I agree that conferring with others is good, but I think workshops have 
become an industry now. I can’t help but associate them with poetry 
competitions.  


On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:34:25 -0400, mairead byrne 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>I guess everyone's experience, and opinions consequently derived, is
>subjective, to some extent.
>Alison's question, for me, is the sine qua non of workshops: reading is the
>basic ongoing shared practice;
>one of the primary functions of workshops, for me, is book recommendations,
>between all members.
>Probably because I teach in an art and design school, I am very open to
>workshops / critique / collaborative learning and practice, etc.  But I
>think my openness is also why I teach in an art and design school ....  I
>don't really get Jeffrey's "You can probably learn all you need to learn
>about poetry from life," I don't know what that means.  Poets have always
>worked closely with other poets, and tested work in small groups.  Even the
>most isolated poet had generally one such peer/reader.
>One of the great things about teaching workshops, for me, is the constant
>challenge offered by these 21st century babes (and dudes).
>Mairead
>
>On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 7:13 PM, Alison Croggon <[log in to unmask]> 
wrote:
>
>> How about learning how to write poetry from reading poems?
>>
>> I confess I never read a "how to write poetry" book. Or attended a
>> workshop, except when someone asked me to teach one. Probably explains
>> a few things.
>>
>> xA
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 3:24 AM, Jeffrey Side<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> > Yes, Patrick. Life is the only workshop one needs. You can
>> > probably learn all you need to learn about poetry from life, and a few
>> "how to
>> > write poetry" books. But, I accept that socialising is an important
>> element that
>> > workshops cater for.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:01:10 +0100, Patrick McManus
>> > <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> >
>> >>Fair point Jeffrey. But again but isn't life a workshop?:-)
>> >>P old workshopper
>> >>
>> >>-----Original Message-----
>> >>From: British & Irish poets [mailto:BRITISH-IRISH-
[log in to unmask]]
>> On
>> >>Behalf Of Jeffrey Side
>> >>Sent: 10 August 2009 11:44
>> >>To: [log in to unmask]
>> >>Subject: Re: Found a good article called 'POETRY SCENE: CURRENT
>> >>DIFFICULTIES'
>> >>
>> >>Fair point, David. But, again, I have to emphasise that poets like Blake,
>> >>Eliot
>> >>and probably all of the major poets didn't need to go to them.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:40:03 +0100, Patrick McManus
>> >><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>Here! Here! David
>> >>>
>> >>>P here  hering!
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>From: British & Irish poets [mailto:BRITISH-IRISH-
[log in to unmask]]
>> > On
>> >>>Behalf Of David Bircumshaw
>> >>>Sent: 10 August 2009 06:48
>> >>>To: [log in to unmask]
>> >>>Subject: Re: Found a good article called 'POETRY SCENE: CURRENT
>> >>>DIFFICULTIES'
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>Oh dear: I've been going to one for eighteen years. I'll ponder awhile
>> >>which
>> >>>I prefer for myself: wanting to appear busy or being insecure about
>> >>>practice, it'll be like a delayed birthday present. Other than myself,
>> and
>> >>>my definite incapacities, people I have observed over the past two
>> decades
>> >>>seem to have a variety of motives: some because its the rare chance 
to
>> talk
>> >>>about poetry with possibly more than virtual presences, some because
>> it's
>> >>an
>> >>>excuse to go to the pub afterwards, some because they're having an
>> affair,
>> >>>and some too because they have a voice is telling them to (Blake might
>> have
>> >>>been comfortable after all).
>> >>>
>> >>>I do notice they conform to the general universal principle of never
>> being
>> >>>quite what I think they are or expect them to be.
>> >>>
>> >>>2009/8/9 Jeffrey Side <[log in to unmask]>
>> >>>
>> >>>Workshops are a strange phenomenon in poetry composition. One 
wonders
>> >>>how Blake ever managed without them! They function mainly as a
>> > networking
>> >>>tool for poets who like to appear busy, or who are insecure about thier
>> >>>practice. Of course, they should exist, but only in the same way as
>> pottery
>> >>>classes do. Both can be pleasurable for a few hours. Sorry to sound so
>> >>>cynical.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>On Sun, 9 Aug 2009 12:58:01 +0100, David Bircumshaw
>> >>><[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>>Thanks for this, Jeffrey, the observations on workshops made me 
smile.
>> >>>>
>> >>>>2009/7/31 Jeffrey Side <[log in to unmask]>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> Found a good article called 'POETRY SCENE: CURRENT DIFFICULTIES'
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> http://www.textetc.com/modernist/current-difficulties.html
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>--
>> >>>>David Bircumshaw
>> >>>>"A window./Big enough to hold screams/
>> >>>>You say are poems" - DMeltzer
>> >>>>Website and A Chide's Alphabet
>> >>>>http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
>> >>>>The Animal Subsides 
http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
>> >>>>Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>--
>> >>>David Bircumshaw
>> >>>"A window./Big enough to hold screams/
>> >>>You say are poems" - DMeltzer
>> >>>Website and A Chide's Alphabet
>> >>>http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
>> >>>The Animal Subsides 
http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
>> >>>Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
>> >>>
>> >>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >>>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> >>>Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.48/2292 - Release Date:
>> 08/09/09
>> >>>08:08:00
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> >>Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.48/2292 - Release Date:
>> 08/09/09
>> >>18:10:00
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Editor, Masthead:  http://www.masthead.net.au
>> Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
>> Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com
>>
>