This is my first workshop at NeoPoet and I have chosen a subject near and dear to my heart.

I’m going to ask you to write a long poem. Now, before everyone tramples each other at the exit, let me explain “long”.
What we want to write is a lay or a ballade (not the poetic form, but the story medium).
Epic poetry (epopee) is thousands of lines of poetry and is only written by lunatics.
The Lay was chiefly written for music, but the music changed from region to region as oral tradition enlarged and enhanced the work.
Traditionally, “Greensleeves” is thought to have over 130, quatrain verses (not counting choruses). That would be a good upper limit for the workshop I should think. So, no more verses than “Greensleeves”.
As far as a minimum, I think the best rule would be “however many or few that it takes to clearly include all four story blocks, in order.” Everyone around here knows how much I love the long poem. Be willing to give yourself time to flesh out a place, a character, an occurrence. It should be at least that long.
A Ballade would do. A ballade in poetry is a strict form of French descent, but in storytelling parlance it is “a tale of some minutes.” If a Lay would take all night to tell, we will hear on another night many ballades.
There are no restrictions on poetic form. Listen, I’m rather excited about even trying this workshop and I would hate to ask for a bunch of emotional energy if the end product wasn’t going to be cool and unique. So, whereas in other workshops we have been asked to write on a mundane subject to facilitate shredding it all to hell, here I ask everyone put out a new and unique energy in everyone writing and sharing a tale.
wesley

Welcome. wesley

Your question is very relevant. All of those elements you listed are NOT necessarily needed. Remember that the Exposition is "the information necessary to tell the story". All information is not needed and not all needed information is required up front.
Let me explain.
All four of the components in a story will exist whether the storyteller adds them or not. They will either be clear enough that the story can be successfully told or they will be muddled and inadequate, but they will be there. Moreover, they will over lap. I tried once to write a short story in which I attempted to keep all of the parts separate. It was effectively impossible.
So, the writer must determine which information is critical, what information must be shared immediately and what can wait or not be included at all.
Consider a joke. "A Rabbi, a Priest and a Caliph walk into a bar..." I now have a cast of characters loosely described and a location. If you know this joke, you know I don't need the time. Also, "what" and "why" are usually aspects of the Complication, so I'm not in a hurry for these either.
This is why I would like to see the roughest drafts posted as we produce them so we can help each other determine what is needed when.
wesley

I'm really excited about my workshop. wesley

You are always welcome to look over my shoulder. Let me get you a chair. wesley

I don't believe size is a requirement to achieve all parts of a tale. Take my joke reference. Most jokes when they dump the punch line include a Climax and a Resolution in one sentence. Dickens' "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." includes an Exposition and a Complication of sorts in a single sentence.
Now, personally I think it's hard to do this with brevity. I'm seldom "breve". It takes me fifty lines just to get up a head of steam. As you mentioned, these pieces are there in anything that resembles a story. The question is whether they are clear enough to carry the tale where it needs to go.
wesley

The workshop is “Story telling in verse”.
That means there are two components to the workshop. First, it MUST be poetry. Beware the dark pit of Prose with line breaks.
Second, it must tell a story. The accent in this shop is the second. Personally I think this will be an extraordinary opportunity for a poet to use his/her inimical style in the producing of a lay.
If you have anything started, please don't wait to post. I am going to post my beginning now. It is not a complete Exposition as I wanted it to be, but I'm anxious. Sue me.
It would be exciting (for me at least) if everyone posted their work as they went adding it to the bottom (and making changes to already posted work), so that we may study the "process" as well as the poem itself.
Thanks to all who can be involved.
wesley

Post the first part tomorrow. wesley

We will help. wesley

... our workshop was not yet in the drop down list. I think that will change tomorrow, the first regular day of the workshop. Everyone should post the beginnings of what they have as soon as possible so we can start discussing Exposition in each poem. Don't be hesitant. I'm hoping some of these poems will have some length (so mine doesn't look so absurd) and that will take a bit of hashing out. Remember, all of the blocks overlap, so don't hold back if you have an exposition and some of your complication started. Go for it.
wesley

that is my fault. Jess didn't tell me (see how I move the blame?) I have to enter all of you into the workshop myself. As soon as he explains how, I will do so and we'll be moving forward. Thank you for your patience.
wesley

The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Sir Walter Scott and Tolkien's The Lay of Leithian and Narn I Chin Hurin.
wesley

I think I've got it. If there is anyone who wanted to join the workshop, but that I failed to include in the list would you please rip me a new one?
Unless Jess tells me I did it wrong we are under way.
Post whatever beginnings you have now. We want first drafts people. The barest bones.
Thanks for being patient with me and I hope everyone produces something different from they are accustomed to.
wesley

I too have read everything Tolkien has written. Which includes (oddly relevant here) his 1921 translation of the Elder Edda, also epic poetry. wesley

Jess suggested I remind you to bookmark this link as that's where we will be spending most of our time. I hope to god I get the link to work.

http://new.neopoet.com/workshop/view/7350

wesley

We are writing stories in pieces. Make sure everyone checks in on the submissions and critique the added materiel.
wesley

you will discover a box for "revision". If you simply replace the whole poem with the changes (if any) in your initial post and the later additions, your original will be preserved and you (and everyone else) can access it through that box.
This brings up a thought I've often shared that has particular relevance in this workshop. This is my perspective.
One of the secrets to being a successful writer in general and a good storyteller in particular is- "Endless Revision". I never consider anything I write to be finished as things may change in my ability, personality, environment that will cause me to see what I wrote in a very different light. I am constantly attempting to bring my older poetry up to date with my improved skills. Since we are writing a story that must act as a single unit we dare not leave the beginning or middle to its own devices. What we write later will influence what we have written before.
Therefore, my suggestion is to keep working on the poem as a whole as you are adding to it.
wesley

We had a couple of us drop out, so I can't count those. Don't wait for my permission. As you have work ready, lay it on us so we can keep moving. We have several fantasy tales begun (you know who you are), so those stories MUST be completed or I'll lose my cookies. I love that stuff.
wesley

Please remember this is an ongoing workshop and keep an eye peeled for updated stories. Please don't critique once and never return. Example, I have posted the rest of my tale and want everyone to tell me exactly where my climax is, whether it succeeded, where my resolution is and whether it succeeded. I see others have moved on as well and I'll be getting there shortly.
wesley

I have of course noticed that a number of us seem to be choking. I am truly bummed, but I also understand. Storytelling in verse is (to me) one of the truly difficult genres of poetry. For those who have never given it a shot, it can be daunting, filled with pitfalls and difficulties unexpected. I have always considered myself a storyteller before a poet. My storytelling has come natural to me since childhood. The poetry, however, is a chore. I have to work at it rather hard to produce what I consider mediocre verse. From my experience here at Neo over the last many months it has been demonstrated to me time and time again the population of this website is made up chiefly of natural poets. The poetry comes much more easily to Neo's population than it does for me, but storytelling may be quite alien to many here.
I hope I have not seen the last of some of these stories (Bloodstone, William, Michelle?), but I would never presume to threaten any of you.
I don't know where you live.
wesley

we all have lives and though we really only live them to give us material for our poetry, still they must be lived. wesley

always. Of course, being an Englishman by heritage (an MOP in my back ground) I think the only respectable thing for a Scotsman to do is... well, that's politics and I'm an American now.
Please, show us an exposition. Have you checked on the syllabus?
You are always welcome. To the last day.
wesley

I was concerned. That helps. wesley

I don't want you to think I'm ignoring you. Time constraints have been a problem of late. This workshop thread is almost as active after the fact as during, so I don't want to be the one to kill it.
I shall return and offer whatever paltry thoughts I may have on the tale.
wesley