Underwhelmed? Yes, I have been underwhelmed too but somewhere in there will be something that reaches you and you like it. It’s the same as an album which is sold on the strength of a hit song. The rest do not remain in your mental song catalogue.
Now, back to the question — why write? Firstly, do we have a free choice? I have been surrounded by words before I could grasp them. Books, plays and song lyrics surround us. So, we are already influenced, are we not? I believe deep inside we write for ourselves. Our feelings will be expressed and maybe that catharsis is what we need. It is also a sharing thing and from the groups that I have worked with it is pleasurable. The cut and thrust of a word in the feedback is a blessing. Do you need that word in there or could this be better?
For me the answer is simple because I enjoy it although putting a collection together requires focus and a deliberate attention to succeed. My last collection has one particular focus and that was to to advertise the help that wildlife needs. A focus too on ‘blood sports’ and there is so much more I could say.
I cannot imagine not writing. Even today, I have written most days of our journey from Nashville through Louisiana and into Florida. Some poems have been created too. I don’t intend to stop even though some are just personal notes.
Thanks for this John. Like you, I cannot imagine not writing - and don't intend to stop! - it's just a question of where the focus is / could or should be. I really like the album / hit song metaphor; I too have been 'burned' there...
Ian, I do see your point. In a way I’m cowardly in that I say my writing is writing - poetic, dramatic and prosaic. So I avoid the problem of having to choose between forms. If I was you I might ask myself “which form of writing gives me most pleasure, which form am I best at and then maybe focus all my energy on that one and leave the others to be bit part hobbies?
Ian, another cracking “self question” any serious writer will have asked themselves on many occasions. From personal experience I spent countless years of mainly rejection till improvement seemed to lift me to reasonably widespread thumbs up through magazine, anthology, competition and 2 collection credits by a recognised non self publishing poetry house. That publisher lost its Arts councillor grant and scaled down to nothing, after which I gave up for ten years. Three years ago we moved to Suffolk and I returned to writing as before. To me it seems to be about how much you need it. If it’s as ingrained as your fingerprints, you just can’t cut it out.
Thanks Vincent. I do need to write and certainly won't stop; I can't. It's just my poetry I'm not too sure about...and, I suppose, what seems to pass for poetry these days.
Right now, I'm gazing at my navel and wondering if continuing with my writing is worth it. But then I ask myself what else I would do and get a silence so complete that not even crickets are heard. That leads me to the inescapable conclusion: I write for my own sake. And that pushes me on to keep writing. Whether I will continue to spend the money to copyright is another matter. But without that copyright, I would never consider publishing my stories and novels. It's a real conundrum. Hope you work yours out.
Oh yes! I too often have reacted ‘really?!’ to both poetry and prose that have won a competition or been published by a major platform or have otherwise received high acclaim. I’m left with that ‘the emperor has no clothes’ feeling. I’ve spent many decades reading far and wide, earned degrees in literature from prestigious universities, continued studying the craft of writing. So….
My feeling is if you find writing fulfilling, do it. If simply frustrating, find your satisfaction elsewhere. Because time’s winged chariot hurries near.
Interesting thoughts! Clarissa Pinkola Estes has an audiobook called 'The Creative Fire' that I find healing when I feel reflective about my relationship to poetry. And I think pursuing poetry in 2025 is a good example of the pressures involved in being creative in our modern world. But I guess that regular success along with regular rejections, that comes with pursuing any kind of creative writing, or creative art can sometimes feel exhausting. :) I'm a 100% sure many painters, dancers and singers all question it too. Warm wishes!
I feel like giving up (particularly this morning) but the fact you're trying ( if failing) is seen as a positive sign by ( some) friends and family, and if you do open mic or performance as well it lessens the pain of constant rejection. I think also that poetry has replaced live comedy as the go to creative activity of our time so there's a huge surplus of work out there.
Underwhelmed? Yes, I have been underwhelmed too but somewhere in there will be something that reaches you and you like it. It’s the same as an album which is sold on the strength of a hit song. The rest do not remain in your mental song catalogue.
Now, back to the question — why write? Firstly, do we have a free choice? I have been surrounded by words before I could grasp them. Books, plays and song lyrics surround us. So, we are already influenced, are we not? I believe deep inside we write for ourselves. Our feelings will be expressed and maybe that catharsis is what we need. It is also a sharing thing and from the groups that I have worked with it is pleasurable. The cut and thrust of a word in the feedback is a blessing. Do you need that word in there or could this be better?
For me the answer is simple because I enjoy it although putting a collection together requires focus and a deliberate attention to succeed. My last collection has one particular focus and that was to to advertise the help that wildlife needs. A focus too on ‘blood sports’ and there is so much more I could say.
I cannot imagine not writing. Even today, I have written most days of our journey from Nashville through Louisiana and into Florida. Some poems have been created too. I don’t intend to stop even though some are just personal notes.
So Ian, keep doing what you do best.
Thanks for this John. Like you, I cannot imagine not writing - and don't intend to stop! - it's just a question of where the focus is / could or should be. I really like the album / hit song metaphor; I too have been 'burned' there...
Ian, I do see your point. In a way I’m cowardly in that I say my writing is writing - poetic, dramatic and prosaic. So I avoid the problem of having to choose between forms. If I was you I might ask myself “which form of writing gives me most pleasure, which form am I best at and then maybe focus all my energy on that one and leave the others to be bit part hobbies?
I think that's where I'm probably heading...
Ian, another cracking “self question” any serious writer will have asked themselves on many occasions. From personal experience I spent countless years of mainly rejection till improvement seemed to lift me to reasonably widespread thumbs up through magazine, anthology, competition and 2 collection credits by a recognised non self publishing poetry house. That publisher lost its Arts councillor grant and scaled down to nothing, after which I gave up for ten years. Three years ago we moved to Suffolk and I returned to writing as before. To me it seems to be about how much you need it. If it’s as ingrained as your fingerprints, you just can’t cut it out.
Thanks Vincent. I do need to write and certainly won't stop; I can't. It's just my poetry I'm not too sure about...and, I suppose, what seems to pass for poetry these days.
Right now, I'm gazing at my navel and wondering if continuing with my writing is worth it. But then I ask myself what else I would do and get a silence so complete that not even crickets are heard. That leads me to the inescapable conclusion: I write for my own sake. And that pushes me on to keep writing. Whether I will continue to spend the money to copyright is another matter. But without that copyright, I would never consider publishing my stories and novels. It's a real conundrum. Hope you work yours out.
I think there's no danger of me stopping writing - just maybe not poetry any more.
If you like writing poetry, don’t give up on it.
Oh yes! I too often have reacted ‘really?!’ to both poetry and prose that have won a competition or been published by a major platform or have otherwise received high acclaim. I’m left with that ‘the emperor has no clothes’ feeling. I’ve spent many decades reading far and wide, earned degrees in literature from prestigious universities, continued studying the craft of writing. So….
My feeling is if you find writing fulfilling, do it. If simply frustrating, find your satisfaction elsewhere. Because time’s winged chariot hurries near.
Interesting thoughts! Clarissa Pinkola Estes has an audiobook called 'The Creative Fire' that I find healing when I feel reflective about my relationship to poetry. And I think pursuing poetry in 2025 is a good example of the pressures involved in being creative in our modern world. But I guess that regular success along with regular rejections, that comes with pursuing any kind of creative writing, or creative art can sometimes feel exhausting. :) I'm a 100% sure many painters, dancers and singers all question it too. Warm wishes!
I feel like giving up (particularly this morning) but the fact you're trying ( if failing) is seen as a positive sign by ( some) friends and family, and if you do open mic or performance as well it lessens the pain of constant rejection. I think also that poetry has replaced live comedy as the go to creative activity of our time so there's a huge surplus of work out there.