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On Writing Contest Poetry

I really believe poetry contests are beneficial But I find myself writing lines so artificial Trying to win a fleeting notice or score a trophy That I lose sight of writing good, quality poetry. Various requirements sometimes put me off I think I’d rather be on the links playing golf Instead of spending hours cramping my style Writing a poem that might only bring a smile. I desire to write some memorable, quality lines Not limited to theme, or odd-prompt, confines And think I’ve written something that will last Even coveting a rare place with greats of the past. Of course, I know the best wrote some apologies That only a few of their poems made anthologies Many never read until the poet was long gone We never saw those poems meriting only a yawn. So, I’m going to turn over a new leaf and see If writing poems I like makes for a happier me Entering only contests accepting the poems I write Instead of writing poems a “sponsor” will cite. written October 29, 2021

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Brian Sambourne

Date: 11/5/2021 5:25:00 PM

Hello Milton I agree whole heartedly with your ideas expressed, especially regarding all the "confines" of contest rules before submitting a poem. In many cases, I no longer enter contests as I know the evaluators have the NA stamp at the ready. My postings often deal with difficult subjects + so get the cut. Pleasing one's self is always the best way to push the pen forward. Be well. Brian

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/5/2021 6:58:00 PM

Ah, what truth you speak, Brian. I think writing for the accolades, the trophies, the placements can very definitely intrude upon one's writing creativity. I find that many times I'll adopt a format which I think will work well with a poem in my head, but then I find myself adapting it. Creativity demands freedom, I think.

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 10/30/2021 10:26:00 PM

Welcome rto the club, Milton. I occasionally enter poetry contests but only if they offer big monetary prizes and allow any style and theme. I don't enter if the reading fee is excessive. I once entered a humor contest. The letter I got back was that my humor was not the type they were looking for! Oh well, I survived. / Maurice

L Milton Hankins
Date: 11/5/2021 7:00:00 PM

Maurice, I understand perfectly. Been there; done that. I find it very funny that your "humor" was "not the type they were looking for!" It reminds me of entering a contest on another site and got a note from the sponsor telling me it was a AAAA piece of writing. Then, you guessed it, I did not even get an honorable mention in her contest. I certainly didn't lose any sleep over it. As I said, my better stuff is written because it appeals to me, not to a contest sponsor, who probably isn't even qualified to judge good poetic expression. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Maurice.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 10/30/2021 8:36:00 PM

I hear you loud and clear, Milt... That's what I've done -- and I've entered about one contest per month on average for the last half-year. Somehow, somewhere, there's a happy medium. I sure haven't found it; hope you do! Excelsior! :) gw

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/30/2021 9:04:00 PM

Me too, gw. I was spending so much time writing contest poetry that my muse got pretty fed up, saying, "Hey, I had some really good stuff for you, so why are you wasting your time for a place or a trophy???" And I decided my muse was right! Glad your recognized that some time ago, too.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 10/30/2021 3:22:00 PM

I like writing my ideas up about 100 times better than writing up someone else’s ideas but they are better than nothing when I hit a dry day.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/30/2021 6:44:00 PM

That is true. I know what you mean, and sometimes I will read through the contests just to get some juices flowing. I'm not anti-contests, just feel I write better when I'm writing to please me rather than meeting requirements. You know what I mean!

Delice Arleen Skelly

Date: 10/30/2021 3:02:00 AM

Sometimes this is the way I feel, but on the plus side anything that keeps me writing is good..Delice

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/30/2021 10:10:00 AM

That is so true, Delice. I've been writing voraciously since I was a child, so it is second nature to me.

Virginia Gelok

Date: 10/29/2021 5:56:00 PM

I am only guessing since I don't know you and am still fairly new that you have won many many contests from the works I've seen of yours. I agree that you probably don't need any sponsor ideas to write. I must say they have helped me to get out of the box and try new things. Do you have a book in print? If not I think you should. Love your poems

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/30/2021 9:09:00 PM

Twelve Twelve - As a matter of fact, I would delete that whole review, but Amazon does not allow an author to do so. I used to write a weekly column in a major area newspaper, and the person who wrote that review did not like me at all. He seems to have taken it out in the review, but it is clear to me that he never read the book! I'm too old to worry about it. Life goes on. My book still sells because I still get royalties. That's fine with me. There were other very positive reviews, I think. I never check it.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/29/2021 8:40:00 PM

Twelve Twelve - After I retired from the Baptist pastoral ministry, I was the pianist/organist/music director for two separate Lutheran churches. I wrote one piece of music for a special occasion, but no, I do not have any published music. Nope, I don't think I ever said such a thing. I would say it is a mischaracterization, period. Where in the world did you get that quotation? Doesn't sound like me, at all. If you have questions for me, please do not hesitate to send me a Soup Mail and I will address them.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/29/2021 7:55:00 PM

Virginia, I have a rich history of writing, teaching, and publishing. Yes, I do have a book of poetry that was published by Candor Press but is long out of print. I have a book of short stories and poems called "Ashes on the Snow" that is available on Amazon. I also wrote a non-fiction work called "A Sensible Theology for Thinking People." It is available on Amazon. Thanks for your warm compliment.

Frederic Parker

Date: 10/29/2021 4:07:00 PM

Milton you are a fine poet and if you have a problem with contests then do what you feel you must do...as for me I only enter contests that fit my style of writing. I just did a count of all the contests I have entered in the 8 yrs I've been on this site, it came to less than 1 a week

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/29/2021 7:57:00 PM

Frederick, I have enjoyed your work. I thank you so much for your kind thoughts. I've only been on PS for a little over a year. So, I'm just coming to grips with a lot going on. Thanks so much for your kind thoughts.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 10/29/2021 2:21:00 PM

When you compose a poem that you're really happy with then it's a winner in your eyes regardless of whether or not it places in a contest or not. I write for me, I'm not really interested in jumping through hoops etc. There's many gripes about contests and some of the things I've heard have shocked me. I still think an outside panel of judges would be a better way of running them. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/29/2021 2:24:00 PM

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree, Tom. As I said to someone, I'm not disgruntled or upset, I just feel that some of it is a waste of time, but particularly when you work hard on a poem that turns out quite good only to find that it doesn't even place among some pretty mediocre work, or, you missed a tiny requirement, or something trivial. I have worked hours on poems that didn't place out of thirty-five poems submitted. Then, when I read them, I think "wow" I wasted my time for a pat on the back. Yes, I too have heard some shocking things that bothered me, but until now I have continued to participate. Not anymore on a regular basis.

Jenna Logan

Date: 10/29/2021 1:20:00 PM

Milt, I stopped entering contests months ago for several reasons. I started again just over a month ago in order to prove a point to myself. In the past 4.5 weeks I've entered 51 contests...yes, I counted them. Of those, I've placed in 30, with 9 not yet judged. On the ladder of contest winners I moved up only 3 rungs, while others above me have not posted a poem(entered in a contest or not) in the last month. Is there something odd about that? I think there is. I'm limiting entries, too.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/29/2021 2:28:00 PM

Jenna, I couldn't agree more. Bravo! Self-respect is far more important that a pat on the back or a trophy win any day. I know I write some duds, but, I also write some damn good, quality stuff. I have noticed that most of the really good stuff was NOT written for a contest. PS needs to re-work its rubrics and its algorithms. When someone like Pangie can get a placement or a P.O.T.D. it simply amazes me, and I could name at least ten others,...but I won't. I still plan to work for a quality site worth paying the money to be a member of, even if Admin doesn't respond.

Jenna Logan
Date: 10/29/2021 1:22:00 PM

continued... I agree with you that being disgruntled serves no purpose. It's all a matter of opinion and judgement. Whose judgement should matter most to us? Our own. I don't respect the PS lists or its choices for potd, but if I don't respect my poetry then I have no reason for being here.

Mark Koplin

Date: 10/29/2021 12:42:00 PM

I look through the contests quite often but only once in a great while do I see one that gives me a spark.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/29/2021 12:45:00 PM

Oh, I have begun to agree with your way of thinking, Mark. I have spent (wasted?) so much time trying to pen something for a contest and neglected my own sparks of creativity. Sometimes, too, I have written something really nice and find that it doesn't even place among some pretty mediocre stuff. I'm not disgruntled, you understand; just rethinking what I'm about when it comes to writing poetry. Mark, I appreciate your comment.

Jan Allison

Date: 10/29/2021 12:35:00 PM

BRAVO Milton, I enter fewer and fewer contests for the very reasons you mention:-) hugs Jan xx

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/29/2021 12:46:00 PM

Hugs to you, Jan. I thank you for your comment, and your precise understanding of where I'm coming from. Being on a list says nothing about the quality of one's work!