I'm struggling with my poetry writing. I've been told that a lot of my work isn't revealing enough and I don't really know what would be the right topics to write about. What are some things that I should focus on?
What are good topics for poems?
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People read what they enjoy and will visit places where their preferred content is abundant. I was going to make a list but it is obvious poems about roses would not work on a sci-fi site.
Additionally, some places I submit a few poems to get positive feedback only if the right content is present. One site likes humor, poems of children and more mature topics. Another site loves teen death, angst and love.
One poem which grabbed my attention was this one about a balloon man and a porcupine woman because it is new and unique.
So the bottom line is, write what you want and find where like minded people are in order to share your words with those who appreciate the topic.
Colin Fiat.
Additionally, some places I submit a few poems to get positive feedback only if the right content is present. One site likes humor, poems of children and more mature topics. Another site loves teen death, angst and love.
One poem which grabbed my attention was this one about a balloon man and a porcupine woman because it is new and unique.
So the bottom line is, write what you want and find where like minded people are in order to share your words with those who appreciate the topic.
Colin Fiat.
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it is not that it needs to be self revealing - the question is who are you writing for - if yourself, write on anything you want - if for readers, you need to write on something that engages them, something they can relate to or envision
If you write something you do not like or about something you don't appreciate then no one else will like it either.
One 'mistake' which gets pointed out constantly is preaching. Telling the read what they must or must not do is only good in self help books.
If you want to write about yourself for other people but do not feel comfortable about revealing, try third person or even personification.
C.F.
One 'mistake' which gets pointed out constantly is preaching. Telling the read what they must or must not do is only good in self help books.
If you want to write about yourself for other people but do not feel comfortable about revealing, try third person or even personification.
C.F.
Yeah I'm in a poetry class and my prof continues to harp on me about not being self revealing enough, hence the recent poem I had critiqued here but imo I don't see why EVERY poem needs to tell something about the writers life. My life isn't all that interesting and I'd rather just write about stuff I see and find interesting but he doesn't seem to appreciate that.
I echo this, and also, I'm not sure that it's self revealing that your professor is looking for. Perhaps they're looking for you to say something -- anything on the human condition. Personally, what helps me is to think of the crappiest moment of my life(or the happiest, sometimes), and look back on it and write. Sometimes I think of a vivid image. It's not always about your life, but how you percieve the world. You're bringing us, the reader, a new fresh way to look at things...
It also sounds like your trying to find your way of the creative process. (I could be wrong) Just try everything from looking at art, listening to music, thinking up topics your passionate about, reading lots (and lots) of poetry till you find something that clicks. It'll fall into place. ^^
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I would hardly call Passions my very own soap opera.
stupid jokes aside. I totally agree with this. Write whatever turns the music on inside and makes you feel like yourself. Writing is very internal and self-centered, so writing your passions is only natural.
For me it's images, the city, melancholy things, etc. If you have no concrete ideas, take a look at your bookshelf, what kinds of books are on there? Which have you read repeatedly. I've read Lolita like ten times, so I know that prose-wise I'm interested in the internal functions of my MCs, as for poetry I read Plath and Ginsberg a lot, so yet again i'm interested in expressing my perspective on things and tend to do it in a sad-ish way.
Man...I'm quoted way too much. I wish I wasn't so friggin' brilliant. I must start [SUP]TM[/SUP]ing my stuff. Fah-shizzle.
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I was about to write that a poem can be about anything - a Grecian urn, a red wheelbarrow, a frayed shoelace, a space alien dragon.
Then, in mid-thought, it struck me that, very frequently, the subject is not what the poem's about - at all. For the most part, I start with a subject - or even just a word I like - and write around that. Usually, I don't find out what the poem's about until I'm well into it.
I'm not really interested in reading a book of poems, say, about buckets. Actually, that might be a great idea -- but I might not go looking for one; if I find it, tant mieux.
Not everybody works that way, but it happens to be my experience. But back to the point: I think you can use any subject or vehicle for a poem. The interesting part is to get writing, keep writing, until it takes you someplace you want to explore further. (Then revise it, and post it in Critique!)
Then, in mid-thought, it struck me that, very frequently, the subject is not what the poem's about - at all. For the most part, I start with a subject - or even just a word I like - and write around that. Usually, I don't find out what the poem's about until I'm well into it.
I'm not really interested in reading a book of poems, say, about buckets. Actually, that might be a great idea -- but I might not go looking for one; if I find it, tant mieux.
Not everybody works that way, but it happens to be my experience. But back to the point: I think you can use any subject or vehicle for a poem. The interesting part is to get writing, keep writing, until it takes you someplace you want to explore further. (Then revise it, and post it in Critique!)
Same here. Though recently i'm often still not sure what the poem's about even once i'm finished with it.
Now i'm gonna plug KTC[SUP]TM[/SUP]'s AW Thread Titles Poetry Game[SUP]TM[/SUP]. Most of my recent poetry (actually, probably all of it, sparse as my poetics have been lately) has come around as a result of that game/exercise. I've found it a great way of picking something that potentially inspires me and then poeming without an end destination in mind and seeing where i end up.
Hey, Izz...I think you're doing a bang up job in that thread. I've been reading your offerings. Great stuff!
I start with a subject and end with a feeling...but I hope it's more than a feeling.
