What do you want from your writing?

[twelveoone]

what i want

I mean this to be a slightly different question from the typical "why do you write?" which shows up here periodically. And I've deliberatively used the word "writing" rather than "poetry" in case some of the AH types want to comment. Poetry, fiction, plays, whatever—I'm just curious what it is you want from your writing. Partly, I think, I want to know how others feel because I am no longer sure what I want out of my own poems.

I started writing poems reasonably seriously with the idea that writing them would perhaps help me understand reading poems better—particularly poems by contemporary and near-contemporary poets. While I think it's helped somewhat in that regard, I'm generally still pretty clueless in reading, oh, Lowell or Pound or Jorie Graham. But I've learned a lot about poetry, so it has been fairly successful overall.

For a while, I thought a goal was to get some of my poems published, with eventually getting something published in one of the small literary magazines that are the traditional market for poetry. I started out pretty well on that, placing poems with various online journals, but lately I've really lost interest in publication as a goal. I guess I no longer know what the point of it would be.

So I'm kind of adrift at the moment for some kind of goal or meaning to writing. I still do it, because I enjoy it in and of itself, but I've kind of lost whatever reasons I had for doing it as a way of accomplishing something else.

So I'm curious. What do the rest of you want from your writing, if anything? Fame? Fortune? A Pulitzer Prize? Relief from inner demons? Some smooth, sexy lines to use to pick up girls/guys? What?

Fear and affection,
and a prize or two would be nice
...and I want my inner demons back

 

[Tzara]

Fear and affection,
and a prize or two would be nice
...and I want my inner demons back

Jesucristo! I thought we'd safely gotten past El Día de los Muertos.

I have no inner demons (or even inner daemons) to speak of, but I do have a healthy fear of the walking dead. I did, though, win Poem of the Week at some other site. Would that slake your fearful, demonic lust?

 

[twelveoone]

Jesucristo! I thought we'd safely gotten past El Día de los Muertos.

I have no inner demons (or even inner daemons) to speak of, but I do have a healthy fear of the walking dead. I did, though, win Poem of the Week at some other site. Would that slake your fearful, demonic lust?

any money?
that's the reason I want my inner demons back - they made off with mine...and my Cole Porter records

 

[Tzara]

any money?
that's the reason I want my inner demons back - they made off with mine...and my Cole Porter records

There is no money in poetry, just as there is no crying in poetry.

Or shouldn't be. Crying, not money.

I could sing I Get a Kick Out of You in my uncertain baritone, if that would help.

 

[twelveoone]

There is no money in poetry, just as there is no crying in poetry.

Or shouldn't be. Crying, not money.

I could sing I Get a Kick Out of You in my uncertain baritone, if that would help.

no but a ton of deductions - serious mode here- glad to see you're still kicking around (ouch) Senna's still around, but scanning the threads, I see WickedEve had a cancer scare, is she OK?

 

[Tzara]

no but a ton of deductions - serious mode here- glad to see you're still kicking around (ouch) Senna's still around, but scanning the threads, I see WickedEve had a cancer scare, is she OK?

I haven't myself seen Senna for quite some time, but he is known to disappear for long periods. I don't know about Eve. I, also, hope she's OK. Perhaps Angie would know something? I'm, frankly, afraid to ask.

Good to see you, though, even if it's a drive-by. Fly showed up, disguised as a corndog, but seems to have gone missing again.

 

[twelveoone]

I haven't myself seen Senna for quite some time, but he is known to disappear for long periods. I don't know about Eve. I, also, hope she's OK. Perhaps Angie would know something? I'm, frankly, afraid to ask.

Good to see you, though, even if it's a drive-by. Fly showed up, disguised as a corndog, but seems to have gone missing again.

Hoping for the best, I'll check back.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I haven't myself seen Senna for quite some time, but he is known to disappear for long periods. I don't know about Eve. I, also, hope she's OK. Perhaps Angie would know something? I'm, frankly, afraid to ask.

Good to see you, though, even if it's a drive-by. Fly showed up, disguised as a corndog, but seems to have gone missing again.

You missed Senna's passing swipe? aren't you the lucky one we seem to have lost a budding poet through that bit of spite

 

[Angeline]

I haven't myself seen Senna for quite some time, but he is known to disappear for long periods. I don't know about Eve. I, also, hope she's OK. Perhaps Angie would know something? I'm, frankly, afraid to ask.

Good to see you, though, even if it's a drive-by. Fly showed up, disguised as a corndog, but seems to have gone missing again.

The scare was only that, thank goodness. But I miss her and wish she'd post here again.

 

[Tzara]

You missed Senna's passing swipe? aren't you the lucky one we seem to have lost a budding poet through that bit of spite

Um, apparently I did.

But why be snippy with me about it? You're welcome to be, of course, snippy or whatever you want to be about anything I've posted, but I guess I'm left a bit confused here. I don't know what you're referring to.

And, yes, I know Senna can be an unpleasant prick. (I say that in all confidence that he's done something unpleasant again, without knowing exactly what he's done.) But I do think he has something to offer here, at Lit, nonetheless.

Personal opinion, of course. Yours may vary.

 

[butters]

people can be unpleasant yet still write like angels... or act, or paint, sculpt, dance, play instruments...

distinguishing between what the writing would suggest about the person and their true nature is often difficult. meh - most people are skanks at some stage in their lives. unlike me. i am purrfect, of course. *not*

 

[butters]

oh wow! i just saw a young modern couple (not all spangles and hairspray) dance an argentine tango - bloody hell! they can dance, effortless, light, sharp, sexy - it's a car advert!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Um, apparently I did.

But why be snippy with me about it? You're welcome to be, of course, snippy or whatever you want to be about anything I've posted, but I guess I'm left a bit confused here. I don't know what you're referring to.

And, yes, I know Senna can be an unpleasant prick. (I say that in all confidence that he's done something unpleasant again, without knowing exactly what he's done.) But I do think he has something to offer here, at Lit, nonetheless.

Personal opinion, of course. Yours may vary.

Heyyyyy I'm not being snippy with you (you adorable hunk you ) think it lost something in the English/American divide there ........ grovel grovel your feet

oh wow! i just saw a young modern couple (not all spangles and hairspray) dance an argentine tango - bloody hell! they can dance, effortless, light, sharp, sexy - it's a car advert!

I saw that too and was mesmerized although I thought the choreography was deliberately over the top for the advert rather than being a true interpretation of the dance

 

[butters]

Heyyyyy I'm not being snippy with you (you adorable hunk you ) think it lost something in the English/American divide there ........ grovel grovel your feet



I saw that too and was mesmerized although I thought the choreography was deliberately over the top for the advert rather than being a true interpretation of the dance

maybe, but it was indeed mesmerising to watch - very clean lines, moves, and ... whatever the bits are called

mind you, so busy watching them i didn't even notice the car. that's a bit suspect of the advertising co. if you ask me!

p.s - do you think perhaps they were actually ballet dancers performing that tango?

 

[UnderYourSpell]

maybe, but it was indeed mesmerising to watch - very clean lines, moves, and ... whatever the bits are called

mind you, so busy watching them i didn't even notice the car. that's a bit suspect of the advertising co. if you ask me!

p.s - do you think perhaps they were actually ballet dancers performing that tango?

quite possibly so although I've never seen a tattooed ballet dancer before I'll let you into a secret ..... before Ron and I got too decrepit we used to do our version of the lambada and people have been known to walk of the floor in disgust. I'm very proud of that acheivement But shhhhhhh don't tell anybody they think I'm a sweet English lady on here

 

[butters]

quite possibly so although I've never seen a tattooed ballet dancer before I'll let you into a secret ..... before Ron and I got too decrepit we used to do our version of the lambada and people have been known to walk of the floor in disgust. I'm very proud of that achievement But shhhhhhh don't tell anybody they think I'm a sweet English lady on here

hehehehe ... my lips are sealed. honest

 

[twelveoone]

The scare was only that, thank goodness. But I miss her and wish she'd post here again.

Then she is OK?
Tell her I'm back, she loves me. In ways that aren't quite




human

 

[twelveoone]

You missed Senna's passing swipe? aren't you the lucky one we seem to have lost a budding poet through that bit of spite

Senna's making swipes

probably forgot his PIN number again

Hint it's one of your poem titles.

Glad to help out.

 

[YOMBOTOLOMPI]

I think before I speak whenever I write.

Hi all,
I'm spanking new here - and glad I found you's!

I write poetry, (and etc.) to articulate my thoughts, ideas, feelings, fears. I too have a cacaphony of voices in my head which often confuse me, frequently they change my mind to the degree that I can hardly make a commitment to go out to dinner because I can't predict which "voice" will be at the mike when it comes time to get ready.
Sorry - that was a bit of work, wasn't it?

Secondly, I write because I love language - errr rather vocabulary and its specificity in communicating (to those of us who still have a vocabulary- I find myself "dumbing down" my stuff so that the common man can access my work.

So this enthusiasm I have for articulating thoughts, places, people, things, feelings is art clearly and simply. We dance on words, we sing our songs with the silent voice - the written word. I write because it is another route to uniting with the truth and power of our souls.

I write because I can do it in a manner which pleases me. Certainly I am impressed with myself; as narcissists congratulates themselves for succeeding so do I feel pride in a thought well turned.

Sorry, I'll climb back down off of this plastic milk crate and take my place along the edges where I should be learning from you like-minded spirits. I do go on frequently- which is yet another reason I write: It's not easy to find like-minded folk in my parts and so I converse with myself just as the "touched" eccentric carries on full discussions by himself.

Until next I text,

Yombo
}B-{O

 

[butters]

welcome to the forum, Yombo. hope you enjoy your stay with us here. we're a motley crew but often interesting

most eloquent reply, but maybe now you'd care to answer the question posed by the OP? *grins* we now know why you write - that's cool - but now what is it that you want from your writing?

your enthusiasm's infectious

p.s - why do i want to play anagrams with your username?

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Senna's making swipes

probably forgot his PIN number again

Hint it's one of your poem titles.

Glad to help out.

Ye gods! I actually went and looked I'm crazier than you are!

welcome to the forum, Yombo. hope you enjoy your stay with us here. we're a motley crew but often interesting

most eloquent reply, but maybe now you'd care to answer the question posed by the OP? *grins* we now know why you write - that's cool - but now what is it that you want from your writing?

your enthusiasm's infectious

p.s - why do i want to play anagrams with your username?

M IMP TOOL BOY?
O LIMP TOM BOY?
I TOMMY BLOOP?
O TIMMY BLOOP?
TOM IMPLY BOT?
BI MOM LOP TOY?

 

[butters]

Ye gods! I actually went and looked I'm crazier than you are!



M IMP TOOL BOY?
O LIMP TOM BOY?
I TOMMY BLOOP?
O TIMMY BLOOP?
TOM IMPLY BOT?
BI MOM LOP TOY?

I TOMMY BLOOP - hahahahahahahahahaha

actually, the first word that sprang to the fore was LOBOTOMY - but then we're left with an I, an M and a P - so IMP LOBOTOMY and it has me thinking of philosophygirl and her love for zombies

 

[CharleyH]

I'm sure that few here have experienced my writing. My poetry is lacking, but damn, I can write: The Screening

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I TOMMY BLOOP - hahahahahahahahahaha

actually, the first word that sprang to the fore was LOBOTOMY - but then we're left with an I, an M and a P - so IMP LOBOTOMY and it has me thinking of philosophygirl and her love for zombies

rofllllll poor IMP ....... errrr who's philosophygirl ?

I'm sure that few here have experienced my writing. My poetry is lacking, but damn, I can write: The Screening

I'll have to finish reading all of that later but looks a good read so far

 

[YOMBOTOLOMPI]

The payoff, what?

I have two benefits to my writing efforts:

First and foremost is the sense of closure I get when I've succesfully articulated my subject. Not only closure, though. It is the feeling of satisfaction at having worked through the problem and arrived at a solution which speaks to me in a solid way. Often (too often), my thoughts and ideas are either half-formed or I am in conflict with them.

Secondly I get a great sense of pride (there's the narcissist showing his golden head again), when I've written clearly and cleverly. Probably due to my less effective way of speaking without thinking and alienating me from everyone by blurting ill-considered shit into their faces.

As pertains to my Online Monniker, Yombotolompi, I visited Madagascar as a boy of sixteen and during one of our visits around he country we stopped for gas and lunch in a village named Yombotolompi. The sign was wonderful - being so long! And I absolutely LOVE to say Yombotolompi. It is a terrific exersize for the lips and tongue and it sounds cool, too. I answer to Yombo, though, to simplify and save our fingers the trouble of such a long name.

Thanks for the welcome. I am very excited about the prospect of having some friends to talk to in matters of a literate nature. The place I live has more than its share of illiterate people to whom poetry is as accessable as opera is to most of us.

Until next we text,

Yombo