One of the most prominent observations made at the Lucidity Poetry Retreat last week was the diversity of talent that was present.  Some of us write like Robert Service, some like e.e.cummings, some like Billy Collins, Maya Angelou, etc.  There were approximately 40 poets in attendance, and the stylings were almost as varied.

The minds of all these poets came together to share and assist. This made the critique sessions very interesting, for each poet critiqued based on his/her own style preference.  Lively discussions ensued, for sure, for the things one poet thought should be modified in a poem were the very things another liked in the poem!  We each explained our reasons for our opinion, and of course, it was left up to the author of the piece to decide which piece of advice, if any, to accept or consider.

Nobody was wrong.  That’s what makes the writing world so much fun.

You see, we sometimes forget that there is a variety of readership out there.  As many poets as exist, there are a hundred-fold followers, and even the discussions among readers can get heated as each champions their favorite.  Some of relish the variety.  After all, wouldn’t life be boring if everybody wrote about the same thing, in the same way?  This variety, and preference, is what promotes the talent of writers.  Every writer is bound to find an audience.

However, knowing your audience might be a challenge.  After all, an author may think he is doing a great job in sending his particular message to his selected demographic, but they just don’t get it.  So, what’s the problem?

Maybe the choice of vocabulary.  Maybe the ‘style’ of the writing – in poetry, certain forms may not reach the audience.  Sometimes, it’s the fact that it’s a poem that scares people off!

That’s when the variance in the critique group may help.  Each critic has a chance to voice why he reacted the way he did to the piece.  He can suggest alterations that would make it easier to read or understand.  Suggestions offered may even help the writer over a stumbling block, where he knew something wasn’t working but couldn’t figure it out.

I guarantee, every poet in attendance went home with a newer understanding of their own work and how it fit into the great scheme of things.  We discovered some of our own bad habits – you know those little things we do all the time without thinking – and realized we weren’t alone in them.

Maybe the best part is the affirmation that we ARE every one of us, poets with our own place.  And there’s room for everybody.