tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post4983920286512528718..comments2024-02-12T16:32:03.714-08:00Comments on Book of Kells: Blog Request: Compiling a Poetry Manuscript, Part 1 of Many...Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-148090933327652472011-01-26T09:37:43.764-08:002011-01-26T09:37:43.764-08:00I honestly spent a massive amount of time ordering...I honestly spent a massive amount of time ordering the poems in my book A Mouth for Picket Fences...trying to thread a narrative through the order. I am currently compiling for my second collection...a surreal book at its core, I think I may be a little unintentional with this one and let it create its own flow. Great post!Barry Napierhttp://www.barrynapierwriting.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-78914988932289886122011-01-21T17:57:46.226-08:002011-01-21T17:57:46.226-08:00Something I've done from time to time over the...Something I've done from time to time over the years, that I've found very good practice, is to pretend I'm going to compile a small anthology of poems by other poets. I'll pick 10 or 12 or 15 poems I like by a variety of poets, and start ordering them in whatever feels like a good sequence.<br /><br />I tend to listen for how one poem follows another, a similarity -- or contrast -- in tone or "voice" or pitch, or (maybe) subject matter.<br /><br />One of the advantages I've found in working with poems by other poets is that I don't feel so emotionally invested in which poems I choose to include or leave out, which one goes first or last, etc. It's easier to stay a little detached and just listen to the poem <i>as poems</i>.Lyle Daggetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10731915540520704368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-35364012861040644862011-01-21T14:00:54.923-08:002011-01-21T14:00:54.923-08:00This is a great post, Kelli. I am sure that Rober...This is a great post, Kelli. I am sure that Robert Frost said, "If there are 24 poems in a book of poetry, the poem itself is the 25th poem." (I was asked how my book was the 25th poem as the opening question of my MFA thesis defense. Nothing like starting out with a softball question, eh?)Pamela Johnson Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06637447850820805268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-39957465542653907752011-01-21T13:34:39.682-08:002011-01-21T13:34:39.682-08:00I ordered this book upon recommendation from Jessi...I ordered this book upon recommendation from Jessie Carty, and I am trying to savor it a little bit at a time. I often read these books at least twice in a row to absorb it...I look forward to hearing more from you.<br /><br />Comments on these things also help tremendously! Thanks for this...Chef Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11198603107302675448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-90764679984590316782011-01-21T08:53:11.145-08:002011-01-21T08:53:11.145-08:00Thanks for this, Kelli. Diane Lockward recently p...Thanks for this, Kelli. Diane Lockward recently posted along similar lines but from the angle of the reader. She cites Frost for the quote about the book being the final poem.<br />http://dianelockward.blogspot.com/2011/01/twenty-sixth-poem.htmlSandy Longhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04735445958970512617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-6809082781134353772011-01-21T07:02:24.478-08:002011-01-21T07:02:24.478-08:00Theodore Roethke wrote that once you're on you...Theodore Roethke wrote that once you're on your second book the poems order themselves as you write them. Of course he was Theodore Roethke. It's another way to look at the whole ordering conundrum though. It gets down to experience in the end. (Sorry I couldn't find where I found the quote)<br /><br />I think excluding poems also comes from practice. With my first book I wanted to include every single poem I had ever written. That changed by my second book and changed even more by my third book and has changed drastically now.Radish Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06534752971317927559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-50320795264488177592011-01-21T05:58:00.551-08:002011-01-21T05:58:00.551-08:00You are so right. Every organizational choice aff...You are so right. Every organizational choice affects the reader.<br /><br />I've talked about this before. I like finding the hidden narrative, the story behind the book only the poet knows, and following that. It's worked for every chapbook I've put together and every full length book I've done. I'd rather the reader be following my lead (isn't that part of my jpb, anyways?)than stumble along in the dark on their own.Justin Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12161484350184865575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-91687963031089742492011-01-21T05:13:56.711-08:002011-01-21T05:13:56.711-08:00I'm so excited that you are blogging about thi...I'm so excited that you are blogging about this! <br />"I believe a book of poems needs to be deliberate, created and crafted."--so true. I've been sending out my first manuscript this year, and its so interesting to hear from a poet who has been there and done that--twice! i actually own "Ordering the Storm"--very good book, and I think it is possibly the only book on the subject? (a fact that I wish would change!)Reneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671306733809975914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-52067775202720357462011-01-21T03:29:14.643-08:002011-01-21T03:29:14.643-08:00An important topic. I'll look forward to your ...An important topic. I'll look forward to your others.Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13290283101378474845noreply@blogger.com