| Author | Message | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 4476 Registered: 07-2002 |
This is from a recent blog entry: "I've blogged before about my difficulty working on poetry when I'm writing prose and vice versa. Having spent an intense two weeks first working on edits for "Wings", then writing furiously for "MindBlind", I can certainly attest to losing the thread of reading and writing poetry. I was trying to understand why the two types of writing are so different. Some of the elements are the same. Strong poetry, like strong prose uses language to show rather than tell. They both benefit from active voice, vivid verbs that stand alone without adverbs, and nouns that don't suffocate under the weight of adjectives. So why can't I write one while I write the other?" The rest is here: http://ljcbluemuse.blogspot.com/2006/04/challenge-of-writing-poetry-and-prose_22.html I'd love to see your thoughts on the differences between poetry and prose--feel free to comment on the blog. If nothing else, it's by way of explanation of why I've not been posting much poetry of late. Happy Saturday! ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog | ||
| Lazarus
Advanced Member Username: lazarus Post Number: 1725 Registered: 10-2005 |
I've had the same problem jumping back and forth from photography to writing. The answer was to take less pictures with my camera and more with my mind. I think any good paragraph can be turned into poetry. It depends on your motivation. If you want to spend the time on it, if it interests you enough to do it, you can. But if you are writing about one thing and trying to dig up poems about another that won't work right? There is a moment right after I struggle with a difficult mental task that poems can come, but only if you believe you can really stop everything you were doing. Then you go into a kind of emptiness, allow it really, and let whatever comes come. At these times I've usually had an idea stewing that was ready to come out. Interesting subject. Sorry for not going to your blog. Maybe later, I have a few things to tend to now. “Any step of art is a breathtaking step into abyss”- michael julius sottak (Wild Poet) | ||
| Christopher T George
Senior Member Username: chrisgeorge Post Number: 4762 Registered: 12-2004 |
Hi Lisa An interesting topic of conversation. Thanks for bringing it up, Lisa. To be truthful, I am not sure whether I have the same problem, in fact, I think I can say that I don't have this problem. This might be because my poetry is like prose anyway, so I can pretty easily switch from one to the other. In fact for some time I wondered if what I write is poetry but I think by now I have been published in enough places and won enough prizes, to see that it is regarded as poetry by my peers. Again though I think that my poetry has a prose-like or maybe conversational aspect that does allow me to switch with facility from prose to poetry. All my best Chris Editor, Desert Moon Review http://www.desertmoonreview.com/ Co-Editor, Loch Raven Review http://www.lochravenreview.net/ http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/ | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 7216 Registered: 11-1998 |
Interesting dilemma you have, Lisa. I haven't been writing much of anything of late, so I don't know whether I have this problem or not. *quizzical head scratching* I do write, but mostly letters and comments here on the board. Oh, and I do have a journal I jot things down in when I have a free moment. I don't seem to have any difficulties switching back and forth between these types of writing and poetry. Perhaps I would, though, if I was attempting fiction/novels as you are. That's decidedly more rigorous than letter writing. Perhaps some hats might help. You know -- a hat you wear when you write poetry, a different hat you wear when writing prose. I know it sounds silly, but I'm recommending hats as a visual reminder to yourself to switch modes. If you don't like hats, maybe different socks or aprons. *grin* Connect your different types of writing to some article of clothing you can don. Maybe a visual of some sort will trigger different sides of your brain. Or maybe location. Try writing prose in a certain room in the house, poetry in another. Whatever you choose, make it visual, like the different roles you have in your life -- wife, mother, therapist, etc. I'm sure you have different types of clothing you wear for each of these separate tasks -- career clothes, clothes for the weekend, clothes to go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and so on. We are what we put on our bodies sometimes. Perhaps that might help you switch back and forth between different types of writing. Then you can wear the item and say "Now, I am a poet." Or "Now, I am an author of fiction." The brain often needs a cue. Select items that represent different roles and perhaps that might help. Love, M | ||
| kdnxdr
New member Username: kdnxdr Post Number: 39 Registered: 12-2005 |
I am a late-in-life writer. Everything is new to me and I'm constantly in a state of learning. I believe, without doubt, I am a writer. However, an untrained, undisciplined writer. And, maybe never will I become a recognized writer by anyone. Yet, I am still a writer. As a poet, someone told me, "you have to believe what you want to say, and say it." And, as a writer, I was told, "you have to first decide why you want to write a story and what you want out of the experience of writing the story." As a photographer, I was told, "you have to find your own style." Those bits of information have really helped me to develop my compass to navigate what I'm doing as an artist. Again, success, as in connecting what I'm transmitting with my work to someone who appreciates and receives the work, would be nice and rewarding, but, it's not my main objective. First and foremost, I want to be true to what it is that comes from me as an artist....the rest is gravy. (Message edited by kdnxdr on April 22, 2006) | ||
| Zephyr
Senior Member Username: zephyr Post Number: 4250 Registered: 07-2003 |
Could it just be that you are not allowing yourself space for poetry. I find that I write my better work after midnight, when all is quiet, there are no demands, and everyone else is asleep. In that quiet there is space for inspiration to surface, and for concentration to take place. Sticking to goals and deadlines for your novel and caring for a young family, must eat into that space.Maybe you need to decide which medium is most important to you as a creative artist and allocate time accordingly? I know I am writing less at the moment because my daughter in law is still in hospital and my mind is taken up with family concerns, trying to be as supportive as possible. Best wishes Zephyr Igor Stravinsky In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love? | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 4494 Registered: 07-2002 |
Your comments and suggestions are all wonderful. As I said in the blog, I think it's connected to the sense of linearity. A novel needs a strong sense of linear time to make sense, while a poem benefits from a fragmented sense of linearity. I think musicians who move between jazz and classical idioms experience some of this same difficulty. I'll think about the different hats, M.  What would my poetry hat look like? Something with feathers, I think. xo ljc Once in a Blue Muse Blog | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 7223 Registered: 11-1998 |
My Dearest -- a poetry hat is most definitely a purple pannie party one. I thought you knew that. *LMAO* Of course you can put feathers on it, though some might think that a bit tacky. Not me, of course. Other people are just so stuffy with absolutely no sense of flair. *hahahahahaha* Love, M | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 7224 Registered: 11-1998 |
Like this? *giggle*  That's Sis and me. She's the gorgeous blonde in the sunglasses. | ||
| LJ Cohen
Moderator Username: ljc Post Number: 4495 Registered: 07-2002 |
LOL, M. I think the feathers would *definitely* add something to it.  Once in a Blue Muse Blog | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 7555 Registered: 07-2001 |
Lisa, I've started writting prose, reviews and some essays; and they are different disciplines with different skills. Not the least of it grammar and those blocks of paragraphs... One thought might be to write something that combines the two - a piece of prose that depends on poetics to work... But I don't think purple panties is the answer or at least would work for me. Smiles. Gary A River Transformed The Dawg House March 2006 FireWeed | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 7226 Registered: 11-1998 |
Not workin' fer ya', is that right, Mr. B? That's a real shame, ya' know. I was going to make it a requirement that all Wild poets reading at the Moonday event in SoCal don purple pannie party hats. Well, if the audience wouldn't remember us for the poetry, I was gonna make damn sure they'd remember us for the hats. *LMAO* BTW -- visions of you in a purple pannie party hat have kept me highly amused (as in rolling on the floor most of the time) this past week. Thanks. Much Love, M | ||
| Gary Blankenship
Senior Member Username: garyb Post Number: 7556 Registered: 07-2001 |
I prefer teal. Smiles. Gary A River Transformed The Dawg House March 2006 FireWeed | ||
| Dale McLain
Advanced Member Username: sparklingseas Post Number: 2340 Registered: 11-2004 |
Lisa~I think it's connected to the sense of linearity. A novel needs a strong sense of linear time to make sense, while a poem benefits from a fragmented sense of linearity. I think you've nailed it. I am having difficulty with the very concrete matter of time. I think my story is good, the narrative voice works, my dialog seems pretty decent... but the details of chronology bog me down. I have some gaps that need patching, but it becomes so tiresome. I want to gallop along to the action... and the emotions. So... I write a poem instead of a page or a chapter... and it feels like... ahhh, that's what I wanted to say. It so much easier without having to set the scene and worry with all those brick and mortar details. So , I am woking on disciplining myself (ugh...) and trying to smack myself out of thinking poetically and into writing something clear, logical and in order. ARG! I tend to write prosey poems... so why is this so hard??? I think I'll try the panties... gives me an excuse to go to Victoria's Secret.  It's for my craft!! thanks for this discussion Lisa! take care~dale ps~ I am really good at writing things that start like this... Please excuse Ian McLain for being tardy... | ||
| kdnxdr
New member Username: kdnxdr Post Number: 46 Registered: 12-2005 |
I went to a book signing/presentation the other day and the visiting writer shared some of his techniques for keeping himself on task and writing. He said that it worked for him to use excel spreadsheet. He said he could develop different ideas, plot developments, characters etc. in different boxes and then bring them together chronologically as the work progressed. I thought that was kinda cool and will experiment with excel myself. | ||
| marty
Advanced Member Username: marty Post Number: 808 Registered: 10-2003 |
LJC, That was one question that had me thinking for a long time, and then I realized that was also a question I really wanted to have the answer to all along. I also think its about the fragmentation of ideas that makes poetry different, one line can stand on its own as complete thought, while the same may not hold true for Prose.Poetry somehow gives us the license to use punctuation in a creative way, or one word lines is a definite possibility in poetry, but these are not true with prose. Just my thoughts Marty | ||
| kdnxdr
Member Username: kdnxdr Post Number: 51 Registered: 12-2005 |
If it's true A PICTURE=1000 WORDS, then I can see why there's such a dilemma. At the same time, both exact word choice and placement are critical to both. Both have so much to do with perspective and word choice. I'm sure for the painter, composer, the writer, etc., it's all about selecting the very Just Needed Element and the very specific Execution of It. I think I sound very Pooish now.} (Message edited by kdnxdr on April 26, 2006) |
