what are the best things to write about

[billy]

when crafting or trying to craft poetry.

i'm not on about what specific thing, i guess i mean what subject, how do we pick it and/or imbue it. what do we need to bring to the table in order for it to work. the reason i ask is mainly because of a couple of poems that i recently read that have no connections as far as i can tell to any kind of personal experience, or to anything that can be called imaginative recollections. this isn't a stone throwing thread at any of us, me included. i'd just love to see some input into help others and each other find the best kind of material we can use as individuals. for me it's all about personal experience and a good imagination. an ability to create reality. or an ability to share a real reality in an original way. any views out their as to what you think the answer is?

[Indie]

Writing with heart. I know that sounds cliched. And I don't mean writing romance either. I mean writing with passion, and meaning, regardless of subject or content, and whether or not the piece is fact or fiction. The best works are the ones that present themselves not only as well written, but are able to connect with the reader emotionally, on whatever level the writer is going for, be it humourous, dark, erotic... etc. Most of my works contain an element of both fact and fiction, while some are pure fiction and others pure recollection. Also showing, not telling the reader what you're trying to express.

[addy]

There's really no hard and fast rule, is there? It seems anything within the realm of human experience, no matter how banal on the surface, can be imbued with significance by a skilled poet. I've been surprised how a scene with a fruit bowl and a windowsill could take on whole different levels of relevance with just a little bit of imagination thrown in.

[Wildcard]

I honestly always start with a 'cool' phrase and it leads me to an image that leads me to a 'story' . . . but that may be all wrong

I am still getting the hang of this :p

[billy]

i don't think there's a right or wrong way.

i personally like to fabricate stuff and tint it with personal experiences.

i love lying with/through poetry. most of what i write i don't actually bring to the table, it sort of just appears. is it like that for others?

[Erthona]

I just write what the Muse tells me to so she'll leave me alone!

Tell me where is fancy bred
in the heart or in the head,
from where does inspiration come,
from your brain or from your bum?

[Leanne]

Bums and bodily fluids. Sadly under-represented in poetry. More pus, please.

[Philatone]

I find that the things I write that originated from a single line or idea I liked often fall flat. Removing the original idea often times leads to what I think is a stronger work; it is as though I need to shed the spark but keep the fire.

Additionally, the closer I am to a subject, often the harder it is for me to capture. Facts seem to get in the way and be limiting. Taking elements of experience and subverting them helps me. I find a number of the recent things I'm working on come from strips of conversations stolen from overhearing strangers at a restaurant or on the bus; it gives me more freedom of control.

I'm not really answering the question I feel. However, one of the worst things to write about involves trying to capture an emotion from something that happened, at least for me. It creates a standard that I am in no way able to meet. Rather than trying to get the story and emotion down, I try to pick a snapshot that I think I can make tangible to some degree.

Stories are good because they offer a direction, making them easier to write about. But what is the adage? The writing should not be about deciding to jump from a plane, but the fall.

[Leanne]

Removing the original idea often times leads to what I think is a stronger work; it is as though I need to shed the spark but keep the fire.

Absolutely. You have to be prepared to kill the baby. Sometimes writing around a topic brings you to an actual poem, as long as you're willing to polish it until it stands out.

And your feelings on pus? :p

[Philatone]

I'm OK with the amount of body fluid out there. But I'll make an exception for pus. I'm a fan.

Just needs a slogan. Or more convenient timing; it only makes an appearance when I don't want any body fluids to make an appearance, to be honest.

[Leanne]

You have a point... but then again, it could easily be seen as a metaphor for something that removes all the bad stuff from your body/life... pus is your fairy godmother.

[billy]

Bums and bodily fluids. Sadly under-represented in poetry. More pus, please.

i think you have a point, i often try and do something funny with that kind of stuff, i don't succed of course but i'm able to let an odd snigger escape in the process

[Leanne]

It's too easy to forget that one of the primary functions of poetry is to entertain... even if it only amuses the poet

[billy]

i agree, personally i like a poem that makes me happy (laugh) rather then one that makes me sad.
i think nostalgic poems are a hit because they do both and bring back our own memories. i'm lucky cos most of mine are happy ones

[Indie]

Anything can be a hit, when well-written, with the exception of emo poetry, no matter how well written it is. If that is all someone ever reads they probably won't live long enough to see what other wonderful poetry is out there.

[Leanne]

with the exception of emo poetry

Thank god, none of that makes it onto Pig Pen pages

[Indie]

with the exception of emo poetry

Thank god, none of that makes it onto Pig Pen pages

Haha, I doubt emo poets could handle the critique. They'd have a cry and tell you that you just don't understand them.

[Leanne]

Oh, we understand them... we just don't care

It's not just emos who can't handle the critique, sadly -- there are a lot of people who are convinced that their shit has already turned into roses. It's a shame, because some of it could turn out quite well if only they'd listen to someone else's opinion for a change.

[Indie]

Lol, agreed, they are understood, they just like feeling like they aren't, gives them a sense of uniqueness and depth.

True to, that there are a lot of potential great writers out there, that would be so much better, if they just got over themselves.

[heslopian]

I've just been talking with a friend about the need for delicacy in dealing with certain subjects in art. For instance in recent years some comic books have tried distinguising themselves as "adult" by paying lip service to serious issues like rape. I think any subject can be used in any artistic medium, but you need to approach it with interest and sensitivity. If you're indifferent to the subject matter or are using it simply for effect I think the resultant work will be at best shallow and at worst offensive.