Carolyn CordonTo post or not to post, that is the question
August 18th 2008 22:59
I went word-mad yesterday and wrote or worked on five or six new poems. If you're not a writer who spends too much time doing things that are not writing, you can't know how good it feels to finally get some writing, as in words on the page, happening. Or maybe you can know.
Maybe it's like people who teach others to do stuff - tennis, painting, whatever, but never get the time to play a game of tennis, or paint a picture because they're too busy teaching others. Anyway, I've now got these new poems, and one of them relates directly to my other blog here at Orble - Food Leaf.
I'm tossing up whether to post the poem I wrote today, or leave it perhaps a bit longer, to give it time in my head to perhaps come up with a better version of it. Or I could post it and get feedback perhaps from others - any poets out there who like to critique?
So that's the issue, post now, post later, not post at all, and do something else with it. Of course I may look at that poem today and thing it's a load of shit. I won't screw it up and throw it away though - I never throw my writing away, just in case. I've got this dream that one day I'll be famous and people will be desperate to read my early work. I dream a lot, instead of writing like I should. Did I mention I'm a Queen of Procrastination?
When I throw off my Queen crown I do enjoy writing poetry though. Writing poetry, drinking shiraz and eating dark chocolate - it doesn't get much better than that!
Maybe it's like people who teach others to do stuff - tennis, painting, whatever, but never get the time to play a game of tennis, or paint a picture because they're too busy teaching others. Anyway, I've now got these new poems, and one of them relates directly to my other blog here at Orble - Food Leaf.
I'm tossing up whether to post the poem I wrote today, or leave it perhaps a bit longer, to give it time in my head to perhaps come up with a better version of it. Or I could post it and get feedback perhaps from others - any poets out there who like to critique?
So that's the issue, post now, post later, not post at all, and do something else with it. Of course I may look at that poem today and thing it's a load of shit. I won't screw it up and throw it away though - I never throw my writing away, just in case. I've got this dream that one day I'll be famous and people will be desperate to read my early work. I dream a lot, instead of writing like I should. Did I mention I'm a Queen of Procrastination?
When I throw off my Queen crown I do enjoy writing poetry though. Writing poetry, drinking shiraz and eating dark chocolate - it doesn't get much better than that!
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Comment by Danceswithwords
Poetic Sedition
Inspiration
I can relate to this post 100%. From your writing (and non-writing) and if you truly are the Queen of procrastination, then I'm surely taking nominations for the Prince of ... (as I like the alliteration better).
I discovered a very interesting dynamic, in not posting anything for months, that I spend most of my time, like yourself being successful in my head. I have started many projects (poetry, art, writing) with the best intentions only to have the words, pictures and more words) dribble off into something I have to laugh at. The person sitting at the typewriter surrounded by balls of screwed of paper. More empty coffee vessels, Shiraz bottles, and discarded chocolate wrappers go here. You are so not alone!
Like perhaps we need therapy, like this post (perfect) to analyze and dissect why we get stuck, why we write multiple copies of things without posting a single word, or why we feel the need to write about writing nothing. Mutual admiration for a non-writer - its bordering on the surreal premise for a really great novel or script.
In terms of your poetry, and writing iterations, I learned something drawing charcoals from a close arty friend. He'd encouraged me to just draw, no matter the result, and more focus on the feeling rather than how wonky the process and finished piece looked. I mean I was always unhappy with some element of the drawing, to which he gave me the best advice. The things you don't like are what defines you. For without these you would draw (or write) perfectly every time. Without these blemishes you have no face, no edges, no lessons. When you finish a poem or piece of art, then let it settle and post it, warts and all.
This feels wrong at the time, but something happens with age. Like your Shiraz, the "mistakes" mellow with time and provide the most beautiful litmus of where you are at today. I look back at things I have written, or drawn. I went back through my art folders, where I started drawing like a child. The art changes over time and the smile on my face as I can see that I've grown.
Thanks for this post. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have written a single thing today.
Dances
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
moneywhither
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
I scored a book editing contract, the MSS for which arrived the day the Olympics started. Hrrmph. So between the editing and the round-the-clock-sport, I am getting no personal writing done and painful withdrawal symptoms are taking hold. I'm thinking about not feeding the dogs this evening so I can grab 10 minutes to write a paragraph for the novel.
As for post now, post later, I suffer this too. In the end I usually post now. It takes the pressure off, you can always change it later, and for me the first reading after posting somehow always offers a different perspective (weird but true).
I'm a prose, cab sav and cashew nut kinda person, but I think the sentiment is the same
Regards,
Chris
Comment by sandeye
Bird Story
San Francisco Music News
Yoga Tap
PS Shiraz is one of my vices too - but I like a lil milk in my choc, lol!
Comment by Carolyn Cordon
Light Within
How do You Express Your Creativity?
Food Leaf
Thanks to you all for your interesting words. It's great to connect with people and this sort of community gives people to chance.
The mistakes you make, the lines on your face, these things are what makes you 'You'. I haven't got time to post the poem, but I will, soon.
By the way, I am the president of Adelaide Plains Poets, and we are running a poetry competition, with a cash prize pool of $500, sections for adults, primary school students and secondary school students. Email me if you know anyone who would like entry forms and guidelines. We are particularly interested in receiving entries from students - open to all residents of Australia, $5.00 for adults, free for students
Comment by Chris Champion
LettersToNorm
moneywhither
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Way to go Carolyn - apart from being a worthy occupation, it's one back at Dances in the alliteration department.
Dances, I'm glad you wrote something today. Great comment.
Chris
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
"brevity is the soul of wit", as the old adage goes!
So, post your poems! Post one a day! I write poetry too, and put them in my "Lyrical Mist" LINK HERE section, on my blog infognito.net
I too tend to keep everything I write, and I re-edit my work at times. It is good to expose yourself to constructive criticism. Of course, there will always be some morons who think they can get away with abusive criticism, just ignore them, for they merely betray their own insecurities and false superiority complex.
Look forward to reading your poems!
cheers
fog
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I use my poems as time savers. I like to write about nothing a lot, so if Im short of time I do 3 posts and date them out for the week so my readers have something to chew on if Im not here. I much prefer to a sketch which has a poem incorporated but it takes about 2 hours to work up a sketch so yeah....dont always have time for that!
I am in whole hearted agreement that its better to be succesful in your dreams... Much easier there!
Comment by Carmen
Parent Slate
It *is* great to know there's a whole community of procrastinators out there who are successful in their heads... and here I am, devouring a 350g box of chocolate almonds, quietly hating myself
I know you've said before that you like to edit before you post, and I relate to that - perfectionism is a curse I think. Let's post our shit and rejoice I say. (Sorry, I think the sugar's going to my head.)
Great post
Carmen
Comment by Danceswithwords
Poetic Sedition
Inspiration
It's great to see that your post has a shared dynamic across writers, that we all write privately too and pick and choose our moments to post, or not to post.
In re-reading the start of this post you asked if anyone would be interested in critiquing your poem/s. I would be happy to do this for you, as I'm sure there are many great poets here on Orble who would love to give you feedback as well.
Keep up the good work.
Dances
Comment by damian
Urban Telegraph
Sports and All
The Squirter McGee Diaries
Comment by Carolyn Cordon
Light Within
How do You Express Your Creativity?
Food Leaf
I discovered a key to weight loss, and I love the fact that today I bought a new pair of jeans, size 10 and they were a very comfortable fit. I did it by being careful about what I eat mostly - no huffing & puffing in the gym, no jogging. I don't even walk any dogs every day - that's on my list of things I should do, but it's a very long list. I know the dogs would enjoy it, but they do get lots of exercise chasing each other in the yard.
I've been up to 65 kilos in weight (I'm not very tall), so that weight was pushing size 16. Now I weigh about 50 kilos, and I feel good. It took over a year to do it, but I'm easily holding that weight now, even through a too cold winter - I only have 'comfort' food if it's something I really feel like eating.
If I do end up posting any poems, feel free to comment on them! I don't care how tough the criticism is, as long as it's constructive. Maybe tomorrow.
I was at my mum's house today, and she said she's the queen of procrastination, which is really cool because that must mean I'm a princess!