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a poet's writing habits
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From: Joyce Sidman <joyce.sidman_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 13:40:52 -0500
In answer to Crystal's and Maggie's questions:
"I was wondering about your writing habits too. Do you focus on one poem at a time or bounce around from poem to poem or even between projects?"
I generally bounce around a lot between several different projects until I reach a tipping point with one of them (which I discussed earlier), at which time I can "see" the entire book. Then I want to work on it full time! That said, I never want to rush an individual poem. If it doesn't sound exactly right, I will put it aside for several days or a week and come back to it. The hope is that, with a little distance, I can be more objective about what's not working--work more as a Reader (trying to understand) and less as a Writer (pouring my heart out on the page).
"Do you work with a critique group? My sense is that poets are less likely to share their work with other writers as it is progressing, but maybe I am completely wrong about that!"
Yes, I work with a critique group, and they are vitally important to me. I may revise a poem 25 times, but until they hear it and comment on it, I won't feel it's ready to send to my editor. They provide me with a trained ear outside my own personal frame of reference--to tell me what's clear and striking and what's vague. I don't know about other poets . . . but I bet most of them have readers that they trust to look at their work.
"I am sure you have many, many favorite poets, but are there any that stand out to you for a particular reason--favorites as a child, or anyone who has particularly inspired your or own work?"
Oh, gosh, hard question! Growing up, I loved Robert Frost and Conrad Aiken. Young adulthood: Maxine Kumin, May Swenson, Gerard Manley Hopkins. Mary Oliver taught me how to be middle-aged--to celebrate joy while facing loss. Looking at this list, I realize that all these poets are deeply influenced by the natural world and our place in it as humans, which concerns me as well.
And there are so many children's poets I love, who are now my friends, that I feel grateful every day to write and publish alongside them!
Joyce
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Received on Sat 26 Apr 2014 01:41:16 PM CDT
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 13:40:52 -0500
In answer to Crystal's and Maggie's questions:
"I was wondering about your writing habits too. Do you focus on one poem at a time or bounce around from poem to poem or even between projects?"
I generally bounce around a lot between several different projects until I reach a tipping point with one of them (which I discussed earlier), at which time I can "see" the entire book. Then I want to work on it full time! That said, I never want to rush an individual poem. If it doesn't sound exactly right, I will put it aside for several days or a week and come back to it. The hope is that, with a little distance, I can be more objective about what's not working--work more as a Reader (trying to understand) and less as a Writer (pouring my heart out on the page).
"Do you work with a critique group? My sense is that poets are less likely to share their work with other writers as it is progressing, but maybe I am completely wrong about that!"
Yes, I work with a critique group, and they are vitally important to me. I may revise a poem 25 times, but until they hear it and comment on it, I won't feel it's ready to send to my editor. They provide me with a trained ear outside my own personal frame of reference--to tell me what's clear and striking and what's vague. I don't know about other poets . . . but I bet most of them have readers that they trust to look at their work.
"I am sure you have many, many favorite poets, but are there any that stand out to you for a particular reason--favorites as a child, or anyone who has particularly inspired your or own work?"
Oh, gosh, hard question! Growing up, I loved Robert Frost and Conrad Aiken. Young adulthood: Maxine Kumin, May Swenson, Gerard Manley Hopkins. Mary Oliver taught me how to be middle-aged--to celebrate joy while facing loss. Looking at this list, I realize that all these poets are deeply influenced by the natural world and our place in it as humans, which concerns me as well.
And there are so many children's poets I love, who are now my friends, that I feel grateful every day to write and publish alongside them!
Joyce
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Received on Sat 26 Apr 2014 01:41:16 PM CDT
