 Poetry: October 04, 2006 Issue [#1303] |
  Poetry
This week: Edited by: Red Writing Hood <3  
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A lot about becoming a better writer is about getting over "humps."
The first is separating yourself enough from your writing to be able to take constructive criticism. The second is to figure out the difference between telling the reader your point and showing the reader your point.
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A Poet’s Insider Guide to “Show Vs. Tell”
PART TWO: EMOTION
When I started writing poetry at age six or seven, it was more observational than emotional. I wrote what I saw and that was it. Once I hit my teen years and my hormones surged, a flood of emotions would deluge the page every time I wrote.
The hardest thing I had to learn as a poet was to take a step back. To step back and word my poem so that instead of reliving that moment again, I needed to allow the reader to see it, to feel it and perhaps identify with it.
So, how exactly can a person show emotion on the written page?
The same way you show your reader the setting of your poem. Give them a visual to hold on to.
Here are two examples from lyrics:
“He says, Bill, I believe this is killing me.
As the smile ran away from his face”
(Piano Man, artist – Billy Joel)
*Yes, I really like this song.*
“Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile”
(She Will Be Loved, artist – Maroon 5)
These two examples focus on a smile, but you certainly aren't limited by that particular body part. You can show emotions through eyes, hands and more.
You can also show emotion, for example love, in your poem by depicting a special moment. People do little things for the ones they love. By showing one of these special moments you can show that love without beating your reader over the head with it.
I was a judge in a poetry contest once that had entries that ran the whole gamut of emotions. The piece that won was one that was about something as simple as breakfast. In this poem I could see this couple having breakfast and I could see how much they loved one another.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not easy, especially when you work with emotional material. If you were to look through my work you’d find horrible attempts, some angst, a decent amount of passable/good work, and the occasional gem that I cut just right.
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And an article on Show Vs Tell:
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Gotta question, answer, problem, solution, tip, trick, cheer, jeer, or extra million lying around?
If so, send it through the feedback section at the bottom of this newsletter OR click the little envelope next to my name Red Writing Hood <3 and send it through email.
COMMENTS ON MY LAST NEWSLETTER:
Submitted By: SHERRI GIBSON 
Submitted Comment:
Great and informative newsletter! Poetry is indeed like music. The two go hand to hand. Without good lyrics, there is no song. sherri gibson
Submitted By: 
Submitted Comment:
Just a quick question: Do lines like:
"The light is dim,
The floors are warped,
In this forsaken tomb,
Of eternal remorse"
Show either time or imagery?
They show both. "The light is dim" Shows me the time (and using the term tomb does to some extent, as we don't often refer to where we bury our dead as tomb much anymore.) Also, the fact the floors are warped indicates a passage of time (I picture that they are warped from a person walking that path many times over a long period) and all of it employs imagery.  Good job.
Submitted By: Vivian 
Submitted Comment:
Ironically, I just did an article on showing, not telling, and included an example of poetry that shows.
The link to that article is above in the Editor's Picks section
Submitted By: Cookie ~ contemplatingareturn
Submitted Comment:
Wonderful newsletter! A good subject to speak on as our poems really need to be visualized as much as they are heard. Thank you.
Submitted By: ANGEL
Submitted Comment:
I totally agree, with poetry being similar to music. You will find that most songs can be created by poetry and vice versa. I think there both excellent ways of communication.
Submitted By: Musings
Submitted Comment:
Thanks again for featuring me in your newsletter. Musings
Submitted By: auric
Submitted Comment:
Red Writing Hood, I enjoyed your issue about the passage of time, and I wanted to share my poem "No Strings Attached" with you. It shows the life of the narrator as a puppet who comes full circle and becomes a puppeteer himself. I thought it would make for a nice metaphor, and I hope you like it as well.
The link to that poem is above in the Editor's Picks section
Submitted By: GabriellaR45
Submitted Comment: Thanks so much for your work on this terrific newsletter ! I thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly your editorial. It was lots of fun reading about your personal journey, working to expand your capabilities by making use of metaphors.
Billy Joel's song is a wonderful example. As always, I learn so much from this newsletter. Bravo !! Warmest best, Gabriella
Thank you all once again for your wonderful feedback!
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