OCA preloader logo
Squiffy Gnu - The Open College of the Arts

To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.

Squiffy Gnu thumb

Squiffy Gnu

Many creative writers will be aware of the Jo Bell’s excellent web page fiftytwopoetry Each week Jo explores a theme chosen by a guest poet, and provides links to existing poems on the chosen subject. Then she encourages readers to write their own poems. Members of the 52 poetry facebook site post their response to the prompt and comment on each other’s poems. Every Thursday morning poets rush to their computers to discover the new theme and to write something original. Then they watch avidly to see what other poets say about their work.
Although I could see the potential benefit for OCA students to join the 52 group, Jo explained that the membership was already too great. Hundreds of poems were being posted each week. It was impossible to read them all, never mind comment intelligently on each one. The only solution was for the OCA creative writing students to set up their own facebook page. We needed a name for the group – something friendly and appealing, but linked in some way to ‘52’. The answer was ‘Squiffy Gnu’ inspired by a quirky drawing on a site for children to colour in.
squiffy gnu
‘Squiffy Gnu’ provides a great opportunity to gain feedback on our poems. But could other members’ comments invalidate the disclaimer we sign when we submit work for OCA assignments? I’ve asked this question on separate occasions to 3 different OCA poetry tutors and, in each case, they have confirmed that a poem remains the originator’s own work after receiving critique. There is no disadvantage in being told that there is an aspect of a poem that could be improved. Quite the contrary – it’s vital for poetry students to ask for, and receive, constructive criticism. Of course, the comments on ‘Squiffy Gnu’ are invariably encouraging and helpful!
Members of the Gnu herd can also submit their compositions to poetry magazines or as competition entries. These will not be considered to have been previously published because ‘Squiffy Gnu’ is a closed facebook group.
At first most students feel nervous about sharing their work with their peers. How would they feel then if OCA tutors wanted to join the group? Once the seed of their inspiration has germinated, would they be prepared to expose its tender shoots to the glare of a tutor’s gaze? This was a question I had to ask the members but, in the event, not one of them objected. Subsequently, Barbara Henderson became a Gnu.
Barbara commented that; ‘As someone who’s been through a creative writing course myself, I know the value of peer groups and critiquing. It is a huge boost to a writer’s confidence – not only in their creative output, but it can help inure you to the process of putting it out into the wider world.
I’m resisting the urge to jump in and ‘tutor’ – which is sometimes hard! But it would make my presence on the site a hindrance, not a help. And it is a great joy to see the high standard of work that is being posted.’
The herd is steadily increasing in size, but there is scope for it to grow bigger. If you too would like to become a Gnu then hit the ‘Join Group’ button on our page Then, in the words of Jo Bell “Write a poem a week. Start now. Keep going.”


Posted by author: Joanne

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

> Next Post Automation of Art (Part 02)

< Previous Post Linda Crossley

Back to blog listings