A Grump!, Book Title Challenge Request Options

[Sekhmet]

Good Morning Everyone
- A Grump!
I am becoming worried by the tendency to cram as many titles as possible into a loosely constructed whole.
Where is the challenge in stringing a dozen titles together into an almost understandable form? Especially when what often emerges is incomprehensible to the average reader.
When we enter the challenges, surely our first duty to our fellow writers, and to anyone kind enough to read our work, should be - to make a real poem from of the selection of given book titles.

It is disappointing to see how few attempts at actual poetry have resulted from the challenges. I had understood that a creative stimulus to writing fresh poetry was the whole point of the exercise!
Possibly many members are number orientated; and feel that by stringing twelve, or even fifteen book titles loosely together, they have met the ultimate challenge.
I have news for them - they haven't!
Surely, writing real verses; whilst making creative use of whatever materials are given to us, is the ultimate challenge?
I would far rather read five lines of understandable poetry, than a dozen lines of contrived gobbledygook.

Would it be possible to have more stringent criteria for the Book Title Challenge?
Possibly the type of poem required should be specified. Sometimes, maybe, the verses could be expected to actually rhyme. Or, for a change, the titles may have to be used in a short story of maybe 500 words. Then, at last, the titles would become a real challenge to our ingenuity.
Sorry to be so critical - but I think I'll have to give up on the challenges if they are to become simply - numerical exercises.
Love, Leo

[Guest_ohsteve_*]

Leo, you make a very valid point about the book challenge. I like to try and use all the titles, only because it becomes more of a challenge for me, where as just using five seems to become too easy. I am not much for form writing as in sonnets, villenelles, etc. If I try to rhyme it is usually simple. I do try very hard to make the poems I write meaningful and not just to do with numbers. I think the use of all titles became somewhat of a contest between Alan and I, and it is friendly, sometimes with one of us yanking the other ones chain a little. I think any sort of restrictions would make it less of a challenge. However a good thing is that you can always propose your own challenge to everyone and come up with your own set of rules. Ask Lori how to have one put either into the weekly or monthly challenge. I think one of mine is still there. I really do hope you continue to respond to the challenges, we have so few that do so, it is always a pleasure to read your writing.

Take care
Steve