The Everything Writing Poetry Book (5 page)
It is a good idea to reflect on what you have read for five or ten minutes immediately after setting down your book. Studies show that this can increase your retention rate up to 40 percent. In addition to making time for personal reflection, try to engage in conversation with someone about the information you read.
Another way to reflect on poetry is to memorize poems. You may have memorized and recited lines at several points in your education, but the pressure of performance for a grade is long gone. You can now memorize poems to recite to friends and loved ones or just to remember in your own mind. The exercise of memorization will sharpen your attention to future poems and familiarize you with certain forms and styles.
Read Poems for Study
As you read, you should create a dialogue with the poems. By writing your responses and questions in the margins, you can become more engaged in the study of poetry. If you cringe at the idea of writing in a book, then buy a second copy, or have lots of Post-its or notepaper handy to keep track of your thoughts.
There are several things you can take note of when reading poetry. You can write out your impressions, the definitions of words you look up, questions about passages that puzzle you, and any observations you make about the poet's use of language. These last observations are particularly important because they will aid you in the next step of your poem study: line-by-line analysis.
You will read more about such analyses later in the book, but for now, you should try to jot down a few key observations about the lines you read. How many words and syllables does each line contain? What sorts of words come at the end of each line? Do you detect any rhymes? Do the sentences in the poem end when the lines end, or do they go beyond the line breaks? Are the sentences short or long? Do you see places where the poet chose not to use complete sentences?
If you can answer each of these questions about a single poem, you will gain much insight into the writing of poetry itself. Finding similarities and differences between your poems and those of published writers will reveal your own strengths and weaknesses. You can then take this information and apply it to your own writing, while composing or editing.
Writing Tools
Because the writing process will likely keep you at a desk for hours at a time, you must find a tool that helps you write comfortably. You may choose a specific brand of pen for its smooth ink flow. Perhaps you'll choose an especially thick pencil or one that makes strong, dark marks on the paper. If you choose to write using a computer, you must be comfortable with your keyboard and mouse, the brightness of your screen, and other various details.
Accessories
There are many products and accessories available to help you write more comfortably. Many pens and pencils come with special grips to protect your fingers and secure your grasp, and all have point sizes or hardness levels that will affect the writing quality. If you prefer a typewriter, look for one that won't distract you with its noises, that will offer your fingers the right amount of striking space, and that won't give you difficulties when you change the ribbon. If you prefer a computer, make certain that all the keys of your keyboard depress fully, your computer screen is adequately bright and clear, and your mouse glides smoothly over your desk surface. You may also want to purchase wrist rests for your keyboard and mouse, and a mouse pad with a smooth, flat surface.
Where can I buy writing tools and accessories?
Most office supply stores will carry a wide selection of writing utensils, papers, ink cartridges, binders, and even computers and typewriters. Usually, it is better to buy a computer at a computer store, although you may be able to find one online. The same goes for typewriters. Do some research before making one of these large purchases.
When it comes to choosing paper, you have a wealth of possibilities. Paper is available in all colors, sizes, and weights, some best suited for handwriting and others for typing and computer printing. Some writers prefer to set down their inspirations in notebooks or diaries before typing out a draft. These products can range from a basic three-ring binder filled with lined paper to an elegant hardcover book with a sewn binding and pressed parchment pages. This decision is up to you, as long as your writing materials are easily accessible at all times.
Ease and Comfort
When you write poetry, you should not expect to create a perfect poem on your first attempt. You will inevitably need to whiteout, erase, delete, or cross out words multiple times before you're happy with a poem. Therefore, it is wise to have erasers, bottles of whiteout, and extra paper with you as you write.
Both pencils and pens have the advantage of mobility and ease of use, and they are very inexpensive. But these tools also make writing a somewhat lengthy process. Writing by hand can cause your fingers, hand, and arm to become sore after a significant period of time. However, if you are just beginning as a poet, you might still consider the pencil or pen your primary tool for early drafts. More experienced writers would probably appreciate the efficiency and versatility of a computer. Just keep in mind that typing on a computer can give you sore fingers, wrists, and arms as well.
Typewriters and computers are very expensive to buy new. A typewriter can cost up to a few hundred dollars, and a computer, with all its accompanying software and parts, can cost up to a few thousand. Furthermore, having a computer also requires you to purchase a printer, ink, paper, and other various supplies.
Many writers still prefer to use typewriters, even though computers have largely replaced them in the marketplace. A modern typewriter can be a great tool, especially if it comes with correction ribbons. These ribbons will allow you to correct mistakes quickly. However, a typewriter is not as mobile as a pad of paper or even a laptop computer. Typewriters are generally heavy and cumbersome, so you may have trouble moving one around the house or taking it outside. Also, even if you only need to make one revision to a completed page, you will always have to retype the whole page when using a typewriter.
One major benefit to using a computer is that it allows you to save your work and return to it as many times as you like. However, like a typewriter, a computer is useless unless you know how to use a keyboard. A computer is not very mobile, either, unless you've purchased a laptop. Computers also force you to learn word-processing programs, operating software, and troubleshooting techniques for recovering lost files, stopping viruses, or managing system crashes.
Finding Your Place
A common image of a writer is a lonely, angst-filled idealist sitting alone in a dimly lit room struggling to create art. Conversely, many people envision a writer as a person with a glamorous career of traveling to beautiful places, sampling exquisite foods, and getting paid to write about it. The truth is that writers throughout history have fit countless different descriptions, from heartbroken recluse to inspired celebrity.
Hollywood has significantly glamorized the world's perceptions of the writer. In films like
Something's Gotta Give
and
As Good as It Gets
, the main characters maintain somewhat stereotypical writing lifestyles. Other films, like
Shakespeare in Love
and
The Hours
, re-create the lives of real writers as strings of dramatic or romantic events. However, it's important to remember that each writer is different, and while some may fit the stereotypes, others stray far from them. Disregard what you've seen in movies and read in books and find your own perfect writing space and style.
Writing Spaces
Some poets seek solitude; others seek Starbucks. If you prefer a quiet environment, make sure you choose a place where you will not be interrupted by people, sounds, or time constraints. If you prefer to be in a populated area, select a café, library, or bookstore as your writing space. And if you don't find your perfect space the first, second, or third time around, keep looking. You'll discover it eventually.
If you choose a writing space that is outside of your home, it's important that it is nearby. If you pick a place too far from home, you'll start to find reasons not to go. Your writing space should be convenient, inexpensive to use, and comfortable enough to stay in for long periods of time. However, you shouldn't feel that you have to be writing the entire time you're there. If you plan to stay at your favorite café and write for three hours, you will likely get an arm cramp or a backache from sitting in the same position for the entire duration. To keep yourself fresh and motivated, take small breaks intermittently throughout your writing time. Go for a walk, have a conversation with someone else in the café, or read a magazine. Taking your eyes off your computer screen or notebook page for a while will refresh you for a second round.
Regardless of location, most writers find success through established routine. Practice, repetition, and consistency must become part of your writing technique. Writing is much like playing an instrumentâif you practice every day, you'll make progress. If you work on one poem every day for fifteen days, you'll produce two poems a month. At this rate, you'll be halfway to a collection in one year.
What to Do When You're Away
If you take a weekend trip or travel to visit family, you may find yourself far away from your normal writing space. In this case, make sure to have a notepad or tape recorder with you so you can capture as many of your ideas as possible. Some of your greatest inspirations may come while traveling, so it is especially important to be prepared while you're away.
In addition to being far from your writing space, you may also have to deal with several distractions while you're away from home. If you are visiting friends or family, you will probably have little, if any, time to yourself. But this doesn't mean that you should break your writing routine. If you normally write for thirty minutes a day, wake up a half an hour earlier when you're visiting others. If you do your writing first thing in the morning, chances are everyone else will still be asleep and you'll have some time to yourself.
Do you brush your teeth before going to bed at night? Do you take a shower every day? Writing should be as much a part of your daily routine as these simple tasks. If you stick to a routine, even when you're traveling, you will be much happier with your writing output.
Your Muse
Your muse is the guiding spirit or source of inspiration that drives you to write. Sometimes you will be able to call upon your muse, and other times she will come to you unbidden. No matter what the case, you should give your muse an identity and always be ready to entertain her. However, don't make the mistake of hastily trying to call your muse; she will visit only if you welcome her and provide her with genuine hospitality. Likewise, if she arrives unexpectedly, never turn her away. Have your writing materials handy at all times.
Visits from Your Muse