted by Syren
Excellent suggestion, J. I agree with having the participants 'think outside the box' - in fact, couldn't that be the general theme? Ask them to write something that is actually original and witty? A challenge in and of itself, I'm willing to bet And there lies the rub. How would one challenge themselves in writing something they themselves have not imagine them to be or thought otherwise in order to come up with something so unusual and unique to the babble they've ingrained their thought processes in however they've always written?

I think I gave myself a headache trying to answer that one, eh? But yes, I would like to see how one who is lovelorn write something they're not used to.

kewl...glad to be of service.

Well, whenever its ready...I've one ready to submit.

The theme's just think outside the box? Bit broad.

Well, give us something more specific then. I am asking for suggestions, after all.

It's just that we usually end up with either sickening love poems or suicidal cries for help.

Sorry, I didn't mean it as a jab. I'm not really sure on any subjects at the moment, but I'll do my best to think of some.

Yes, the 'poets' of this board do seem rather prone to pretentious whinging.

Im really unable to think of any themes.

Innovation? Exploration? Curiosity? Mystery? The exotic?

What is this all about? Is it really a contest?

outside the box...that would be new for me...i'll try if thats the theme...and what to do you mean whiny? i'm not whining just complaining

Hmmm "Think Outside The Box"

Pretty open but then agian that could be the fun of it. Seeing all the different views on this.

Love the idea of doing something "out of the norm"

i dont understand what you mean by "think outside the box"....

well if im right it means to do something you would never eally do before like outside of a routine...write a poem genre that you never had before...is that right?

Poetry is a pretty big box. Unless that 'theme' is topical and not structural, it would be hard to make work. Even then.

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
i dont understand what you mean by "think outside the box"....

I think that about sums it up.

How frustrating.

This country......

(Reference to: work it out yourself.)

A-alan Partridge?

Ok, someone else take over. I can't be bothered with the contest.

dont look at me

*fail*

Originally posted by Syren
Ok, someone else take over. I can't be bothered with the contest.

Wait, what?

Look what you people have done.

I'll take over if absolutely needed, I just need to know the gist of what we're doing.

may i take over? i really want to, and it means i cant participate, so i can be completely impartial

i warn you, i will be a total dictator, ive already got the guidlines in my head as well as themes, i say themes plural because i think it should have more than one theme.

of course, if you think i would be totally unfit i can understand...

Originally posted by Syren
Ok, someone else take over. I can't be bothered with the contest.

Why? I think you seem to be the best to be in charge of it.

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
may i take over? i really want to, and it means i cant participate, so i can be completely impartial

i warn you, i will be a total dictator, ive already got the guidlines in my head as well as themes, i say themes plural because i think it should have more than one theme.

of course, if you think i would be totally unfit i can understand...

You've already said you hate everyones poetry on here, what's the point in you being in charge?

Originally posted by chillmeistergen
Why? I think you seem to be the best to be in charge of it.



You've already said you hate everyones poetry on here, what's the point in you being in charge?

i knew you would bring that up >.< .

i just really want this to happen.

why dont you take over?

I'd rather take part.

Stress moment, sorry.

This thread was to gauge interest and gather ideas. Already there've been negative comments and obvious disinterest.

I'll judge, alongside lil bitchiness, but we need another judge before anything goes ahead.

Originally posted by Syren
Stress moment, sorry.

This thread was to gauge interest and gather ideas. Already there've been negative comments and obvious disinterest.

I'll judge, alongside lil bitchiness, but we need another judge before anything goes ahead.

i know the answer already, but may i?

I will judge, if you want.

Presuming this post isn't as invisible as my others.

I saw the Alan Partridge one.

Seriously though, I think VVD would be a good judge.

Well, I do have some relevant experience.

That'd be great, VVD

Three's enough, I think. Usually we'll set the thread up for participants to submit their pieces, leave it open for a decided amount of time and then Milla will close it. The judges assess the submissions privately and then order them from best to 'worst', then share their decisions with one another. I think there's usually a winner and a runner up.

I don't know if you can think of another way to do it, but please feel free to make a suggestion.

Selphie, if we need another judge would you mind?

Originally posted by Syren
That'd be great, VVD

Three's enough, I think. Usually we'll set the thread up for participants to submit their pieces, leave it open for a decided amount of time and then Milla will close it. The judges assess the submissions privately and then order them from best to 'worst', then share their decisions with one another. I think there's usually a winner and a runner up.

I don't know if you can think of another way to do it, but please feel free to make a suggestion.

Nah, that sounds ok.

Maybe as well as the joint decision, each judge could mention a favourite line or stanza, or something like that, from poems outside of the winning one and the runner-up. Just to make it a bit less of a first past the post thing, and maybe more interesting.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Nah, that sounds ok.

Maybe as well as the joint decision, each judge could mention a favourite line or stanza, or something like that. Just to make it a bit less of a first past the post thing, and maybe more interesting.

Sounds good. In the past I've always put together a sort of 'critique' so that each contestant can see what I've personally appreciated or what I've found to be less positive, where I've felt improvements could have been made or whatever. I won't post it publicly unless asked, but I'll PM each individual regarding their piece.

So, where are we at with the theme?

Originally posted by Syren
Sounds good. In the past I've always put together a sort of 'critique' so that each contestant can see what I've personally appreciated or what I've found to be less positive, where I've felt improvements could have been made or whatever. I won't post it publicly unless asked, but I'll PM each individual regarding their piece.

So, where are we at with the theme?

I suggested a few a page back, but no-one...cared.

Originally posted by Syren
Selphie, if we need another judge would you mind?

I would love to be a judge!

Definetly count me in if you need another!

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Innovation? Exploration? Curiosity? Mystery? The exotic?

*cares now*

hmm..im glad we got this settled down but now its just the theme...i got a question who's the guy vvd named? i dont reade poetry just write it

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
A-alan Partridge?

This guy?

Originally posted by XvampbenjiiX666
hmm..im glad we got this settled down but now its just the theme...i got a question who's the guy vvd named? i dont reade poetry just write it

LOL, Alan Partridge is only like the most fantastic, upcoming urban poet from Norfolk. Christ, read more.

Alan Partridge is a fictional television and radio presenter portrayed by English comedian Steve Coogan. A parody of both sports commentators and chat show presenters, the character has appeared in two radio series, three television series and numerous TV and radio specials, including appearances on BBC's Comic Relief, which have followed the rise and fall of his career.

Wiki

im in tell when and i'll be ready

Originally posted by Syren
*cares now*

I was trying to suggest things that made 'think outside the box' a bit less nebulous.

One of those has to work.

i see now...i can look around for him...yea i'm kinda always busy to notice stuff like that...anyway ummm....i dont know

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
I was trying to suggest things that made 'think outside the box' a bit less nebulous.

One of those has to work.



A curious mystery? Exploration of the exotic?

I think a decision needs to be made though, what's your choice?

i like the mystery idea....

Originally posted by Syren


A curious mystery? Exploration of the exotic?

I think a decision needs to be made though, what's your choice?

Not fussed luv.

Best left to the entrants to decide?

Originally posted by ~Forever*Alone~
i like the mystery idea....

A curious mystery

Ok, I'll PM everyone who's shown interest so far to ask what they think.

Don't all mysteries sort of spark curiosity?

I personally like the idea of there being a variety of themes, that the writer may choose from.

As suggestions, I'll throw in: The power of the natural world, and the complexity of modern life. They may well be shoddy suggestions, they're just two of the themes I find to be very accessible.

A variety would be good, I agree. More scope.

I like the complexity of modern life suggestion

So these are just topics on what we should write about, and not styles of poetry, right?

Hmmm.

Making the simplest things complex/seem complex, life (excluding human life), and.....eh, I don't know.

Not styles of poetry, that's left to the poet to decide. Just the theme

i'm hooked on the ideas i like them...so we can have our own theme but they have to be about what was named up there like a dark mystery poem or something...i was kinda thinking like writing a story poem...just an idea

It may have already been suggested but I like the idea of writing about confusion.

Good ideas so far!!

I'm horrible at coming up with themes prolly has to do with me being more of a follower than a leader But...

The ideas I liked the most were, Mysterie, The power of the natural world, and the complexity of modern life.

Autumn/October/Halloween

All Relevant.

Hm... I'm really up for anything

Originally posted by ~Bun Bun~
Good ideas so far!!

The complexity of modern life.
This one is my favorite. I wanted to say it but I just didn't know how to put it into words.

Originally posted by Vinny Valentine
Autumn/October/Halloween

All Relevant.

Yawnsome, though

Complexity idea is possibly a bit narrow.

How about something depressing. I'd win that.

Originally posted by Vinny Valentine
Autumn/October/Halloween

All Relevant.

We could make glittery Christmas cards as well, couldn't we? Oh please, can we? Can we?

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Complexity idea is possibly a bit narrow.

Fair point.

Originally posted by chillmeistergen
We could make glittery Christmas cards as well, couldn't we? Oh please, can we? Can we?

I'd give you one!

Filth, utter filth.

I'm all for the complexity of life theme!

i'm in for anything right now

well i think mystery can be tied in with that idea. The whole mystery about life's complexties. Ya know...y its so complex, examples of how its complex, the ways complexties effect people...just throwing somethings out there....either one is fine by me..their kind of similar and you can take them by diffrent angles

Why don't we just do a free for all? Every poet can write what he or she wishes on to express themselves. In my mind I believe the best poems are written with the writers own free train of thought. Not this thing of picking a genre and writing a poem on it.

Thats my 2 cents on this. srug

Contests have to have some sort of boundaries, that's the point. It's about challenging the participants to work within set limitations, to see what they can come up with.

These contests are thematic and always have a deadline.

true...ummm i got nothing i like kenshins wife's idea about mixing the two

Vinny had a point, halloween/fall themes would fit the time. Doing something for halloween i think would be fun and interesting.

Originally posted by Syren
Well, give us something more specific then. I am asking for suggestions, after all.

It's just that we usually end up with either sickening love poems or suicidal cries for help. Apparently everyone seems to be in a bit of confusion as to what "think outside of the box" is...in short, it means--to those who wish to submit a piece of work--to write something you don't normally always do: love poems, suicidal tendencies, teen angst or the cornucopia of prosaic grizzle. Not to say any of that is good. But the challenge is...can you create a thing you're not normally accustomed to? Not you Sy, but to those who fail to grasp that overly vague if not specific phrase. Sort that one out, eh?

Originally posted by XvampbenjiiX666
well if im right it means to do something you would never eally do before like outside of a routine...write a poem genre that you never had before...is that right? Exactly.

Fair enough then, I'll write a haiku about recycling.

Ok, here's my take on this.

I genuinely liked the 'Think outside the box' idea. I think it gives plenty of scope for the participants, especially when you consider that the majority of you seem to want more freedom. Initially I was just going to provide one theme, a couple of weeks and a thread to post them in. I do agree, however, that although limitations must be set in place, a little more leeway would be a good idea.

So, with that in mind, any more offers?

Hm, I would like to suggest something like thinking outside the box with a dream-like theme, but reading inbetween the lines shows something about the real world.

Originally posted by Sol Valentine
Hm, I would like to suggest something like thinking outside the box with a dream-like theme, but reading inbetween the lines shows something about the real world.

You've already written your poem, haven't you?

Seriously though, unless 'thinking outside the box' can be made more specific, it'll just be a free-for-all.

Maybe the Halloween thing would be OK. Not necessarily Halloween itself, but maybe that kind of tone/influence.

Maybe nightmare?

i'm liking it, so your saying an outside the box halloween theme?

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
You've already written your poem, haven't you?

Seriously though, unless 'thinking outside the box' can be made more specific, it'll just be a free-for-all.

Maybe the Halloween thing would be OK. Not necessarily Halloween itself, but maybe that kind of tone/influence.

Maybe nightmare?

I meant if you read carefully in the poems, you'll see a bit of the real world and the important things that affect it today.

i like the idea of a poem about modern life.. to set a definite boundary, how about a poem about the complexity of modern human relationships written rom the pov of an inanimate object.... thats a bit outside some sort of box...

Maybe a poll is the answer.

I've made a poll thread. All of the suggestions put forward in this thread have been included.

hey...poll huh? well maybe itll work

Is this going to happen anytime?

i'm up for anything

my preference varies...daily.

how about abstract poems?

vivanda, you're a touch late hun. We've already had the poll and a decision has been made.

"Modern Life"

Originally posted by Syren
vivanda, you're a touch late hun. We've already had the poll and a decision has been made.

"Modern Life" Actually it was "Complexity of modern life", but hell, who cares about a little bit of electoral fraud.

It's a benevolent dictatorship.