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Mosaic Musings...interactive poetry reviews _ Discussions -> Alexandria's Library _ BOARD LOYALTY

Posted by: Xanadu Mar 17 08, 15:41

This morning I received a personal message from the poetry director of poetry board that left me scratching my head. The message indicated that the director was not pleased that I had been posting on other boards and brought into question my loyalty to the directors board. It went on the say that the idea put a "bad taste in her mouth."
She went on to further suggest that the only reason I was doing it was to get nominations for the IPBC
Yes, I do post on several boards. My intention was to get back as much feedback as I possibly could. I wanted to see if the reviews were consistent. Not one to put all my eggs in one basket, I determined to spread myself around a tad. At the time, I was on one board, and had been for many months. I did not see any harm in joining another board.
I would be very interested in your views on this subject. Isn`t the idea of posting your work on line that of being read by more than 20 people?

Posted by: Cleo_Serapis Mar 17 08, 19:17

Hmmm, that's a very strange message Linda. Which board is it? I think if that happened to me, I'd leave it and never look back.

I think the IBPC folks would very interested in hearing how that 'director' treats their members. The whole purpose if the IBPC is to have a chance at a larger audience. I'm not certain how the board you mention does their nominations, is there a submission process there by the members? Here at MM, there's the nomination process and the polling by the members for the members. As owner, I have no more pull than any other member at MM in this process.

I am actually quite surprised that you've been labeled/persecuted for being a member of more than one board. That is ridiculous! Is there something in their rules that caused this to happen? We encourage our members to particpate in more than one board as you'll invariably receive differnt styles of crits on your work. There are MANY people here at MM that belong to several boards. It's a good thing because each board has their own styles of crits and that's the point, isn't it?

I don't want to say too much further right now but I'll be watching this thread with interest.

~Lori

Posted by: Eisa Mar 17 08, 19:43

Hi Linda

I feel this is outrageous! We are all adults and free to do as we want. She might as well have said you can't make any other friends.

I haven't been posting much recently, but always post at MM first ... but there often comes a time when I want to give a poem a good polish ... or when I can't seem to get something right, then I have quite a few other sites that I might turn to for comments. I feel it is very limiting if you have just one place to shop and very unfair of her to expect this of you.

There are some strange sites around .....

I really don't know what to say next, without being rude!

Snow

Posted by: Psyche Mar 17 08, 19:56

Well, at least we know it's a woman! Now I've got a 'bad taste in my mouth', thanks to her!!!

Lori, I strongly suggest you send on that information to the IBPC folks; but of course, Linda, it would be far better for you to send the original PM to them yourself. It's totally crazy, and should be reported. A real disgrace, since some poets might actually believe it's a rule, or unethical to send to several boards. NOT SO!!

If you don't want Lori or anyone else to know who she is, then just send the PM to the correct e.mail address, asking for privacy. Then see what IBPC answers you, right?

The reason I'm not sending to other boards now, is that I've got my platter full of my own personal troubles, and no time. Not that I ever sent much stuff elsewhere, I feel perfectly at home at this lovely MM family...

Think about it, Linda. Don't let yourself be bullied.
Hugs & luck, Syl ***

Posted by: AMETHYST Mar 17 08, 22:58

Hi Linda,

I find that very strange myself. I've been a member on many boards over the years, even had/have a board myself and still kept active on several sites ... for exactly your reason, getting different feedback and as Lori mentions, a larger audience to help hone my work.

MM is my home site and as of late, if I time online to post or critique I am here. Mostly because of the honesty and the voice in which that is offered. My main goal is to improve the poem and my skills. I find I get most of that right here then, Like Snow, I might polish it off elsewhere from people who don't know me.

As for IBPC, I don't really see where that issue would be coming into it. If a member decides to participate in the critique process in the various sites online that are memberships of IBPC, it still doesn't guarentee the poem will be chosen, it will be on the merit of the poem and as Lori mentioned, the memberships votes. I am very satisfied with our choice in IBPC - it is fair and relies on the members to nominate (choose what poems they feel are worthy of going forward) then on to a vote, which allow the entire membership to give support to the poem of their choice.

I could not imagine anyone contacting a member about such an accusation - mostly because, whether you or any other member chooses to participate on more than one board and if that choice is a decision you make to give yourself a larger exposure to IBPC competitions ... ??? Well, I still don't see the problem here ... As Lori mentions, I believe IBPC is founded on pretty much that IDEAL - to get a linkage of the boards together, to get a larger exposure to poets and the craft over all and well - start getting the talent that posts to all these boards noticed and acknowledged. I think it is for the good of poetry over all to be out there and getting noticed.

I hope you take the time to ask this director if perhaps there is something else that is bothering her/him, it sounds as though you have been a member of the site for a while and perhaps they feel sort of abandoned. After all, behind these screennames, we all are human first and perhaps their site is slow too, like many sites and noticed you hadn't been around. Give the benefit of the doubt and talk first before getting too angry.

Again as for IBPC, it shouldn't weigh in anywhere in the realm. As the entire purpose of it is exposure... LOL

Don't fret, getting angry over this isn't worth it. Find your comfort zones and then stick with them.

Best Regards, Liz

Posted by: Cleo_Serapis Mar 18 08, 05:23

Hi Linda,

A few further comments...

One should be able to post wherever they want, provided they follow the rules of those boards and are a respected member (goes without saying). Isn't the whole point to share ideas, refine our works and learn in the process?

One of IBPC's top placing poets is Yoly Calderon. Here are her results as of last summer:

Yoly Calderon-Horn 1 2 1 3
1st for The Writer's Block, Jun 2005: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0605ibpc1.htm
2nd for The Versifier, Nov 2005: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl1105ibpc2.htm
3rd for The Frugal Poet, Jan 2006: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0106ibpc3.htm
HM for Desert Moon, Feb 2006: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0206ibpchm.htm
HM for The Writer's Block, Aug 2006: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0806ibpchm.htm
HM for Desert Moon, Oct 2006: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl1006ibpchm.htm
2nd for New Café, May 2007: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0507ibpc2.htm

Notice how many forums she has represented.

AS Merlin would say, "There tis"...

Posted by: Xanadu Mar 18 08, 09:37

Thank you for these wonderful responses!!

I am not angry about the message. Just befuddled! The message was in response to a couple of questions I had posed to her regarding as to whether or not the internet connected in any way to world of print. That is how the subject came up I guess. Since SP-------- is my first board, I usually post there first.She also mentioned that I need to learn more about making friends ala Carnegie.
Here is the bigger problem. She is currently making arrangements (at her suggestion), to include one of my poems in a work of fiction by a well published author. I think this is a biggy. Therefore, I have no intention of shooting myself in the foot right now. It is like she is holding out one hand in support and slapping me down with the other. Can you say "confused"!
I am also in a little bit of hot water for contacting the moderator as regards the growing personal insults in a certain forum, as well as the nonsensical board running comments of certain members. Now some of my stronger reviewers seem to be avoiding me like the plague. The complaint was not about me. It was about the responsibilty of the board to the membership at large and the fact that there are many delicate souls out there that could suffer great damage due to an untoward comment.
Her basic response to this was that she could not control what people said, and that the more one stirs the pot...the more it stinks.
I have a personal board on this site called The Aluminum Farm. I posted a message to one and all that I would be gone for a while, as I had to take my spoon back to the store.
The Gray Panther has spoken. LOL

Posted by: Cleo_Serapis Mar 18 08, 12:02

Sure Linda,

It's hard to comment when we do not know the whole of it, what is expected and what the forum rules are at these other boards, but as I mentioned one thing for certain is this: There is no place for rudeness in an environment that is SUPPOSED to help one grow in the art of poetry.

Rus was kind enough to send me additional stats on another popular winning poet at IBPC: Hhe did not do an exhaustive search through all the poets, but Yoly just happens to be the next poet below the biggest placer ever in IBPC, Laurie Byro. Here are hers, through Summer '07:

Laurie Byro 6 1 1 4/0 1 1 0
HM for Melic, Jun 2002: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0602ibpchm.htm
1st for Melic, Nov 2002: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl1102ibpc1.htm
2nd for Wild Poetry, Jan 2003: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0103ibpc2.htm
3rd for Melic, Mar 2004: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0304ibpc3.htm
1st for Wild Poetry, Aug 2004; then 2nd for 2004 Poem of the Year: with Ivan Waters, http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0804ibpc1.htm
1st for Melic, Jul 2005: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0705ibpc1.htm
HM for Desert Moon, Aug 2006: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0806ibpchm.htm
1st for About Poetry, Sep 2006: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0906ibpc1.htm
1st for Desert Moon, Jan 2007; then 3rd for 2006 Poem of the Year: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0107ibpc1.htm
HM for Desert Moon, Feb 2007: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0207ibpchm.htm
1st for About Poetry, Mar 2007: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0307ibpc1.htm
HM for Desert Moon, Jun 2007: http://poetry.about.com/library/bl0607ibpchm.htm

A point I caution strongly - you mention that this director at the other board "is currently making arrangements to include one of my poems in a work of fiction by a well published author." Have you read the publishers rights information at the site? You have first rights to your work which is copyright protected to you. Depending on the those forum rules, forums cannot just take another person's work and publish it. You need to give them written permission with an intended first rights publication timeframe established. There's much to say, but I'm out of time right now... gotta run. PLEASE be careful on publishing and read ALL the fine print.

~Cleo

Posted by: Xanadu Mar 18 08, 12:40

Cleo. Thank you for pointing out the issue with the copyright. I was not sure how that was going to work. Everything is still up in the air, pending the author`s approval. I will most definately address that issue if this comes to fruition.

Posted by: Cleo_Serapis Mar 18 08, 15:40

Hi Linda,

I urge you to find out as much as you can about anyone else who may include your work in their book - you MUST give them your permission (in writing) else they could say it's theirs.

PLease read as much as you can about Copyright and Publishing. Here's one of the topics here:
http://forums.mosaicmusings.net/index.php?showtopic=791&st=0

Posted by: Xanadu Mar 18 08, 16:22

Thank you Cleo. Very, very much. I like the feeling that you are looking out for me. Mosiac has a very caring atmosphere.

I have been informed that credit will be given to me on the facing pages. I will insist that some kind of contract be offered for the use of this poem, if the author decides to include it.
I am not expecting any recompense, other than a copy of two of the book. As I said this is still up in the air and may come to nothing. I do not yet have the authors name. I wonder if I should ask for that, or if that might be something the editor of his work cannot divulge. Man! I hate to piss(sorry!), her off any more than she is. I am afraid that if I ask too many questions she will pull the deal. So, I am walking softly and carrying a big attorney! Just kidding.

Posted by: Cleo_Serapis Mar 18 08, 16:41

As you wish, Linda.

If it were me in your shoes, I would want to know EVERYTHING about the author, the publisher and the contract before I would ever allow someone else to use my work for their gain...

Posted by: Xanadu Mar 18 08, 17:00

I will insist on all of that information Cleo, once the author has accepted the idea. I will keep you posted. The author has written 16 books and an award winning play as well as a book of poetry. That`s all the infor I have right now. I think I will go ahead and PM madam and see what else I can find out. Wish me luck! LOL
The Gray Panther goes down in flames.

Posted by: Cleo_Serapis Mar 18 08, 17:01

I think being open and direct is the best course to take...

Posted by: Cleo_Serapis Mar 18 08, 17:11

One of the folks I pinged at the IBPC and I have the same feelings about the workshopping expectations:

Part of being creative is allowing yourself to have a little fun, and be free to take on tangents to build upon that relationship along the way. By definition, a workshop is supposed to be constructive, but there are good ways to go about it and then there are bad ways. I'd much rather ban the harsh critic who says nothing constructive and comes off as insulting, and keep the poets who keep the threads alive, tangents included after critiquing a poem, to thank them for their time and energy put forth to help you grow.

"A forum by definition is where all can share their ideas. These boards are neither workshops nor forums."

Posted by: Xanadu Mar 18 08, 18:59

Wel, things over at Sp-------l have been interesting, if nothing else.

Some of the work being posted of late are...(can`t say that). It is almost as if it is computer night on Cell Block Nine. Poems about serial killing, vulgarity...you name it.
I am seriously thinking of moving out.

I PMed madam poetry director requesting the authors name. No response yet.

I just had thought. I wonder if she is over here reading this? I wonder how much more trouble I can get into? I wonder if I care? LOL LOL LOL

Posted by: Psyche Mar 19 08, 10:39

Hi again, Linda!

I second absolutely everything Lori has advised you.

Perhaps we'll ALL end up on Cell Block Nine...LOL....

You should certainly know who the author is, what's all the mystery? If I were in your shoes, I'd want to know what the author writes about, huh? Serial killings, rape, psychos....?! LOL...

Good luck & hugs,
Syl ***

Posted by: Xanadu Mar 19 08, 11:13

The author of the proposed book was Pmed to me this morning. Dr. Rober Hinson. He penned A Frost In Russia (a one act play), as well as numerous young adult fiction, including Pox and It`s Name Was Enza.