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4th out of 23 books
—
11 voters
The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises From Poets Who Teach
by
Robin Behn ,
Chase Twichell
A distinctive collection of more than 90 effective poetry-writing exercises combined with corresponding essays to inspire writers of all levels.
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
September 23rd 1992
by William Morrow Paperbacks
(first published 1992)
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Part of me wants to hate on writing-by-formula, but I like this book a lot and was interested in a lot of the exercises. It's a good read on its own, even if you don't intend to use any of the prompts. After each prompt, the author explains why s/he finds these particular constraints valuable. I liked Agha Shahid Ali's reflections on the ghazal especially.
Also, most of the authors qualify their prompts as ways of making discoveries, not keys to creating perfect poems on the spot. Plus, the last...more
Also, most of the authors qualify their prompts as ways of making discoveries, not keys to creating perfect poems on the spot. Plus, the last...more
This is a good reference book for poets.
Behn, Robin, and Chase Twichell. The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises from Poets Who Teach. 1st ed. New York N.Y.: Collins Reference, 2005. Print.
This book serves multiple purposes, although I approached it as a solo poet, working alone. It could easily be used in a classroom situation or other group setting.
The book primarily consists of exercises, of various types, supplied by teachers of poetry writing. There are exercises for the individual and for groups. Many of the group exercises c...more
This book serves multiple purposes, although I approached it as a solo poet, working alone. It could easily be used in a classroom situation or other group setting.
The book primarily consists of exercises, of various types, supplied by teachers of poetry writing. There are exercises for the individual and for groups. Many of the group exercises c...more
Mar 01, 2008
Douglas
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who want to be a better poet
Recommended to Douglas by:
no one
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is a practical writing book that jump starts the creative process. It is one I go back to time and time again. I have not finished reading it cover to cover, because I don't have to. This book is meant to be grabbed off the shelf, used and used over and over again. I love it. I met Chase Twichell who co-edited this book with Robin Behn at TU's Writer's Conference several years ago. She is a delightful person.
I've had this book for over 7 years. I've used it more than any other writing book I've ever had. This is a great book to have around if and when you have block but still want to get some words down. It is also helpful around technique as it is organized into technical sections such as "Image and Metaphor," Aspects of Voice," or "Sound, Rhythm, and the Line."
Jan 18, 2008
Anna
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
blocked poets, creative writing teachers, poets in need of a facelift
Shelves:
poetry,
writing-instruction
This book is just chock full of useful exercises to get a poet's pen moving. Some of them are more useful than others, some of them are downright annoying (but not as annoying as the hot-potato exercise that Eric Maisel recommends in "Fearless Creating"--*there's* a book I don't recommend).
I'd say that if you're a severely blocked poet, this book might be of use to you, but only if you're prepared to experiment with exercises that may feel very uncomfortable at first, sometimes even trite.
Overc...more
I'd say that if you're a severely blocked poet, this book might be of use to you, but only if you're prepared to experiment with exercises that may feel very uncomfortable at first, sometimes even trite.
Overc...more
As a soon-to-be Intro to Poetry Writing instructor, this is a great touchstone. Can't wait to experiment on my fledgling-guinea-pig-poet-undergrad-beasties. If I don't directly use these exercises, I'm sure to indirectly use them. Best part of the book for me were the explanations of the exercises.
I had the great good fortune to have Robin Behn as my first college poetry professor. The exercises in this boom--from creative-writing workshop facilitators across the nation--are great for individual practice or for the classroom.
This is a fantastic book of writing prompts. A virtual friend of mine (a real poet) from a writing course I took last year recommended it on her blog: http://mollyspencer.wordpress.com/. Not only are Molly's book recommendations wonderful so are her blog and poetry.
But I digress. What I started to write was I'll probably never move this book to my "read" shelf. With a resource like this, the point is not to finish, but to incorporate the authors' suggestions into my own writing and to work rando...more
But I digress. What I started to write was I'll probably never move this book to my "read" shelf. With a resource like this, the point is not to finish, but to incorporate the authors' suggestions into my own writing and to work rando...more
As a poetry writing teacher, I've used this book to prompt ideas for in-class writing. I haven't used any of the ideas from the book directly yet, which seems odd to me, but it has prompted new ideas of my own.
I was exposed to this work in an experimental poetry class taught by Carolyn Forche. Remains one of the only writing texts I can tolerate. I adapt these exercises for prose, and they work wonderfully.
The best thing about this poetry workshop is the varied writing exercises it contains. Some are fun; some are thought provoking, all are instructional. Great for the novice and experienced poet alike.
An excellent resource for teachers, poets, and students of almost any level. I have encountered both of the authors and find them to be even more brilliant in person than they are in this book.
The practice of writing poetry is a form of self-expression that needs to be nurtured and this is a way to continue in the exercises to allow more creative flow with your thoughts and ideas.
Not the kind of book you read cover to cover. More, for me at least, the kind of book you pick up skim through, choose an exercise, then check off when complete.
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You know how my darling friends encouraged me to use My Summer of Desperate Unemployment as a sort of writer's retreat and take advantage of my MANY HOURS OF FREE TIME by, you know, writing? Yah, I didn't do any. But! I did pull this book out of storage and I did just recently complete one exercise. Which turned out TERRIBLY, BUT, doing so did get my writing mojo to wake up and creak to life and I came up with an idea for a poem and that is awesome. This book is TERRIFIC for teachers, for writer...more
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I have used this in creative writing classes at high school level. Good exercises for both beginners and experienced poets.
I've gotten some good poems out of these exercises. Great to pick up when you're not sure what to write.
I miss this book. We had such good times. I think I read it more than my friend did.
good ideas here for teaching writing or for when the writer-you is stuck
So many great ideas that you can pick up and use immediately!
I found this book tremendously useful when I taught creative writing,
and continually a source of inspiration when I was struggling to write.
and continually a source of inspiration when I was struggling to write.
I'm looking for books that have writing exercises. I think that some of my students could really use a few books of these in the room to turn to when they are stuck. If the books were available, I then wouldn't have to force the whole class through an exercise, but rather teach the kids to go to one of these sources when stuck. Now I just need to find the sources. This is a possibility.
As a collection of exercises, this can't be beat. As it comes from College creative writing classes, it often needs some adaptation for younger, less committed students. Still, there is a wealth of info here, enough to last a school year or five.
I learned of this book from Vanessa when she used it in a poetry writing class that she took at KU. I recently got a copy and want to soon start using it to help me write some poems.
A handful of solid exercises that I've used in my teaching, but a somewhat uneven and unremarkable collection, overall.
Used in College writing class and I loved all the exercises in it. I still use it to jump start my writing sometimes.
Great excercises from poets who teach. It would be a fine book to use with a workshop.
A great resource for writing exercises, prompts, ideas, and encouragement.
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“. . . the mind always has logic; it might not be obvious logic, but the mind has its reasons for connecting two seemingly unlike notions. -Carol Muske, Translations: Idea to Image”
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“We write a line we're especially proud of, and weeks later find it staring -no glaring- back at us from some stanza in George Herbert or Emily Dickinson. All poets have debts outstanding. It's how we learn; how we adore; we come to ourselves by putting those selves into the hands of masters. With experience we learn how to disguise our thefts (sometimes by flaunting them). It is how we both continue and extend a tradition. -J.D. McClatchy, Writing Between the Lines”
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