Poetry
This week: Edited by: Red Writing Hood <3 More Newsletters By This Editor
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Poetry should please by a fine excess and not by singularity. It should strike the reader as a wording of his own highest thoughts, and appear almost as a remembrance.
John Keats (1795 - 1821)
Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting with the gift of speech.
Simonides (556 BC - 468 BC)
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What's Your Point?
Then she told Amy about Scott’s new MP3 player. I love that new song by Natasha Bedingfield, oh, and Kelly Clarkson’s songs are good, too. Is Kelly Smith in your class again this year? She got an MP3 player, too. MOM, Tammy took my headphones without asking me first. My sister can’t stop touching her head, it’s like she’s got bugs or something. MOM, Tammy threw a pillow at me. Yes, it was her, again. Little sister's are such a pain.
My son hears talk like this from his sisters all the time. He calls it hysterical talking.
Get Out Your Thimble
When we write like this it could be called hysterical writing, but for this editorial, we’ll call it: writing without a point. If you look again, the only thing connecting the words is a thin thread; a frayed piece of fiber that briefly clings to one sentence before landing on the next.
Hysterical Writing - More Fun to Say Than Writing Without a Point
While hysterical writing is a bigger problem in short stories and longer fiction; it can be problematic with poetry, too. Unless you are writing for catharsis, writing without a point in mind can even make it more difficult to write poetry. How often have you been stuck – not sure how to end a poem? I have that problem sometimes, too. Without a clear picture in our minds of what we’d like our piece to say or what emotion we want it to evoke – we are like the fiber, floating here and there without really saying anything to our reader.
Hi, my name is Red, and I'm a hysterical writer.
What is unique about poetry is that you aren’t required to have a plot. This freedom can cause a writer to fall into a hysterical writing pattern. But wait! All is not lost. Again, we are given freedom - just with more focus. Think of it as similar to a precise poetry prompt.
Sticky Stitches
It doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact, the simpler your point is – the better. By keeping it simple you will be able to find more room for imagery and other poetic devices that add depth.
Some Samples
You have a colossal quilting library of words to piece together in order to create your point pattern and place it on your reader’s lap. You could simply give your reader a taste of the town you grew up in or the people you grew up with, as Alberto Rios does in, “Nani.” Or like Robert Hayden, you could speak of love – as he does in, “Those Winter Sundays.” You could even help your reader understand another time and place, like Donald Justice does in, “Pantoum of the Great Depression.” The possibilities are as varied as your poetic sewing kit.
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Gotta question, answer, problem, solution, tip, trick, cheer, jeer, or extra million lying around?
If so, send it through the feedback section at the bottom of this newsletter OR click the little envelope next to my name Red Writing Hood <3 and send it through email.
Comments on last month's newsletter:
Submitted By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith
Submitted Item: "Invalid Item"
Submitted Comment:
Can you think of some more color examples or does your region have different connotations for these colors?
Green = jealousy and envy
Rose = color or flower
Blue = calm and space
It sounds like connotation is similar to allusion. With both it's important to know that you're reader will understand what you mean by a specific word choice. Vital to use the 'right' word or image.
Given the array of impressions, understanding, education, and experiences of readers in general it can be very challenging. Each reader brings their self to the page. I actually delight in discovering the different things a reader finds within my poetry because of their own lives have changed the way they read and see what I originally wrote.
Great editorial this week, these two 'tools' are definitely something poets should keep for their box.
You are right, they're very close. I would say the difference is that connotation deals more with single words and allusion can be more than that. Allusion generally deals with referencing places, times and other written works - but can be more than those things. I have found that many literary devices overlap here and there.
I must say I am tickled also when a reader "sees" something in my work that I didn't intentionally put there. I love when they share this with me because it broadens my own outlook. Read below and see what white symbolizes in Japan. That's why I asked for other color connotations from our readers. Rather than brainstorming and researching them - which wasn't needed to make my point, I can learn through other's experiences and cultures.
Submitted By: Lorien
Submitted Comment:
Wonderful newsletter! As an admitted wordinista myself, I often find myself inwardly chiding others' diction. The inexpensive vs. cheap dilemma is one I've overheard far too many times, so I applaud you bringing it to attention.
Thank you for featuring my poem "Alive" as well.
Submitted By: pooja_sr
Submitted Item: "Invalid Item"
Submitted Comment:
Thanks for sharing your newsletter. I always look for work on word choice, and this one was really helpful. Since you asked, in Japan, white symbolises death. Stephania.
Submitted By: ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites
Submitted Comment:
Great newsletter! Hmm...to me the color "red" connotates passion/love more than anger. It's just a little quirk I have. :)
That is the wonderful/maddening thing. So many words can have multiple connotations. Thank you for pointing out another one for red It could also represent blood, too.
Submitted By: Budroe
Submitted Comment:
Red:
I gotta laugh. I was just writing a lesson on the difference between denotation and connotation for a writing class. Great timing! Great newsletter! And, great featured work! Thank you.
Submitted By: Mark
Submitted Comment:
Great advice for any writing, but poetry is even more compressed than prose, and demands every word have a purpose. Giving them multiple reasons for being used lends depth, and weaves together the words to form a collective impact. Thank you, I really enjoyed the issue.
Submitted By: Mohammad Ilyas
Submitted Comment:
Thank you for all that you do for a healthy and positive activity of writing and thinking.
Thank you all for your wonderful feedback. Keep 'em coming!
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