poetinahat
07-02-2009, 07:24 AM
1. When did you start writing poetry?
It all started with lyric writing and music at the age of sixteen. I was in a couple of really bad garage bands at the time. My buddy from H.S. wrote lyrics to my compositions. He envisioned himself as a Peter Sinfield (King Crimson) of sorts. He went on a family vacation and I decided to write my own lyrics to my music. When he came back, he came over to the boarding house I lived in (I moved out when I was still in H.S.) for a writing session. I showed him the lyrics. He said that he wished he could write like this and quit. I knew him for twenty more years. He never wrote again.
I then wrote a couple of songs for the lead singer of an R&B band in Chicago. We recorded them on a 4-track. The EP was never released. This was around 1987.
I realize this is a bit winded and this is only the first question, LOL.
I joined AW years ago because of the SYW Sci-Fi/Fantasy section. I received a lot of personal requests for crits. I tried to accomodate everyone's request but I got burnt out and starting turning them down. I needed something new. I turned to the Poetry critique section and never looked back.
2. What other writing do you do regularly?
Novel length fiction. I focus on SciFi/Adventure with a touch of paranormal elements thrown in for good measure. Horror shorts. Plus many have seen my Gift series for each holiday. In fact I've got to add one for July 4th. Next year I'll write one for Canada Day.
3. Do you think of yourself primarily as a poet?
Fiction writer first and foremost.
4. Why do you write poetry?
Now I have to. I can't stop. Before, when I first started, I wanted to create something new. I worked hard at it. To accomplish this goal, I had to keep refining the form through writing and submitting. I thank you guys for telling me what works and more importantly, what doesn't.
5. How does writing poetry relate with your other writing?
I read everything I could find about fiction writing I could get my hands on when I first started out. Sol Stein's On Writing taught me the most. His editing is brilliant. His examples showed me how to cut out useless words and move the story. I applied the same approach to Modern Minimalism. He is just as responsible for this form as I am.
6. Beyond Absolute Write, what is your publication/performance history?
I submitted the Mound Builders (Sci-Fi/Adventure/Paranormal) to dozens of agents. I got positive rejections from more than half of them. They encouraged me to not quit. They all like the writing itself. The biggest part of each rejection was concerns about genre blending.
7. How often do you write poems?
Every night unless I get stuck with a double-shift. This happens a lot. This also pushes my crits back. That is the most frustrating part.
8. What goals, if any, do you have for your poetry?
Continue to refine Modern Minimalism. The participants of the thread are fantastic. They help in the process. We've grown together, learned together, and helped each other. I think better things lie ahead. It's a thrill to open the thread and discover some WOW moments. Same with the main Poetry Critique thread. This was my classroom.
9. Do you set out to write a poem, does it compel you to write it, or something else?
I take the southwest side of Chicago approach. Crack open a beer and pour myself a shot of JD. I usually log in and read others' stuff first and contribute.
There are other times when I have a germ of an idea and post before critting. Doesn't happen often.
What I do after logging in is wait. I think about everything relevent to me. The world. Friends. Work. Until I get into the zone.
When the first line pops into my head, I finish to the end and move on. It's interesting reading a poem I wrote the night before without remembering it.
10. What formal, semantic, or thematic traits do you prefer to use in your poems?
I'm sorry. I'm a Philistine. I just write.
11. Which usually comes first: Topic/idea, form, words? Other?
See above. I never know what the topic/idea will be. Well we know what the chosen form is.
12. Do you revise? Right away, later on? How do you decide when you've finished with a poem?
Just for typos. I'm a lousy typist and I don't want to lose what my subconcious is writing. The form I write in usually decides this for me.
13. How did you come to be interested in poetry?
Lyrics. Exploring this site for a challenge.
14. What particular poem or poet first attracted you to poetry? Again, I'm unwashed. Great lyricists of my generation.
15. What poems, poets, movements or eras have influenced you as a poet: which do you particularly enjoy, admire, or aspire toward?
If I have to name someone, it would be Woody Guthrie for his stance against the establishment.
16. What single poem of yours would you recommend to someone who had never read your work?
Innocence Lost.
17. What are your thoughts on poetry today: its function, future, direction, relevance?
Poetry will always be relevent. It's function will never change: self-expression and the exploration of the human condition. We need to keep our eyes on new poets to follow the direction.
18. What, in your view, makes a written/spoken work a poem?
In both cases--clarity. The poet must take the reader where she/he wants her/him to go. The poet still has to get the reader into the poet's world even if it is verse.
19. What do you like about your own poetry?
Self-exploration. That I'm not afraid to expose myself and my flaws to other poets.
20. What would you say to someone who wants to learn to write poetry well?
Keep writing. Don't be afraid to try new things. Don't be afraid of what others think. You won't develop otherwise.
It all started with lyric writing and music at the age of sixteen. I was in a couple of really bad garage bands at the time. My buddy from H.S. wrote lyrics to my compositions. He envisioned himself as a Peter Sinfield (King Crimson) of sorts. He went on a family vacation and I decided to write my own lyrics to my music. When he came back, he came over to the boarding house I lived in (I moved out when I was still in H.S.) for a writing session. I showed him the lyrics. He said that he wished he could write like this and quit. I knew him for twenty more years. He never wrote again.
I then wrote a couple of songs for the lead singer of an R&B band in Chicago. We recorded them on a 4-track. The EP was never released. This was around 1987.
I realize this is a bit winded and this is only the first question, LOL.
I joined AW years ago because of the SYW Sci-Fi/Fantasy section. I received a lot of personal requests for crits. I tried to accomodate everyone's request but I got burnt out and starting turning them down. I needed something new. I turned to the Poetry critique section and never looked back.
2. What other writing do you do regularly?
Novel length fiction. I focus on SciFi/Adventure with a touch of paranormal elements thrown in for good measure. Horror shorts. Plus many have seen my Gift series for each holiday. In fact I've got to add one for July 4th. Next year I'll write one for Canada Day.
3. Do you think of yourself primarily as a poet?
Fiction writer first and foremost.
4. Why do you write poetry?
Now I have to. I can't stop. Before, when I first started, I wanted to create something new. I worked hard at it. To accomplish this goal, I had to keep refining the form through writing and submitting. I thank you guys for telling me what works and more importantly, what doesn't.
5. How does writing poetry relate with your other writing?
I read everything I could find about fiction writing I could get my hands on when I first started out. Sol Stein's On Writing taught me the most. His editing is brilliant. His examples showed me how to cut out useless words and move the story. I applied the same approach to Modern Minimalism. He is just as responsible for this form as I am.
6. Beyond Absolute Write, what is your publication/performance history?
I submitted the Mound Builders (Sci-Fi/Adventure/Paranormal) to dozens of agents. I got positive rejections from more than half of them. They encouraged me to not quit. They all like the writing itself. The biggest part of each rejection was concerns about genre blending.
7. How often do you write poems?
Every night unless I get stuck with a double-shift. This happens a lot. This also pushes my crits back. That is the most frustrating part.
8. What goals, if any, do you have for your poetry?
Continue to refine Modern Minimalism. The participants of the thread are fantastic. They help in the process. We've grown together, learned together, and helped each other. I think better things lie ahead. It's a thrill to open the thread and discover some WOW moments. Same with the main Poetry Critique thread. This was my classroom.
9. Do you set out to write a poem, does it compel you to write it, or something else?
I take the southwest side of Chicago approach. Crack open a beer and pour myself a shot of JD. I usually log in and read others' stuff first and contribute.
There are other times when I have a germ of an idea and post before critting. Doesn't happen often.
What I do after logging in is wait. I think about everything relevent to me. The world. Friends. Work. Until I get into the zone.
When the first line pops into my head, I finish to the end and move on. It's interesting reading a poem I wrote the night before without remembering it.
10. What formal, semantic, or thematic traits do you prefer to use in your poems?
I'm sorry. I'm a Philistine. I just write.
11. Which usually comes first: Topic/idea, form, words? Other?
See above. I never know what the topic/idea will be. Well we know what the chosen form is.
12. Do you revise? Right away, later on? How do you decide when you've finished with a poem?
Just for typos. I'm a lousy typist and I don't want to lose what my subconcious is writing. The form I write in usually decides this for me.
13. How did you come to be interested in poetry?
Lyrics. Exploring this site for a challenge.
14. What particular poem or poet first attracted you to poetry? Again, I'm unwashed. Great lyricists of my generation.
15. What poems, poets, movements or eras have influenced you as a poet: which do you particularly enjoy, admire, or aspire toward?
If I have to name someone, it would be Woody Guthrie for his stance against the establishment.
16. What single poem of yours would you recommend to someone who had never read your work?
Innocence Lost.
17. What are your thoughts on poetry today: its function, future, direction, relevance?
Poetry will always be relevent. It's function will never change: self-expression and the exploration of the human condition. We need to keep our eyes on new poets to follow the direction.
18. What, in your view, makes a written/spoken work a poem?
In both cases--clarity. The poet must take the reader where she/he wants her/him to go. The poet still has to get the reader into the poet's world even if it is verse.
19. What do you like about your own poetry?
Self-exploration. That I'm not afraid to expose myself and my flaws to other poets.
20. What would you say to someone who wants to learn to write poetry well?
Keep writing. Don't be afraid to try new things. Don't be afraid of what others think. You won't develop otherwise.