07-10-2016, 02:58 PM
I struggle with revising my poems a lot of the time.
Not because I think they're untouchable masterpieces that couldn't be improved, but because for me, the funnest part of writing a poem is the first 2 or 3 hours after I think of the idea. That's when I'm excited by all the possibilities, and really enjoy experimenting with things - I get a real satisfaction from creating something new.
The least exciting thing about writing for me is knowing there are aspects of a poem that could be improved, and beating my head against a wall trying to find a way to improve them. This is especially true when I've written a poem with some kind of meter. Right now I'm working on revising this poem "Vietnamese Traffic", and it just gives me a headache even though I know the poem could be much much better than it is (or maybe because I know that).
I think the workshop aspect of this site has been hugely beneficial to my writing, though. Giving critique has forced me to really think about what I like, and why I like it. Getting critique has forced me to analyze my writing in different ways, and actually work on improving my poems that I would have otherwise forgotten about. Of course, I now self-critique everything I write as I'm writing it (and afterwards) as well.
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Also, I agree with a lot of what Rowens says (certainly not all of it though). I write for myself, because it's something I enjoy doing. I like writing things I like, which is why I post here, because I think posting here helps me improve. I want to make something I like - I won't make an edit I disagree with just because a bunch of people suggest something.
Not because I think they're untouchable masterpieces that couldn't be improved, but because for me, the funnest part of writing a poem is the first 2 or 3 hours after I think of the idea. That's when I'm excited by all the possibilities, and really enjoy experimenting with things - I get a real satisfaction from creating something new.
The least exciting thing about writing for me is knowing there are aspects of a poem that could be improved, and beating my head against a wall trying to find a way to improve them. This is especially true when I've written a poem with some kind of meter. Right now I'm working on revising this poem "Vietnamese Traffic", and it just gives me a headache even though I know the poem could be much much better than it is (or maybe because I know that).
I think the workshop aspect of this site has been hugely beneficial to my writing, though. Giving critique has forced me to really think about what I like, and why I like it. Getting critique has forced me to analyze my writing in different ways, and actually work on improving my poems that I would have otherwise forgotten about. Of course, I now self-critique everything I write as I'm writing it (and afterwards) as well.
----
Also, I agree with a lot of what Rowens says (certainly not all of it though). I write for myself, because it's something I enjoy doing. I like writing things I like, which is why I post here, because I think posting here helps me improve. I want to make something I like - I won't make an edit I disagree with just because a bunch of people suggest something.