The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry
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Written by Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux.
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($16.95)
Editorial Review (from Amazon.com)
From the nuts and bolts of craft to the sources of inspiration, this book is for anyone who wants to write poetry--and do it well. In this fortuitous collaboration, two spirited poets, themselves teachers of poetry, offer guidance to aspiring beginners and those who have already published. Brief essays on the elements of poetry, technique, and suggested subjects for writing are each followed by distinctive writing exercises. ("Compare an actual family photograph with one that was never taken, but might have been.") The ups and downs of the writing life--including the inevitable visitations of self-doubt and writer's block--are here, along with tips about getting published. A special section contains twenty-minute writing exercises, and valuable appendixes cover further reading and marketing advice. On your own, this book can be your "teacher," while groups, in or out of the classroom, can profit from sharing weekly assignments. Numerous examples of contemporary poetry, chosen for relevance and freshness, illustrate salient points and stimulate the imagination. By calling on their own experience and focusing on living American writers for their models, the authors introduce you to poetry as it is right now.User Reviews (1) Login or create an account to write a review.
Nic Sebastian thinks this book is Good.
More good stuff for beginning poets and also good stuff for more experienced poets to go back and be reminded of. The first two sections deal with Subjects for Writing and The Poet’s Craft. The first takes you through several broad categories of subject (family, death, grief, eroticism, dark secrets, poetry of place etc) and the second through technicalities such as image, metaphor, line-breaks, rhythm, meter and different forms. Actual poems illustrate each bit and each part also has a writing exercise designed to help you implement what you have just learned. I haven’t actually sat down to do any of the exercises yet, but can imagine doing so at some point (although perhaps not in as ordered a fashion as presented). My favorite chapter is the last - only a few pages long - on Revision. Very interesting topic. Also, many handy hints and resources for writer’s block, getting published and work-shopping your stuff. Denser than the other how-to poetry manuals I’ve been reviewing lately, but also worth the read.