Poem, Revised: 54 Poems, Revisions, Discussions (Paperback)

by Robert Hartwell Fiske (Editor), Laura Cherry (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I highly recommend [this book] for anyone who wants to write their own poetry."  —The Blue Morpho, The Tenacious Writer Blog

Product Description

The creative world of the writer is uncovered in this captivating exploration of the techniques of poetry revision. An in-depth look at the writing processes of 54 poems, each by a different modern author, is provided, complete with early drafts, subsequent revised versions, and short essays from the poets themselves revealing how and why they made specific changes, as well as their editing secrets. Poetry lovers will enjoy browsing through their favorite works and authors, and budding writers will learn the skills needed to grow a first draft into a polished final piece.

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Product Details Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Marion Street Press, Inc.; 1st edition (July 1, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1933338253 ISBN-13: 978-1933338255 Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,754 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #14 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Writing #15 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Criticism #42 in  Books > Reference > Publishing & Books > Authorship

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	90% buy the item featured on this page: Poem, Revised: 54 Poems, Revisions, Discussions 5.0 out of 5 stars (4) $12.89
	7% buy Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry 5.0 out of 5 stars (7) $11.05
	3% buy The Dance Most of All: Poems 5.0 out of 5 stars (1) $16.50

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4 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 14 of 14 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Horn of Plenty, August 6, 2008 By  Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Robert Hartwell Fiske and Laura Cherry have assembled a bonanza of first person accounts from contemporary poets discussing how they revise. It is a generous and often very wise book, which will repay many readings. I predict that it will become one of those books often used in poetry workshops and in similar mentor-student interactions, especially for those faced with the eternal dilemma of students who believe their work has come down to them, like Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, directly from divine inspiration. There are no superstar poets here, just hardworking journeymen and women talking about the problem that trips us all up at one time or another, how to get yourself out of the habit of loving your own words too much. There is not a huge range of poetry either, but we've all written poems about nature, landscapes, art, personal problems, politics, and of course, about the act of writing poetry itself, especially in this modern world which has devalued poetry to the extent that it is generally discounted as a profession. Some first drafts are presented with their pants down, as it were, all the original faults and pretensions left in--a clever designer has been able to include some of these in facsimile, so you see the regretful crossouts, the angry underscorings, the words added in desperate hope of recovery. Other writers give the original workshop assignments, prompts, or exercises that occasioned their pieces, and tell how they either obeyed the instructions or went out on their own, like birds on a limb. No two accounts are identical, though many share the same general linear narrative--I wrote something that didn't work, I fixed it, it's fine now. Editors Hartwell Fiske and Cherry point out humorously, that it's all in the eye of the beholder and some of us will prefer the penultimate draft to the one that the poet finally stopped working up. Or even the first draft, which is where I came in. Writers were asked to perform a difficult act of exposure, which most carry off with utter grace. Now and then we get a poet with what seems like a little too much self-confidence, Martin Wallis, for example, who "humbly" points out the way his revisions add "exact observation," "precise language," "startling metaphor," etc., yes, but he has forgotten the meaning of "humbly." But I'm getting down on him unfairly, for all the writers were charged with showing how much revision improves their writing. He just took it to extremes. This is a thick book, practically a bible of advice, and should be helpful to every sort of poet, from beginner to Nobel Prize winner--anyone who's not too proud to "eat their words." 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Joy To Read, September 24, 2008 By  Kenneth F. Martin - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This book got me writing again. If you ever put pen to paper and have the unfortunate characteristic of being your own worst critic, like me, you know all too well how easy it is to get discouraged. The detailed and personal descriptions of the creative process provided by the writers of these wonderful poems are the most valuable part of the book. I particularly enjoyed Rhoda Greenstone's A Letter From L.A., and even more so her explanation of how the four versions came to be. Having never been trained in the craft, I always thought that great writing comes out all at once like a great photo. So it's back to the old notebook for me, and I think I'll take it to those back roads in the Santa Inez mountains for a little inspiration. If you know anyone with even a little interest in writing poetry, buy this book for them as a gift. It's a real motivator. Ken in L.A. 6 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars the recipe of poems, August 6, 2008 By  Beverly Perkins (Chebeague Island, ME) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I think this cover is a great indicator of the clever premise behind "Poem, Revised" If you are at all interested in the construction of a poem, you will love this book. it's like eating a wonderful pie and then getting the recipe for it! Beverly Perkins Poem, Revised: 54 Poems, Revisions, Discussions		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Pleased I thought I sent this right away, sorry. I received the book the next day. If it was used, someone must have been very careful, as it looked brand new. Read more Published 9 months ago by C. K. Walle Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Marion Street Press, Inc.; 1st edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933338253
• ISBN-13: 978-1933338255
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,754 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Writing
  #15 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Criticism
  #42 in	Books > Reference > Publishing & Books > Authorship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Horn of Plenty, August 6, 2008

By	Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Robert Hartwell Fiske and Laura Cherry have assembled a bonanza of first person accounts from contemporary poets discussing how they revise. It is a generous and often very wise book, which will repay many readings. I predict that it will become one of those books often used in poetry workshops and in similar mentor-student interactions, especially for those faced with the eternal dilemma of students who believe their work has come down to them, like Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments, directly from divine inspiration.

There are no superstar poets here, just hardworking journeymen and women talking about the problem that trips us all up at one time or another, how to get yourself out of the habit of loving your own words too much.

There is not a huge range of poetry either, but we've all written poems about nature, landscapes, art, personal problems, politics, and of course, about the act of writing poetry itself, especially in this modern world which has devalued poetry to the extent that it is generally discounted as a profession.

Some first drafts are presented with their pants down, as it were, all the original faults and pretensions left in--a clever designer has been able to include some of these in facsimile, so you see the regretful crossouts, the angry underscorings, the words added in desperate hope of recovery. Other writers give the original workshop assignments, prompts, or exercises that occasioned their pieces, and tell how they either obeyed the instructions or went out on their own, like birds on a limb. No two accounts are identical, though many share the same general linear narrative--I wrote something that didn't work, I fixed it, it's fine now. Editors Hartwell Fiske and Cherry point out humorously, that it's all in the eye of the beholder and some of us will prefer the penultimate draft to the one that the poet finally stopped working up. Or even the first draft, which is where I came in.

Writers were asked to perform a difficult act of exposure, which most carry off with utter grace. Now and then we get a poet with what seems like a little too much self-confidence, Martin Wallis, for example, who "humbly" points out the way his revisions add "exact observation," "precise language," "startling metaphor," etc., yes, but he has forgotten the meaning of "humbly." But I'm getting down on him unfairly, for all the writers were charged with showing how much revision improves their writing. He just took it to extremes. This is a thick book, practically a bible of advice, and should be helpful to every sort of poet, from beginner to Nobel Prize winner--anyone who's not too proud to "eat their words."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Joy To Read, September 24, 2008

By	Kenneth F. Martin - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book got me writing again. If you ever put pen to paper and have the unfortunate characteristic of being your own worst critic, like me, you know all too well how easy it is to get discouraged. The detailed and personal descriptions of the creative process provided by the writers of these wonderful poems are the most valuable part of the book.
I particularly enjoyed Rhoda Greenstone's A Letter From L.A., and even more so her explanation of how the four versions came to be. Having never been trained in the craft, I always thought that great writing comes out all at once like a great photo. So it's back to the old notebook for me, and I think I'll take it to those back roads in the Santa Inez mountains for a little inspiration.
If you know anyone with even a little interest in writing poetry, buy this book for them as a gift. It's a real motivator.

Ken in L.A.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the recipe of poems, August 6, 2008

By	Beverly Perkins (Chebeague Island, ME) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I think this cover is a great indicator of the clever premise behind "Poem, Revised"
If you are at all interested in the construction of a poem, you will love this book. it's like eating a wonderful pie and then getting the recipe for it!

Beverly Perkins

Poem, Revised: 54 Poems, Revisions, Discussions