PD30 Day 16: Editing Your Poetry
September 16, 2008 by John Hewitt
Editing a poem is in many ways like editing any other work of writing. The central goal is to eliminate any errors you have made, to improve on words and passages that aren’t quite as good as they could be, and to work to make the poem hold together as a single unit. You would follow much the same process with an essay or a short story. It is the differences though, that matter. Here are some things to look for when you are editing a poem.
- If your intention was to use a particular meter, how well did you manage to carry out that meter? Sometimes you have to read through a poem several times before you pick up on minor mistakes. You may also want to give some thought to other people’s accents or speech patterns.
- How does the poem look on the page? When using a consistent meter, lines generally turn out to be about the same length. If you aren’t using meter, however, line length can vary widely. There’s no rule against this, but make sure any drastic variations are intentional and not unintentional. Random line or stanza lengths can make a poem feel scattered and disjointed. There may be cases in which this is your goal, but be sure that this is something you are doing on purpose and to achieve a particular effect.
- Examine your word choices. Avoiding clichés and tired phrases can be difficult. Ask yourself whether or not the images, descriptions and statements feel fresh and original. Try to eliminate stock phrases or vague descriptions. Eliminate any words that seem outdated or overly formal. Are the words in your poem the same words you would use in a normal conversation?
- Read the poem aloud. Sometimes writing can look good on the page but be very difficult to read aloud. Some word combinations just don’t flow off of the tongue very well, and until you hear it, it can be difficult to catch those problems.
- Look for overly explanatory passages. It is easy to fall into the trap of explaining or preaching to your reader rather letting them come to their own conclusions. Those passages can seem heavy handed and should be eliminated whenever possible.
- Is there any part of the poem that could be cut? There are generally two areas in which you can cut. Passages that are uninteresting and don’t contribute to the overall poem and passages that are so vivid that they overshadow the rest of the poem. Sometimes you have to cut out your favorites. A line that stands out can be good, but it can also distract from the rest of the poem. Consider your choices carefully.
Today’s Poetry Prompt
Write a poem that uses exactly the same number of characters on every line. You can pick the length, but once you start you have to stick to it. For an extra challenge, try writing about an event that has happened in the past 24 hour.
Related links
- 30 Poems in 30 Days set for September (1.000)
- All About 30 Poems in 30 Days (1.000)
- PD30 Day 1: I Believe in Poetry (1.000)
- PD30 Day 2: Generally Be Specific (1.000)
- PD30 Day 3: A Review of Meter (1.000)
Contact John Hewitt
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Email: hewitt@poewar.comPhone: (520) 261-6104
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First, wanted to apologize for my sporadic comments… I’ve come down with a nasty bug (seems to be a trend these days).
I’ve always found editing poetry to be quite difficult, and these tips make it seem easier to approach. One question: do you think all poetry should sound good aloud? Can some poetry be written purely for the page?
This is tough….*stick tongue out*
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My Clique
This so exclusive clique of mine
Comprising such unique oddities
Is quite a mixed bunch to gather
Frequently eccentric workaholics
Thankfully no diehard alcoholics
Or such conscientious drunkards
You will likely never again meet
Zoë,
There are certainly poems that really only work on the page, but I lean towards poetry that can be listened to. I generally prefer to hear poetry than to read it.
CONVINCEMENT
Convincement is a rondelay
Has manifold interactivity
Anticipatorily, convincees
Seek rich incentivizations
Enfolding neverregretments
Lopsided the backforth and
Elephantroom ignorance may
Have begun, nevertheless a
Minor adjustment or twelve
Acts to unleaven playfield
Now maybe we can getterdun
The Bird Wants To Fly Back to the Nest
I want to come home now she begs.
I am very tired and I can’t find work.
It’s too hard being grown on my own.
I give up– I don’t want to be an adult.
Baby, girl,” I tell her, “Hush it’s okay.
Better days are just round the bend.
Growing up is supposed to be hard.
You’re not alone. I am here for you.
I cannot sleep and I can’t even eat.
I need to pay the rent and buy food.
Thought I had it together, but I don’t.
I am just your little girl, Sonja Grace.
You will always be my baby, child.
But, face it, today you are an adult.
You have embraced this great risk
To have an amazing, rich life later.
Can I drive over to see you soon?
I have some laundry for you to do.
And we can go out to a restaurant.
Just the two of us again like we do.
You can surely come home then.
We can have anything you crave.
We can stay up really late talking,
And drink Diet Cokes and smoke.
Momma, I love you so very much!
Honey sweetie I love you always.
Maryellen Gradys last blog post..WRITER’S BLOCK SUCKS
The Plants are Dying
Everything I did was for the party
The dying plants in the front yard
Are dying due to the plastic spike
I pushed down on with a solid hand
Right past the softer pipe plastic
Passing from one side to the other
Dirt to rock to pipe then back out
The spike that held the solar lamp
One lamp among ten to show the way
One lamp busted before it was dark
The victim of a thrusting car door
But the broken pipe required water
And the water emerged come morning
We shut it down the system and now
I haven’t any tape or pipe or skill
The days pass as the plants whither
I think that it may be time to move
this simple pet peeve of mine
has created a rhymbotic hitch
it has dwendles meaning from the past
reminding me that just gives me pits
evry time that i want to write
i stumble a word or two
i can not find a peice of mind
my brain just lies or two