Intention and Critique

[ellajam]

Because I want to write a poem about a grape, not an orange. The critique is for the poet, not the person giving the critique. It doesn't affect the poems merits as a poem about oranges, but if the author wants to write a poem about grapes, they should get advice on writing a grape poem, not an orange one.

but, surely, what ellla is saying is that a critique based on such a fundamental misapprehension of authorial intent would lead to positive results in editing, anyway.

I've always been hesitant to explain my intent even when an offer of expert help is dangled in front of me if I'd just explain what the heck I was trying to say. Somehow, figuring out what is misleading readers and making the decision on whether or not to change something, and if so, how to do it within the integrity of the poem is fun for me.