Customer Reviews

Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry

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What a treasure trove. Cohen's book is exquisitely written, and packed full with wonderful poems and quotes, practical excercises and wise advice on how to live well (and write better poems).

I couldn't recommend this enough - to complete beginners, or to those of us who've already been around the poetry block. You won't be disappointed!

While reading Sage Cohen's guide to creating poetry, Writing the Life Poetic, I saw a bridge open up before me, crossing the Willamette River into western Portland. I was on one side, ruminating about my literary insecurities, my smooth poems and the many that, to put it politely, needed work (read: jackhammer and saw) and what my writing voice could become. On the other side of the bridge was Cohen, waving at me to come across, where all the words I had put to paper and would put to paper were floating around, like the trees going up the hills of Forest Park, where in fact an entire poetry community was waiting for me like an welcoming, empowering Verizon Wireless "It's the Network" commercial (but without the two year contract). I found a quote in the middle of Sage Cohen's book that I kept returning to:

"In a culture where we like things black and white, right and wrong, poetry says YES. What if there were no right or wrong - only poetry? What if everything we could possibly dream up were acceptable? Fabulous? Enough? Poetry can be your own personal oasis of invention, where you can do no wrong."

What Cohen strives for is no less an encouraging, powerful, limitless manifesto to poets and writers everywhere. Instructional without being text-bookish, inspirational without being preachy, suggestive without being demanding, Writing the Life Poetic goes beyond the assemblage of quality how-to poetry books to become a work of art - with endless rows of blank canvasses on either side for the reader's own brush strokes.

I was most impressed by Cohen's adroit ability to turn so many poetic stereotypes on their head and give them a welcome burst of light and warmth. Not knowing everything about writing or other poets gives one an endless set of possibilities. Not making much money from poetry means one is free of editorial trimmings a novelist, for example, often gets. Having writer's block means the writer can sit there, quiet down, let everything just be as it is - and let the inspiration to create slowly seep back in. Sets of poetry rules - and comments about one's work from other poets - can be used or discarded freely.

Above all: write. Cohen provides numerous questions this reader felt encouraged to answer, exercises that were fun and instructive to complete, and a plethora of great poems as examples. One of the book's eighty short chapters is entitled "Finders Keepers: Found Poems." Cohen describes getting one of those irritating spam mass emails and turning it into an opportunity to write a poem slightly outside of her usual boundaries and with a lot of creative vocabulary. I found myself trying this exercise while shopping in a Japanese grocery store. Words found on the shelves and in my mind: "origami action", "rice counter" and my personal favorite, "elite banana", all grist for a future poem.

It's also rare to have a book address the need to calm down and trust one's own voice. Without the need for approval, a poet can produce more work - and find additional outlets for it. "Authenticity is a kind of homelessness I am learning to live inside of", Cohen writes. When the work pours forth, the craft is honed and shaped, empowering the person and their creations. Cohen again:

"I have been writing poems and thinking of each one as practice.... Every poem you write benefits from the poems that came before it."

Adam Kirsh, in a recent issue of the journal Poetry, asserts that poets mainly write for recognition. Cohen's book suggests many more reasons to create this kind of art. At its very least, poetry helps us smooth out the rougher edges of our character and get closer to finding out who we really are. Cohen also suggests the outlets provided by blogs, open mics, classes, critique groups, literary journals, websites and kind words for friends, all with instructions and encouragement.
Part professor, part companion and part Zen practitioner, Writing the Life Poetic walks along with us and increases the directions, dimensions and paths we can take while writing meaning into our lives. It is a monumental addition to the writing community, whose ranks should swell and build from this amazing treatise on art and all of its possibilities.


Shawn Sorensen is a published, award-winning poet whose work can be viewed at mannequinenvy.com, Winter 2008 edition. He just won 1st place in the Spring 2009 Oregon State Poetry Association Spring 2009 contest, New Poets category. Dozens more of his complete book reviews - including 16 for poetry titles - can be found at goodreads.com.

This review first appeared in the Oregon Writers Colony Colonygram, March/April 2009 edition.

Sage Cohen's book educated me in the craft of writing poetry.
She gave me prompts, and encouragements.
Showed me how to revise.
Nudged me towards publication, and
left me to fly off with her website where more learning, and practice could be found with just a click of the mouse.

All that in 250 pages for under $20.00. Works for me.

I'm looking forward to Sage's new book 'The Productive Writer'.

Filled with ideas and exercises, this inviting book coaxes poets at all levels to observe, listen, think, feel, and remember the countless ways to get into a poem. For example, Chapter 3 encourages poets to dive "Deep Into the Ordinary," while Chapter 6 explores means of "Attracting Your True Subjects." Other titles include "Seeing Your Self in Your World," "Writing Out Loud," "The Art of Revision," and "Who's Talking to Whom?"

Beginning poets will find basic information that every poet needs to know, of course, but the book also invites published poets to "Trust Your Instincts" and "To Thine Own Self Be True." For the poet-professional, "Blogging to Build an Audience" and "How to Run a Reading Series" may be especially helpful in discovering ways to market a manuscript or promote a book of poetry.

Overall, the 80 chapters of this highly recommended resource for poets provide sound advice, professional insights, and creative yet practical suggestions for writing, revising, and marketing poems. What I particularly appreciate, though, is the emphasis on enjoying poetry and tapping into a sense of play, rather than being overly anxious, as so many poets are, about getting published. For example, the author says, "As I turned my attention away from what I thought I was supposed to be writing and toward what I felt called to write, my poetry took on a new momentum" (p. 22.) Yes! Although I've said something similar to poetry students for years, I found myself needing to hear this Sage advice myself.

Thankfully, Sage Cohen addresses many workable ways into a poem - especially important since poets often get locked into a rhyme, rhythm, image or idea long before the poetic lines have revealed their full intent or impact. Along those lines, the chapter "Thirteen Ways of Looking" refers to Wallace Stevens' poem, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird," which the author describes "as a poem not only about blackbirds but also about poetry." She goes on to explain that "Writing poetry is about discovering ways of looking. It gives us the opportunity to slow down and really pay attention. As you practice looking and practice writing that is informed by looking, you may start to notice some patterns about the ways you look, or the things you look for." Such attentiveness can't help but improve a poem.

Being attentive and taking it slow works well with this book too, so you'll undoubtedly need your own copy to read and later refer to whenever your poetic writing life begins to feel ho-hum. Nevertheless, I wish I could change a couple of physical things about the book: i.e., I'd add more margins for notes and those thoughts that inevitably begin to flow from the exercises at the end of each chapter, and I'd replace the cover with one that doesn't crease when I fold it back to write and write and write.

Reviewer: Mary Harwell Sayler, poet and author of 25 books, has worked with other poets and writers for many years through her poetry course, critiques, and website [...].

The first thing I noticed about Writing the Life Poetic when I opened up my package was the beautiful cover. Already, before even opening the book up to the first page, my senses were heightened by the brilliant designs and colors. When I ran my fingers over the cover of the book I was pleasantly surprised by the raised designs (especially on the back cover) and the raised text. Just holding the book was a poetic experience. Then I opened it - Wow! I was struck by the contrast between the bright white paper, the text, the colors, and the illustrations. Without reading a word my creative mind had already been given a jumpstart.

I was a closet poet for nearly twenty years and when I finally had the courage to submit some poetry for critique I realized how much I did not know about poetry. I was discouraged and even considered not writing poetry anymore because it all seemed too complicated and then I saw an advertisement in Writer's Digest for this book. I thought I would give it a try and I am so glad that I did. My reading of Writing the Life Poetic coincided with a 30-day poetry writing regimen that I participated in and I had the chance to incorporate much of Sage Cohen's advice with great results.

Her instructions are clear and concise and so easy to understand even for a beginner like me. The chapters are short but provide a wealth of information and encouragement. I read one chapter per day and this easily fit into my hectic schedule. Eighty days later I was not only writing more poetically, I was living more poetically. What Cohen has taught me through these beautiful pages has helped me in all of my writing: poetry, personal essays, and memoir. She has taught me that there is poetry to be found in even the most minute and mundane of things; in the things that might be overlooked even discarded otherwise. She has taught me that it is the awareness of the world around me and the writing of that awareness that is so important even if at first glance I do not consider what I write to be "top quality".

I recommend this book to beginner and experienced poets and writers alike. Beginners will get a guide book on how to embrace the poetry within and around them. Those with experience will get a fresh perspective on reading and writing poetry and expand their creative minds to higher levels. I also recommend Cohen's book of poetry, Like the Heart, the World, which will, after reading, unequivocally convince you that she knows of what she writes.

Sage Cohen also has a Writing the Life Poetic blog that you can subscribe to and it is a must read for all the fans of her book. It will provide you with a continuation of the same fresh poetic view of life that is seen within the pages of this book.

I sat down with Sage Cohen's Writing the Life Poetic, expecting to be inspired to read and write more poetry. Not expecting:

* Tips for fighting off writer's block, that I'll use in both my fiction and nonfiction writing
* Inspiration for making my prose flow better
* Motivation to prioritize my writing time
* Ideas for cultivating a writing ritual that I've never seen in another writing craft book
* To read an entire chapter aloud to my husband
* To get a little choked up in the process

While Cohen's aim is to guide readers through different aspects of reading and writing poetry, nearly everything she says can be applied to any type of writing, or, for that matter, any creative endeavor. Just as one doesn't have to be a gardener in order to enjoy a tour through a friend's treasured garden, there's an abundance of beauty here for poet and non-poet alike.

Cohen sprinkles her eighty short chapters with snippets of poetry and full poems, both simply for the art of them and in exercises to get the creative juices flowing which are sure to inspire teachers of both adults and children. Readable enough to zip straight through all the way through, and full of gems worthy of going back to again and again.

I absolutely loved this book and am loving it again on my second read. I carry it with me everywhere. I am one of those readers who underline in pencil in books such as this to highlight thoughts and ideas but 'Writing the Life Poetic' is so full of gems that I can't do this or I would underline the whole book. Sage Cohen has coalesced much about writing and poetry in a heartfelt, accessible way. She truly does take poetry writing off its pedestal and straight into the mainstream of your life in the most practical and encouraging way. Great for people writing independently, for groups, for beginners or those needing new enthusiasm. For me, it was the perfect book at a critical time and was just what I needed to keep me believing in writing poetry and its personal power. There is also a website linked to the book so that you can engage further with the ideas presented. Excellent in every way and one of the best books on writing I have read.

This publication has got to be the "Best" publication, on what it is like living the Life of a Poet and writing effectively. "Outstanding" poetry techniques.

The smell of ink is intoxicating to me - others may have wine, but I have poetry. ~Abbe Yeux-verdi

I just received my copy of Writing the Life Poetic, An Invitation to Read & Write Poetry yesterday.

It is a beautiful book written by poet Sage Cohen and illustrated by Gregoire Vion. I think the subtitle really captures what the book is about. Sage is inviting all writers to experience poetry and play with words and language.

In 258 pages and 80 short chapters Sage encompasses craft, form, voice, revision, shape, motivation, getting your work out, poetry contests, mixed media, blogging as a poet, poetry and writing groups, readings, and much more.The book includes many poetic and creative writing prompts/lessons, examples of poetry from familiar to new-to-me poets and stories of Sage's journey as a poet. But most of all it contains inspiration. Each chapter seamlessly leads to the next. With a warm, inviting conversational tone this writing reference book is one I will pick up again and again when I'm feeling the "why do I want to write poetry feeling?" On the back cover of the book Sage invites all readers to "join the conversation" at her book blog.

I want to gift this book to all of my creative writing friends whether they consider themselves poets or not.

I've always considered myself to be a "bad poet" but after reading this, I feel much better about my chances! Cohen invites readers to think more critically about what poetry is and how readers can source their own material - just from what they know and feel passionate about. I had the chance to interview Cohen for my blog - and she's amazing.