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Poetry: June 01, 2016 Issue [#7674]

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Poetry


 This week: What makes a winner?
  Edited by: Elle - on hiatus Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

I was inspired to write this newsletter after being involved in "The 9th Annual Quills CeremonyOpen in new Window.. Having a behind the scenes look into one of Writing.com's most exalted contests was fascinating, and I wanted to share some of what I learned.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

"The QuillsOpen in new Window. have been going for nine years now, longer than I have been on site. Last year I was given the opportunity to assist with judging, and this year, for the first time ever, I had a chance to see behind-the-scenes, and I found it fascinating.

Anyone can nominate a poem for the Quills. There are seven different poetry categories - free verse and structured are both divided into three different lengths, and then there is a category for best poetry collection. There are also a variety of genre categories that nominated poems are sorted into, that are judged by public vote. Nominations come in from the community, so if your poem is visible on the site and written in the current year, it is eligible to be nominated. Of course, the more visible your poem, the more likely it is to be nominated, and by that I mean if it is entered into contests, shared on the newsfeed, etc. Quality will always be a consideration of course, because the Quills is about selecting the best of the best, the cream of the crop, but yes, any poem written in 2016 can be nominated for the 10th annual Quills.

So the question then is...how is that winning poem selected? What makes that winning poem so great, and how can we learn from it? How can I go out and write the next winning poem?

There didn't seem to be a consistent pattern with the judging. Sometimes the judges would agree on a winner, but often they wouldn't. And it didn't seem to make a difference if it was a panel of selected judges, or a community vote. In some cases, judges (or voters) would rank poems in exactly the opposite order from each other. It was more obvious with the poetry categories than any other. Whether it was three judges or fifteen voters, they never ranked the nominated poems in exactly the same order. Eventually the accumulated rankings would settle to reveal a winner (and honourable mention in most cases), but while there was occasionally a unanimous winner, that was rare, and none of the judges ever agreed on all the placings.

So what does that tell us about how to write that winning poem? Well, I think the answer is that you can't sit down and decide to write a winning poem. Write the poem that's in your heart, and it will speak to some people but not to others. Some people will love it, others won't like it all. Some will rate it five stars, and some may rate it just one star. Feedback is a wonderful thing, and we can certainly learn from it, and grow and expand and experiment... But in the end, write the poems you want to write. There will always be some who like it and some who won't, and that's okay. It's when we give up and decide that we're not even going to try that we truly lose.


Editor's Picks

These items recently won a Quill or honourable mention at "The 9th Annual Quills CeremonyOpen in new Window.. There are some amazing poems here that are well worth the read.


STATIC
I Watched a Dancer Open in new Window. (E)
What did I see when I paused to watch a dancer? For the newbie poetry contest.
#2049280 by Julie Author IconMail Icon


The Christmas Sweater Open in new Window. (E)
To Santa Claus, a message from A Disappointed Parent – a holiday in verse.
#2067485 by BD Mitchell Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2050384 by Not Available.


STATIC
Frankenstanza Open in new Window. (13+)
Pains in the writing process.
#2037787 by Cinn Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2047200 by Not Available.


STATIC
i hate carnations Open in new Window. (18+)
it seems like yesterday and not 20 years ago. ~2015 Quill Award Winner~
#2069526 by Whata SpoonStealer Author IconMail Icon


STATIC
Silent Witness Open in new Window. (13+)
In crimson wreaths, she rests in final sleep. 2015 Quill Best Dark Poem
#2029803 by 🌕 HuntersMoon Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2064029 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2060343 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2064290 by Not Available.


STATIC
My Voice Open in new Window. (E)
my silence is often the loudest
#2034674 by iKïyå§ama Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2046042 by Not Available.


STATIC
The Last Day of Her Journal Open in new Window. (E)
The life of any woman
#2055264 by Alexi Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2051052 by Not Available.


STATIC
Royal Wootton Bassett Open in new Window. (E)
Quills Honourable Mention - Best War/Militaria. Featured in 2016 WDC Anthology.
#2052066 by Choconut Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2048566 by Not Available.


BOOK
Book of Miscellany Open in new Window. (GC)
Poems, snippets, odds & ends. A place for drafts and ideas.
#1915395 by Cinn Author IconMail Icon


FOLDER
2015 Open in new Window. (E)
Poetry written in 2015.
#2026137 by Cinn Author IconMail Icon


FOLDER
Poetry Open in new Window. (13+)
Winner of 2015 Quill Award for Best Drama/Emotional
#2046827 by Choconut Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Love Shouldn't Hurt Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (GC)
1st Poetry Contest raising awareness about abuse. November 1st- November 30rd
#2040807 by Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Poetic Traditions Poetry Contest  Open in new Window. (E)
A Contest for Metrical Rhyming Poetry.
#2055137 by Brenpoet Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The Littlest Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Enter your best children's poetry and be in to win!
#2031529 by Elle - on hiatus Author IconMail Icon


IN & OUT
Linericks Open in new Window. (18+)
A Linerick is a Limerick written one piece at a time!
#986307 by deemac Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B07N36MHWD
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Ask & Answer

Have you read a poem (written in 2016) that you thought was a winner? Nominate it for a Quill, and put it in the running for next year's ceremony!

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1536048 by Not Available.



Feedback from my last poetry newsletter - "Poetry Newsletter (March 9, 2016)Open in new Window.:

Great NL, Elle! It is amusing that we came up with different educational (but fun) poetry activities based on the same few discussions. Hopefully, people will enjoy both and also learn from each other along the way. *Thumbsup* ~ Cinn Author Icon

I love the idea of listening to other writers poems. I look forward to hearing them and hopeful I can record one to read as well. ~ Madsmom Author Icon

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