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Home » Poems & Poetry » Blogs » Help me learn to revise

Help me learn to revise - Agnes Krampe's Blog

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Help me learn to revise

Blog Posted:8/27/2017 1:41:00 PM

Experienced poets: I am looking for your advice. I need to learn how to revise in a systematic manner  - I have not been dligiently working on this. So, I have lots of questions.

How do you develop the habit? Do you set specific times aside to work on revising? I guess the muse won't help here - it's butt-in-seat, pencil-in-hand.

How do you pick which of your old poems to work on? Do you go through several and revise as you see something, do you sit with one poem for a long time and wrestle with it? Do you start with the one you think is best and see what can be improved?

How do you learn to let go? Let go of that image you  love, but that does not quite fit the poem, or let go of a form that does not quite seem to work with the poem? 

When do you know it is hopeless and a poem beyond redemption? 

How long do you let a poem sit before revisitig with a critical eye?

I am looking forward to hearing all your tips and insights.

 



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Dietrich Avatar
Andrea
Dietrich
Date: 8/28/2017 3:43:00 PM
Anges, I work so long and hard on many of my poems, that I have no interest in revising them. My only advice is do a really good job the first time! I get people here pointing out my typos to me and I really appreciate THAT. I can't believe the things I miss when I try so hard to edit little mistakes like spelling, etc!!
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Krampe Avatar
Agnes Krampe
Date: 8/28/2017 6:38:00 PM
I write some poems quite quickly (others take years to mature), and I write and rewrite, but I am sure I could improve with some perspective and distance. I am just not satisfied with my work - upon re-reading, I notice worn out images and metaphors, feel that I could play more with sound. It goes way beyond typos or spelling, but touches on the deeper essence of what poetry is to me. If that makes any sense.
Guzzi Avatar
Debbie
Guzzi
Date: 8/27/2017 8:06:00 PM
As long as you do not stop writing you are doing the RIGHT thing. As far as revising you need to ask someone you trust has your best interest at heart to edit for you & to explain the reasons they are asking you for something a wee bit different than what you have written. Dee is an excellent editor!
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Krampe Avatar
Agnes Krampe
Date: 8/28/2017 6:34:00 PM
Thanks, Debbie. I hope I can find such a person.
Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi
Macmillan
Date: 8/27/2017 5:51:00 PM
Agnes, so much to say here and very little time right now to say it. I'll come back. I will say that I revise a poem at least a dozen times as I write it. I have also revised poems years after writing them (sometimes just one stanza, sometimes the entire poem.) Often, its about layering for me. Is there a better way of saying something that adds another dimension to the work? Give it a double meaning, some ambiguity? I've let a poem sit from two weeks to three years... it depends on the poem! And I recommend never letting go of an image you love. If the image doesn't work in that poem, just save it in a file for a poem it WILL work in.
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Krampe Avatar
Agnes Krampe
Date: 8/30/2017 1:00:00 PM
The suture article was really fantastic, very helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Krampe Avatar
Agnes Krampe
Date: 8/28/2017 6:33:00 PM
Cyndi, thank you so much for your advice. I will read the links later and will probably have more questions, but I am having a rough and busy time right now, so I just wanted to stop by quickly and say thanks.
Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 8/27/2017 6:04:00 PM
And this one... more about editing than true revision but really good! https://mahi-fish.deviantart.com/art/Poetry-Self-Edit-Checklist-251848581
Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 8/27/2017 6:02:00 PM
A fantastic article ... https://suture.deviantart.com/art/Tips-For-Editing-Poetry-24179464
Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 8/27/2017 6:01:00 PM
Your process will be unique and all yours. My process works like this with almost every poem I write: https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/tail_spin,_revised_670851 This is about what revision is like... please read the comments from all the workshop participants, if you can!
Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 8/27/2017 5:52:00 PM
I once revised a sonnet into a short story :D It's been published by the Windsor Review. I realized what I wanted to say could not fit into a poem. Longest revision so far ;) Will stop by again. GREAT blog. Cheers.

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