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The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry 1st Edition, Kindle Edition
From the nuts and bolts of craft to the sources of inspiration, this book is for anyone who wants to write poetry-and do it well.
The Poet's Companion presents brief essays on the elements of poetry, technique, and suggested subjects for writing, each followed by distinctive writing exercises. The ups and downs of writing life—including self-doubt and writer's block—are here, along with tips about getting published and writing in the electronic age. On your own, this book can be your "teacher," while groups, in or out of the classroom, can profit from sharing weekly assignments.
- ISBN-13978-0393316544
- Edition1st
- PublisherW. W. Norton & Company
- Publication dateNovember 22, 2010
- LanguageEnglish
- File size653 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Addonizio and Laux are lively spokespersons for the poet's life; they pepper their thoughts with well-chosen poems from their contemporaries--including David Bottoms, Jack Gilbert, Linda Gregg, and Jane Kenyon--and they conclude each short chapter with an invigorating collection of ideas for writing. These "ideas" culminate in a terrific section of writing exercises at book's end: write a poem describing "your most acutely embarrassing moment"; "write a poem of praise for an unlikely group of people, things, ideas"; "write a poem about the last time you saw a loved one you lost." I found myself a bit frustrated by the brevity of the discussions (most chapters are under 10 pages) and a bit put off by the first person plural narrative (do Addonizio and Laux really agree on everything they say they agree on?), but these are mere quibbles. This is a fine book indeed. --Jane Steinberg
From Library Journal
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
― Marie Howe
"Thoughtful, generous, and accurate to both deeper truths and the craftwork it takes to hold them…a superb guide for the working poet."
― Jane Hirshfield
"An intelligent, lucid conversation―between the authors and between them and us. I have been with them all―there is no better companion!"
― Gerald Stern
About the Author
Dorianne Laux’s poetry collections include the Pulitzer Prize finalist Only as the Day Is Long and Life On Earth. She received the Paterson Poetry Prize and is a founding faculty member of Pacific University’s low-residency MFA program. She lives in Richmond, California.
Product details
- ASIN : B004GKMBIY
- Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (November 22, 2010)
- Publication date : November 22, 2010
- Language : English
- File size : 653 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 286 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #404,064 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Kim Addonizio is a fiction writer, poet, and teacher. Her poetry collections include Tell Me, a finalist for the National Book Award, What Is This Thing Called Love, and Lucifer at the Starlite. She lives in Oakland, California.
Dorianne Laux's most recent collection is Only As The Day Is Long: New and Selected, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. She is also author of Facts about the Moon, recipient of the Oregon Book Award, and The Book of Men (W.W. Norton), winner of the Paterson Prize in Poetry, Awake, What We Carry, and Smoke from BOA Editions, as well as Superman: The Chapbook, Dark Charms, and The Book of Women, all from Red Dragonfly Press. She co-edited The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry (W.W. Norton). Recipient of many national grants and awards for her poetry, Laux teaches in the MFA Program at North Carolina State University and is founding faculty of Pacific University's Low Residency MFA Program in Oregon.
www/DorianneLaux.com
http://dlaux1.wordpress.com
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book helpful and inspiring for learning poetry writing practices. They appreciate the suggestions for enhancing language and exercises, as well as the rule of thumb for several standard forms. Readers find the examples and prompts for inspiration thought-provoking and creative. They describe the book as functional, entertaining, and worth the cost. The short chapters are easy to read and browse through, making it enjoyable and not boring.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers appreciate the book's content. They find it useful and inspirational, providing tips and encouragement. The writing is clear, and many useful topics are covered. Readers enjoy reading the book and learn new things or refresh old knowledge.
"...But this is a fantastic little book and I love having both a hard copy to underline and put notes in and a Kindle copy to keep with me on my phone..." Read more
"...The tone is inspirational honestly, always providing tips and writing encouragement...." Read more
"...The suggestions at the end of each chapter are down to earth and do-able, unlike some books that are just too high-minded for the average person...." Read more
"...I still feel it has been helpful, although much of it I would have preferred to have never read! Poor choice of examples to a student indeed!..." Read more
Customers find the book helpful for learning poetry writing practices. They appreciate the suggestions for enhancing language and exercises. The book is described as an insightful, well-written primer for serious writers. It offers interesting exercises and rules of thumb for several standard poetry forms. Readers enjoy the occasional tongue-in-cheek writing and humor. The book provides a delightful different perspective for aspiring writers.
"...I love the examples chosen for this book--many beautiful, contemporary poems that utilize vivid and unexpected imagery. I find them inspiring...." Read more
"...This is a nice positive twist and delightful different perspective for aspiring writers and though it sounds to be directed at amateurs, I think any..." Read more
"...The suggestions at the end of each chapter are down to earth and do-able, unlike some books that are just too high-minded for the average person...." Read more
"...Good challenge and good lessons to glean from and grow as a writer. I still plan on keeping this around, probably with a few pages removed." Read more
Customers find the book provides motivation through interesting exercises and prompts for inspiration. They appreciate the thought-provoking educational guides and creative prompts. The book helps organize ideas and writing in a practical way.
"...in meter and poetic forms that another textbook might, but I love the examples and the prompts for inspiration...." Read more
"...This is a nice positive twist and delightful different perspective for aspiring writers and though it sounds to be directed at amateurs, I think any..." Read more
"...It's one of the most inspiring, practical and encouraging books about writing poetry that I've ever read, and trust me, I've read them all...." Read more
"...Good challenge and good lessons to glean from and grow as a writer. I still plan on keeping this around, probably with a few pages removed." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it provides unlimited creativity and knowledge of poetry, and saves them a lot of money.
"...It's worth its weight in gold!" Read more
"...Fast delivery and on time for when I needed to have it. Great value and quality product" Read more
"...It really pays tribute to its title and leaves the reader with more of a poetic mind...." Read more
"This used book is in excellent condition at a very reasonable price." Read more
Customers find the book functional and entertaining. They appreciate the short chapters.
"Very useful" Read more
"I find this book very useful in that the chapters are short, which makes it easier to absorb the information therein, and because the short chapters..." Read more
"Purchased for a college class. It's okay but I would say just read and watch poetry videos and don't buy this book." Read more
"Very helpful!! This was for a class and it worked out great!" Read more
Customers find the book's short chapters easy to read and navigate. They enjoy reading the first chapter and look forward to completing it. The opening chapter provides an excellent introduction to poetry writing, encouraging writers to create their own work.
"...It is simple and straightforward, easy to follow and not boring as some other texts are...." Read more
"...But I'm not (kidding, I mean). This is a great, quick little book if you want succinct tips on the most important matters for writing poetry...." Read more
"I find this book very useful in that the chapters are short, which makes it easier to absorb the information therein, and because the short chapters..." Read more
"The book is in great condition. I rather enjoyed reading the first chapter for my school assignment...." Read more
Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it warm, funny, and entertaining.
"...It's warm and funny and you feel a real presence from the authors as if you have teachers with you...." Read more
"...I love its occasional tongue-in-cheek writing, its humor and its fine taste in picking poems to use as examples...." Read more
"This is a strong, funny collection with work by some of our best poets." Read more
"...Functional AND entertaining. With this book by your side, there's no excuse not to Write On." Read more
Reviews with images
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Yay!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2021I picked up this book after hearing Kim Addonizio give a reading at my college when I was an undergraduate. Creative Writing and poetry were my areas of emphasis and although we used a different textbook in my poetry class, I came to love this one. It won't give you the formal training in meter and poetic forms that another textbook might, but I love the examples and the prompts for inspiration. It's my favorite book to turn to when I feel the creative well is running dry. It's warm and funny and you feel a real presence from the authors as if you have teachers with you. I haven't met Dorianne Laux, but I have chatted with Kim Addonizio twice after readings and she was lovely. (Her readings are fantastic, by the way, and I highly recommend them!)
If you are familiar with Kim Addonizio'ss poems then you shouldn't be surprised to find a section on erotic poetry in this book. Erotic poems have a long tradition in poetry and they are not "porn" as one reviewer suggested. Sexuality and sensuality are part of life and the artistic expression of such is a special skill set. I think it's fantastic that this book doesn't sensor that.
I love the examples chosen for this book--many beautiful, contemporary poems that utilize vivid and unexpected imagery. I find them inspiring. They make me want to write and they make me want to be a better writer.
I do believe that if you are a beginner or if you are considering this book as a textbook for a class you should consider it as a supplement to a book that goes into a little more depth in certain areas, such as Writing Poems (see if you can get an older edition, if you are lucky, as I see this book has become quite expensive). But this is a fantastic little book and I love having both a hard copy to underline and put notes in and a Kindle copy to keep with me on my phone so I can have a little inspiration with me for easy access.
No matter where you are in your journey as a poet, I believe this is a wonderful book to have in your library.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2017Received brand new book in perfect condition for less than ten dollars. I needed this exact book for a creative writing course and I enjoy the exercises within the different sections. They are very thought provoking and creativity stimulating and would be excellent inspiration for any poetic or even descriptive writer. Also, I find the writing style of the author amazingly easy to read. It is simple and straightforward, easy to follow and not boring as some other texts are. The tone is inspirational honestly, always providing tips and writing encouragement. This is a nice positive twist and delightful different perspective for aspiring writers and though it sounds to be directed at amateurs, I think any author who may experience writer's block at times could find this useful and full of insight to try out fresh perspectives to pen about topics that may be applied to a broad range of subjects. Quality informative and yet uplifting text regarding poetic writing!
- Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2005I love this book. After reading the first chapter early one morning I went outside to feed and water my cats and came in and wrote a poem about flowing water, tangled morning glories and memories of my mother. It's one of the most inspiring, practical and encouraging books about writing poetry that I've ever read, and trust me, I've read them all. It has technical information and poems to illustrate each chapter, which is very helpful. The suggestions at the end of each chapter are down to earth and do-able, unlike some books that are just too high-minded for the average person. If you love to write poems and just need some inspiration and a little advice and encouragement, then definitely buy this book. It's worth its weight in gold!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2023The revised part of my review:
I do agree with a reviewer; Thomas "Should Have Been Better" Especially his paragraph here: [Unless (like the authors) you think that Sharon Olds' "passing blood and feces and water" and her "stool black with iron pills" (page 234) are high points in the world of modern poetry, you may resist their suggestion to "read all five of her books, for pleasure first, of course, but secondly to examine how she goes about her difficult task" (page 47).]
As I have read more, I am reevaluating my own opinions of this book. I still feel it has been helpful, although much of it I would have preferred to have never read! Poor choice of examples to a student indeed!
This, is my original review:
I thought it was going to be a bunch of lame assignments, well there definitely are some assignments so to speak. I haven't even made it through half of the 1st chapter and I've written 6 or 7 new reflections (which some call poetry)! It digs deep, at least it did for me...pretty personal when you open yourself up to it. Good challenge and good lessons to glean from and grow as a writer. I still plan on keeping this around, probably with a few pages removed.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2024Got the book, plain simple. In tact, no blemishes or damage, no broken spine, nothing. Thank you!!
Got the book, plain simple. In tact, no blemishes or damage, no broken spine, nothing. Thank you!!
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
- joseph PirrelloReviewed in Canada on September 22, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration
Very didactic in terms of explanation of poetry devices. I found the text especially useful for writing prompts.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 2, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for beginner and experienced poets.
A great deal of helpful advice and activities to enhance the poet's craft. Also, a very good confidence booster that encourages the poet to explore new subjects and techniques. It would be a useful text to support workshop groups, too.
- CarolReviewed in Canada on February 7, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars She is a wonderful teacher and terrific poet
I was lucky to be in a presentation that Kim made at the 2015 Aldeburgh Festival. She is a wonderful teacher and terrific poet. That's why this is my choice, among all the how to books.
- BarbaraReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars If You Love Poetry Buy This
An excellent, and lively companion I frequently return to; does what it says and more and now use it as my go-to manual.
- Flying MermaidReviewed in Canada on June 3, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Poets' Companions: Laux and Addonizio
This book is twenty years old and still an awesome resource for learning about and writing poetry.