Lack of Votes for Poetry

[LadynStFreknBed]

I have noticed that my poems received only a tiny fraction of the number of votes that my stories have gotten. I asked another, more experienced writer about this phenomenon. He agreed that poetry just doesn't get nearly as many votes.

My question is- Is there something, we, as Literotica poets, can be doing to rectify this?

It seems that, for one thing, we should be supporting each other by commenting and voting on poems. I made a goal for myself to read and at least vote on five poems a week. That's a minimum standard I have set for myself.

And, though, I would encourage others to think about doing the same, I am really wondering if there is more that can be done. Is there a solution that would not rely on poets supporting poets? Not that supporting each other is such a horrible thing.

-Sheila

 

[drksideofthemoon]

I have noticed that my poems received only a tiny fraction of the number of votes that my stories have gotten. I asked another, more experienced writer about this phenomenon. He agreed that poetry just doesn't get nearly as many votes.

My question is- Is there something, we, as Literotica poets, can be doing to rectify this?

It seems that, for one thing, we should be supporting each other by commenting and voting on poems. I made a goal for myself to read and at least vote on five poems a week. That's a minimum standard I have set for myself.

And, though, I would encourage others to think about doing the same, I am really wondering if there is more that can be done. Is there a solution that would not rely on poets supporting poets? Not that supporting each other is such a horrible thing.

-Sheila

I think the bottom line on this is, most people don't come to Lit to read poetry.

I do have to commend LeBroz for the work he puts into the Poetry section at Lit. He's like a one man reviewing and archiving crew.

 

[CeriseNoire]

I have to agree. There is a very large portion of people that come here to read sex, fewer who want to read erotica, and a fraction who care for poetry.

I regularly read poems and vote, but I tend not to vote if I didn't like a poem at all. And most times I won't comment unless I had a really strong reaction to a poem, because I don't feel qualified to critique.

 

[TheRainMan]

. . . My question is- Is there something, we, as Literotica poets, can be doing to rectify this? . . . -Sheila

yes.

turn the voting mechanism on your poems OFF.

that solves everything, except the ego-driven need for high scores. a high score here usually has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the poem, only with the quantity of friends.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

I have to agree. There is a very large portion of people that come here to read sex, fewer who want to read erotica, and a fraction who care for poetry.

I regularly read poems and vote, but I tend not to vote if I didn't like a poem at all. And most times I won't comment unless I had a really strong reaction to a poem, because I don't feel qualified to critique.

I need to read more poetry, I do enjoy it. Like you, I don't feel qulified to critique anyone elses poetry.

 

[Tzara]

yes.

turn the voting mechanism on your poems OFF.

that solves everything, except the ego-driven need for high scores. a high score here usually has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the poem, only with the quantity of friends.

I see TRM has given you his usual advice. It is not bad advice. I don't happen to follow it, as I find the voting kind of entertaining, but I don't pay much attention to it. Really the only useful response you get are comments (when and if you get them). The voting is pointless.

Having said that, let me point out that poetry in general does poorly in comparison to fiction. I remember reading that the late Jane Kenyon's collection Otherwise had sold a remarkable (for a poetry book) 60,000 copies. Compare that number to the millions of copies that Stephen King or J.K. Rowling sell of a new title.

Even compare that to someone like John Updike or Jane Smiley. I'm guessing, but I'd bet they sell more than 60,000 copies of a new title in hardcover. When you add in the subsequent paperback sales, it would be several times that.

So the market for poems isn't very big. Anywhere.

One last comment. I almost never vote on poems anymore. This is not because I don't wish to be supportive. It's because I don't like hurting people's feelings and/or making them angry. Most people here expect to get high votes (meaning 5s, not even 4s) for everything. Vote something lower than that and you're branded a "troll." I certainly don't think most of the poems here qualify as 5s, or even 4s. Most of the poems here are, at least in my opinion, really bad. So why bother to take the time to submit a vote that's just going to upset someone? What's the point?

I'd recommend you either follow TRM's advice or do as I do and simply not worry about it.

But feel free to think differently.

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

yes.

turn the voting mechanism on your poems OFF.

Good idea. But, does that affect the chance of a poem surviving the sweeps? I heard from other writers that if a poem fails to get so many votes, it will be removed. Is that true?

 

[Tzara]

Good idea. But, does that affect the chance of a poem surviving the sweeps? I heard from other writers that if a poem fails to get so many votes, it will be removed. Is that true?

No. You don't have to have voting enabled.

 

[Guest]

.....

 

[CeriseNoire]

Good idea. But, does that affect the chance of a poem surviving the sweeps? I heard from other writers that if a poem fails to get so many votes, it will be removed. Is that true?

No. It just won't be eligible for contests, but it won't be removed.

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

This is not unique to Literotica. Most people simply don't read poetry. I write it all the time and love it and I read it constantly. But, I'm not "most" people.

 

[WickedEve]

You can be a votemonger.

Or you can be a poet.

 

[Tzara]

You can be a votemonger.

Or you can be a poet.

Votemonger sounds oddly erotic to me.

Perhaps it's a West Coast thing.

 

[CeriseNoire]

You can be a votemonger.

Or you can be a poet.

I wonder if the same goes for money.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Good idea. But, does that affect the chance of a poem surviving the sweeps? I heard from other writers that if a poem fails to get so many votes, it will be removed. Is that true?

Oh, hell, if that was true, my pathetic attempts at poetry would have been gone long ago. But, they are still there...some with as few as 4 votes...

 

[WickedEve]

Votemonger sounds oddly erotic to me.

Perhaps it's a West Coast thing.

Try repeating it over and over, breathing deeply between each votemonger. It's arousing.

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

You can be a votemonger.

Or you can be a poet.

LOL My only intention was to show support to each other by responding to the poem in some way, either votes or feedback. But, votes are pretty useless in judging the quality of the poem. I'd much rather get feedback, good or bad.

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

No. It just won't be eligible for contests, but it won't be removed.

I assume it would still be eligible for Survivor contest points, since the rating of the poem is inconsequential.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Oh, hell, if that was true, my pathetic attempts at poetry would have been gone long ago. But, they are still there...some with as few as 4 votes...

ETA ...and some with as many as 11

 

[Tzara]

Try repeating it over and over, breathing deeply between each votemonger. It's arousing.

For a guy repeating anything often enough is arousing. Miller beer commercials, ordering chicken wings, talking about baseball scores....

Hell, if we just sit still for long enough, we get aroused.

This sometimes leads to misunderstandings with our other sex.

 

[WickedEve]

LOL My only intention was to show support to each other by responding to the poem in some way, either votes or feedback. But, votes are pretty useless in judging the quality of the poem. I'd much rather get feedback, good or bad.

Votemonger!

Just now, there was a skunk on my front porch, eating my cat's food. Now it's under my car. I just know something will stink before the night is over.

 

[WickedEve]

For a guy repeating anything often enough is arousing. Miller beer commercials, ordering chicken wings, talking about baseball scores....

Hell, if we just sit still for long enough, we get aroused.

This sometimes leads to misunderstandings with our other sex.

How inconvenient to be a guy.

 

[Tzara]

How inconvenient to be a guy.

Well, it has some advantages. We are rarely caught napping when occasion presents itself.

 

[WickedEve]

Well, it has some advantages. We are rarely caught napping when occasion presents itself.

And that's about it, isn't it?

Well, bless your heart.

 

[Tzara]

And that's about it, isn't it?

Well, bless your heart.

Why the Boy Scouts' motto is "Be prepared."