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Hi there

I know I have been away for some time now. It had nothing to do with the site , more the case of medical.
I did pop n every so often. What I saw was at one point there were many new folks writing posting and commenting.
Yet just today I came in to comment on a few pieces and find that it is mostly the same people posting.

So that being said I would like to open a conversation as to what suggestions would you have to generate more participation? I did note the workshops seem to be active. So the problem does not seem to be there

What then do I ask do you feel you would like to see more of?

invite poets to Neopoet but warn them it is not a place to post their poetry for ego or publishing, it is a workshop where one can expect harsh criticism. Admittedly they won't get it much except when a few of us honest poets are not paralysed by abusive shit like what comes from lonnie, but we try.

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

My husband and I are two different people If you have an issue with him take it up with him. I asked a legitimate question and did not expect to be met with complaints . What we do has no nearing on one another.
that being said was there something of use you wanted to contribute

ok after reading your comment again.
Yes that is what we have tried in the past, none of this rah rah great poem and give them a false sense that they wrote a master piece.

But you must admit not every poem has something to be corrected or suggested. In which case a comment on the style used , wording etc would be in order

but not a comment such as " I loved your poem"
and yes there are folks that think their work is beyond reproach

but they are told when they join what Neopoet is and they are given the multitudes of guidelines to follow if they choose not to read or follow then there is a problem

I am also talking about participating more in all else that Neopoet offers look at the toolbar and all there is to do

but I am ME a separate entity and person with my own thoughts and ideas
It is not just a matter of posting a poem then sitting back and daying hey look what I did and did not ask for the remainder of your comment and feel it was inappropriate to add it here.

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

I only want Neopoet to be a truly honest, if at times harsh, poetry workshop, as its creators intended and still stand by that position.
I apologise for the personal shit that has gone down between me and Lonnie, but he is wrong.
I would stand down if Andrew and Paul asked me to, or if the AC banned me, but Neopoet needs someone like me who is not prepared to pander to doggerel.

I personally apologise when I can not offer critique to someone's poem. It doesn't mean it is perfect, just that I haven't the capability to improve it.

Don't ever forget, please Chrys, this is not a publishing site but an ongoing poetry workshop.

I never think of you in the conflicts I sometimes have with Lonnie, though I know it must affect you in some way. He got a reprimand this time, if he continues to attack me, naturally it will get worse. And, as great a poet as he is, he is a cowardly, selfish, mean minded arsehole when it comes to sharing his ability.
respectfully

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

we need more people with the abitlity of giving a constructive critique rather than harsh one.
We have few here with very limited time. I think we need more of them to give the new comers
a comfortable environment to improve their poetry.
I can never deny JudyAnne's care to do so. I always miss her. :(

Thanks Chrys for raising this issue. It is really important.

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
https://instagram.com/poetry.jo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Absolutely there is no need to be harsh and come down on a person like a sledge hammer
there always was the prob;em of not giving a critque or not enough or to much
where does one draw the line. Thank you so much for your input I will add that to a list I am making

good to be back in the mix

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

My forum is not the place for such a comment enough said

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

All our poetry is perfect but we usually only see with our own minds eye's.
Neopoet is a workshop and a damn good one, but for me there has to be a free side where all poets can submit their works for critique, but we must tighten up on this part a little.
The new poets must be allowed to settle in first and become aware of the sites purpose, which is usually expressed by Jess much better than me.
I have learned much here, and quite a lot from my own research for the workshops or stream.
Then the teachers we have that run the workshops, they do their best, and I help where I can.
We must have some way of teaching people to comment, but we have had workshops on this, and still they don't comment as critics, but friends if at all, so this must be addressed, one submission for three comments I think is fair.
Thank you for your Topic it is needed,
Yours Ian.T

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

when I returned. As to things I would like to see: I love reading poetry and would enjoy seeing something like a featured famous poet of the month. People could contribute their favorite poems by that poet and comment on them in any way they chose. I think that would expose us to lots of wonderful poetry.

I think your idea is splendid. What do ya'll think of letting whoever gives the most comments in a 2 week period being awarded the honor of choosing a famous poet for a 2 week period? Might up the number of comments as well as act as a way of discovering some really exceptional poetry by famous masters......stan PS of course it would require the site being technically capable of keeping track

and occasionally do so in blogs, as do other, however it goes against the nature of Neopoet, a workshop for new work, to make it a featured item.

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

I can forsee a lot of favoritism on the horizon

I do believe this was tried a number of years ago and it just did not work
critque yes but I see a comment like hey I loved your poem
thank you both for your input
let me check on this as I said I believe it was tried at one time

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

I like your idea very much let me bring this up with the powers that be

I believe what is misleading people is the word comment
right on the site it says comments
perhaps this pharsing should be changed to reflect that it is a critique that we are looking for. I have always felt the word comment is an invitation for a pat on the back

then there is the problem of " I don't know ho to critique"

again the difference between the words need defining and once we see new members coming in run a short(mandatory class on critiquing) or something along those lines

I am glad to see such an input from some of you

now to get the rest of the membership to give their ideas

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

solution for weeding out mere comments would be to only count commentary which includes a certain number of words. A good critique should easily have the required number while a "great poem" type comment would not. This might not even require human intervention to keep track......stan

a site i was once on had a required number of words per commentary, rule.
critiques dropped a bit, and many met the requirement by adding more fluff and non-sense,
or by repeating the same old same old with each poem they reviewed. just saying.

I've not met you on the site before it is so nice to see a new name and thank you for your input seeems that would be the problem wouldn't it. Keep in mind that all the technical stuff has to be approved and possible without messing the workings or the site up

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

Workshops are a positive component of a workshop site like Neopoet. I do try to participate in some of them which has helped me and I guess many others like me. There are members like Ian who have taken the pains to post detailed A-Z listing of various types / forms of poetry.Such efforts do need to be appreciated , since it serves as reference material. However, it does become difficult to grasp so many different forms in a short span of time. I suggest, on weekly / fortnightly basis, a particular form of poetry be explained and also illustrated with an example /s. this would become a kind of tutorial for amateurs like me and would also be a value addition to new comers who join Neopoet.

Appreciate your inviting opinions,

Regards,

raj (sublime_ocean)

Examples are always helpful.

would choose the poem?

Seee this is part of the problem that has to be solved

people ,and that is a handful do not mind volunteering, while the rest just sit back and post ( and not comment)
point is I see the same people raising their hands to help out

this also would have to be addressed more

It boils down then to and here is a question
should we also make it contingent that a member volunteer for at least one project

let's face it most of our members get a free ride while there are others that pay their monetary dues

here raises another question should membership dues be inforced rather than voluntary

but I am getting off track from the original point
and that is critique

but none of this can even be discussed if we do not have members that do not participate

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

It could be a team of Members, each of whom is adept at one or more poetry forms, e.g., your good self, Ian, Wesley, Barbara, Esker, to name a few.

raj (sublime_ocean)

thank you for the compliment however if you look at that list of people that you mention you will find they are the ones that are always there when help is asked for. I would like to see some of the other members come foward as well

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

I appreciate what you have said. I mentioned those names for sake of examples only considering their level of proficiency. I do agree with you though that it would be unfair to expect them to go on investing their time and energy at the expense of their personal life and duties. Any other group who have the necessary skills and proficiency would also do. The most I would be able to do is do internet searches and piece up the information and consult some of our expert members before posting it in the allotted space, to make sure it is the right example for the right form.

Regards,

raj (sublime_ocean)

very good suggestion let us see how we can implement this. It has to be done in a way folks not familiar with the art of poetry ( I included) would understand what is being said

and yes it is easier when something is demonstrated

this all works well for the workshops

how to implement this to follow through to the stream as many people are reluctant to join workshops why who knows maybe it is a time factor or isn't their style or perhaps they feel they do not need a workshop environment

there are many excellent suggestions brought forward lets see what can be done
I will be speaking with the boss in a day or two

the main issue seems to be commenting
how to and proper etiquette etc

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

let us hear from more of you. I know you are out there

let see if we can put Neo Poet back on top
thanks to those that have already offered up some suggestions

let's discuss how we can use them

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

To select a poem that is tops for the month is going to be hard.
A group of our poets must check all the poetry submitted on stream, and then select say three for the tops giving them points out of ten, then the poem with the highest score becomes the poem to be the one for the month.
This can be run in a Blog, the Blog would be for voting on three poems, as below.
Ian.T votes
Tinned 7 points
Pariah 6 points
The Wedding Poem  5 points.

At a day set by Neopoet all the points for the poems could be sorted, once a month. say the 24th day of each month.
Then the Blog could be dropped and the top poem for the month would be put out on a new Blog called
"Top Poem For This Month"
I wouldn't mind sorting the scores out each month, the number of people voting could be open, as long as it is on the Blog.
This would stop any favourites or friends from biasing the outcome.
Take care out there and thank you all for this journey, and sojourn with our Loved,
Yours Ian.T

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

sounds good but I would like to add that there some way a person can only submit their votes once and one time only otherwise I can see a stampede of votes for a favorite person ( not the poem)and also they cannot vote for their own poem

this leads to some technical doings and I am not sure it can be done

we did have a point system on the old site but there purpose never amounted to anything.

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

As you can see by my voting bit, it is titled ME, Ian.T , then the three poems voted for, for that month, it would show if there were multiple votes or a person voting for themselves.
If the title of the poem is copied and pasted it also brings with it the ident of whose and when posted, I cleaned this up a bit for ease in reading.
Let me see if I can find my list again, found it but the name of the poet must be added to vote:-
PARIAH - scribbler, etc.
There can be no duplicate votes as the authors Ident would automatically be at the top of their reply to the Blog..
Hope this clears up the worry about multi votes and that it cannot be fixed.
There is also the Neopoet Book that I suggested a while back, the top three poems could also be put forward to the publishing side where eventually a selection of our poems and poets would be published.
This is taking up a lot of time this morning lol, I have a few chores to do, so you both take care and have a great day together, Yours Ian.T

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

trying to pull this together now

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

Now if you had stayed we could have slayed
The odd Elf's rant and many others rage
But it was your choice to wander in the desert so
A place of thought where it never snows
So on your return it did cause concern
As some had forgotten your ways.
You threw shit enough to cause rebuff
Made many hold their heads in their hands.
But welcome my buddy, I know I is fuddy duddy.
But all in all I is grand, holding my quill in my hand
To reply to your thoughts that are daft of course
Yet who cares a Damn..
Yours, Sparrow

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

has kept me away from this discourse. There is a plenitude of great ideas here but bottom line is, I believe, every member committing themselves to trying help other poets with serious constructive critique in a ratio of at least 3 critiques per personal post, which is a fair number because newcomers simply haven't learned to give critique yet and the balance needs redressing.

The more we give the more we get, yes, altruism is the highest form of self-serving behaviour and the times when Neopoet has been most vigorous in feedback are the times when new members stay. Leading by example is the thing. I have not been pulling my weight at all, I have been unwell, but all us crusty old wordcrafters need to pitch in.

'Marketing' ideas are great, and needed, but the backbone of Neopoet is critique.

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

Not shifting the blame to any one at all. We are chipping in. Now that being said the ideas are being worked on but there are other matters that the powers that be have to resolve first. So a slight delay

any ideas on how to get those new members lol

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

I sent a PM to all I could to support Barbara in the making of a Renga piece, the effect was quite good, there were a lot of new poets that joined in the workshop so something along those lines will have to be written.
A PM to all our members composed to ask them to let us know if they are still an active part of Neopoet at the same time make the three critique rule where they have to critique three poems on stream before they can submit to the stream their work, each time they wish to have help with a poem.
The workshop poets can submit if they are part of a workshop, someone will have to monitor this side of Neopoet, can't think how we can capture interested poets otherwise,
Yours Ian.T

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

Ben talking with Paul about several of everyone's
ideas they are in the works but as I said it is not top on the list of matters right at the moment. and I don't think anyone other than amin should handle these on their own

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

Inquired Andrew on whether the comment before posting thing is technically feasible at this time. Still awaiting a response.

Chrys and Ian,
Your idea on having a poem of the month is sound and it appears that ya'll have put a lot of thought into how this could be done. And it also seems that the voting method should not present any tech problems.

The earlier idea of also having a poem of a specific form written by a past master posted and explained is also a worthy one. Perhaps the honor of choosing said poem could go to the poem of the month winner?

Now comes the hook lol. Would the two of you be interested in developing a solid proposal to present to the AC for approval? If so, just holler and then put your heads together and post your proposal on a separate blog addressed to AC and members so everybody will have a chance to see it and comment on a specific proposal...........stan, the delegating man lol

As I told Ian it is being worked and no one should jump the gun without Administrations approval

at this moment they have their hands full

Romes was not built in a day and neither will this be

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

(or whatever that baseball expression is) and I don't want to distract from this healthy and constructive discourse,
But anyone interested in reviving the newsletter?
I think it was quite effective in maintaining members participation to get a quarterly email.

The other thing Chrys mentioned is actually finding new members. Facebook could be a rich source for this if one of the four (yes 4) Facebook Neopoet pages was more actively promoted. Any volunteers? The Trustees and the AC would have to determine which of those pages was the Official Neopoet Facebook page.

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

I notice that on face book, if there is a good thing or even a bad thing,, when it is passed on from people to people on the friends side it goes world wide very quickly, so many people out there are linked.
So a piece with or without picture, of Neopoet, and what it does and where it is, would go world wide.
Give me a pretty page with some lovely words on written badly then corrected by our great poets and see if we get results.
Can Neopoet have its own Face Book just as a place to let people know what is going on, and as FREE advertising of the workshops, also the best poems of the month etc in fact used as a WWW news letter.
Can't think of much else this morning so will leave this with you all, Yours Ian.T

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

I was just thinking about the newsletter last night. It is an excellent idea
dare I be the one to volunteer for this tast. It has been tried many times before but we would get one or two months and then poof. This might be something that has to be approved as well. But hey I'm up for it

the facebook thing has been tried as well
ya see Jess people don't mind starting things but then the novelty wears off and it goes by the wayside so to speak

the newsletter does not sound out of left field at all I've always liked the idea of it

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

if you take on the newsletter Chrys.

cheers,
Jess
A new workshop on the most important element of poetry-
'Rhythm and Meter in Poetry'
https://www.neopoet.com/workshop/rhythm-and-meter-poetry

thought if we can held a contest every now and then using a definite theme or form would add some excitement to the site.
We could keep it plain, We only need this to be scheduled. Then the appointed poet can submit a blog with the theme desired. He/she could give one of the great old poet's work a good examplary for his contest's theme.

I believe this way we can both present a good poem and put some spices to the whole thing.
with a noble sense of compition. Hoping this would bring also some new talents to the site.

The appointed peot then should be the judge of his own contest, or make it a co-work with another fellow poet.

I have seen this same idea on other poetry sites. It really works well most of the time.

What do you think?

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
https://instagram.com/poetry.jo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

do you think the poet who wins a contest should be rewarded other than the "right" to hold his/her own contest?

not a silly idea at all. as stated there are many good ideas/ So let's take one at a time
the first is getting new members
thank you for taking the time to think of a new idea

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

Stan, but I thought this way everyone will bring out his or her best.
Anyway I think it was a silly idea.

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
https://instagram.com/poetry.jo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

silly at all. Just seems there should be something awarded which doesn't require the winner to work lol. Maybe something like being able to post 2 poems per day for the following month. OH! OH! I have an idea . The winner could become chair of the AC for a month lmao.........stan

Stan, with all the responsibilities that you hold, I don't think it is a privilege at all.LOL

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
https://instagram.com/poetry.jo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

hey now that right there is silly lol

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

what wonderful ideas ya'll have been bringing to the table phew
let uss work on one at a time

I suggest we advertise the hell out of Neo Poet on FB to bring new members in

remember though a mebership although as nice as it would be is NOT mandatory

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

Though not a new idea, I am putting to vote having a combination of some of the suggestions made by fellow members. One could add to the Newsletter a)Poem of the Month b) One Poetry Form explained with example c) Formal Welcome to all new Members..d) Appreciation of those who organized Workshops during the previous month e) The most critiqued poem and so on. This would perhaps encourage Members to look forward to reading the monthly Newsletters. The Newsletter for the month could also provide a hyperlink to previously published Newsletters..

Regards,

raj (sublime_ocean)

all excellent ideas

as stated earlier
things are in the works

just sit tight lol
all good things come to those who wait
seriously hang in have some kinks to work out

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

waiting for word from Paul on some things

Chrys
Let your mercy spill on all these burning hearts in hell(Leonard Cohen)

author comment

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