You’re a terrible poet. You’re also an awesome poet whose writing touches people (this all assumes you’re reading this post because it’s relevant to you).

For example, I’m in a poetry class that has a lot of workshops where read and critique each other’s poems. Sometimes my classmates love my poems, sometimes they don’t. The same is true of their poetry.

It’s the name of the game with art that you can’t be universally loved. Not everyone loves van Gogh. Not everyone loves Monet. Not everyone loves Silverstein. But there are many people who like van Gogh and Monet and Silverstein.

I adore Silverstein’s poetry. I’m a huge fan. I couldn’t put Where the Sidewalk Ends down when I was a tween. The binding even started falling apart from so much use. However, I have met people who don’t love Shel Silverstein. Just like there will be people that don’t like my poetry and my writing.

Style in writing and art is highly subjective. As much as I would love to be profuse and literary and full of description and emotion, my poetry is meant to be read with an even cadence and lots of silence. Some people will love it! I get feedback from my classmates that they think my poetry is great (we do have a class rule about being positive, just full disclosure), which is way more important than the folks who just don’t jive with my style.

So, please, don’t get down on yourself if someone criticizes your poetry. Someone likes it. That someone might be me or your mom or some retired man in Wisconsin. You can do this! So can I!

Enjoy this wonderfully positive and gentle video of the great painter: Bob Ross! As he says, “you’ll make beautiful things!”

Feel free to send me your poetry on my contact page or on Twitter @GeorgiaTell!