OK, so I write a bit during the off-months. Not enough by my estimation, but there is some writing going on. I don't put it up here; so far, I've saved this blog for my one-poem-a-day exercise in April. Not like there's a clamoring at the gates for more, but it's better leaving an audience wanting more than to give them too much. Perhaps I'll have an audience again this year--including (yes) hecklers. A brief review of last year's posts will reveal one heckler, and I was very glad to have him/her (GlassHammer, if you're reading this, come back!).
Having a heckler means that someone is reading, and is concerned enough to post. Every poet should have a few--indeed, most poets I read don't have enough. There's usually plenty of family and friends who will love your work. But there's so many people who have never had any critique of their work--not just poets mind you, but virtually anyone whose work is open to review. Simply watch the first few shows of American Idol to see how few people, supposedly dedicated to their art, have received any helpful criticism of their work before performing (and American Idol is just the most blatant example). And if you should indeed search out critique of your work, how do you weigh which to work with, and which to set aside? That is work. If you want to do anything of value, you cannot escape it.
Having a heckler means that someone is reading, and is concerned enough to post. Every poet should have a few--indeed, most poets I read don't have enough. There's usually plenty of family and friends who will love your work. But there's so many people who have never had any critique of their work--not just poets mind you, but virtually anyone whose work is open to review. Simply watch the first few shows of American Idol to see how few people, supposedly dedicated to their art, have received any helpful criticism of their work before performing (and American Idol is just the most blatant example). And if you should indeed search out critique of your work, how do you weigh which to work with, and which to set aside? That is work. If you want to do anything of value, you cannot escape it.
