Poetry week day two
Jan. 29th, 2014 01:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseDay two of poetry week, "We Are Our Own Worst Critics".
Prose poetry can be less polished than a form like a sonnet. One the joys of this style is that it can be raw, personal, and angry, just as it can be well-crafted, abstract, and aloof. That's something to remember when the inner critic tries to make you feel guilty for writing it. It is okay as it is.
We Are Our Own Worst Critics
Some say that writing is hard
Because the scenes that are so vivid
In their mind's eye
Do not translate so easily to paper
Or screen
Instead of the beautiful descriptions
Which draw a mental picture
That will engage a reader
What comes out is "there was a tree"
Or instead of the intriguing plots and witty dialogue
The story seemingly consists of
"They did the thing"
Perhaps that's not true
So many writers are
Too hard on themselves
Angry when their creation
Does not match their vision
Even when their creation
Is beautiful nonetheless
It's said that Rodin
When asked about his work, said
“I choose a block of marble,
and chop off whatever I don’t need.
Some say writing is like this
Not the pouring out of words unheeded
But the careful editing of ideas
Selecting the best parts to write down
Further chipping away
Sanding and smoothing out the roughness
As is necessary
This school of thought says that, as writers
We should strive to give clarity
Not worry about every detail;
Not overload our readers
With overblown descriptions
Or unnecessary dialogue
There is a balance to be found
Between the bare branches of a single tree
And the impenetrable tangle of a thick forest
Writing is both planting
And pruning
It is worth remembering that imperfection
Can still be stunning
Writers can – should - enjoy the
Carefully tended garden of words
They have brought into being.
Sources/Inspirations include
http://www.gr8writingtips.com/post/54443440615/when-you-have-a-really-clear-utterly-beautiful
http://casfallen.tumblr.com/post/71879475398/writing-in-my-brain-beautiful-flowing-sentences
http://nancychristie.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/i-choose-block-of-marble-and-chop-off.html
Prose poetry can be less polished than a form like a sonnet. One the joys of this style is that it can be raw, personal, and angry, just as it can be well-crafted, abstract, and aloof. That's something to remember when the inner critic tries to make you feel guilty for writing it. It is okay as it is.
We Are Our Own Worst Critics
Some say that writing is hard
Because the scenes that are so vivid
In their mind's eye
Do not translate so easily to paper
Or screen
Instead of the beautiful descriptions
Which draw a mental picture
That will engage a reader
What comes out is "there was a tree"
Or instead of the intriguing plots and witty dialogue
The story seemingly consists of
"They did the thing"
Perhaps that's not true
So many writers are
Too hard on themselves
Angry when their creation
Does not match their vision
Even when their creation
Is beautiful nonetheless
It's said that Rodin
When asked about his work, said
“I choose a block of marble,
and chop off whatever I don’t need.
Some say writing is like this
Not the pouring out of words unheeded
But the careful editing of ideas
Selecting the best parts to write down
Further chipping away
Sanding and smoothing out the roughness
As is necessary
This school of thought says that, as writers
We should strive to give clarity
Not worry about every detail;
Not overload our readers
With overblown descriptions
Or unnecessary dialogue
There is a balance to be found
Between the bare branches of a single tree
And the impenetrable tangle of a thick forest
Writing is both planting
And pruning
It is worth remembering that imperfection
Can still be stunning
Writers can – should - enjoy the
Carefully tended garden of words
They have brought into being.
Sources/Inspirations include
http://www.gr8writingtips.com/post/54443440615/when-you-have-a-really-clear-utterly-beautiful
http://casfallen.tumblr.com/post/71879475398/writing-in-my-brain-beautiful-flowing-sentences
http://nancychristie.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/i-choose-block-of-marble-and-chop-off.html
no subject
Date: 2014-02-24 01:51 pm (UTC)I read critically, and I find things that bother me in every published work, so perfection is impossible (and in the eye of the beholder) but it doesn't stop me being harsh about my own work. There's a point where the self-criticism is paralysing and that's too far. I suppose we need to accept the imperfections as the price of finished piece.