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

[Cleo_Serapis]

Good Morning Leo,

Thank you for your new post/topic (this is also called a 'thread' once replies occur as I recall you asking in a different topic recently).

I wouldn't worry about cramming as many titles into a response. The only requirement is to use at least 5. These are meant to be for FUN and act as a stimulus for you. From there, some often take the feedback and create a more refined response later, or not... It's completely up to each member as to what type of response to write, i.e. poetry or prose (we don't restrict the book titles to poetry only), and how many titles they use in the process.

I had understood that a creative stimulus to writing fresh poetry was the whole point of the exercise!

YES, that is the point to these challenges - I agree with you. It also goes in line with our Pandora monthlies, the weekly Times Tens and The Flashes (in the Acropolis), although again, unless specifically stated, poetry or prose is allowed.

Would it be possible to have more stringent criteria for the Book Title Challenge?

In what manner are you referring? What would you like to see. It becomes very DIFFICULT at times since I am the one who posts ALL the challenges. I tend to get into a routine of sorts, when thinking of a challenge to offer. As forthe Book Title challenges (and sometimes it'll be Movies or Albums), I give a list of 15 and of that, 5 must be used. If we restrict it too much so, then it would be less desirable a challenge to respond to, IMHO. I do make restrictions in th Pandora challenges though.

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

Thanks - agreed. We've done this before in the Pandora challenges but never for Book Title challenges. Let's see what others think... I'm open to suggestions.

Cheers,
~Cleo

[JLY]

Leo,
You offer some thoughtful comments and it is a real test to attempt to make coherent verses out of incongruent book titles.

For me the challenges offer a stimulus when my own creative juices dry up.

You always seem to respond quite well in these venues and I would encourage you to continue to offer your well-crafted poems.

JLY

[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

[Alan]

Dear Leo,

I do understand your point, and plead guilty.

Only thing I would quibble with, I think my responses do make sense, cuz any that don't, I chuck. It is never my intention (or I'm sure, Steve's) to make others feel less just cuz I like to stretch the challenge to suit me. It does say a minimum of 5, and I have read many that I have enjoyed with much less than 15 titles included.

Please DO continue to respond in your way, and please allow me to do so also without it reflecting on anyone else.

I would be not in favour of setting forms like sonnet etc for something as damn awkward as book titles, or even worse, when Lori dumps some CD titles on us !

Love
Alan

PS You are probably on a loser here with this one - I've had my grandchildren call me "Grumps" !

[JustDaniel]

I'm guilty too, Leo...

but I really DO try to create a credible poem that can LATER have some of the words changed to make the piece a totally stand-on-its-own piece.

I find that it stretches my imagination to piece together as many as possible into one piece... and of course it's a challenge.

I've not been back here long enough to get into the 'contest' between Alan and Steve [ and, by the way, Steve, that would be "between Alan and me" -- just to pull your chain from over here too! ], but I suppose they may count me in.

I will, however, keep your implied admonition in mind. I don't like gobbledygook either... unless I'm writing a Lewis Carroll-type piece.

deLighting in your sharing, Daniel