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Editing, writing, faith, and work. And poetry because I like poetry.
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How to Edit Poetry and Meter

Started by goodwordediting · 9 months ago

The name of this blog is “good word editing,” but lately I’ve talked more about conceptual editing than mechanics. And I’ve talked a bit about poetry.
In an email recently, someone asked, “How do you edit poetry? How do you know w ... Continue reading »

7 comments

  • L.L. Barkat

    9 months ago

    Of course we want to see the poem!

    (I have to admit, once you got to the technical stuff.... 'Stressed' is the word that stood out to me. I guess I like to march to the beat of my own drummer when it comes to writing poetry... trusting myself, my internal sensibilities and rhythmic tendencies long before I trust the reader. And as for meter... well, I don't like working on that either. Just call me the lazy poet. Or perhaps, a poem cheater : )
    reply
  • Marcus

    9 months ago

    No worries, L.L. Gerard Manley Hopkins (the guy I quoted for the spondee) developed his own style of meter that doesn't count unstressed syllables at all. It's called Sprung Rhythm--and the only syllables that matter are STRESSED.

    : )
    reply
  • David Rupert

    9 months ago

    I don't know anything about poetry, but how about editing this masterpiece:

    Marcus was once an editor of note
    Then one day he lost his "
    And there went his quote
    reply
  • Christa Allan

    9 months ago

    PA-LEEZE come teach my classes for a week [or any Monday and/or Friday]. My kiddos would be so impressed that I know someone who can write about vermicious knids.
    reply
  • John

    9 months ago

    Godblogging and meterloving Hill Country Treehouser!
    reply
  • dukeslee

    9 months ago

    Any blogger who uses "vermicious knid" in a post, is a blogger I want to follow.
    Hey -- I'm loving HighCallingBlogs.com. Thanks for your work.
    reply
  • Real Live Preacher

    9 months ago

    Seems like many great poets will shatter so many rules. What would editors have done with Emily Dickinson, for example? That's the part I've never understood. I suppose if the poet said, this is the meter and rhyme I want and you found that she missed it. Otherwise, what if she wants it kind of bumpy and halting sounding in parts?
    reply

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