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Poetry Dillema!?

I guess you could call me a poet. I love reading and writing poetry, but I just enter this poetry contest in the small town I live in. I've always been told my poetry is amazing, but I lost the poetry contest. Probably 20 other people my age entered. If I can't win a poetry contest agianst only 20 others does that mean I'm actually a bad poet?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The opinions of a judging panel do not necessarily reflect the opinions of all people. Though these judges may not have liked your work, others might.

The most important thing to know if you want to be a poet is this: you will be rejected. You will enter contests and lose. You will have people tell you you're no good, and you will have people who simply don't get it. This is just part of being any kind of writer.

To improve your writing, read every poem you can get your hands on; read Shakespeare, read Emily Dickenson, read Raymond Carver, read Sharon Olds, READ. Anyone with experience will tell you that a great writer always reads more than she writes.
Second, practice. Write and rewrite. Be critical of your work. Ask other people for their criticisms and use them to make your work better.
If you want to make it as a writer, you have to develop a thick skin, or your self-doubt will bring you down.