Can Anyone Strive to be a Poet?

My Relevant Publication Categories:

Poetry

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Certainly yes, as each time a person strives to place the very best words in the very best order he / she strives to be a poet. Any genre of writing can amount to poetry, but for it to be engaging to poetry readers it must possess wide appeal. Thus a ? medical report, polished to poetry level, is unlikely to feature in either a poetry journal or poetry competition.?

That is not to say that any style of writing can ever become poetry, at least by those who treasure their national tongue. Even though in this day and age it is possible for a writer with a word limit of say two hundred writing 'Hey man, been a swishing with my bro's., know what I mean?' to receive the highest accolades.?Poetry has not escaped the maxim 'It has become a crazy world.'

That aside, how does one write extremely well?

A chef requires food ingredients, and likewise a poet needs both a substantial word pantry and a cook’s ability to choose ingredients, mix in the correct proportions, and following baking ultimately? present the finished product well.

A ‘substantial word pantry’ can amount to no more than a solid command of one’s native language if say writing about? a starry night, but if one wishes to incorporate the names of stars and constellations then it may be necessary to carry out research before commencing your writing. Your poem will only be as good as what you know, and what you truly believe.?

So what do you believe? What do you wish to say? Writing requires a framework to be hung onto and developmental progression. So, before embarking on the actual process of writing have a clear idea as to both your theme and the essence of the message which is to be relayed. (Stage 1). Even better, try to visualize an outline of the ‘story.’ Without at least some of this you have nothing of substance to write about and ‘writer's block,’ or rather freezing, will be almost inevitable.

Actual physical writing is usually part two of a three stage process, and should be by far the easiest stage. The initial stage is relatively difficult and embraces plotting your theme. The final stage amounts to polishing what you have written, and potentially will ultimately uplift your first draft to poetry quality. Polishing normally takes a long of time?? spread over days, sometimes weeks, and occasionally months. Breaks between? polishing sessions being essential, with fresh eyes being the most effective. A not unusual ratio might amount to say? Stage 1:? 4.00 hours;? Stage? 2:? 0.50 hours;? Stage 3:? 25.00 hours. Yes 25, not 2.50.

How is it possible to write something substantial and potentially fine in as little as thirty minutes? The simple answer is by not trying. Absolutely key is to put in the spade work - i.e. Stage 1;? preferably on a later day relax / recall your outline / clear your mind for several minutes; then, when you feel ready, write from your sub-conscious without thinking, without stopping, with no intermediate reading, correcting, or reviews. Just let it flow uninterrupted! If you stop to think then expect mental torture. The polishing stage only comes after the piece has been completely written.? ????

THE WRITER:? I began writing poetry in 1958 (aged 7) when mother craved an electric iron instead of spending hours repeatedly heating up? her heavy ferrous iron in our cottage’s open fire. She read of one hundred electric irons being runners’ up prizes in a national poetry competition being run by the Spa grocery company.

She decided to enter, produced the first line of her poem, became stuck, and I completed the remainder. She won her iron, which became her third baby, (sounds silly within the context of our present technology age) and in the process she became a village celebrity.

I then, off and on, continue writing to this day having well over a thousand pieces of both prose and poetry published, ran an international poetry competition for six years, won poetry prizes, was a U.K. Bard of the Year shortlisted finalist in 1994, and (mention so as not to appear ancient history) within the last month was a runner up in the Waltham Forest (London) Poetry competition.? ?

My LinkedIn Poetry Articles;

Communicating With the Spirit World (19/12/2023)

Can Anyone Strive to be a Poet? (27/12/ 2023)

Recovering from a Broken Life (23/01/2024)

Getting Your Poetry Into Print (25/01/2024)

Evita (26/11/2024)