Ali Smith's "Artful"--Is it A Successful New Literary Form?
Sarah Glazer takes a second look at her reaction to an experiment.I’m still not sure if I like novelist Ali Smith’s…See More
Ami Mattison's Blog (38)
Why You Are Not Your Writing
Perhaps, you disagree with me. Perhaps, you envision your writing as some small (or large) piece of who you are. You wouldn’t be alone in that belief.
Many writers see their writing as an extension of themselves. And there have been times when I felt precisely the same way.
Writing can be gut-wrenching work. Sometimes, when we write, we feel we've put a piece of ourselves onto the page.
Plus, consider some popular metaphors for writing, such as… Continue
Many writers see their writing as an extension of themselves. And there have been times when I felt precisely the same way.
Writing can be gut-wrenching work. Sometimes, when we write, we feel we've put a piece of ourselves onto the page.
Plus, consider some popular metaphors for writing, such as… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on June 14, 2010 at 12:08pm — 2 Comments
Transform Your Writing and Your Life: How to Open Yourself to Creative Possibilities
In order to create, we must be open to a full-range of creative possibilities and artistic choices. We must come to believe that the seemingly impossible is potentially doable.
Without creative possibilities, our poetry and our writing practice suffer. We become stuck within our preconceived notions about what makes for “good” writing and ideas, and we limit not only our creative endeavors, but our artistic selves.
What is Possible
The word… Continue
Without creative possibilities, our poetry and our writing practice suffer. We become stuck within our preconceived notions about what makes for “good” writing and ideas, and we limit not only our creative endeavors, but our artistic selves.
What is Possible
The word… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on June 8, 2010 at 1:02pm — No Comments
Inner Solitude, Or What Your Absolutely Need In Order to Write
"The necessary thing is after all but this: solitude, great inner solitude." --Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Solitude is the state or quality of being solitary, secluded, or remote from others. There is physical solitude--seclusion, or social isolation. And there is inner solitude, which is a state of mind, or an attitude, as well as a practice.
In this noisy world and in our busy lives as writers, it’s challenging to create a situation in which… Continue
Solitude is the state or quality of being solitary, secluded, or remote from others. There is physical solitude--seclusion, or social isolation. And there is inner solitude, which is a state of mind, or an attitude, as well as a practice.
In this noisy world and in our busy lives as writers, it’s challenging to create a situation in which… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on June 2, 2010 at 7:08am — No Comments
10 Ways to Stay Inspired and Passionate about Writing
Staying creatively inspired and passionate about your writing can be challenging, especially if you write every day. Some days, I have no clue what I want to write about, and I end up writing dribble or half-completed poems.
While bad, uninteresting, and uninspired writing is a significant part of the creative process, it can feel defeating to go several days or even weeks without writing something that truly sparks my passion. As a result, I’ve learned to turn to tricks… Continue
While bad, uninteresting, and uninspired writing is a significant part of the creative process, it can feel defeating to go several days or even weeks without writing something that truly sparks my passion. As a result, I’ve learned to turn to tricks… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 30, 2010 at 7:20am — No Comments
A Poet’s Guide to Critique: How to Give and Get Helpful Feedback
Critical feedback is an important part of a poet's creative process.
Getting helpful critical feedback that you can use to improve your poetry is essential to honing your writing skills, and giving useful feedback helps you to learn what makes for well-written poetry and to discover solutions to problems in your own writing.
It's a lot like dancing in pairs. With a partner, you can perform many more dance moves than you could otherwise do by yourself. Through… Continue
Getting helpful critical feedback that you can use to improve your poetry is essential to honing your writing skills, and giving useful feedback helps you to learn what makes for well-written poetry and to discover solutions to problems in your own writing.
It's a lot like dancing in pairs. With a partner, you can perform many more dance moves than you could otherwise do by yourself. Through… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 27, 2010 at 4:56am — 2 Comments
What a Subway Singer, a Buddhist Monk, and Sylvia Plath Taught Me about Poetry
“The gift turned inward, unable to be given, becomes a heavy burden, even sometimes a kind of poison. It is as though the flow of life were backed up.” – May Sarton
Last night, I began reading The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath. It was strange… Continue
Last night, I began reading The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath. It was strange… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 26, 2010 at 6:12am — No Comments
No Open Mic? No Problem: How to Organize Your Own Poetry Reading
In my previous article, “4 Reasons You Should Perform Your Poetry,” I discussed how performing or reading your poetry to others could strengthen and enhance your creative experience and could provide the artistic and social connections you need as a poet. Also, I suggested that you find an open mic… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 21, 2010 at 1:42pm — No Comments
Zen Mind, Writer's Mind: Some Tips for a Zen Writing Practice
I’m not an expert in Zen Buddhism. My knowledge and experience comprise a layperson’s perspective. But what I’ve come to understand in my practices of Zen and writing is that they are interdependent, strengthening and playing off one another.
Spirituality and Creativity
Natalie Goldberg, author of several best-selling books including her classic Writing Down the Bones, draws a connection between Zen practice and writing. In an interview, she… Continue
Spirituality and Creativity
Natalie Goldberg, author of several best-selling books including her classic Writing Down the Bones, draws a connection between Zen practice and writing. In an interview, she… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 17, 2010 at 11:11am — No Comments
Professional Development for Poets: Cheap Ways to Hone Your Skills
As a poet and performer, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on expensive conferences or writing courses, and I’m betting you don’t either. But financial limitations needn’t get in the way of your professional development. There are several free or inexpensive ways to develop your writing skills and knowledge of poetry. Here are some I’ve tried:
Read the rest of the article at poetryNprogress.
Read the rest of the article at poetryNprogress.
Added by Ami Mattison on May 14, 2010 at 6:15am — No Comments
4 Reasons You Should Perform Your Poetry
I shared my poetry with an audience for the first time at an old-fashioned “poetry reading.” It was 1991, and there were four of us. We took turns standing behind a music stand where our poems were laid out, and we proceeded to read in our best “serious poet” voices. You know the voice I’m talking about—the one where every line ends in an upward tone and sounds almost like a question?
Wow, have things changed since those days!
Now, in addition to the mainstay of the… Continue
Wow, have things changed since those days!
Now, in addition to the mainstay of the… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 12, 2010 at 7:56am — No Comments
The Poet’s Journal: Uses, Benefits, and Tips for Journal Writing
"Poetry is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly in the air." Carl Sandburg
As Sandburg suggests, poets are strange, dislocated creatures, longing for seeming impossibilities—to live outside physical boundaries, to take flight in language.
As “a sea animal living on land,” Sandburg understood how poetry could be a kind of journal of one’s creative life.
This notion of poetry as a journal of the poet’s life reminds me of my own journal… Continue
As Sandburg suggests, poets are strange, dislocated creatures, longing for seeming impossibilities—to live outside physical boundaries, to take flight in language.
As “a sea animal living on land,” Sandburg understood how poetry could be a kind of journal of one’s creative life.
This notion of poetry as a journal of the poet’s life reminds me of my own journal… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 9, 2010 at 6:55am — No Comments
Developing a Writing Routine: How to Write Every Day
Developing a consistent, writing routine is both challenging and rewarding. There are so many distractions in our daily lives, so many demands on our time. Yet, as writers and artists, we often grow irritable, frustrated, and sad when we aren’t able to write on a regular basis. Learning to write every day not only improves productivity, but also it can be a way to manage your moods and your stress levels.
There was a time when I was lucky to write once a week. I was so… Continue
There was a time when I was lucky to write once a week. I was so… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 6, 2010 at 6:42am — No Comments
The Playful Poet: 12 Fun Ways to Enhance Your Creativity
Eventually, there comes a time in every poet’s life when you simply aren’t inspired. There’s no spark; the flame has died; and your passion has up and left you.
You may be bereft; or maybe you're too psychically drained to care.
The problem with these dry spells in a poet’s life is that they can easily turn into weeks and months without writing, which, if you’re like me, can cause moodiness and depression. Also, when you do finally force yourself to sit down and write, you… Continue
You may be bereft; or maybe you're too psychically drained to care.
The problem with these dry spells in a poet’s life is that they can easily turn into weeks and months without writing, which, if you’re like me, can cause moodiness and depression. Also, when you do finally force yourself to sit down and write, you… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on May 2, 2010 at 4:56am — No Comments
For Beginner Poets: How to Know If Your Poetry Sucks
Recently, a reader found my blog by typing “how to figure out if your poetry sucks” in a Google search. People find my blog through all types of searches, but I chuckled at this one.
Poets at all levels of experience worry about whether or not our poetry sucks.Often, as we contemplate our poetry, we experience gnawing doubts about our abilities as poets and about the quality of our work. However, the question of “how to figure out if your poetry sucks” tends to be a beginner’s… Continue
Poets at all levels of experience worry about whether or not our poetry sucks.Often, as we contemplate our poetry, we experience gnawing doubts about our abilities as poets and about the quality of our work. However, the question of “how to figure out if your poetry sucks” tends to be a beginner’s… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on April 25, 2010 at 10:09am — No Comments
Ego-Aerobics for Poets: How to Flex Your Creative Self-Esteem
"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection"--Buddha
Because art is usually seen as superfluous in culture, artists often fail to receive the kind of encouragement, support, and creative sustenance that is needed to create.
Poets, especially, face a culture that rarely sees poetry as deeply and profoundly significant. As a result of this cultural neglect, poets and other artists must work, and oftentimes struggle, to… Continue
Because art is usually seen as superfluous in culture, artists often fail to receive the kind of encouragement, support, and creative sustenance that is needed to create.
Poets, especially, face a culture that rarely sees poetry as deeply and profoundly significant. As a result of this cultural neglect, poets and other artists must work, and oftentimes struggle, to… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on April 19, 2010 at 9:21am — No Comments
11 Tips for Spoken Word Beginners
In 2002, I began touring and performing spoken word in a serious way, and I’ve been doing so ever since, earning a modest income from my gigs. Also, I teach workshops and classes on spoken word performance. I’m still learning and growing as a performer, but now, spoken word novices ask me for advice, and I’m always willing to provide whatever help I can.
Tips for Novices
Over the years, I’ve offered different kinds of advice, but here are eleven tips that I… Continue
Tips for Novices
Over the years, I’ve offered different kinds of advice, but here are eleven tips that I… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on April 15, 2010 at 7:30am — 2 Comments
The Key to Honing Your Creative Goals
Recently, I listened to an audio interview with Danielle LaPorte by Hiro Boga. In the interview, LaPorte discusses how to be THE creative force in your own life, and suggests that this process begins with knowing one’s “core desires.”
This concept of core desires in my life and in my creative career… Continue
This concept of core desires in my life and in my creative career… Continue
Added by Ami Mattison on April 12, 2010 at 4:52am — No Comments
30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. At poetryNprogress, I’ll be celebrating all month long with more practical advice and in-depth articles on poetry and spoken word performance. To kick things off, I’ve compiled a list of some great ways to celebrate poetry...Read more.
Added by Ami Mattison on April 8, 2010 at 2:49am — No Comments
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
Latest Blog Posts
- 5 Ways to Tap into an Artistic Community
- How to Stop Creative Sabotage and Achieve Artistic Success
- The Key to Creative Happiness: A How-To Guide
- Social Media’s ‘Unexpected Gifts’: A Poet’s Story
- Working Desire: 5 Tips for Maximizing Pleasure in Your Creativity
- A Verbal Aesthetic: Notes on Spoken Word
- Why Your Writing is Good Enough: Lessons from Bad Poetry
Most Popular Blog Posts
- Social Media’s ‘Unexpected Gifts’: A Poet’s Story
- Writing for Our Lives
- Creative Comrades: Collaborating with Other Artists
- Why You Are Not Your Writing
- 11 Tips for Spoken Word Beginners
- Why You Don't Need Discipline: Secrets to Writing Every Day
- Discover Your Obstacles to Writing and Find Creative Joy
Latest Activity
Surya Kumar posted a status"Big Idea Mastermind Bonus - http://bigideamastermindbonus.webstarts.com/"
Valorie Grace Hallinan replied to the discussion 'What did you blog about today?' in the group Bloggers: Let's Make It Work!"At Books Can Save a Life, I've been thinking about and reading Paula McLain's A Paris Wife, along with a few of Heminway's novels. http://wp.me/p28JYl-HR"
April Eberhardt commented on the blog post 'The Many Paths to Publishing—Which One’s Right for You?'"Hi, Jo Anne and Marta--Thanks for your thoughtful comments and questions. I'll post a more detailed reply soon on the topics you raise, but I agree that there is much blurring of terms right now. The main factor differentiating reputable…"
Top Content
Badge
© 2013 Created by Kamy Wicoff.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
