Outside Room 7 at the Merryman Motel (revision 3)

[billy]

i'd say this is just a back and forth, not a defense

[Leanne]

Exactly... I'm following your rationale with interest, Todd, I think it's vital to question why we use certain words and methods so that if we don't change them, it's because we really understand their purpose and not just because they were the first things that came to our minds.

[billy]

for me this thread is a perfect "how to workshop" the interaction is spot on. neither side is too pushy
and nothing is written in stone.

[Todd]

Exactly... I'm following your rationale with interest, Todd, I think it's vital to question why we use certain words and methods so that if we don't change them, it's because we really understand their purpose and not just because they were the first things that came to our minds.

I remember when I started writing I got some advice about making every word count--everything had to have a purpose. It took a lot of time to get to that point though I was lucky to just come up with those first things that came to mind.

Even now, a lot of revisions center around not having precisely the right word, and I've seen poems shift their meanings on just one word.

I wrote a poem called The Amazing Sexual Exploits of Harry Houdini. I originally had this strophe that followed a lead in strophe on liking to be handcuffed:

He liked the ones that bite
against the wrists,
the exquisite challenge
of something like helplessness.

Exquisite was a weak word. It didn't do anything. I substituted ephemeral and I think the word made a difference.

So, long-winded way of saying I agree with you Leanne.

------------------------
Billy,

It's always great for the writer to get such great feedback (two-way or otherwise)

So, I appreciate all of the dialog.

Best,

Todd