ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I'm hoping to start a discussion...otherwise known as a brawl on here...re 'co-writes'. I have had more than one organiser refuse to accept a co-written poem, & I can't see the problem IF both author's sign a condition that they are happy with the one trophy &/or the one cash prize.

There are a number of 'couples' who are both poets & may like to work on crafting a poem together. But it would also solve the problem some folk have with having been given assistance to graduate up to prizewinning status.

Wot do youse reckon?

Glenny

Hi Sis Bro here as I read what you have said and having read the terms of the comps it states that YOU are the writer(auther) of the poem. Nothing is said about co writing or help given. If that was the case there would not be one solitary writer in the world as every one has been taught

who taught you how to speech

who taught you how to write or draw lines

in fact who taught you any thing at all

you learnt what was taught to you and helped you therefore that last statement should not be counted

I know you taught me and a poor student I was? and to that degree I still am and there is no disrespect from me to you ( I’m one of your rare failures) but the name of the game is writing and performing so why should judges deviate from the path that states

THAT YOU ARE THE AUTHER OF THAT POEM


BILL THE OLD BATTLER

yeah, I hear what you are saying Bill. I've raised the same point before...eg. should we take our Olympic medallist's medals back because someone trained/helped them?

And...if I hear you call yourself a 'failure' again I'll smack you! Right from the start I identified that you had a very unique presentation...on paper and via recordings. I still think that some of what we wrestled with honed your natural talent? But my 'advices' are just that...suggestions that the enquirer is perfectly free to adopt or dismiss.
I was very interested in a comment you posted recently telling us that you had lived with & learned the Aboriginal speech pattern. Do you recall my asking you, very early on, if you were Aboriginal? (It shows through, & is part of the charm of your work.)
Anyway, I think a lot of the meter thing comes down to whether or not a person has that particular 'bent' for language. A bit like whether or not a person is musical. Some are, & some are tone deaf, & can't hold a note. That is not a bad thing, it just means that they probably wouldn't take up piano playing/singing, but you can be sure they have a different 'gift' in another area to share.

I don't know why the organisers shy away from the 'co-write'. Perhaps they feel it contravenes the 'YOU are the author' condition, (singular) which, as you have pointed out, is still so in a co-write. I would just like to see it formalised that a co-write is acceptable.

Go well my old mate... & ta for your reply.
Glenny

Agree with Bill and you Glenny - if someone has assisted to a huge degree and wants their name mentioned then perhaps both names and signatures to that effect on the piece of work should be sufficient. If someone has helped with a phrase or a turn around of metre etc and they don't think it worth worrying about why should the judges.

Every word in existence has been used before - we are just stringing them together on the paper like cows going to the milking shed. They follow in line but sometimes the order is different.

How's Theodore??? Good to see you back under your real name

Cheers

Maureen

Hi Glenny,
I can see nothing wrong with it at all.

I have often thought about this, and I reckon you would see some real good poetry as a result.

The combined talents of two or more people if they (clicked) opens up all sorts of possibilities.

I'd certainly be open to giving it a try and I'm sure there are others as well.

Finding the right combinations could be interesting as well.

And when you think about it, if it works it's can only help everyone, especially newer writers; we all have something to offer.

Good idea Glenny.

Terry

Good point about the collaborative music Marty. Thanks for contributing.
G'daaay Mausie. Yeah...still on his pc...the bloody thing...but I got me name back! yay!
It's not so much my wanting to see my name on the work, as it is to be free to work with croc sometimes. We are sooo from different planets that at times we come up with something that has that 'double edge' if you know wot I mean...2 points of view actually 'melding'....(for once).... And anyhow....how does a judge know for sure if a submitted poem has had assistance? Having 'the helper's' name on it as well, could possibly be a negative for the instgator of the poem, though. I'm thinking more along the lines of 2 poets collaborating on a specific piece. What's the problem?

I try to offer suggestions without re-writing where possible, & as Marty pointed out, if it gets into where my words are installed, the author/helpee if you like, has to make that call. But I much prefer to guide rather than take over.

Anyway....yep. absolutely LOVE it here in Theodore. We have the old Queenslander to functioning capacity. croc sawed up an old door so I'd have a kitchen bench...yay! We're a tad too tired to start the reno yet, but she'll come up like a little pearler once she's raised a foot or two & restumped, & croc can get his drop saw going. Oh the joys....

Oh. G'daay Terry. You pipped me at the post, Mate. Thanks for contributing Mate.

Marty beat me - I was going to say that people collaborate on writing lyrics and music so why not poetry - as long as it is clearly stated that it is a joint effort - no problem with that.

Now Glenny old girl you reckon that you’d smack me. Now if it’s on me backside that won’t do you much good as me B** has been bounced on my saddle that many times I would not feel a thing.

But, all facts aside, please let me point this out.
.
Now Tiny Tim has not got a good singing voice but his singing is better than mine.

Number two I cannot run a four-minute mile. Even slowly, cause I wouldn’t make it

These two things I am a failure at because nether of them, am I any good at, even remotely.

The same as metre my mind and hearing does not hear the different sections of words this I fail to hear that is my failure in ABPA poetry, but there are other areas that I can hold my own .

You and others are good teachers.

Me? I’m just an old battler enjoying life and being a bugger as well

Bill the old battler

New spoon coming express post Bill and knee pads

The decision is with the organiser as to what they accept. If they state that it must be all the entrants own work then so be it.


The other option of course would be to encourage competitions to introduce a collaborative section. ???



Bob