Thanks to Eduardo Corral for the link to 7 Things You Should Know About Being a Poet.
That title led me to wonder what seven things do I want people to know about being a poet? I’ll write my list below. Then, you write one. Please post it in the comments or provide a link in the comments to your blog post about this subject.
- Writing is addictive.
- Few will understand why you write poetry since it’s not lucrative.
- If you find those who do understand, consider marrying them.
- Writing is meditation at times.
- You will surprise yourself with your choosiness regarding pencils and pens.
- You’ll get really tired of the “Is Poetry Dead?” debate.
- Come November of every year, you’ll start asking everyone: “Are you going to AWP?”
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Fun topic for a Friday! I’ve posted my “7 Things” list at my blog:
http://bernadettegeyer.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-7-things-list.html
1. Not writing can hurt
2. You will be continually asked to explain your work
3. People will want to know where you’ve been published
4. Once you get published people will want to know what you were paid
5. Inspiration comes round as often as a blue moon, get used to writing by the regular ol’ moon
6. A poem is not a poem simply because you say it is
7. Prose is not a poor man’s poetry
@Bernie — Thanks. I’ll pop over and read what you wrote in a moment.
@Jim — Good list. I love #3. That is a top question, and it made me smile to see it listed in your list.
Debrah: fun topic. My list can be seen on the link below at my blog.
http://stickpoetsuperhero.blogspot.com/2007/12/7-things-you-should-know-about-writing.html
1. You will be frustrated that most of the known world will ignore or even mock what you see as vital without so much as an honest inquiry on their part as to what poetry is. This will carry over into assumptions about you as a person based upon you admitting you write poetry.
2. Poetry has the capacity to save the soul, but only the poet’s, and even then it does not guarantee salvation.
3. Even the most profane words have value and use.
4. Constantly eavesdropping in on other people’s conversations will be one of your many little secrets.
5. Contest fees, postage, and paper will be listed under ‘necessities’ in your monthly budget.
6. On the up-side, fewer people will ask you to help them with heavy lifting.
7. If you come to poetry honestly, it will be as if you have, in the words of Sylvia Plath, “Boarded the train there’s no getting off.”
This is wonderful. I love your original list, Deborah, especially #3, 5 and 7. And the responses, too. Other highlights for me: Bernadette Geyer’s #3 and 4, Jim Murdoch’s #6, Justin Evans’ #2 and 4.
I’ve posted mine, trying not to duplicate those who have gone before, at my blog:
http://opusforty.blogspot.com/2007/12/deborah-ager-taking-off-from-list-by.html
I’ve put my seven up over here:
http://ursprache.blogspot.com
Tad, Jim, and Michael– Thank you for playing along. I’ll pop over to your blogs and read what you wrote in a minute.
Justin — #4 is too true!
And one of the great regrets in life when one starts to suffer a hearing loss.
1. You have to read poetry to write poetry.
2. There is never an easy answer to the non-poets question, “What do you write about?” Make something up that will discourage further questions.
3. Poems are almost never finished, especially the ones that get published.
4. Poems need to cool and then they are ready to revise.
5. Some days, the taste of a ripe pear is your poem.
6. If you find a partner who supports your love of poetry, forgive him the hunted look he gives you when you ask him if he’d like to read a poem.
7. Poetry can be a way to pray.