read write prompt #32: reuse, recycle and revise!

by Juliet Wilson

I love recycling and was fascinated by January’s recent article about revising poetry, so here’s a quick recycling prompt: Take an old poem and revise it, either polish it or totally rework it — then share both versions with us! If you want, share your thoughts about the process, in your blog post (or here)!

Idea for collaboration: Swap poems with a fellow participant and rework each other’s poems!

Come back after the early morning hours next Monday and post a link to your recycled poem, or anything else you want to share, at the Get Your Poem On post that will be waiting for you!

Want to collaborate? Leave a note here and see if anyone else wants to hook up. Or contact one of the participants on their blog and see if they’re game.

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5 comments to read write prompt #32: reuse, recycle and revise!

  • I think this prompt is one of great benefit to those who participate. Bravo!

    I constantly revise, restructure, and ‘meld’ my poetry. Revise (edit) to continually improve the piece (hopefully), making it tighter and of greater impact — and restructure to create a different perspective on the subject matter, thus drawing two poems from the original single effort.

    When I ‘meld’ I take parts of two different pieces I’ve written, each usually focusing on different subject matter, but each having a thread that can be consolidated to create a uniquely different poem.

    These practices, for me, are great fodder for new work, and solid writing and conceptualizing exercise — especially in moments when your muse just isn’t offering up fresh inspiration.

  • Love the idea of melding, Rob!

    I’m going to try it with two pieces I am working on now, both of which mention the moon.

  • Excellent!

    I’m tired of trying to revise my own work; anyone want to swap?

    Leave a comment or email me at blytheblogger AT gmail DOT com.

  • [...] is a rewrite of an older poem, “To The Musician”, and a poem written in response to the Read Write Poem Prompt #32: Reuse, Recycle, and Revise. I reworked the original piece into a pantoum. [...]

  • [...] when Juliet suggested revision as a prompt for RWP, I knew I didn’t want to work on any of my own work (I started an [...]

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