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Research your poetry? Am I nuts?
Why would you do that, unless of course, you’re writing an historical piece and need to make sure your facts are right.
You’ve had an epiphany, an extraordinary thought—a flash of inspiration. You feverishly get those words down before they’re lost forever in the recesses of your already overflowing mind. You read your masterpiece through a few times, making sure you spelled everything correctly; and if it’s a rhyming poem, that the end-lines and syntax are perfect. You really like it, and it’s probably very good. So, you proudly post your poem and wait for some positive feedback, which hopefully, won’t take too long.
Congratulations, it takes courage to bare your writing to people, not knowing how it—or you, will be received. It feels kind of like the standard nightmare of standing up totally naked in front of a crowd to make a speech. (I’m sure some people could actually do that and be very well-received, but I wouldn’t get away with it in a million years.)
But—as nice as your poem may be; as pretty a picture it paints, is it really the best it can be? Is it memorable? Will it linger in the minds of your readers long after they’ve already moved on to the next poem, the next blog, the next writer? Be totally honest with yourself. Does it still linger in your own mind, begging another read, or have you already dismissed it and are racing towards your next poem.
If you’ve even paused briefly to wonder about that, try this. Research the subject of your poem. If it’s about winter, google ‘winter’, ‘snow’, ‘ice’, ‘frost’ —anything that might remotely speak to you of winter. Make a list of those words. Look up the definitions of all the words that are connected to winter. Check your thesaurus to see what other words describe your list of words, and add them to your list. Get to know and understand what they all mean, and how to use them in context. Google images of your words, and save the ones that really speak to you. Put them in the same word document as your list of words, so you can see as well as hear all those words.
And then study them, allowing your mind to wander freely, savouring the thoughts and emotions they evoke in you. It won’t be long before new phrases and words start to flow from that reservoir of imagination inside you that is just waiting to be set free.
Look at your poem again, read it aloud. Are you still satisfied with what you have written? Is it the very best it can possibly be? If you can answer, ‘yes, it is’, that’s absolutely wonderful—but chances are, you already have ideas about how to revise your poem to truly make it the best it can possibly be.
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Well said Julie. I’d much rather write one piece of substance than to churn out a bunch of mediocre pieces.I never want to post anything other than my best,which is why I am always open to suggestion.As the writer I have the final say of course but sometimes suggestions can enhance what I’ve written. For me at least nothing is written in stone
Lena, that is exactly why your poetry stands out, and garners the respect it does – because you always make sure its the very best it can be. (I can vouch for that personally.) Thank you, as always, for your support and encouragement in my own writing, my friend.
I don’t write poetry, but I did research Physics for my last novel… Couldn’t get by the scene where the kids are tutored in Physics without knowing what I was talking about. Several people noted that it showed, so I guess it paid off. (And I learned a little, too)
Thank you, Jennifer. I believe that adding to your knowledge base ultimately shows in all areas of writing – and that has to be a good thing. Thank you so much for coming by to read and comment. ~ Julie
Great write Julie Catherine, and thank you for the suggestions.
Ann, thanks so much for dropping by to read and comment. I’m always striving to contribute something that will be of value to people, so it’s nice to know when I’ve succeeded in doing that. ~ Julie
Great stuff.
Thank you so much; I appreciate your coming by to read and comment. Have a wonderful day! ~ Julie
Good tips Julie on ways to ‘spice up’ our poetry. Thanks!
Christy, thank you! Your support and encouragement is very much appreciated; and it always makes me smile when you visit me. Enjoy your day. ~ Julie
Hmmm…. thank you for this….
Followed your link here from a comment on Miro’s post today – glad I did!
Thank you for dropping in to read and comment, Amy – Miro’s post was totally awesome! (For those of you who haven’t checked out the Warrior Poet Wisdom blog, his link is at the right in my blogroll.) Check out his poem on using “your and you’re” – it’s excellent http://warriorpoetwisdom.com/2012/01/16/youre-vs-your-2/
Thanks again, Amy
Gratitude!
Great post, lots to think about. On the subject of “how will people take it?” I don’t concern myself with that. I have my own battles to fight and others have their own. I’d feel completely comfortable standing naked in front of a room full of strangers because my battle to fight is the battle on embarrassment, one I’ve fought and won countless times over the past few years. There’s never a reason to be embarrassed about anything. Everyone else staring at my birthday suit has a different battle; one of acceptance, understanding and maturity…and perhaps envy for a few of the guys.
It’s important to always try our best, regardless of the discomfort and boredom it may sometimes cause, but we must also not strive only for perfectionism. Perfection can never be attained in everyone’s eyes, and it’s important to not hide things away in the vault because everyone else won’t think it’s good enough. There comes a point where we need to just create, put it out there, and let everyone else interpret it however they wish to. A poem I did on the subject: http://warriorpoetwisdom.com/2012/01/11/perfectos-vault-2/
Peace & grace,
~Miro
Very good points, Miro, thank you. I love your “Perfecto’s Vault” poems, and think everyone should read them both.
I think that I’m not advocating ‘perfection’; rather, I’m encouraging, ‘personal excellence’ – and I believe there is a huge difference there. Where the first tends to stifle creativity, I believe the second enhances it (and becomes much easier the more it is practiced), broadens the writer’s knowledge base, and thus their writing horizons, and helps to give the writer self-confidence in their own work.
Peace & Grace to you also, Miro ~ Julie
Good thoughts for any person who makes any sort of blog.
Reminds me of Oscar Wilde:
“I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back in again.”
Thanks, James, I’m glad you came by to read and comment – and thanks also for the chuckle! ~ Julie
Julie, I am never sure after I write a poem about how good it is. I’m afraid I work pretty hard on what I write, and before I post I believe it’s good enough to post and invite readers in, but is any one work the best that it can be? I never know. I’ve studied poetry all of my life and even have an English major for undergraduate work and have done some limited graduate work is masters like Chaucer and Shakespeare, among others, but in spite of my obsession with making memorable lines and a memorable whole, I never know. Ethel is a more talented poet than I am, of course, but she works at her poetry too and always thinks it is substandard even when it’s brilliant, so I assume this is a common failing, or strength, among poets. Thanks for this post.
Thomas, oh my goodness, you and Ethel are the epitome of excellence in your writings! You are what I constantly strive for in my own writing. You both have different styles, but each of your works are memorable in their own ways – Ethel with her deeply spiritual and free-spirit poetry and art, and you with your beautiful sonnets, which (I think) are your best works. You are right, I believe, in that no matter how mature a writer may be, the reluctance to recognize the true worth of their own poetry is universal. The suggestions I provide here are all things I have struggled with myself, even now, and the questions I pose are the questions I ask myself also. What I strive for is honesty and authenticity in my own work – and attempt here to help others to discover their own. You humble me by commenting here, thank you so much. ~ Julie
thank you, Julie – such great writing and knowledge shared. I struggle with it all, combing through again and again after the initial sparks fly. Still, I always look and see more that could be done, that is the learning curve I think. It is actually rare that I hit publish with a jubilant feel of “Yes!!!” My greatest passion has already occurred in the process of writing, refining and the absorption of creating. I am learning and intently listening to what you share on your blog!
your friend, Linda
Linda, thank you, my friend, for your kind comments and unending support and encouragement. The suggestions I share here are for my benefit as much as for anyone else, as they are all things that I too have struggled with – and sometimes still do. I don’t profess to know ‘everything’ (far from it); but what I have learned, and continue to learn from other sites and other people who have much more knowledge than I do, I try to share here for everyone. I believe that everyone benefits and becomes stronger in the act of sharing. ~ Julie
I received this response through my LinkedIn account, and received permission to post it here – This is from an accomplished poet I have a great deal of respect for; and I wanted you to know that even more ‘mature’, very accomplished writers think about this.
“RH Peat: You’re on the right track Julie Catherine. A good poet is always doing research. If it’s not about other poet’s thought, it’s about a poem they’re writing. And then there is the inevitable word search for the perfect word as well. The right verb that relates to both metaphor and story line is the one that gets me going all the time. Then there is the myth that enters the poem as well. And you want to make sure you’re getting it right as well. This is all about knowing who you are, and extending your knowledge of the craft.”
Thank you so much for adding to this post, RH. ~ Julie
Outstanding advice here, Julie! I am a Google addict, a pocket dictionary freak, a scripture toting have-to: all because of excellent advice on self-editing skills involving research from such professionals as yourself! Thanks. I VERY much appreciate your decision to start following my own blog! Welcome.
Granbee, thank you so much for your kind comments,although I wouldn’t call myself a ‘professional’ – I’m just plugging away with my writing like everyone else, and hoping to offer what help I can to others along the way. I really look forward to reading more of your work on your blog. ~ Julie
Julie, this is awesome and so informative! I usually have someone else edit, because it’s so easy to miss something. I’m no expert in writing, as far as, the rules of poetry are concerned. As you probably already know, I write from my heart~However, I do have a little thing about grammar, so I try to be careful. If I see a typo or a misused “your” or “you’re” I cringe…anyway, thank you! xx
Lauren, thank you so much for reading and commenting – I’m glad that you enjoyed this. Miro has a wonderful poem on the use of ‘your’ and ‘you’re’, at: http://warriorpoetwisdom.com/2012/01/16/youre-vs-your-2/; and I’m still trying to locate one that I did last year – if I ever find it, I’ll post it in my poetry pages. ~ Julie xox
Thanks, Julie, I think I commented on Miro’s poem and loved it! We all make mistakes, but I was beginning to wonder if those were viewed as “okay” now…anyway, I look forward to “yours” if you find it, too! xo
I found it and posted it, Lauren – it’s called, “Misunderstood” … lol
http://juliecatherinevigna.wordpress.com/pixys-poetry/misunderstood/
Okay, I’m going to read it right now!
Great post! The thesaurus is one of my good friends!
Thanks Fergie – I’m never without either one
Julie, how do I know when you’ve posted a new poem? I’m always looking here, but am often not sure if you have a new poem or not? I hate to miss when you post a new one.
Hi Thomas – the only poem I’ve written since my sonnet is called, “Consumed” – which you can find on the sidebar on the right, under my poems section. I had thought that when I create a new page for a poem that a notice was automatically sent to everyone who is following me – but perhaps it isn’t? My email is cvigna555@mail.com If you would like, please send me an email so that I have your address, and I can send you an email when I put up a new poem – does that sound okay with you? In the meantime, I’ll look at my settings to see if I’m missing something. And thank you so much for reading my poetry; I always am thrilled that you do, and value your comments highly. ~ Julie xox