I already like Bird by Bird. It has birds in the title!
Ya. I added A Poetry Handbook to cart and then the one on metrical verse popped up and I thought, hey, maybe I'll hang out with you formalists once in a while. Might be fun. :)
Thanks, Shawna. I'm a bit behind. Some of these have been out a fair while. Dillard's was first published in 1989! I must have been sleeping. I think I'll start with the Dillard. It's a slim book page-wise, at just over 100 pages, but from what I'm told it's thick in substance.
Mmm, good choices. I think I've got 6 of those. I love Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. It was really important to me when I started writing. And I've recently acquired some Mary Oliver myself!
When I read your comment I suddenly remembered I have a Natalie Goldberg. I took a look and sure enough. Good thing it isn't the same one. I have Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life published in 1990. I must have read it back then, too, as I can't remember what's in it.
Shawna recommended Bird by Bird to me and it's made a huge difference in my life. Dillard, on the other hand, i'd like to lock in her garden shed where she can't write any more books about writing. anytime i want to get Really Depressed about writing (which i generally don't) i just go down to the library and read her chapter on shooting myself as opposed to creating "another excellent manuscript on which to choke the world." thanks, Annie. i think i'll go eat some glass now. yeeeeesh.
Hollander and Fenton? Sheesh. My Add to Cart button is gonna wear out.
Uh, I'm glad to hear Bird by Bird was a hit with you, Kimmy. And I'll make a note to NEVER bring up That Other Book at mealtime or happy hour or anywhere near stemware.
Bird by Bird is absolutely delightful; one of the few books I habitually read over, laughing aloud each time. The Oliver is pretty basic, I use it for teaching poetry to beginners; for understanding metrical poetry, I prefer Poetic Metre and Poetic Form by Paul Fussell, and for free verse,Free Verse: AN Essay on Prosody by Charles O Hartman.
Hi Evie, it is lovely. I look forward to reading it. I learned in Dillard's book that Faulkner took just six weeks to write it. I can't get my head around that. I imagine it will be even harder to believe once I read it.
Evie, I really haven't read much on it beyond what I studied in English lit courses. Zach and Susan's suggestions and now yours will help fill that gap in my reading. Thanks!
Fleming wrote each of his Bond books in 6 weeks. granted they're not As I Lay Dying, but. i like the idea. Sebastian Faulks did the same writing the new Bond book. 6 weeks start to finish. the results are fun and really Flemingesque
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I have, let's see, four of those titles.
(Don't tell me if you DON'T like Bird by Bird. It's one of my favourites...)
I believe you may have inadvertantly over-Olivered your order. Next time check for restrictions and quotas before buying.
I already like Bird by Bird. It has birds in the title!
Ya. I added A Poetry Handbook to cart and then the one on metrical verse popped up and I thought, hey, maybe I'll hang out with you formalists once in a while. Might be fun. :)
A great stack - a couple of my faves in there - the Hirshfield and the Dillard!
Thanks, Shawna. I'm a bit behind. Some of these have been out a fair while. Dillard's was first published in 1989! I must have been sleeping. I think I'll start with the Dillard. It's a slim book page-wise, at just over 100 pages, but from what I'm told it's thick in substance.
Mmm, good choices. I think I've got 6 of those. I love Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones. It was really important to me when I started writing. And I've recently acquired some Mary Oliver myself!
When I read your comment I suddenly remembered I have a Natalie Goldberg. I took a look and sure enough. Good thing it isn't the same one. I have Wild Mind: Living the Writer's Life published in 1990. I must have read it back then, too, as I can't remember what's in it.
I haven't read Oliver's book on metrical verse, but I suspect she's not the best person to be talking about it. Have you read Hollander and Fenton?
Shawna recommended Bird by Bird to me and it's made a huge difference in my life. Dillard, on the other hand, i'd like to lock in her garden shed where she can't write any more books about writing. anytime i want to get Really Depressed about writing (which i generally don't) i just go down to the library and read her chapter on shooting myself as opposed to creating "another excellent manuscript on which to choke the world." thanks, Annie. i think i'll go eat some glass now. yeeeeesh.
I'm still waiting for my book !!
Mom
Hollander and Fenton? Sheesh. My Add to Cart button is gonna wear out.
Uh, I'm glad to hear Bird by Bird was a hit with you, Kimmy. And I'll make a note to NEVER bring up That Other Book at mealtime or happy hour or anywhere near stemware.
Yes, Mom...
Bird by Bird is absolutely delightful; one of the few books I habitually read over, laughing aloud each time. The Oliver is pretty basic, I use it for teaching poetry to beginners; for understanding metrical poetry, I prefer Poetic Metre and Poetic Form by Paul Fussell, and for free verse,Free Verse: AN Essay on Prosody by Charles O Hartman.
Thanks, Susan! I'll add those to my order.
As I Lay Dying is one of my favourites. That's such a gorgeous edition you have.
Hi Evie, it is lovely. I look forward to reading it. I learned in Dillard's book that Faulkner took just six weeks to write it. I can't get my head around that. I imagine it will be even harder to believe once I read it.
Brenda,
My god! 6 weeks? That's unbelievable.
I haven't read so much on meter—Adams’ Poetic Designs years ago. Any you'd suggest?
Oh damn, I see Zach has suggested a few above...
Evie, I really haven't read much on it beyond what I studied in English lit courses. Zach and Susan's suggestions and now yours will help fill that gap in my reading. Thanks!
Fleming wrote each of his Bond books in 6 weeks. granted they're not As I Lay Dying, but. i like the idea. Sebastian Faulks did the same writing the new Bond book. 6 weeks start to finish. the results are fun and really Flemingesque
Cool. I like the idea too. With my terrible attention span, I'd pretty much have to write one in 6 weeks.
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