Writing

Why Poetry is Sometimes Not Enough

This evening at Catholic mass, while everyone bowed their heads to pray, I asked Jesus not only to help me be good to my husband and my family, but also what he thought about my poetry. I heard a voice, perhaps in my head, or perhaps funneled out the church ceiling which said, “your poetry will touch a few hearts, but it won’t help you in heaven.”

May

2011

On Poetry and Loss, Part 2

by Joe Weil Memoir

On Poetry and Loss, Part 2

By Joe Weil

I sometimes think African American “cool” and Irish humor developed out of an awareness of the truth that life is not merciful.

May

2011

I sometimes think African American “cool” and Irish humor developed out of an awareness of the truth that life is not merciful.

On Poetry and Loss

by Joe Weil Memoir

On Poetry and Loss

By Joe Weil

The handling of such overwhelming material is first and last, a question of form. Grief, loss, outrage, must be made portable.

Apr

2011

The handling of such overwhelming material is first and last, a question of form. Grief, loss, outrage, must be made portable.

Translating Horace: Ode i.5

by Micah Towery Poetry and Poetics

Translating Horace: Ode i.5

By Micah Towery

Horace is just too good a craftsman for a translation to do him any ultimate justice. Yet I believe translators hope for a sort of “good will” that can exist between between themselves and the poet.

Apr

2011

Creative Stupidity

by Joe Weil Poetry and Poetics

Creative Stupidity

By Joe Weil

Many people do not become artists not because they are stupid, but because they are incapable of suspending the thinking/feeling functions. They fail to become writers and musicians and painters because they cannot enter their highest stupidity.

Apr

2011

Overcoming Writer’s Block

by Joe Weil Writing

Overcoming Writer’s Block

By Joe Weil

The words art and habit might seem an odd pairing, but that’s what art is: the glamor of drudgery, and the drudgery of glamor.

Apr

2011

The words art and habit might seem an odd pairing, but that’s what art is: the glamor of drudgery, and the drudgery of glamor.

On Mimesis

by Emily Vogel Poetry and Poetics

On Mimesis

By Emily Vogel

Aristotle meant that poetry was mimetic of all of things, independent of another poet’s unique perspective. It is not necessary that poets imitate other poets, but that they imitate life.

Mar

2011

Aristotle meant that poetry was mimetic of all of things, independent of another poet’s unique perspective. It is not necessary that poets imitate other poets, but that they imitate life.

Sentimentality vs. Feeling

by Joe Weil Aesthetics

Sentimentality vs. Feeling

By Joe Weil

True feeling has the force of grace; sentimentality has the stench of morals. The word “should” and “must” cling to its fat cherubic legs. Half comprised of self regard, and the other half a mixture of cliche, the sentimental is close to the feigned regard of the funeral director: appropriate, and grave, but with one eye on the itemized bill.

Mar

2011

Kenneth Burke: Do you Eros into Logos? (with a note on Tu Fu)

by Micah Towery Poetry and Poetics

Kenneth Burke: Do you Eros into Logos? (with a note on Tu Fu)

By Micah Towery

Poets who write for self-expression write awful poetry. They don’t seek advice but affirmation.

Mar

2011

Poets who write for self-expression write awful poetry. They don’t seek advice but affirmation.

Look What God Can Do!

by Colie Hoffman Memoir

Look What God Can Do!

By Colie Hoffman

No one wants to appear childlike and vulnerable to others, but everyone (everyone who seeks out new experiences, anyway) wants to feel that way–along with love, awe is the one of the emotions people seek most deeply. And for writers, whose job is to express the inexpressible, the hidden, these two aims can feel at odds.

Mar

2011

The Simple Life

by Mike Foldes Writing

The Simple Life

By Mike Foldes

I was concerned about not knowing. Concerned about not being known. Yet I did little to be known outside of persevering with the work. The work being whatever I was doing at the time in my virtual creative space. Mind, body. Divine intervention. Spiritual revelation. The meaning of every day was living every day as if to make it your last. Life was simple. Inevitable.

Mar

2011

Dispatch after emerging from the post-AWP hangover: or My first AWP

by Adam Pellegrini Memoir

Dispatch after emerging from the post-AWP hangover: or My first AWP

By Adam Pellegrini

At a party last Thursday night after a full day at this year’s AWP conference, I broke one of my own absolute rules – never, under any circumstances resort to quoting The Big Lebowski.

Feb

2011

At a party last Thursday night after a full day at this year’s AWP conference, I broke one of my own absolute rules – never, under any circumstances resort to quoting The Big Lebowski.

Ur Poems: Emily Vogel

by Emily Vogel Poetry and Poetics

Ur Poems: Emily Vogel

By Emily Vogel

What Inspires Us To Write Poetry?

Feb

2011

What Inspires Us To Write Poetry?

Who You Lookin’ At?

by Colie Hoffman Writing

Who You Lookin’ At?

By Colie Hoffman

This entry is part of a series, At Sangam House, India» NOTE: This is the third in a series of posts by Colie Hoffman about her experience while a writer-in-residence at Sangam House, India. When I was in grad school, my friend Dave and I used to lift weights at the gym. The undergrad demographics at our [...]

Jan

2011