This is posted here to remain near the thread that started it. It can easily be categorized in a number of ways, so move it if necessary, Mods. Thank you.
Recently, I was asked to comment on Stew's writing style. I had made a flippant comment that Stew "writes like a girl," which female writers agreed with and male writers (myself included) disagreed with. And so now a question lingers. How does Stew write? I hope to share with you my observations on Stew's writing style here, as evidenced through her largest body of work: her poetry.
Stew's poetry, most will attest, is outstanding. She is prolific, has a strong voice, and evokes emotion easily and at will. Her style is always free-verse with an occasional rhyme thrown into the mix, but always the rhythm is beat-poetic, with a flow like water cascading down a broad rapids. She'll ditch portions of sentence structure to make the idea fit the rhythm of the line, and this works to great effect, as in Poison River where she opens with
I was specifically asked to offer a serious observation of Trish's writing style. All I can say is this: I have been writing seriously for 30 years. I have studied writing and writers my entire life. I can think of no other poet whose work I look forward to reading upon hearing there's a new verse on the stands.
Recently, I was asked to comment on Stew's writing style. I had made a flippant comment that Stew "writes like a girl," which female writers agreed with and male writers (myself included) disagreed with. And so now a question lingers. How does Stew write? I hope to share with you my observations on Stew's writing style here, as evidenced through her largest body of work: her poetry.
Stew's poetry, most will attest, is outstanding. She is prolific, has a strong voice, and evokes emotion easily and at will. Her style is always free-verse with an occasional rhyme thrown into the mix, but always the rhythm is beat-poetic, with a flow like water cascading down a broad rapids. She'll ditch portions of sentence structure to make the idea fit the rhythm of the line, and this works to great effect, as in Poison River where she opens with
Adrenaline bile burns
my throat, my eyes
with a thumping
bass anger-feast.
Her poetry is rarely sappy, never over-sentimental, and this may be what leads writers like Spooky to state that her verse seems almost masculine, or that she is uncomfortable in the presence of petite women. Indeed, she paints pictures of women with a carnal eye that is much more prevalent in men's poetry, such as the dancer in the poem of the same namemy throat, my eyes
with a thumping
bass anger-feast.
Her hips swim in smoky gray
like the night pool.
native tongue forgotten
hair red and wild
denim hugging curves
before unseen
she is goddess.
At the same time, Stew's poetry can be intensely intimate, which could be why female readers find so much resonance in her writing. The personalization and heartache she pours into For Safekeeping is amazing not only for its attention to detail, the nuances of character and setting she chooses to include or ignore, but in the whispered "She gave it to me" confession of her own at the poem's emotionally charged conclusion.like the night pool.
native tongue forgotten
hair red and wild
denim hugging curves
before unseen
she is goddess.
I was specifically asked to offer a serious observation of Trish's writing style. All I can say is this: I have been writing seriously for 30 years. I have studied writing and writers my entire life. I can think of no other poet whose work I look forward to reading upon hearing there's a new verse on the stands.
