I’m working with Jonette on perfecting the art of the critique. As a veteran of poetry, she’s taken many more creative writing courses than I have and has a wealth of knowledge to offer. I’m learning how to pose more constructive questions and how relate my specific comments to the work as a whole. I’ve found that I often find details that seem to help or hinder a piece, but often am unable to express how to make it better or why something works. This is a difficult process because I haven’t practiced it much in the past. As an English teacher I critique many things, but usually creativity is lower on the list of priorities. I’m beginning to realize that maybe it should be higher. Creative writing is more important than it’s often given credit because it forces writers (and readers) to perform on a higher level of thinking. In fact, it forces us to work on multiple levels of thought
I feel exactly the same way as Darren. I'm struggling with many of the same issues, but I can see how looking at a lot of different poems can help cultivate this skill. I find myself at a loss of words when I'm looking at many of these poems, because I can't imagine writing something as good as them. It's been a real struggle, but it is getting a little bit easier as we have moved along. I feel that many good things are coming from these exercises and hopefully, I will continue to progress in the coming weeks.
You need not exit this course a bona fide "poet." I merely want to see measured growth as a writer and a deeper appreciation for the rigor (and beauty) of poetry as art and of creative writing as a process. I already see it in you.
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