A Favorites Contest (DON'T PASS THIS BLOG BY, YOU NEED TO READ) - Mac Mcgovern's Blog

<P><FONT color=#800080 size=4><STRONG><EM>THIS IS AN IDEA. IF THERE IS ENOUGH INTEREST I WILL HOLD THE CONTEST. IF NOT, AS I SAID, THIS IS AN IDEA</EM></STRONG></FONT>.</P> <P><FONT color=#ff0000 size=4><STRONG><EM>We all have favorite poems we have read and added to our favorite poems file. My idea is to recognize some of those poets who we believe have written some really great poetry. Otherwise, why would we put their poems in our favorites file.</EM></STRONG></FONT></P> <P><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#ff1493 size=4 face=Garamond>I am opening this contest to all members. The first 25 poems will&nbsp;be accepted. The contest will close after the 25th has been&nbsp;submitted.</FONT></EM></STRONG></P> <P>&nbsp;<FONT color=#006400 face=Georgia><STRONG>1. Submit a poem written by another poet from your favorites list.</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#006400 face=Georgia><STRONG>2. Make sure the poets name is on the poem, this will let them know their poetry was highly treasured and recognized.</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#006400 face=Georgia><STRONG>3. DO NOT SUBMIT WITH YOUR NAME. </STRONG></FONT></P> <P><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#a52a2a>This contest is purely for fun. There will be 10 places and 5 honorable mention.</FONT></EM></STRONG></P> <P><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#a52a2a>After the contest has been judged and posted, I will have another contest for the 10 places and 5 honorable mention to submit their winning poem for ranking and credit for them also.</FONT></EM></STRONG></P> <P><FONT color=#000080 size=4>IT'S A DOUBLE WINNER...The poet who submits their favorite poets poem, that get placed or honorable mention, and the author of the poem both get credit.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#000080 size=4>OK, tell me what you think. <FONT color=#800080 size=5><STRONG><EM>Yes OR No</EM></STRONG></FONT></FONT></P>

Margaret Okubo Date: 3/17/2010 2:44:00 PM This is an excellent idea. I am all for it. Everyone of us is mature enough to handle this competition. After all most of us have entered poetry contests and many of our poems have never placed yet we have congratulated the winners and encouraged those those poems did not place. When all is said and done, we are all winners. So let us be big hearted and go for it. Login to Reply

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 3/11/2010 8:18:00 PM This could end up producing a lot of hurt feelings, even though we all have poems by others that have touched us deeply. I say no and agree with what Karen O'Leary said. Best wishes, Carolyn Login to Reply

Caroline Cécile Delacroix Date: 3/9/2010 10:57:00 PM I am not sure how bad feelings can be avoided. Whether it would be this one as any other ones, there is always a twinge of disappointment when your poem has not been chosen. So I don't see that bad feelings should be the issue. The issue should be what has inspired you from your read and you share it. I think it is a great idea. Actually with that in mind, there should be no hurt feelings. Hopefully it will inspire more and better writings. My problem will be to choose which one I want to post. :) Perhaps you can suggest a particular theme to narrow the selection. Just my 2 cts. Best wishes everyone. Caroline. Login to Reply

Constance La France Date: 3/9/2010 5:35:00 PM Hey, Rueben.. your block comment made me smile and feel all warm and cozy.... thanks... Constance Login to Reply

Andrew Crisci Date: 3/9/2010 11:57:00 AM Hi, Mac...welcome back to Poetry Soup! There are too many talented poets on this site, who have written brilliant poems, and their are gems in their own merit. Choosing ten or more out of a hundred, or more submittions , may hurt another's writer's feelings. It's not envy, it's just a matter of principle. I will read all the comments posted by our members, and then I will decide if I will enter. Thanks, Mac for sponsoring this fun contest. Kindest Regards, Andrew. Login to Reply

Colleen Bono Date: 3/9/2010 8:58:00 AM Definitly yes. Login to Reply

Constance La France Date: 3/9/2010 6:51:00 AM Hi Mac, my original thinking was yes, but in reading the pro's and cons, on this blog, I am feeling unsure. And I may have to agree with, feelings could get hurt easily. For example, I am sure none of my poems would be picked, as I have not been picked as a fav that often, I am hurt already by that.. so, I guess I am jumping to the other side... and saying great idea, but too many if's ...... Login to Reply

Carol Sunshine Brown Date: 3/9/2010 5:19:00 AM No is what I think. I will just leave it at that. Love, Carol Login to Reply

James Marshall Goff Date: 3/9/2010 4:22:00 AM I think "featured poems" bi-weekly covers this well right now! I think feelings could be hurt...... Login to Reply

Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen Date: 3/8/2010 10:56:00 PM Mac, There's a LOT of discussion and reservation about this idea for various reasons. So, I'm submitting an idea for your consideration. How about each poet writing a parody of one of their favorite original poems that was written by a poetry soup poet. (That addresses Deborah's concerns.) When the parody is posted, the name and author of their inspiration (The other poet's poem) would be posted at the end. (That addresses credit concerns.) Thus the new poem is judged and the original poet receives some recognition, too. Make the closing date AFTER any current contest closing dates. (That addresses Andrea's concern) The second Contest, would simply be an invitation to post the inspiring poets poem with mention of your contest and the parody poem information. Just a few ideas, Mac. Let us know! Smiles, Dane Ann Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/8/2010 9:43:00 PM This all seems kind of complicated to me, Mac. I have an idea. Why don't we look for newbies here who we have given a FAV to. Someone not a premium member, and befriend one of them and ask if he or she would like to have his poem entered in this kind of contest. It would have to be a poem not entered in any other contest or that never had before won any award. Something to make the newbies feel good about themselves. Maybe I don't know what I am talking about. I'm just thnking of a way to make this a really postive experience. Or if you go with any membertat9w in the club, it would have to be a "fav" that never made a winner's circle. Now THAT would be interesting! A contest for FAV poems that have never been in a contest or that we saw rejected in some contest, and we think they deserved to have won (getting the person's permission of course to have his poem be used). Just an idea. LUv, Andrea Login to Reply

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/8/2010 9:32:00 PM Mac, the problem I am seeing with this one is that maybe someone's favorite of another poet is a poem still in consideration in another contest. Let's say I chose a poem of somebody's and it has not yet been judged in a contest in which it was entered. If it came in first or second place in YOUR contest, it would look silly if it didn't place in the other contest it was entered in. And maybe the fact of the other judge seeing it in YOUR contest could affect that judge either positively or negatively in the decison he was going to make. Or let's say you choose a FAV that got first place in another contest but you don't like it enough to give it top ten. From what I've seen here, that kind of thing actually does cause ill will. (I have heard the rumblings of complaint, dear Rueben, from disgruntled poets in other contests. So yes, we are many of us carrots. haha. ) The poet would first have to give his ok to being in the contest. (continued) Login to Reply

Mac Mcgovern Date: 3/8/2010 6:59:00 PM Karen has a good point I did not think about. Trying to come up with new ways to stimulate can sometimes lead to bad feelings. Thanks Karen. Login to Reply

Constance La France Date: 3/8/2010 6:15:00 PM I think it a great idea and the poem will be identified as not being ours.. for example .. My favorite poem of Mac McGovern's is... and then the poem... so I cannot see any problem... so I am a big yes... Constance Login to Reply

Mac Mcgovern Date: 3/8/2010 5:39:00 PM I have a favorite poem written by Ruben. I submit his poem. His poem receives 3rd place. I get credit for 3rd place. Next, Rubin submits his poem under a new contest and receives credit for a 3rd place win. Both of us win. Login to Reply

Linda-Marie Sweetheart Date: 3/8/2010 5:04:00 PM I think its a neat idea Mac .. but I am wondering along with Deb how this can be done effectively... reading your answer ..we would still have to post our favorite poem from another poet on our list first in order to submit.. or do u just want the name of the poem and the poet first??? BTW..thankxxx so very much for your wonderful comments on my blog today.. am sending all to my son to refer to as he serves overseas.. thankxxx.. luv.. Linda-Marie.. Login to Reply

Mac Mcgovern Date: 3/8/2010 4:40:00 PM Deborah After the contest has been judged and posted, I will have another contest for the 10 places and 5 honorable mention to submit their winning poem for ranking and credit for them also. Login to Reply

Debbie Guzzi Date: 3/8/2010 4:34:00 PM I think it's a sweet idea..I'm a bit unsure about submitting others works. We would first have to put it in OUR OWN list of OUR poetry and when you said Debbie's choice of (x) takes 1st place...I would be the one getting credit? Which is not what either of us would want? How would you do this? Login to Reply