Thank you for this! There's some part of me inside that is a potential poet, but it never crystalizes on the page. And I've found, just recently, that if I start with an idea in the form of a rough-and-tumble poetry draft, it gives me something to unfold into prose, with the heart already present...if that makes sense (?). I look forward to reading the work of the writers you reference.
I am a playwright who's just discovered the worlds of short "friction" and essay. Oh, to be a poet in my prose! What I would give, as I reach for that ideal. I tend toward the metaphor of a painting, "shading in" the poetry, after the line-drawing of the story has been drawn, softening the edges, deepening the shadows, perhaps. And thank you for mentioning Sarah Ruhl, I just returned from her gorgeous and achingly funny play, Letters From Max--a Ritual in NY.
I'm like you, poetry is my first writing language... even if I didn't speak it for many years. When I started writing narrative non-fiction (and even sermons), I sought to bring poetic elements of rhythm and movement into my pieces. I use alliteration, repetition, line breaks, and slant rhyming to give a flow to my prose. I love incorporating poetry into my work, no matter what I'm writing. It's good to hear that someone else is doing this as well.
What's your favorite poetic treatment of a prose piece? What are you drawn to want to hear in prose that reminds you of poetry?
Thank you for this! I am usually a screenwriter or copywriter, but recently have had poetry springing into my mind! I felt like I "couldn't" or "shouldn't" step into this genre, but your encouragement means everything.
I'm so grateful for these posts. Maybe this question will sound trivial, so feel free to reply with a Next Question. Here it is: When you wrote your memoir, was it longhand on legal pads, or on a computer? I know some long-form writers want to write by hand and find that it takes too long. Then there's Wendell Berry, of course.
Thank you for this! There's some part of me inside that is a potential poet, but it never crystalizes on the page. And I've found, just recently, that if I start with an idea in the form of a rough-and-tumble poetry draft, it gives me something to unfold into prose, with the heart already present...if that makes sense (?). I look forward to reading the work of the writers you reference.
I am a playwright who's just discovered the worlds of short "friction" and essay. Oh, to be a poet in my prose! What I would give, as I reach for that ideal. I tend toward the metaphor of a painting, "shading in" the poetry, after the line-drawing of the story has been drawn, softening the edges, deepening the shadows, perhaps. And thank you for mentioning Sarah Ruhl, I just returned from her gorgeous and achingly funny play, Letters From Max--a Ritual in NY.
I'm like you, poetry is my first writing language... even if I didn't speak it for many years. When I started writing narrative non-fiction (and even sermons), I sought to bring poetic elements of rhythm and movement into my pieces. I use alliteration, repetition, line breaks, and slant rhyming to give a flow to my prose. I love incorporating poetry into my work, no matter what I'm writing. It's good to hear that someone else is doing this as well.
What's your favorite poetic treatment of a prose piece? What are you drawn to want to hear in prose that reminds you of poetry?
Great advice!
Thanks for list of writers who have crossed genre divide... most new to me!
Thank you for this! I am usually a screenwriter or copywriter, but recently have had poetry springing into my mind! I felt like I "couldn't" or "shouldn't" step into this genre, but your encouragement means everything.
I'm so grateful for these posts. Maybe this question will sound trivial, so feel free to reply with a Next Question. Here it is: When you wrote your memoir, was it longhand on legal pads, or on a computer? I know some long-form writers want to write by hand and find that it takes too long. Then there's Wendell Berry, of course.