Last week we tried "writing it backwards" as a simple and often effective way to revise a stale poem.
This week we offer you 7 more ways to think about re-envisioning a poem that, for whatever reason, just isn't working.
1. Re-write it, taking out all connective tissue, words like and, but, or, yet, for, so, it, after, like, by, around, during, over, under, next, the (Yes, even "the"). You get the picture. Pretty much any word that is neither a noun nor a verb.
2. Re-write your poem in a different tense and voice. Maybe it's in your father's voice, back before you were born. Or the voice of the elevator you take up to your office every day.
3. Re-write your poem in second person (you). Second person always gives an interesting flavor to a poem.
4. Write it with no adjectives or adverbs.
5. Choose what you think is your strongest line. Make that your first line. Write a new poem in which every line is as strong as this first line.
6. Re-write your poem in direct address to the reader. Make it a set of instructions or a letter.
7. Thoroughly sick of this poem? Cut it up. Cut out each word with scissors. Throw away the weak words, keep the strong. Re-arrange what's left so it looks like a ransom note.
Link of the week: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/5-ways-to-revise-poems
In less than three weeks we'll be heading up to Port Townsend for the Centrum Port Townsend Writers' Conference. We've been going there every July for many years. If you haven't been there, check it out. http://centrum.org/the-port-townsend-writers-conference/
There may still be a few spaces available in some of the workshops.
This week we offer you 7 more ways to think about re-envisioning a poem that, for whatever reason, just isn't working.
1. Re-write it, taking out all connective tissue, words like and, but, or, yet, for, so, it, after, like, by, around, during, over, under, next, the (Yes, even "the"). You get the picture. Pretty much any word that is neither a noun nor a verb.
2. Re-write your poem in a different tense and voice. Maybe it's in your father's voice, back before you were born. Or the voice of the elevator you take up to your office every day.
3. Re-write your poem in second person (you). Second person always gives an interesting flavor to a poem.
4. Write it with no adjectives or adverbs.
5. Choose what you think is your strongest line. Make that your first line. Write a new poem in which every line is as strong as this first line.
6. Re-write your poem in direct address to the reader. Make it a set of instructions or a letter.
7. Thoroughly sick of this poem? Cut it up. Cut out each word with scissors. Throw away the weak words, keep the strong. Re-arrange what's left so it looks like a ransom note.
Link of the week: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/5-ways-to-revise-poems
In less than three weeks we'll be heading up to Port Townsend for the Centrum Port Townsend Writers' Conference. We've been going there every July for many years. If you haven't been there, check it out. http://centrum.org/the-port-townsend-writers-conference/
There may still be a few spaces available in some of the workshops.
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