You Must Revise Your Life

Poets on Poetry

by William Stafford

Stafford reflects on the writing process and on the influences on his art

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Writing, Essays, Memoir, Contemporary

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

William Edgar Stafford was an American poet and pacifist, and the father of poet and essayist Kim Stafford. He and his writings are sometimes identified with the Pacific Northwest.

In 1970, he was named Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a position that is now known as Poet Laureate. In 1975, he was named Poet Laureate of Oregon; his tenure in the position lasted until 1990. In 1980, he retired from Lewis & Clark College but continued to travel extensively and give public readings of his poetry. In 1992, he won the Western States Book Award for lifetime achievement in poetry.


Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to better understand how William Stafford approaches writing, this book may help with that. Through a combination of essays, poetry and interviews, Stafford presents what I can only describe as a kind of philosophy of writing, including his approach to helping others find their own voice. "Every Morning All Over Again" sums up his process more beautifully than I ever could, so here you go:

Every Morning All Over Again

Only the world guides me.
Weather pushes, or when it entices
I follow. Some kind of magnetism
turns me when I am walking
in the woods with no intentions.

There are leadings without any
reason, but they attract;
if I find there is nothing to gain
from them, I still follow—their power
is the power of the surrounding world.

But things that promise, or those
that will serve my purposes—they
interfere with the pure wind
from nowhere that sustains a kite,
or a gull, or a free spirit.

So, afloat again every morning,
I find the current: all the best
rivers have secret channels that
you have to find by whispering
like this, and then hear them and follow

— William Stafford

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine a more useful or insightful book that concerns itself with where poetry comes from, how it's formed, and the attention to how it sounds (the syllables, etc.). I think the interviews are the best, especially "Performing and Poetry" and "A Witness for Poetry". I've always loved Stafford's poems, which he defines as "talking without mistakes". I have a copy of Stafford reading at the University of Iowa and, true to form, it's hard to distinguish when he is talking in between poems or actually reading the poems. A true original.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always interesting to get a first-hand perspective on an author's ideas about their own work. Stafford gives the reader an "under-the-hood" look at his writing process and his teaching philosophy. His daily discipline of writing poetry stood out to me. His poems are almost therapeutic for him, and he's so prolific, that it's more about the process for him of authentically describing his inner life than it is about creating perfect end products. This is also the way he taught his university English classes. He was more of a companion and observer, helping students bring forth their own potential as creative agents with unique perspectives.

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend once said to me that she was pretty sure William Stafford is God. After reading this, I'd have to agree.

[Julene · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Stafford's poetry and his writing about poetry inspires me and helps me keep writing.

[Cameron Barham]

“Maybe there are trumpets in the houses we pass
and a redbird watching from an evergreen-
but nothing will happen until we pause
to flame what we know, before any signal’s given.”, p. 26

[Lenora Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book by an interesting man. Basically, it’s how he wrote and taught. If you are new to the writing life, or contemplating it, I recommend reading this book. There are some insights you might find useful. The ones that strike a chord in your psyche, take and own. The others—leave in the book.

There was, as one reviewer noted, a smugness to the book that I think was neither needed nor intended. How his way of teaching was so much better than other ways. At least, I hope it wasn’t intended. Although I am not a teacher, I have participated in many workshops, and I found the ones that tempered criticism with a little praise, were the most helpful for me. I don’t think I would have enjoyed a class where neither was given. But, then, again…

The best part, for me, was in misreading one of his poems. I loved it. After reading it, I realized I'd read NAP instead of map. I liked it better with nap.

[Elizabeth Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eclectic collection of the poet's thoughts and poems on writing, well worth reading. I adore Stafford's sensibility. His steady practice of writing without thought of audience and as a means of self- and world-exploration confirms my own.

[Marcia McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting ideas about poetry - writing of it, revising, reading, critiquing, etc.

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6 stars

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in a series of several books about William Stafford in the Poets on Poetry series. Kinda thin, it wouldn't be my recommendation to read this before Crossing Unmarked Snow or The Answers Are Inside the Mountains, but worth getting around to eventually.

It contains interviews with Stafford, and articles by him on the craft of writing and the teaching of poetry.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some 5 star parts in this book and I still highly recommend it, but it is a little disjointed and anecdotal.

[Wade Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book for both his views on writing and teaching. It is interesting to see how his "passivist" view of teaching correlates with the current ideas of student-centered teaching.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were born poets
Who Knew

I came to this book via a reference in one of Lori Jakiela's poems.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes very astute, sometimes tries to hard to be the guru...His poem, A Course in Creative Writing is very good, which of course, means very reassuring...

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight into Stafford's writing habits and style. Inspiring for any writer or writer wanna-be as his heavy use of metaphors creates visuals that go far beyond the words he uses.

[K Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first William Stafford book and so glad to have found him! I'm definitely a fan now and will be reading more of his work. He is (or was) a beautiful and brilliant writer.

[Mills College Library]

811.54 S7796y 1986

[Matt Morris]

Read my review of this & other books at https://miscmss.blogspot.com/2018/03/...