Comments on: read write prompt #4: change up your line length http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/ Mon, 03 May 2010 01:01:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Read Write Poem http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-298 Read Write Poem Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:18:29 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-298 Comments for this post are now closed. Comments for this post are now closed.

]]> By: SweetTalkingGuy http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-297 SweetTalkingGuy Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:39:02 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-297 Very interesting! For me line length is all to do with the width of the paper I'm writing on. So, if I'm preparing something for performance and writing it on the back of a bus ticket on the way to the venue, it's not going to be very long. I used to do a lot of performance poetry and most of it never got as far as the writing stage. I would compose something in my head, perform it that night and throw it away. These days I write everything down then memorise it because I find it much too difficult to read from the page. How do you maintain eye contact with the audience if you're stuttering over a scrap of paper? Very interesting!
For me line length is all to do with the width of the paper I’m writing on.
So, if I’m preparing something for performance and writing it on the back of a bus ticket on the way to the venue, it’s not going to be very long.
I used to do a lot of performance poetry and most of it never got as far as the writing stage. I would compose something in my head, perform it that night and throw it away.
These days I write everything down then memorise it because I find it much too difficult to read from the page. How do you maintain eye contact with the audience if you’re stuttering over a scrap of paper?

]]> By: Roberta http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-296 Roberta Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:19:44 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-296 oops I don't think I was supposed to post yet...sorry-its due to my crazy work sched. oops I don’t think I was supposed to post yet…sorry-its due to my crazy work sched.

]]> By: Roberta http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Roberta Mon, 10 Dec 2007 02:10:19 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-295 <a href="http://birdswordpoetry.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/fruits/" rel="nofollow">This is a combo prompt-taking 3 and adding it to 4.</a> I am so used to writing short quick poems I miss the luxury of long sentences. It was nice to give it a try again. The one poetry class I took ages ago was all about getting rid of extra words-and I took that to mean cutting and slashing. This is a combo prompt-taking 3 and adding it to 4.

I am so used to writing short quick poems I miss the luxury of long sentences. It was nice to give it a try again. The one poetry class I took ages ago was all about getting rid of extra words-and I took that to mean cutting and slashing.

]]> By: Derek http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Derek Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:40:23 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-294 I'm with you, Susan *and anyone else can chime in on this* Illiteracy in writing is probably the biggest conundrum we have as poets. I will admit that i'm not big on reading the greats. I can't wrap my head around them, but I do try. I aslo listen to a lot of my contemporaries, which, according to an English professor I had, is far more important that knowing all the classics. That said, there is something of merit is knowing a reference or homage to another poet when one sees/hears it. I’m with you, Susan *and anyone else can chime in on this*

Illiteracy in writing is probably the biggest conundrum we have as poets. I will admit that i’m not big on reading the greats. I can’t wrap my head around them, but I do try. I aslo listen to a lot of my contemporaries, which, according to an English professor I had, is far more important that knowing all the classics. That said, there is something of merit is knowing a reference or homage to another poet when one sees/hears it.

]]> By: susan http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-293 susan Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:21:16 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-293 Hi Derek, I like Slam when it's clear the poet is literate. Call me a snob, but when a poet tells me he can't be bothered reading other poets, I can't the speaker seriously. I think if more aspiring stage poets read more and seriously worked on their writing, they would only enhance their stage performance. I've read at open mic several years ago, but I'm no slam poet. Still I admire those who do it well. As a matter of fact, Detroit Poetry Collective is gearing up for a major Slam competition. I sit on DPC's board because I couldn't tell the founder no. She's an incredibly talented young woman, a fellow Cave Canem alumni in fact. Anywhoo, let's talk more, and tell me where I can read your work. Hi Derek,

I like Slam when it’s clear the poet is literate. Call me a snob, but when a poet tells me he can’t be bothered reading other poets, I can’t the speaker seriously. I think if more aspiring stage poets read more and seriously worked on their writing, they would only enhance their stage performance.

I’ve read at open mic several years ago, but I’m no slam poet. Still I admire those who do it well. As a matter of fact, Detroit Poetry Collective is gearing up for a major Slam competition. I sit on DPC’s board because I couldn’t tell the founder no. She’s an incredibly talented young woman, a fellow Cave Canem alumni in fact. Anywhoo, let’s talk more, and tell me where I can read your work.

]]> By: Christine http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-292 Christine Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:54:30 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-292 Interesting conversation going on here. Tom, you bring up such an important aspect of poetry - how to convey meaning through sound or word images on a page. My verses are mostly short when I write in free verse. I usually isolate a word that seems particularly important in meaning, or if it sounds better by itself. I love changing things up, so this is great! Interesting conversation going on here. Tom, you bring up such an important aspect of poetry – how to convey meaning through sound or word images on a page. My verses are mostly short when I write in free verse. I usually isolate a word that seems particularly important in meaning, or if it sounds better by itself.

I love changing things up, so this is great!

]]> By: Linda Jacobs http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Linda Jacobs Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:56:23 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-291 I've always been attracted to short lines; they just seem more accessible. It'll kill me to write across the whole line but I'll do it. This will be sort of like the American Sentences and I survived that! Again, thanks for this great site. Oh, and I'm glad it's not a blog site because blogs are blocked at my school. (Along with a million other sites, but, that's another story!) I’ve always been attracted to short lines; they just seem more accessible. It’ll kill me to write across the whole line but I’ll do it. This will be sort of like the American Sentences and I survived that!

Again, thanks for this great site. Oh, and I’m glad it’s not a blog site because blogs are blocked at my school. (Along with a million other sites, but, that’s another story!)

]]> By: Watermark http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-290 Watermark Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:22:01 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-290 <strong>What It Is - an exercise in long lines...</strong> I've combined two recent prompts into one long-lined poem. Prompt #3: Consider three pieces of your life . . . You could even go crazy and mix it all up, picking one piece from different “categories.” Write a single poem about all three. Try to wo... What It Is – an exercise in long lines…

I’ve combined two recent prompts into one long-lined poem. Prompt #3: Consider three pieces of your life . . . You could even go crazy and mix it all up, picking one piece from different “categories.” Write a single poem about all three. Try to wo…

]]> By: gautami http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-289 gautami Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:44:27 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-289 I keep changing my line lengths depending on what I want to convey. I keep changing my line lengths depending on what I want to convey.

]]> By: Dick http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-288 Dick Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:03:40 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-288 Short lines for me. So for this prompt it's gallop to the edge the page & beyond, emulating Walt Whitman & C.K. Williams... Short lines
for me.
So for this prompt it’s gallop to the edge the page & beyond, emulating Walt Whitman & C.K. Williams…

]]> By: Carolee http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Carolee Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:54:05 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-287 i play with line breaks perhaps more than any other part of writing poetry. my line lengths vary dramatically ... and each time i revise, inevitably, the line breaks change and then change back and on and on. it's a difficult thing to sort out. in FACT! jill and i got together on tuesday and we actually had coffee and talked poetry. it was paradise. one of the things we discussed is line breaks and the varying "recommendations" about what's the right thing to do ... break according to rhythm? break according to strong words that need to be at the end of a line or the beginning of a line? break with words that lead the reader to the next line? certainly, each of those uses for line breaks has a role and i guess it comes down to pacing and emphasis? i am always wishy-washy about my line breaks and i hate being wishy washy about anything ... i play with line breaks perhaps more than any other part of writing poetry. my line lengths vary dramatically … and each time i revise, inevitably, the line breaks change and then change back and on and on. it’s a difficult thing to sort out.

in FACT! jill and i got together on tuesday and we actually had coffee and talked poetry. it was paradise. one of the things we discussed is line breaks and the varying “recommendations” about what’s the right thing to do … break according to rhythm? break according to strong words that need to be at the end of a line or the beginning of a line? break with words that lead the reader to the next line?

certainly, each of those uses for line breaks has a role and i guess it comes down to pacing and emphasis? i am always wishy-washy about my line breaks and i hate being wishy washy about anything …

]]> By: Moonlit | Monkeyboy http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-286 Moonlit | Monkeyboy Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:40:14 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-286 [...] week’s Read Write Poem exercise is about changing up your line length… for me, that translated into something sort [...] [...] week’s Read Write Poem exercise is about changing up your line length… for me, that translated into something sort [...]

]]> By: Derek http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-285 Derek Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:15:47 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-285 Susan...I'm a big fan of slam poetry, or stage poetry, and know exactly what you're talking about. Sometimes, it feels like they aren't so much writing poetry as they are writing narrative prose with a certain jaunt to it. That said, as I aspire to take my work to a stage one day, I'm still trying to perfect a style that would look good in print. It's the word combination people hear. That said, I tend to keep my lines pretty short. Just short of pentameter, for the most part. A good deal of my poetry had a 'limericky" feel. I'm trying to get away from that. Susan…I’m a big fan of slam poetry, or stage poetry, and know exactly what you’re talking about. Sometimes, it feels like they aren’t so much writing poetry as they are writing narrative prose with a certain jaunt to it.

That said, as I aspire to take my work to a stage one day, I’m still trying to perfect a style that would look good in print. It’s the word combination people hear.

That said, I tend to keep my lines pretty short. Just short of pentameter, for the most part. A good deal of my poetry had a ‘limericky” feel. I’m trying to get away from that.

]]> By: Jo http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-284 Jo Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:50:13 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-284 Great, if tricky, prompt......mine are all over the place. The generator gave me rust.......we'll see. Great, if tricky, prompt……mine are all over the place. The generator gave me rust…….we’ll see.

]]> By: susan http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-283 susan Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:21:30 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-283 There is quite a debate about line lengths particularly among spoken word and slam poets who often use line breaks solely as cues for performance. Some but not all of these poets have little interest in formal poetry or page poetry as they call it. Anyway, as one who prefers the page to stage, I really appreciate the article. There is quite a debate about line lengths particularly among spoken word and slam poets who often use line breaks solely as cues for performance. Some but not all of these poets have little interest in formal poetry or page poetry as they call it. Anyway, as one who prefers the page to stage, I really appreciate the article.

]]> By: Ceridwen http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-282 Ceridwen Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:04:21 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-282 Dogfaceboy, bone has a special meaning for me now that I have been told I have osteopenia. I started writing a lot about bones before I knew that, though. Dogfaceboy, bone has a special meaning for me now that I have been told I have osteopenia. I started writing a lot about bones before I knew that, though.

]]> By: dogfaceboy http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-281 dogfaceboy Wed, 05 Dec 2007 12:15:45 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-281 Ceri, my word is always bone. It's my favorite word in the English language. Tom, I like this idea. I'm a mixer-upper already, though. I have lots of short-lined poems, a few long-lined ones, lots of in-between ones. So I guess I'm going for long. I like imagining all the things that depend on the red wheelbarrow. One of my least favorite poems but favorite imaginings. Ceri, my word is always bone. It’s my favorite word in the English language.

Tom, I like this idea. I’m a mixer-upper already, though. I have lots of short-lined poems, a few long-lined ones, lots of in-between ones.

So I guess I’m going for long.

I like imagining all the things that depend on the red wheelbarrow. One of my least favorite poems but favorite imaginings.

]]> By: Ceridwen http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-280 Ceridwen Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:51:14 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-280 Tom, this is such a great prompt. I looked at the Random Prompt Generator, and my word is "bone." I'm going to have fun with that one this week. Now I have to look at my line lengths and think about how to change them up. Tom, this is such a great prompt. I looked at the Random Prompt Generator, and my word is “bone.” I’m going to have fun with that one this week. Now I have to look at my line lengths and think about how to change them up.

]]> By: Fabs http://readwritepoem.org/blog/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/comment-page-1/#comment-279 Fabs Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:25:35 +0000 http://readwritepoem.org/2007/12/05/read-write-prompt-4-change-up-your-line-length/#comment-279 Haha! This is really funny, because for my Major Work (for Year 12 English) this year I wrote a chronological series of poems about a guy and a girl told from the perspective of different musical instruments. I actually used line length (in association with rhythm and assonance) to characterise the different instruments: My Oboe was running thirteen or fourteen syllable lines (grand, smooth, flowing sense), whereas the piano teacher stuck rigidly to 4-syllables-per-line and came across as a grumpy old thing. :) Thanks guys, I've really appreciated your prompts! Haha! This is really funny, because for my Major Work (for Year 12 English) this year I wrote a chronological series of poems about a guy and a girl told from the perspective of different musical instruments. I actually used line length (in association with rhythm and assonance) to characterise the different instruments: My Oboe was running thirteen or fourteen syllable lines (grand, smooth, flowing sense), whereas the piano teacher stuck rigidly to 4-syllables-per-line and came across as a grumpy old thing. :)
Thanks guys, I’ve really appreciated your prompts!

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