Carolyn CordonCreating a Poetry Collection
July 9th 2009 00:19
I have been writing poetry on and off since high school. The past ten years have been my best years for getting into the poetry scene in South Australia, and I am confident enough, now, to say I am a Poet!
I am interested in the written word in many of its forms, and have written short stories and am working on two novels, but it is poetry that sings to my head. I love reading poetry and I love writing poetry.
I am saddened when people tell me they don't like poetry, or that they were put off poetry in school. I have written about the being put off at school thing here, and I hope that teachers these days are more supportive of poetry.
The basic good reason for choosing poetry to write is that it is so simple to write a poem. You can put down three lines/17 syllables and call it a haiku. It's that easy to write it!
Of course writing GOOD poetry isn't that easy, but writing a good novel isn't easy either, and it takes a lot longer to write than a little haiku. If you like to listen to songs, and get into the lyrics, then you are listening to poetry, with music to go with it.
I realise now that I have used my creative writing as therapy - writing about things from my past that happened to me that weren't good. Journalling is good to help you work through issues, and I have found poetry is the best way for me to explore how I feel about things.
This year I have been focussing on the theme of child abuse, and I am now going through my poems and writing new ones for a collection. I have begun sending poems out to literary magazines, and I hope to have some success with getting poems published. This will make it easier to get my collection published, once it is done.
Going through the poems yesterday was good. There was some sadness, and memories were coming back a little, but it all feels under control. Writing about bad things helps me feel that I am in control, which is an empowering feeling.
If anyone else is wanting to get a poetry collection together, the most important thing is to get your poems into some sort of order. A mish-mash of verse won't get the attention of an editor/publisher, but a well thought out cohesive collection might.
I wish anyone who wants to try this luck, and just remember, writing poetry is a gift to yourself first, and to others second.
I am interested in the written word in many of its forms, and have written short stories and am working on two novels, but it is poetry that sings to my head. I love reading poetry and I love writing poetry.
I am saddened when people tell me they don't like poetry, or that they were put off poetry in school. I have written about the being put off at school thing here, and I hope that teachers these days are more supportive of poetry.
The basic good reason for choosing poetry to write is that it is so simple to write a poem. You can put down three lines/17 syllables and call it a haiku. It's that easy to write it!
Of course writing GOOD poetry isn't that easy, but writing a good novel isn't easy either, and it takes a lot longer to write than a little haiku. If you like to listen to songs, and get into the lyrics, then you are listening to poetry, with music to go with it.
I realise now that I have used my creative writing as therapy - writing about things from my past that happened to me that weren't good. Journalling is good to help you work through issues, and I have found poetry is the best way for me to explore how I feel about things.
This year I have been focussing on the theme of child abuse, and I am now going through my poems and writing new ones for a collection. I have begun sending poems out to literary magazines, and I hope to have some success with getting poems published. This will make it easier to get my collection published, once it is done.
Going through the poems yesterday was good. There was some sadness, and memories were coming back a little, but it all feels under control. Writing about bad things helps me feel that I am in control, which is an empowering feeling.
If anyone else is wanting to get a poetry collection together, the most important thing is to get your poems into some sort of order. A mish-mash of verse won't get the attention of an editor/publisher, but a well thought out cohesive collection might.
I wish anyone who wants to try this luck, and just remember, writing poetry is a gift to yourself first, and to others second.
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Comment by Chris Champion
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Teaching kids to write poetry is a great way to introduce them to the world of poetry and the wider world of words. And it's easy to make it fun for kids, starting with rhyme games. I can remember my daughter being fascinated with rhyme games at about the age of four.
Now if I could write one good haiku before I die ...
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I do agree all writing forms contribute, fascinating really.
I have no desire to be a writer or poet, but nevertheless I've got quite involved at times.
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Comment by Carolyn Cordon
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How do You Express Your Creativity?
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The form has many rules, most of which cannot be understood by Westerners.
Ha ha
It's a joke on us for beating them in WWII.
I enjoy haiku very much, and every now and then I write a haiku that works. Not often.
There are many websites that talk about haiku,
but as an Australian, this is my favourite
It talks about Australian haiku, but it is still a valuable resource to non-Australians.
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