Wednesday 4 December 2013

IWSG: A Case of Bad Poetry

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I have a confession to make. Lately, I've been writing poetry. Really, really bad poetry and I can't stop. 

I'll sit in front of my manuscript, get a couple lines of editing done, and before I can stop myself, I've clicked the 'new document' button and I'm churning out poetic vomit. Actually, let me rephrase that: rhyming poetic vomit--the worst kind. 

Why, oh why, is my brain doing this to me. I'm a gawd awful poet, and that's not false modesty, it's fact. 

But...

If I'm being painfully honest, it kinda feels good getting the verse out. It's crap, of that I have no doubt, (see I'm doing it again) but I'm ok with that. I'm writing something I'd never show anyone and knowing that releases me of insecurities and the fear of disappointing. Even better, it's led to a steady trickle of words. And you know what? I'm--dare I say it--enjoying this exercise. Even the dark and depressing, angsty stuff is fun to get out on paper. It reminds me of when I first started writing. A time before the blog, before I wanted to get published, before letting in all these insecurities . . . back when I was just a girl who happened to be writing a story. That's all. I've missed that girl, but I think I've found her again, at least part of her when I write poetry. So I think I'm going to stop fighting it, and just let the bad rhyming flow and see where this takes me. The rest can wait and I'm ok with that. Really. I'm ok.





42 comments:

  1. haha, love that poem - and I think it's great that you're just gonna let the poetry flow, so to speak (in much the same way as a nosebleed flows, at least until it starts to clot. :P)

    I don't write much poetry nowadays, but I do go through phases where I will write songs (which I see as poems with a bit of extra "stuff" on top).

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  2. Mustard?
    They say the best prose is poetic. You are just practicing to make your prose better, and if you are enjoying the poetry, keep at it!

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  3. Dastard-ly.

    I sometimes miss that girl I used to be, too, the one who wrote and wrote and wrote all kinds of stuff, including awful poetry. But she's around somewhere and I'll find her. :)

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  4. hmmmm you may not want to quit your day job hahaha mastered and plastered are the main two that rhyme with bastard. Custard and mustard are just eye rhymes

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  5. Bahahhaaaa!!! And according to RyhmeZone mastered and plastered are recommended. :)

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  6. "I'm just a girl...standing in front of a boy...reading bad poetry." Why wasn't that a quote in Notting Hill?

    Because he's mastered being a bastard.

    M.L. Swift, Writer

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  7. "Pass Card?" Or depending on how you pronounce "bastard" and the context of the poem, maybe "ass turd" might work...

    And I say celebrate the poetry! It's writing, it's creative, and it's fun!

    Remember that you're always a writer, no matter if it's for better or for verse!

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  8. OK in all seriousness, I think writing poetry-- even the bad stuff (and I'm with you, Sister, my poetry writing talent is nil), enhances our writing. I think it engages our right brain creativity and pays off in the meter and rhythm of our narrative writing. And yes, I am sticking with that story.

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  9. Custard? Mastered? Plastered?
    She mastered the art and plastered him with custard...? Something along those lines?
    I love writing fun stuff! It's cathartic!
    So keep at it!

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  10. I think it is good you listen to your need of writing poetry. I believe it is a healing process that the muses automatically trigger whenever the artist needs to say something that has been stuck for a while in the heart. Way to go!

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  11. Poetry is all about emotion. If you've got emotions that are coming out in poetry it's best to let them have their way. You'll feel better for it. If it's fun, if you want to do it, and even better if it's helping you find your writing self again that's all frosting on the cake. If your body/mind/emotions need expression, let them express. (um, you know what I mean, right?) I used to write a lot of poetry and still find myself doing it now. I would NEVER show anyone (have we ever had a bad poetry blog hop?) but it's fun, and it fills a need in me.

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  12. Hi, Elise,
    You can always make me smile. The way I figure this is that you have to get the good stuff out while you're practising and with experience, the good stuff will come later. Don't give up. If you really wanna write poetry, then that's what you'll do.

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  13. I miss those days too. When writing gets under my skin (or should I say the industry), I have to remind myself that writing really is my bliss, so stop taking it so seriously.
    *Master, it sorta rhymes with bastard...just slur the d a little ;)

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  14. You are a funny one. I've written song lyrics including two for dance hall (Oh Lordy). Trust me, we all write things not necessary best for the viewing public. You had guts to share it with us and that counts for plenty.

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  15. To funny. I really want to be a song writer, but that's poetry, too and I can't get things to rhyme.

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  16. If you start a bad poet's club, can I join? I'll also volunteer to be the treasurer, b/c I'm horrible at math, too. =)

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  17. Poetry is hard, even harder when you think you suck it. I wonder if you are as bad as you think you are.

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  18. It all helps keep the creative juices flowing. Plus you're in France, the birthplace of bad poetry. It's be rude not to.

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  19. Elise- you're too funny. I'm doing the same thing with flash fiction. Before I sit down to work on my novel, I write a piece of flash to get the juices flowing. I'm loving it.

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  20. You're having fun, right? And exercising a new part of your writing muscle? What else matters? :)

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  21. You go girl...keep on writing. lol. I love the pics. =)

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  22. That's a really cool idea and a good way to get back in touch with your center. Maybe it can be transplanted into your fiction writing, somehow!

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  23. It's your own kind of free writing. Let your subconscious spew whatever it needs to spew. More power to your vomit-poetry :)

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  24. Poetry is the bestest! The more poetry I write, the better I feel and the more I work on my novel. It gets it out, you know. Whatever needs to come out. ^_^ Isn't it freeing?

    Love that poem, by the way. ^_^

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  25. You never know where things will lead. Maybe the poetry will unlock a lyrical side of you that will transfer to your fiction writing. If you're enjoying it, that's all that matters. Life is short -- make the most of every day! :-)

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  26. Hi everyone. Thank you for all the wonderful comments! I'll be stopping by your blogs over the next few days. Today is my son's birthday (he's 5, already!) and yesterday we had a party and celebrated with this friends. Needless to say it's been a busy two days, but I'll looking forward to catching up with you all! (:

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  27. What a great idea or procrastination activity or whatever. Great brain exercise. Poets get my admiration. Such a difficult craft.

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  28. LOL... I love that pic and poem!!! Fantastic.

    You know what, when I was in my 20s I carried around a poetry journal and just jotted verse whenever I was inspired. Today, it's one of my greatest treasures. SO fun looking back and reliving a slice of my younger years thru a few chosen words. And when there are no limits/no rules, anything can happen. So you keep jotting those crappy poems. One day, you'll love reading them again. :)

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  29. Hi Elise,

    Ah yes, a bit of poetry from thee. It's good to see your poetry. I don't do poetry but I do do pooetry. I write crap and that's a wrap.

    Your rhyming skills. Will give you thrills. Rhyming therapy. It's plain to see.

    Gary, Gary, quite contrary :)

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  30. LOL! Sometimes you do just have to let it out in order to get through to the good stuff--like priming a well or clearing water lines. I had a choir teacher who said if you were going to make a mistake, make a bold one. I hold that in writing. =)

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  31. I SUCK at writing poetry. I love to read it, and I appreciate it. But I can't write it to save my life. And what the hell rhymes with "bastard?"

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  32. LOL, I do it all the time and the worst part is I actually keep posting it - on my blog. I'm horrible, but I can't help myself! It's a disease - must be catchy! :)

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  33. When I write bad stuff I think of it as hair ball time. Spit it up. Get it out. Then write something good. As to bastard. . .can you work the poem around to use "dastard?"

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  34. OMG!! This is too much
    Keep inform
    Best
    PHil

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  35. OMG!! This is too much
    Keep inform
    Best
    PHil

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  36. I used to write poetry but it's been a while...as for a rhyme with bastard, you could try bard, guard, leotard (God knows how that would ever work), petard...:)

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  37. My poetry is really dark. I think the cool thing about poetry is you can put something really dark in a little tiny package of words and then walk away from it. I think it's a good idea to write it if it's there. It's not like it's going to go away if you ignore it. :)

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  38. Haha at the poem! I think you've found a major secret there. I miss the time before I knew about the publishing world. When I was naive and loved writing just for the writing, without letting in the doubts. This secret is why I love writing to a timed prompt. No time to doubt or overthink; the words just flow.

    The Warrior Muse

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  39. This sounds like a wonderful writing outlet, even if you don't think the stuff coming out is good -- at least you're writing SOMETHING! And you're enjoying it, which is even more important. I say keep going until you've had enough of "churning out poetic vomit" ;-)

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