eharrington poetry blog

Why You Should Write Even When You Don't Feel Like It

2012-06-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Every writer experiences writer's block at some point. What should they do about it? There are different ways to handle the lack of inspiration, but sticking it out (i.e., writing whether you feel inspired or not) may be better in the long run.

Writer's Block

So, you have no inspiration to write?

Then don't, some might say. You may simply be "empty," or need to recharge yourself. Better to take a walk, exercise, spend time with others, or whatever it takes to address resistance, fill up emptiness, or whatever it is that impedes the writing.

“You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club"

According to this quote by Jack London, it's better to write anything, anything at all -- whether it's inspired or not. Here's why:

"Recharging" While it's always good to re-energize yourself, if used to delay writing, it may simply end up being another form of avoidance. Let’s face it, sitting down to a blank page can be scary. It’s tempting to wait until inspiration strikes. Moreover, almost every writer has experienced moments of unsolicited inspiration--that feeling of knowing, of wanting to write, and one that some assume is the mark of a "real" writer (which, judging by the accounts of many renowned writers, is a myth).

Read, write, rewrite

"Inspirational" epiphanies are rare. Each writing experience, whether it grows into a new poem, story, or novel, adds to a writer’s skill. So less writing means there is less opportunity to mature as a writer – not to mention the relative paucity of output when it’s based on only “inspired” moments.

Writing regularly begets writing. Robert Bly's "Morning Poems" came about this way. Each was written before the poet got out of bed every morning. He reportedly followed an image or memory that arose and then followed wherever it led. Writing at the same time every day is seen as an invitation to the muse to show up at that same time.

Writing aimlessly is like going on a treasure hunt. Oftentimes a writer may strike a vein that leads to something new and fresh -- that is, inspiration may come from writing itself. Similar to the phenomenon coined by Keats, "writing into the unknown" involves a sort of "discovery" of the writer (who did not set out to write about anything in particular). And the writer's journey ends up being a discovery for the reader as well. Many poems that start this way are powerful and deeply felt.

Don't forget the value of writing prompts

Spark Your Creativity

Another way to elicit the Muse is to experiment with writing exercises, examples of which abound

See a good summary at Poets and Writers, interesting tips in Will Burns' Forbes article "Increase the Odds of Creativity," and a challenging and unique exercise, "Writing Poetry in the Body," that involves composing without writing.

Find the prompts that speak to you personally. One you get the ball rolling, you may want to follow your own and ditch the exercise. That's fine, since the goal is to write, and to write in a way that is unique to you.

So what are you waiting for? Go to your room, coffee shop, park, or wherever, and write!

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"I Come Complete": Elizabeth Harrington's The Quick and the Dead

2012-01-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

"The Quick and the Dead"
by Elizabeth Harrington

The Quick and the Dead
by Elizabeth Harrington

Grayson Books, 2010; 30 pages, $10.00

ISBN: 978-0-9785382-6-2, paper
Reviewed by Brant Lyon

http://www.graysonbooks.com/TheQuickandTheDead.htm
Order at: www.eharringtonwrites.com for 30% discount

When faced with life's most difficult challenges and dealing with personal tragedy, perhaps what most sets a poet apart from someone else is the ability to put into words in the most artful way the brutal, the delicate, ineffable, obvious, esoteric, or universal in human experience. Or, as that homespun and inelegant saying about life's lemons puts it: to make lemonade. Read review

Poetry Book Review: "You are White Inside"

2012-01-06T09:22:00.000-08:00

“A masterful accommodation”: B.R Lyon’s You are White Inside

Three Rooms Press, 2011; 70 pages, 15.00 ISBN 978-0-9835813-2-1

by Elizabeth Harrington

B.R. Lyons’ poems travel far, covering a taboo relationship with an Egyptian partner, a clash of cultures, a brother who dies, a mother who represents “unfinished business,” and the “ticking bomb” of HIV terrorism. In addition to portraying the mortals in his life, Lyon invokes spiritual and ancient history, through Agrippa, Medusa, Buddha, and Jesus (who “could be that guy with his milk crate on the subway”). This book is raw with honesty, served up with lively, lyrical, intelligent language, (including “local color” snippets in Arabic), compelling metaphor and imagery, and humor and wit.
Through the alchemy of poetry, the result is the conversion of life in all its sordid glory, into art.

Read more...January 2012 issue of Gently Read Literature, pages 11-12.

Poetry -- and All That Jazz

2011-09-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Jazz in the 1920's

Jazz Poetry Defined

The term "jazz poetry" can refer to writing about jazz, to mimicking the rhythms in verse, to a version of performance art, or in Kenneth Rexroth's words, “the reciting of suitable poetry with the music of a jazz band.” At its best, jazz poetry integrates the words of a poem with jazz, as if the voice were another musical instrument. It’s the opposite of jazz as background music.

The blues and negro folksong make up a part of jazz, but modern jazz goes beyond those forms in terms of language and scope of experience. According to Rexroth, “poetry gives jazz a richer verbal content material of the greatest flexibility.”

A Brief History

In the 20’s, the blues and jazz introduced a whole new era of poetry. It all started when poets such as Langston Hughes, Kenneth Rexroth, and Maxwell Bodenheim recited poetry to jazz. From there, jazz poetry grew and developed, through the Harlem Renaissance, the Beat movement, and the Black Arts Movement. These days, poets in the "jazz tradition" include the likes of Amiri Braka, Hayden Carruth, Yusef Komunyaaka, Mina Loy, Kenneth Roxroth, and others.

Poetry as Entertainment

Jazz Poetry’s Impact

Along with other types of performance poetry, jazz poetry has re-infused poetry with entertainment value, similar to poetry’s roots as an oral tradition. As such, it exposes many more people to poetry—some whose only experience with poetry has been in school, and not necessarily an inspiring experience, at that.

Poetry Reading

Writing Exercise: Try Your Hand at Jazz Poetry

Jazz poetry doesn’t mean taking a poem you’ve written and hoping jazz artists will meld the music to your work. Many do it this way, and may have serendipitous results. But a little planning can give you a head start. See the steps in How to create your own jazz song poem, and see where your own music, rhythm, and imagination take you! The last step, of course, should be to perform it on stage—the “home” of all performance poetry.

As for performance poetry in general, some feel the revitalization of poetry as entertainment is more likely to engage larger audiences, so it must be better. But, as discussed in "What kind of poet are you -- stage or page?," both uniquely enrich the art of poetry.

What Kind of Poet are You -- Page or Stage?

2011-08-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

Page, or Stage – What’s the Difference?

Published Poets

Page poets generally come from the academic side, who, according to a blog by Nic Sabastian, "tend to be better writers, in that they tend to be better read and more aware of the tradition they’re working in." (The Best American Poetry). Their goal is to be published in journals, magazines, anthologies, and other print media. Not all who write for the page are good at reciting or performing their poetry. In fact, some are awful at it!

Performance poets, on the other hand, write or compose poetry for the purpose of performing in front of a live audience -- at poetry readings, open mikes, slams and other types of venues. But performance poets are challenged, too. Their work is compromised when rhythm and repetition predominate over substance, or in jazz poetry, for example, when the music fights with the poem instead of being an integral part of it.

Slam Poetry

But Some Poets Can Do Both.

As noted in Sabastian's blog, there are some poets who forcefully deliver their poems whether written for performance or not. He cites a poem by Carolyn Forche that is recited, and another one that he describes as a “wonderful reading, in which she is straight reading and doesn’t even look up from the page.” He uses Patti Smith’s work (recitation, reading) to make a similar comparison.

Truth is, Both Types of Poet Can Learn From Each Other.

Those who write for publication would do well to read their poetry aloud, if only to themselves. Hearing it aloud can uncover awkward phrasing, slack lines, or other elements that are a drag on the poem. Page poets should not be intimidated by performance poets. Even a quieter intimate poem can be compelling. Poems that lose something by being read loudly or boisterously still work if read with the help of a microphone.

Poetry Reading

Similarly, performance poets can enrich their poems by paying attention to the richness of the language in addition to repetition, rhythm, and various word plays. If a poem goes thud! on the page, it won't have the same integrity as a poem that does. And a poem that's more about sound than sense wears thin pretty quickly.

All of this is encouraging, since it may challenge poets in new ways creatively, as well as provide them with another way to hone their craft. Anyway, that's how I see it. I'd love to hear what you have to say about it!

Afraid to Send Out Your Poems? Tips on How to Start Publishing

2011-07-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of putting your work out there, you're not alone. But it's easier than you think. And wouldn't you love to see your work in print?

See how to prepare your work, how and where to submit it,
strategies for increasing your chances of being
accepted, and other important tips that will help
your work get the recognition it deserves!

How to Start Publishing Your Poetry

Suffering From Writer's Block? You Don't Have To!

2011-07-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

Hotblack Poetry and Writer's Block

Knowledge is power, and that includes knowing how to overcome fear of the blank page. The important thing is to learn what makes something frightening and how to whittle away at that fear.

In poetry, not feeling "qualified" as a poet, being too critical of first attempts, feeling "stuck," and other negative feelings are among the barriers experienced by poets.

The article below cites seven common sources of fear and how to overcome them, or at least learn to minimize their power. Read this article to find out how:

The Secret to Overcoming Writer's Block

The Art of "Conscious Imitation": How to Retool Your Poetry

2011-07-14T11:13:00.001-07:00

Tools_002.jpg Learning to Use New Tools for Writing Poetry

Do you feel your writing is in a rut? Are you looking for inspiration, a way to bring new life to your poetry? Sometimes all that's needed to write more creative poetry is getting out of your own "comfort zone." Changing your usual method of writing is one way to do that.

This article discusses how to study the poetic devices and writing styles that make other poems "work," then incorporating them into your own poems.

How To Learn From Poetic Devices of Famous Poets

How to Write More Powerful Poetry

2011-07-14T10:47:00.001-07:00

Ppdigital Writing More Powerful Poetry

Often, the more one consciously tries to write a poem, the more diminished the poem becomes. This article is about how to "write into the unknown," according to Keats' definition of negative capability. In other words, it's about letting the poem emerge without the poet exerting his will on it.

It can be discomforting to follow where the poem wants to go rather than leading it. But the reward is work that creates a spark of recognition, delight, or surprise in the writer, and the reader as well.

The article below suggests specific writing exercises that can help you do just that.

Poetry and the Art of Keats' Negative Capability

Poetry: Antidote to The Poisonous Effect of The Recession

2011-07-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

Kevin_P High Unemployment Leads to Stress

The recession has resulted in an unemployment rate that, as of July 2011, is still over 9%. The resulting level of stress is not just because of the number of people who are unemployed, but the fact that the dire unemployment numbers have gone on so long.

Whether it's being read, written, or listened to, poetry has always been a way of helping those who feel stressed and emotionally bankrupt to see things in a new way, and to feel better and more connected to themselves and others. That's as true today as it ever was.

Read more to find out how poetry can provide hope and greater peace of mind.

Poetry and the Recession

How "Bad" Poetry Leads to Good

2011-07-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Alexsol Bad Poetry

The way to write good poetry is not to start with a good poem but instead, arrive there after a journey of discovery.

Here are ways to turn "bad" poetry into good. “I know it when I see it” is the phrase made famous in a Supreme Court decision about what constituted obscenity. The same may be said of good poetry.

When Bad Poetry is Good

"Writing" in the Body: The Secret to Shaking Up Your Poetry

2011-07-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

Ian Britton Walking and Writing

The first association to writing poetry is usually a poet hunched over a desk using writing tools such as a pen or pencil and some type of writing pad or notebook, or computer keyboard. But what if the tools were taken away? What if the poet "wrote" in his or head?

On the other hand, why would you even want to do this, when it's so much easier just to compose on paper? The truth is, if you always write the same way in the same place using the same subjects as inspiration, your poetry is bound to become impoverished! Here's an exercise that can help you break out of a writing rut and get excited about writing again!

A Writing Exercise For Poets That Really Works

Can Taking a Workshop Help You Get Published?

2011-07-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Mary Stewart Hammond, Poet and Teacher

That's a good question, and the answer is: it depends! Certainly workshops are a place where the workshop moderator as well as other poets have a chance to critique your work. But does taking a workshop lead to improvements in your poetry, or not?

As you might imagine, the skill and style of the instructor are key factors in determining the success of a workshop. Read the example below of Mary Stewart Hammond's workshop, and how powerful the experience can be under the right circumstances.

Taking a Workshop and Getting Published

Reading Your Work at Poetry Readings

2011-07-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Many people who write poetry believe they could never muster the courage to read it in public. If that's true, then maybe they're just not cut out to perform, right? Wrong. Reading poetry in public is a skill that improves with practice, like any other. And the advantage of reading your poetry out loud is that it helps you improve your writing. Sometimes what seems good on paper doesn't seem that way when you hear how your poem sounds.

The way to make yourself more comfortable about reading aloud is to prepare before a reading. See these tips on what you should do to get ready. By following these simple suggestions, you will not only feel more confident and prepared, you will find the experience enjoyable as well!

How to Perform Your Poetry and Like It

Poetry and Science: More Alike Than You Think

2011-07-13T18:07:00.001-07:00

Poets and scientists seem very different from each other. But see how science, with its shared sense of discovery, use of metaphor and exotic substance, inspires poets.

Both are driven by curiosity to find the real meaning of things. And both are challenged to use language in creative ways to capture the new, the unexpected, or the "unsayable."

Similarities Between Poetry and Science

What Does Poetry Have to do With Medicine?

2011-07-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Poetry can be a source of healing and art. See how the language and strong feelings associated with medicine and health issues offer opportunities for creativity.

The Art of Metaphor: How to Write Poems That Turn Healing Into Art

Should You Take a Poetry Workshop?

2011-07-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

The key benefit of a good poetry workshop is that it can help you write better poetry quicker than if left to your own devices. But it's important to choose the "right" workshop, one that inspires you.

A good workshop is one that makes you feel safe enough to explore new writing paths and doesn't implicitly or explicitly suggest that you change your unique "voice" to match someone else's -- whether it's the workshop leader or workshop participants.

Once the "right" workshop is found, it can not only help you produce more good poetry more quickly, but also increase your chances of publishing. Here are some benefits of taking a workshop:

Taking a poetry workshop: Is it a good idea?

"Prescription": "The Quick and the Dead" Book Launch Reading

2010-09-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

See Inaugural Issue of Poetz.com Reborn!

2010-05-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Jackie Sheeler has completely redesigned the popular site, giving it a new "look," and adding great new features. In Jackie's words, it has "expanded calendar functions, simpler navigation, and a lot more stuff. New poems from some very gifted writers. Essays on hosting and stagecraft." What else would you like to see? she asks. Take a look!

Welcome to The Second Life of Poetz

Billy Collins Reading His Poetry

2010-01-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

Afraid to Submit Your Poetry? Here's How to Get Started

2009-08-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect, you're not alone. But it's much easier than you think. Read this article to get practical advice on what steps to take to overcome your fear of rejection, submit your poems, and see yourself in print!

How to Start Publishing Your Poetry

Launch of My Poetry Website

2009-06-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

This is the launch of my poetry blog, which will be all about poetry wherever it's found: newspapers, the backs of cereal boxes, shipping labels, MetroNorth train notices,crossword puzzles, recipes, city bus ads, letters,and anything else that appears in print,

as well as ...

the smell of freshly shampooed hair, the furry taste of kiwi, the clink of the cat's collar, the glassy black surface of the Hudson as seen from the train, the shock of sea on my toes, and anything else that appears to the five senses.