What to do when your poem sucks the big one?

[Never]

You've worked hard on a piece, set it aside, and when you return to it your objective eye tells you that you've created one heinous piece of poetry. What do you do?

 

[Never]

Typically, I sit down and try to figure out what exactly I was trying to say, the story I was trying to tell, and/or the imagery I wanted to create. After I have that clear in my mind, I chuck the original and rewrite an entirely different poem.

 

[TheRainMan]

You've worked hard on a piece, set it aside, and when you return to it your objective eye tells you that you've created one heinous piece of poetry. What do you do?

i write another one.

 

[Angeline]

i write another one.

Damnit, stop stealin my answers!

 

[TheRainMan]

Damnit, stop stealin my answers!

ya gotta be quicker then.

 

[Angeline]

ya gotta be quicker then.

I just got home and I drove the speed limit!

 

[TheRainMan]

I just got home and I drove the speed limit!

jesus, that's a long day.

what are you doing, catching lobsters up there?

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

I don't know it sucks until someone leaves me a comment telling me it does then it's too late - besides I like it and that's good enough for me. BTW never why don't you treat us to some of your work in this thread - sucking or not?

 

[Angeline]

I don't know it sucks until someone leaves me a comment telling me it does then it's too late - besides I like it and that's good enough for me. BTW never why don't you treat us to some of your work in this thread - sucking or not?

I'm just here to say I've missed you.

 

[Liar]

You've worked hard on a piece, set it aside, and when you return to it your objective eye tells you that you've created one heinous piece of poetry. What do you do?

Pout a little and chuck it.

 

[cherries_on_snow]

You've worked hard on a piece, set it aside, and when you return to it your objective eye tells you that you've created one heinous piece of poetry. What do you do?

I look for anything that can be salvaged then scrap it. Maybe the poem sucks but one or two lines are worth saving, or an image. Then I take the salvageable bit and make it into a perfect 10 poem here or enter it into my travel notebook.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Yes, writing another one (that doesn't suck the big one) seems to be the way to go. Editing is the most important part of writing. This is just extreme editing.

 

[RhymeFairy]

1 of 2

1. I play a bit with it, see if I can recapture my original train of thought

then

2. I free write another with whatever comes, edit and go from there.

If neither work. I leave it be. Put it aside again till I can go back and make something of it. Then proceed ... to pull hair out, kick something or get rip roaring drunk and write my booty off till something makes sense in my world once again, lol. Sad but so true~

Just me ...

Good Luck my friend ~

 

[Angeline]

Yes, writing another one (that doesn't suck the big one) seems to be the way to go. Editing is the most important part of writing. This is just extreme editing.

Extreme editing? Heeheehee.

But I see your point.

And yet it's such a Laurenish thing to say.

 

[annaswirls]

What to do when your poem sucks the big one?

I pat it on the head and ask it to suck the little one too while it is at it




Most of my poems wind up sucking something or another. I have a folder on my hard drive called "horrific" although I am not sure why I keep them. Most likely to keep my pride in check. Also, the ones that suck big time just stay on the All of a sudden passion suddenly thread to die a long painful death

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Extreme editing? Heeheehee.

But I see your point.

And yet it's such a Laurenish thing to say.

Well, it is! Unlike Anna, I rather not keep any of the horrific stuff on my hard drive. I just hit backspace or delete the whole file. That is editing. If there was anything in there worth salvaging, it will pop into my mind again. If it was as all horrific as I thought, it's better forgotten.

 

[MyNecroticSnail]

You've worked hard on a piece, set it aside, and when you return to it your objective eye tells you that you've created one heinous piece of poetry. What do you do?

Why did your objective eyes tell you this? That may be more fundamental.

We won't get into the objective-subjective question.

 

[eagleyez]

When I write a piece of tripe, I usually laugh at myself, laugh at the writing, give it the mighty toss and go get something to eat or try to discover even wierder open tunings on my twelve string.

A good cup of coffee is always a winner.

Maybe go check the oil in my car, er, the coolant level or something.

As long as your breathing, you can re-write or write anew.

Dont be hard on yourself, is my main advice.

 

[eagleyez]

jesus, that's a long day.

what are you doing, catching lobsters up there?

She's a nightwatchgirl at the cigarette store.

 

[The_Fool]

I start with a movie. cast it. direct it. Get it right in my head. then I write it. If the words don't match the movie, then I throw away the words. But I keep the movie. Go for that remake....

 

[arienette]

Start over and then post the rewritten copy here and let all of you do my dirty work for me.

 

[TheRainMan]

Start over and then post the rewritten copy here and let all of you do my dirty work for me.

good plan.

 

[arienette]

good plan.

I know. Besides, you're all better at editing my work than I am...I have a tendency to be in love and marry my words...It's a bad cycle.

 

[Liar]

but, what do you do if your poems never sucks the big one?

 

[TheRainMan]

. . . marry my words . . .

bad plan. (we all do it)