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If the MFA has achieved such a hold over the US poetry scene, I'm not surprised people complain about the academic nature of contemporary poetry. Not true here in the UK yet, and I hope we never get that way. (We're still at the stage where articles in the press take the is-it-really-possible-to-teach-creative-writing line.) At the University of Glamorgan we run one of the few Masters in Writing degrees in the UK and are very pleased with ourselves because our graduates are beginning to have some success with publishers. But the publishers still insist that they mustn't mention in their blurbs that they studied here, because reviewers must believe their talent is innate rather than taught! I do believe (obviously) that such degrees can be valuable, partly because they rescue writers from isolation and expose them to new techniques and influences, and partly because they're a great way of giving yourself permission to devote the time and effort to writing you really want to. But it would be a disaster if they became the only way in to a literary career. Best wishes Matthew Francis [mailto:[log in to unmask] 01443 482856 -----Original Message----- From: john valceanu [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 19 April 2000 04:53 To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Connecting with other (aspiring) poets. Helen and David, I've been watching the e-mail traffic, and I wanted to let you know I'm also a huge fan of both Charles Simic and William Carlos Williams. I also wholeheartedly agree that a formal poetry education isn't required for someone to become a decent poet. Reading, reading and more reading are, however, essential. Unfortunately, though, all too often where (and if) you get published is a function of where (and if) you got your MFA. It's kind of an inbred, incestuous world out there in Poetryland. I concentrated in creative writing/poetry as an undergraduate, and opted not to go in for an MFA because I was truly tired of the sycophantic world of young poets. Now that I'm a little older, and a little more tolerant, I've started moving back into that world, albeit from the safety of my computer terminal. Fortunately, more and more voices from outside the staid strictures of academia are making themselves heard. A lot of them are on the Internet. I have a feeling the Net is one of the best things that could have happened to poetry. I also believe that Charles Bukowski -- whether you love him or hate him -- was a great influence in bringing poetry out of the classroom and back to the people. I'm partial to the Walt Whitman/Carl Sandburg/Charles Bukowski populist school of poetry. Lately, I've discovered Nikki Giovanni, and I've been reading a lot of her works. She has a simple, playful, folksy style that really appeals to me -- and I appreciate her ethnic perspectives. Thanks for the tip on Gregory Djanikian... I'll make sure to keep my eyes peeled for his works. I look forward to keeping in touch with you. Take care, John > >David >I've been into your site and enjoyed your poetry. You don't need a formal >poetry education, you are very much entrenched already in the art. As they >say our best teachers are the books on our shelves. Thanks also for some >great information on poets you like. I also like Charles Simic, William >Carlos Williams. Charles Olson, is great too. Check our >http://www.cortlandreview.com (archives) for some great poetry. I esp. like >Gregory Djanikian (he's very funny and I'm sure you would like him). My >favorite all-time American female poet would have to be Adrienne Rich. >Poets >on the web have been my inspiration lately. What part of the world do you >live in where you can't join others of like minds? >Helen (apiring poet) > > >>none of which particularly interest me. I have found a >>number of literary journals on the web that print >>poems I like, but from what I've seen, these don't >>really facilitate contact/discussion among aspiring >>poets. >> >>I've created my own website as one attempt at >>connecting with others, but I'd be interested in >>hearing any other suggestions you might have in this >>regard (both in terms of online and offline >>possibilities). >> >>Thanks in advance, >> >>David Pfaltzgraff-Carlson >>[log in to unmask] >>http://geocities.com/odd_carnivals >> >> >>__________________________________________________ >>Do You Yahoo!? >>Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites. >>http://invites.yahoo.com > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%