I have reached a part of my creative writing course which covers poetry. Now, I have had one fleeting dalliance with poetry before but it is still something that baffles me slightly and dare I admit, scares me.
Trying to capture something; a moment, a place, an object, in so few words is difficult. It makes me feel rather naked. There is nothing to hide behind. Each word has to count. There are also so many things to take into consideration such as form, rhyme and voice.
In my quest to conquer my fear I have been reading quite a bit (and often reaching for my dictionary). I am enjoying much of what I read but to be honest a great deal does go - dare I use the cliche - right over my head. But then again you don't have to understand it, you just have to enjoy it.
My personal problem is that I have a small issue of letting go. Poems invite playing with language and imagery. I think I need to be able to lose myself in the words and not feel inhibited. I need to feel confident in my choice of words.
I am learning a great deal and I think it will only improve my writing of prose. So, I will persevere and I may even share some with you. Watch this space.
Look forward to seeing your first poem. i wrote one for Janine's group and have no idea if it is good or bad but it was a start. we can always compare notes.
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley, I completely understand this. I have written poems in the past and do still but I find them to be very revealing and personal and sometimes to have more layers than you may at first imagine. For me I tend to write poems at times of emotional stress as a release and they just scream out to be written. I can't claim to know anything about voice or form or whats 'good' and I don't try to over think them. I, like you, just know what I like. Sorry for the lengthy comment & thanks for dropping by my blog today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Kate. I love lengthy ones, feels like a bit of a chat.
ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed the process in the end and hope to write more. I think you're right in not over thinking things, this is something I 've tended to do. Am getting better at the free writing though which is really helpful. There's something quite wonderful about a first draft and just writing whatever comes. Thanks for visiting. Off for a cuppa now. X