Most of us keep poems on our computer nowadays but I used to keep them in a spiral notebook—at least the “final” versions once they were finished. Why not find a beautiful journal or notebook to carefully hand-write your favorites in as they come along so that you can easily find poetic inspiration all in one place when you have your stumbling block moments? My mother-in-law bought me the most beautiful journal last year and I am slowly filling it with my favorite poems and treasure it immensely.
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I think this is an excellent idea, I used to do it for a long time then stopped when I started blogging. i am hoping to start an illustrated poetry journal and possibly a commonplace book full of things that are potential inspiration for poems...
ReplyDeleteI have a big red binder that I've been filling up for thirty years now. It's about 3" thick now and could be used to club someone to death. I've thought about it.
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ReplyDeleteWow! Your blog is simply incredible, for it is so very helpful for starters like me! I am a writer by passion and profession. And, I love writing poems too. However, I have never really sent my poems to any of the journals - only blogged them for friends to read. But, now, with the help of your tips and suggestions, I am going to start submitting my stuff to these magazines and journals. Lets see how it works out! Thanks a tonnes. Kudos to you, for sharing... and for that motivation!!! Cheers!!
ReplyDeleteMs. Crafty Juliet,
ReplyDeleteIt is so easy to let the computer "keep" everything for you isn't it? But the handheld journal is so wonderful to curl up with and pour creativity into, good luck with yours.
Jim,
Thanks for the laughs!! I have a thick binder of rejection notices that I've thought of using for the same purpose, oh I love it!
Manali Shah,
Thanks very much for the kudos, it helps me keep going when my life is filled with many distractions. I started this blog because I couldn't find anything starting out that I found useful for beginning poets and poetry readers so I decided to do it myself. I wish you much luck and many acceptance letters of your work for the future.
nothing like the sound of pen or pencil to paper..
ReplyDeleteI moved from those composition books to legal pads then to notebooks and in 1998 to those hard-bound blank books
some of my "journals" date back to 1959!
Mr. Baker,
ReplyDeleteI think that is wonderful, not only do you have an excellent source of inspiration that way you have something concrete for posterity.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog after googling "keeping a poetry journal". I was looking more for exercises, but your post has given me the idea to combine visual art journaling with poetry. After I finally finish some poems, I could keep them in an art journal.
Now I'm going to browse your blog. It looks interesting!