Poetry Workshop
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY THE WORKSHOP!
If you missed the April workshop, never fear! We’ve kept the topics so you can read through them, courtesy of Adrian S. Potter, poet and short story writer who guest blogged during National Poetry Month. Though we’re kind of sad that it’s over 
we sure had a blast and learned a lot about poetry. Our thanks to Adrian S. Potter for making our April so much fun!
Spreading the Word: Getting Your Work Out There Through Publishing and Readings
Here’s the scenario: You’re serious about writing and finally have a base of poems (5 to 10) or stories that might be publishable. It’s time to get your work out there for the world to enjoy. No one will ever know you’re a writer if you don’t take this step.
Get familiar with the journals you’re thinking about submitting to. Most publications have websites, and often they have sample work from recent issues. If you’re submitting poems or fiction to contests, you should try to research the judge’s work (if you can) to make sure your style doesn’t clash with the judge’s.
What do people consider good writing? Sometimes it’s bizarre or incoherent; other times it’s blunt like a bartender’s story at last call. There’s home for all in the diverse literary world.
Anyway, have faith in your work, and enough tolerance to accept rejection. Seriously, I often receive twenty or more “nos” before finally finding acceptance. Submitting writing to publications is similar to dating – you won’t always get a “yes,” but the more you try, the more chance you have to score. Be sure to check out the journal’s website for specific instructions they may have, and follow those guidelines.
At bare minimum you’ll need-
Envelopes. Make a trip to WalMart or some other big chain. You’ll need a ton of these, and if the cost of envelopes is what it takes for fame, then it’s worth the investment. And remember, every snail mail submission needs an SASE (self addressed stamped envelope).
Email. Online journals are becoming more respected, and most have forsaken the US Postal Service for email. Some print journals have also done this in order to conserve paper.
Stamps. Rates are going up again in May. Ugh. Consult USPS about it. Think about buying those new “Forever” stamps to hedge against future increases.
Writer’s Market or Poet’s Market. OK, this is more of a suggestion than a requirement. I suggest these guides because are they have great stuff like sample cover letters, conversations with editors, clear categorizations, listings of potential places to publish your work, and it’s all in one place.
Cover letter. Editors like to know that the people who submit care. Tell them what you are submitting, where you’ve been published in the past (if applicable) and let them know you appreciate the time they taking to read your work (the words “Please consider” go a long way). Here are a couple of sample cover letters on the internet to get you started:
http://www.winningwriters.com/resources/advice/ura_letter.php
http://www.pebblelakereview.com/samplecoverletter.htm
Poems and/or stories. Always send your best work.
There are COUNTLESS calls or submissions and contests for poetry and fiction out there. An internet search will produce hundreds of opportunities – you just have to sift through them and find which ones are right for you. Writer’s Market and Poet’s Market can also help, along with periodicals such as Poets & Writers.
One other thing: if you ever get the opportunity to read your writing for an event, take it. I recently participated in my first poetry reading last month at Magers and Quinn, an independent Twin Cities bookstore. Not only is the exposure important, but the act of reading your work aloud to an audience can be an exhilarating experience. It helps you connect to our work in a new manner. Don’t pass up any opportunity to present your poetry to others. Seriously.
This stuff is my opinion – others may have different viewpoints. These are some bits and pieces I’m passing along from my experience in trying to get individual works published. I still have a lot to learn about getting a full-length manuscript accepted – hopefully one day I’ll know about that, too. 
If you have any questions, I’ll try to answer them as honestly as I can. I’d also be interested to learn from any of you who may have something to add to this discussion on getting your work out there.
How Poetry Influences Prose, and Vice Versa
I’ve learned to never throw any writing away – always recycle. Why? Because out of a bad poem may exist the plot of a decent short story; similarly, a strong descriptive paragraph in a scrapped fiction piece may be a poetic gem waiting to be unearthed.
Since I write both verse and prose, I often teeter on which one should be used to express an idea. One thing is clear: I fail when I cram a 2000-word story into a twenty line poem, and I ruin plot development with ten-sentence paragraphs about the weather in the middle of a fiction piece.
Yet I cannot claim to control my muse, or tell it exactly what to create. Therefore, I continue writing and deal with this issue during editing. Often when I struggle with a poem, I may be trying to say too much within it. If I’m on the computer, this is when I “save as,” give the work an alternate title, delete all line breaks, put in standard punctuation, and then attempt to fill in the blanks that are naturally left vacant by poetry, but must be filled in to make prose. It doesn’t always work, but when it does it produces strong results.
One example is a micro-fiction piece that I wrote last year titled “Details of an Author’s Divorce,” published at an online magazine/blog called Six Sentences, where all the works are exactly (you guessed it) six sentences. This piece, which started out as a poem, developed into flash fiction. Its metamorphosis followed the aforementioned blueprint.
The original version of “Details…” told the story of an author’s failed marriage through a free verse poem. It was an interesting concept, but the piece was clumsy and wordy. I put it aside, but then kept studying it periodically. It had too many vivid images for me to just discard it. So I deleted the line breaks, added transitions to give it a prose skeleton, and then started editing it as fiction instead of poetry. The first place where I submitted it promptly rejected it, which made me revise yet again – I discovered that I had edited a little too much out of the piece.
After some tinkering, “Details…” told the entire tale that was too lumbering to explain through poetry. I submitted it to Six Sentences and it was accepted; you can see the finished work at http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/2007/12/details-of-authors-divorce.html. What makes it work to me is the richness of the description that’s derived from its poetic roots, coupled with the fiction structure that tells the complete story without it being awkward.
This transformation can also be performed vice versa, from prose to poetry. I’ll sometimes spot a paragraph in a draft of a story that drones on about the landscape, only to realize I’ve abandoned the plot during that paragraph. Once I cut out some of that imagery, I’ll often save it for another project where that level of description is needed. It may be another story, or I might toss in some line breaks and see if this descriptive leftover can stand alone as a poem.
I’d be interested to know if this is something others may have done. It has definitely become a key component of my process and a contributor to my development as a writer.
4/16 lecture
Poem-Making, the Process
What is your process for writing poetry?
I’ve only recently started thinking about process. Maybe that’s because I’ve only recently had folks interested in my work enough to ask. At first, I really had no clue how to describe my personal process. I’ve come to realize that process for me is a fluid entity, something that remains constantly changing.
For example, last year I wrote a lot of narrative poems and political/socially driven poems. So when I wrote in my notebook, I’d tuck away the random phrases and metaphors that came to me for future use. Whenever I was struck upside the head with a complete idea, I would start writing, and then go back to my notes to see if anything I’d written before “fit” within the piece I was working on. This worked well at the time. I knew where I wanted to take the reader, and then added in images and descriptions from my notebook that correlated with that concept.
Lately I’ve drifted from the conventional narrative of my previous poems, and toward something less linear, more disjointed. I wouldn’t call it fully abstract, but definitely not as organized as my previous style. This style shift has impacted my process. No longer do I just store things away for future use – sometimes I take a phrase I think of and run with it in order to see where it takes me. I no longer feel like I need to always know where I’m going with a concept before I start writing.
I mostly write free verse, so I rarely have the constraint of remaining in a certain pattern (unless it is of my own creation). That is a personal choice, but I can see myself trying some forms, such as sestinas or villanelles, in the future.
When I think of process, I feel the following things are important:
- Realize that your process can be fluid and remain in flux. You can change from what you “have always done” and still be a good writer. The only thing holding you back is fear.
- Don’t be afraid to try something new. You might find a different voice yearning to come out of you…or a voice that was always there, but you never bothered to listen to.
- Make sure what you are doing works for your style and personality. I have friends who write using their own methods, and can cookie-cutter a whole poetry manuscript in a single night if they so desired. However, if I employed their methods, I wouldn’t write a single word.
That’s all I have for now. I’m no expert, but I’ll try to answer any questions as they come this afternoon and later on tonight…
Introducing our April Guest Blogger: Adrian S. Potter
Day Job: Engineer
Birthday: May 28
Place of Birth: Iowa
Currently Resides in: Minnesota
My Favorite Memory: It may sound corny or overly optimistic, but I have yet to experience my greatest moment. Ask me again in ten years or so.
My Personal Hero: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
My Best Feature: When focused, I can be a very driven individual. I often find myself doing the things that most people are too lazy to do. Those things will help me find success, I hope.
My Worst Feature: Impatience. Whether it’s waiting in a line at a store or hoping to hear from a literary journal that I sent a story to, I detest waiting. During congested traffic, I often ask God to help me with my patience issues, but he hasn’t responded. Maybe that’s how he’s teaching me to be patient…I’m not sure.
My Favorite Meal: Any meal that comes accompanied by a biscuit.
My Beverage of Choice: Daytime – water or cranberry juice. Nighttime – beer.
My Pet Peeve: People who complain but aren’t willing to at least try to change their situation, or their perspective.
Best Movie I Ever Saw Was: The Godfather.
Best Actor to Star in a Movie About Me: A movie about me would flop: mundane plot, nonsensical events, way more dialogue than action. I’m trying to change that and maybe add a few fight scenes and car chases, but I’ve failed so far. So I’ll say Will Smith – at least I’m guaranteed a decent royalty check if he’s involved.
Books I’m Reading Currently: I have three books with bookmarks in them right now: 2 poetry, 1 nonfiction. Against Which by Ross Gay, Real Karaoke People by Ed Bok Lee, and Driven from Within by Michael Jordan.
My Favorite Character from Literature Is: Celie from The Color Purple by Alice Walker. That was one of the first “grownup” books I read during my teenage years, and the vivid development of that character stuck with me.
If I Could Have Dinner with Any Person Living or Dead, It Would Be: My late father. Had some things I would’ve liked to say before he passed. I figure that could happen between appetizers and the main course, so we could share laughs over dessert.
My Writing Habits: I like music in the background - I need distraction in order to create. I write daily, sometimes for hours, sometimes for minutes. Some days are more productive than others, and not all of that time is spent working on polished pieces or even rough drafts. Sometimes I’m collecting random phrases and descriptions for later use. I am still refining my process – it constantly changes depending on my mood, motivation, etc.
I’ve Been Writing Since: Kindergarten. I took a break during college, but started up again in my mid-twenties and haven’t stopped since.
My Proudest Accomplishment: I don’t know if I have anything to be that proud of yet. The best is still yet to come.
My Best Writing Advice: Writing is similar to exercise; if it hurts, that means you are working hard, and in the end it should produce positive results.
If I Could Travel Anywhere in the World to Write, It Would Be: Africa.
Words I Live By: Don’t talk about it, be about it. Now is the time to accomplish my goals.
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Help us celebrate National Poetry Month with award-winning poet, Adrian S. Potter. Adrian will be guest blogging over the next couple of weeks, talking about poetry in general and the intersection of poetry and prose in particular. He’ll be answering your questions about writing and will even critique a couple of poems.
You’re invited to post your poems on the Post Poems Here! page. Adrian will be critiquing a few–but not all–poems toward the end of the month. Nevertheless, anyone who posts a poem, leaves a comment, or asks a question will be eligible to win fabulous prizes. Drawings for all prizes will also be at the end of the month. These includes copies of the Cuivre River Anthologies, volumes II & III and copies of Adrian’s chapbooks.
Note: You must be logged in to leave a comment, and you can’t login until you register. If you haven’t registered with the site yet, click on “logged in” below the Leave a Reply heading, then click on “Register” below the login box. Enter the userid you want to use and your email. It takes only a moment. Your password will be emailed to you within minutes. As soon as you have your password, you can login and begin asking questions or posting poems. We promise to use your email only for announcements of events and speakers at this site.
There are also links to “Register” and “Login” at the top left of every page under “Stuff You Need.” If you run into any problems or have any questions about the workshop that are not for Adrian, email Candace or Amy.
Bookmark this page. Today, we’ve posted an interview with Adrian–this is your chance to get to know him and start asking questions. In the meantime, check out Adrian’s bio, and Adrian’s blog.
The rest of the worshop will work like this:
April 16 - Poem-making, the Process
April 21 - How Poetry Influences Prose, and Vice Versa
April 23 - Spreading the Word: Getting Your Work Out There Through Publishing and Readings
April 28 & 30 - critiquing poems of his choosing from those posted.
Adrian will answer questions once or twice a week through the end of the month. So, don’t worry if your question isn’t answered on the same day you post it.
Still haven’t gotten your poetry fix? Visit Poetic Scribblings for poem prompts and sample poems.
Welcome Adrian, and thanks for stopping by to chat.
I have a question about listening to music while writing. Like many writers, I write in silence–if you can call the sometimes cacaphony of competing character voices in my head, “silence.” Music influences my mood, and therefore, my writing. I write mostly novels, and depending on the next scene to be written, the music could influence how that goes, so I just leave it off.
Do you choose the music based on what you have in mind to write? Or do you just let the writing flow based on what you’re feeling from the music? Or do you “ignore” the music and use it simply for the background noise–the distraction–as you mention in your interview?
Again, thanks for being so generous with your time!
Candace
April 14th, 2008 at 2:41 pmAdrian,
I have another question. You mention in your interview that you’ve been writing since kindergarten. Wow! Has it always been poetry? If not, how did you end up here? I know you write some short fiction also. Do you think you will ever write something longer, like a novel?
If so, how do you think that process might differ–if at all–from the one you use now?
Thanks again!
April 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pmCandace
Candace,
To answer your first post…
I’m overly influenced by music, especially when writing poetry. I can see how listening to the blues can lead to a melancholy mood while I write, or how a soulful song can send my thoughts into a spiritual realm, etc. I often read things I’ve written and can tell from the “rhythm” of the poem what I was listening to that day while writing.
Sometimes the music chooses the poem or story, sometimes vice versa.
For example, I wrote a short story a few years back called “Domestic Silence.” The main character lived in an apartment building. He lived there long enough that he knew whenever the neighbor across the hall played jazz loudly, he was abusing his wife. The character, who also happened to be a jazz aficionado, adored the music but abhorred the beatings that were going on behind closed doors. The story focused on his failed attempts to reach out and help the abused wife, and how he started to hate jazz, the music he loved, because of what was happening. That story chose its own soundtrack: Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Once I had the idea, I simply had to press play and write.
Other times the music slowly seeps its way into my writing. Whether it is rap, R&B, jazz, rock, or whatever, the mood of the music can often help me find an identity for my work, helping me take a concept and craft it into a piece of literature. It helps the pen move.
Although I write often with music on or the TV in the background, I usually edit (especially fiction) in silence. That is when I need to focus and truly process without any other influence.
We all have our quirks, I suppose. I actually admire those who write in silence…I just can’t do it. It would intimidate me, almost like the blank sheet in front of me would be even blanker, as if that’s possible.
Glad to contribute, and I look forward to this guest blogging stint. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m sure it will be rewarding.
Adrian
April 14th, 2008 at 6:54 pmCandace,
And responding to post #2…
Back in grade school I wrote short stories. And they were absolutely horrible! I’d write myself into a corner with a nonsensical plot and have no logical way to end things. So I’d take a cue from a lot of children’s programming and conclude my stories with two sentences that provided an easy out: He woke up and it was all a dream. The end.
I’d like to think I have come a long way with my endings since then. Yet sometimes I still write myself into a corner with nonsensical plots.
Poetry started in high school. Back then all my poems rhymed – I was influenced by rap and other music. After my writing hiatus, I found that poetry was the easiest way for me to transition back into writing. I started writing fiction again only after I had ideas that were too wordy or clumsy for verse.
I still write more poetry than fiction, but I’m shooting for a 50/50 split by the end of this year. I get emotionally invested in my stories. I think that’s why I do more poetry at the moment – I can let go of a bad poem WAY easier than I can a failed story.
I want to write a novel – one day. I’ve had dreams of participating in Nanowrimo, but chickened out both times I registered. Sigh. I admire the drive to stick to a project of that length. I think that would be what I’d have the most trouble overcoming, along with a hectic work schedule, short attention span, and the fear of failing.
Another hurdle that has kept me from a novel project is my methodology – I’m big into the economy of words, saying as much as I can with as few words as possible. Although my writing is descriptive, I try to keep things concise. I have never had a poem longer than a page and a half, or ever wrote a story longer than 3,500 words or so. I would need to find a subject or idea that really intrigues me – otherwise I can’t see what I’d blab about for 50,000 + words. So I’d have to tinker with my style to make it work, I think.
Adrian
April 14th, 2008 at 7:32 pmAdrian,
Amy and I and a couple of others in our group did NaNoWriMo this past year. What a hoot! It was crazy. You have to be so ready to write a lot of crap!! It really really helps to have other people you know and trust to go through it with. Otherwise, it’s too easy to let it go. Any time you want to try it again, check in with us. We’ll get you through it.
And in amongst all that crap, there’s some really good stuff. In fact, as it turns out, most of it is good. And forget your fear of failing. You’re successful if all you do is try.
Thanks for your thoughtful answers.
Of course, they prompt more questions. You’re shooting for a 50/50 split between poetry and fiction, moving toward more fiction, and you want to write a novel–one day. I’m wondering what your motivation is? What is your reason for wanting to do more and longer fiction?
btw, I understand what you are saying about letting go of a bad poem vs. letting go of a failed story. But you know what? If you aren’t invested in your stories, your reader won’t be, either. There’s probably lots and lots of really good stuff in your so-called failed stories. Hold on to them.
Candace
April 14th, 2008 at 7:51 pmMy motivation for writing more fiction? I have a couple reasons…
1. For whatever reason, I get more respect from non-writers when I mention my fiction writing over my poetry. Not that other people’s opinions matter that much, but I’d be a fool to pretend they don’t at all. I guess some folks instantly stereotype poetry as something they refuse to read now that they’ve graduated, while they may read fiction here or there if their arms are twisted enough.
2. I don’t think I’ve begun to fully flex my fiction muscles yet. I need the challenge. Not to say poetry isn’t a challenge, because it is. But with the right amount of Red Bull and motivation, I can churn out poems like a factory, yet I will slowly tinker with one short story for months and months. I want to push myself to be more polished and efficient with my fiction writing.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:20 pmSo glad you mentioned Red Bull. You said you like to drink water or cranberry juice during the day, and I thought, what? No caffeine? This guy can’t be real . . .
Funny about people’s attitudes towards writing and writers–people who’ve never attempted it in any shape or form. It’s not unlike when I mention that some of what I write is romance. Which I mention only very apologetically in the first place.
Now, I can say I write a certain kind of fiction “with romantic elements,” because this is the current buzz phrase in the industry.
Anyway, I write poetry for a similar reason–flexing my writing muscles.
Candace
April 14th, 2008 at 8:31 pmHi Adrian,
Happy to have you here for our poetry workshop!
My question is, who is your favorite poet, and do you have a favorite poem?
Amy
April 15th, 2008 at 1:00 amHi Amy!
My favorite poet would probably be Maya Angelou.
My favorite poem is I’m A Fool To Love You by Cornelius Eady. If you’ve never read it, here is a link to it on the poets.org site: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15244
There’s something about this poem…its blues aesthetic is almost haunting. I have tried to write poems similar to it (imitation intended to be sincere flattery towards Mr. Eady), but have failed to make my work “sing” like his…
I’m going to post my two cents on process pretty soon. If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask…
A
April 16th, 2008 at 5:28 pmWhat is your process for writing poetry?
I’ve only recently started thinking about process. Maybe that’s because I’ve only recently had folks interested in my work enough to ask. At first, I really had no clue how to describe my personal process. I’ve come to realize that process for me is a fluid entity, something that remains constantly changing.
For example, last year I wrote a lot of narrative poems and political/socially driven poems. So when I wrote in my notebook, I’d tuck away the random phrases and metaphors that came to me for future use. Whenever I was struck upside the head with a complete idea, I would start writing, and then go back to my notes to see if anything I’d written before “fit” within the piece I was working on. This worked well at the time. I knew where I wanted to take the reader, and then added in images and descriptions from my notebook that correlated with that concept.
Lately I’ve drifted from the conventional narrative of my previous poems, and toward something less linear, more disjointed. I wouldn’t call it fully abstract, but definitely not as organized as my previous style. This style shift has impacted my process. No longer do I just store things away for future use – sometimes I take a phrase I think of and run with it in order to see where it takes me. I no longer feel like I need to always know where I’m going with a concept before I start writing.
I mostly write free verse, so I rarely have the constraint of remaining in a certain pattern (unless it is of my own creation). That is a personal choice, but I can see myself trying some forms, such as sestinas or villanelles, in the future.
When I think of process, I feel the following things are important:
- Realize that your process can be fluid and remain in flux. You can change from what you “have always done” and still be a good writer. The only thing holding you back is fear.
- Don’t be afraid to try something new. You might find a different voice yearning to come out of you…or a voice that was always there, but you never bothered to listen to.
- Make sure what you are doing works for your style and personality. I have friends who write using their own methods, and can cookie-cutter a whole poetry manuscript in a single night if they so desired. However, if I employed their methods, I wouldn’t write a single word.
That’s all I have for now. I’m no expert, but I’ll try to answer any questions as they come this afternoon and later on tonight…
April 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pmAdrian, I like the fluidity and lack of rules in your process. I agree that allowing it to be organic leaves it open to possibilities. This is true no matter what you are writing, I think.
I have a question: do you use a critique group or partner? Our critique group is made up of writers who write a variety of things and occasionally poetry. We do our best to critique it, but it’s hard. Any tips?
What do you recommend one look for when trying to evaluate our own or someone else’s work?
Thanks! Candace
April 16th, 2008 at 7:45 pmI don’t really have a critique group or partner. On an online forum I frequent there is a poetry/writing section. I have posted a few works on there for feedback. But I mostly work in a black box, to be honest.
I critique a lot of work on that online forum, however, trying to give a helping hand to beginner writers. I usually try to point out something unique about the poem that you liked, and to notice the use of any poetic devices - metaphors, similies, and the like. I always try to note somewhere I think the person could have dug deeper or done something different - but always with the idea that I may not know 100% what the writer was trying to convey.
I think most writers are happy to get feedback and understand they have to pick and choose what comments they want to internalize and which ones they want to leave. We are all trying to get better.
I usually resist commenting harshy on work that seems very personal, just because that’s where feelings get hurt. I believe in poetry as a vehicle for catharsis, so I realize that a poem where emotions are purged has a different function than an epic someone is pushing out to win a contest.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:14 pmOh, and I also note originality. In our cliche-filled world, if someone actually comes up with a new way to say something that hasn’t been recycled, it needs to be praised.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:15 pmI did recently use Amy’s help as an editor and reviewer as part of the services she offers at The Write Helper. That was actually a bit outside of my comfort zone, but it was a good experience. She was able to catch mistakes I had glossed over for years in some poems. If you have someone you are comfortable with that can edit or read your poems, it is worth it. Especially someone who can read your poems and tell when you are holding back. I feel the same idea holds for fiction as well…
April 16th, 2008 at 8:18 pmAdrian - Just wish to add my thanks for sharing your time and talent. I especially appreciate your above comments about critiquing poetry. We have found that to be a difficult task, especially in this free-wheeling time of free verse. Few know what to say on those rare occasions when one of the Tribe members comes in with a poem. I think that’s because everyone is afraid - afraid of being labeled an ignoramus for not recognizing the profundities that are probably apparent to everyone else. So, many many thanks for the tips. I once wrote a poem that in itself was a satire on pretentiousness as part of a short story. I made it as bad and obscure as I could. That was fun! I may post it, just for the hell of it. - Jerry
April 17th, 2008 at 12:23 amThe link to the piece mentioned above does not work for some reason…I think it is adding a period. Try
http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/2007/12/details-of-authors-divorce.html
if you want to check it out…
April 21st, 2008 at 2:18 pmAdrian,
I’ve always kept my prose and poetry separate. This is an interesting idea. Especially, for me, the idea of taking a poem that is perhaps trying to say too much and making it into a fiction piece. I’ve shied away from flash fiction because my fiction tends to want to be novel-length. Can’t even write a decent short story, to tell you the truth. But I’m very intrigued by this idea and am going to go back to some of my poems that I don’t really like as poems and revisit the ideas, see if I can do something else with them.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
Candace
p.s. Love the 6S piece, especially “lingerie thrown to the floor like logic,” hmmm. I’ll never look at my laundry the same again.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pmCandace -
Although I haven’t written a novel, I envision this methodology may help some with novel writing, too. I don’t know if you look at a manuscript as one continuous unit or if you break it down in pieces, but if a failed poem can be twisted into something that contributes to part of a chapter or even a page of text, I would view that as a plus.
I think most writers do what you do - keep poetry and prose separate. I have heard many writers go as far as having separate journals for poetry, fiction and non-fiction. I never did that because I didn’t want to clutter my life with 3 notebooks, so I think that’s why I’ve always had this “spillover” between genres.
Thanks for the feedback…
A
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 pmSometimes I restrict myself so rigidly, I don’t write at all because what I have in my head doesn’t “go” with my WIP–usually a novel. How silly! Whatever I write could be useful. Amy and I have been participating in the Poetic Asides daily poetry prompts this month, so that has forced me to at least think about something to write every day, and more or less make it a poem. Thank goodness for free verse! But I can see now how much I have been shortchanging my own creative process. Much of what I’ve produced this month is probably crap, but there are a few nuggets, I know there are, that are good, too, and that if nothing else, I will be able to use somewhere else, if not the WIP, something in the future. Because no matter what, I also save everything. In the future, I will be letting the lines blur and go away altogether.
Wow. Feels good.
Thanks!
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 pmHi Adrian,
I like what you said about never throwing away any writing–how if something doesn’t work as a poem, it might work as a fiction piece, and vice versa. My question is, do you ever take a successful poem and write it as a fiction piece or take a great story and try writing it in the form of a poem?
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 amAmy…
I must admit I’ve never done this with a successful poem or story. I guess I have only done this with works that are missing that “something” while I am editing. It would be interesting to see if something that I think is a decent poem or story could actually be better with a little genre transformation. Something for me to think about for sure…
A
April 24th, 2008 at 3:41 amI appreciate the opportunity to do this workshop and talk about writing. It has helped me to examine my process and learn more about me as a writer. I wish everyone on here great success as writers in the future…
April 30th, 2008 at 1:02 amAdrian, thanks so much for your time. This has been a fabulous learning experience. I really appreciate your time, your thoughts, and your comments on the poems. Best wishes for all your future writing endeavors!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:54 pmCandace
Adrian,
It’s been a real treat to have you here for National Poetry Month! Your tips, comments, and critique were so helpful. I know I speak for many when I say a great big THANK YOU!
Amy
April 30th, 2008 at 5:40 pmAdrian - Allow me to ditto the above comments of my colleagues. I’ve really appreciated your insights, information, and comments, not just for my work but for everyone’s. I’ve had my eyes opened to better creative avenues than I was aware of prior to this experience. All the very best to you in your future endeavors, and come back some time!
April 30th, 2008 at 10:22 pm