Okay so my question for the day is, if you had a choice of any poet (living) to read your manuscript in process who would it be? Or do you think it is a good thing to have anyone read your manuscript? Does it take away from your own voice to have another finger in the pie.
Carolyn still has my manuscript and I am more concerned what she thinks of it than Yale. I would like to make her incredibly proud of me someday. Does that sound childish?
Oh and deleted my post last night. Sorry Ivy, I still love your voice. I just sounded like a bit like a sap. I need more sleep, less tea. I cannot believe in three days my vacation is totally over.
I just got an email from Billy Collins asking me to bring three poems to read for class time. Three poems. Shit. Should I bring three poems I think are done (are poems ever really done) or three I think need a lot of work. Uggggg, now I wont sleep....
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4 comments:
That's a tough question T. One I've never even considered. I have no idea.
I do know that the three fabulous poets who read my chapbook in progress (the new one) were a HUGE help. I really needed their 'fresh' eyes. Please lose the 'want to please' thing (with Carolyn and everyone else for that matter) ultimately it's you who you need to please. kwim?
Oh, and bring your best poems. You'll kick yourself later if you don't.
PS I saw your sappy post. (sly smile) I hate when I get sappy in public. *lol*
PSPS if you would like to trade chaps in progress let me know. :-)
I don't think in terms of what anyone thinks about my ms or my poems, I mean, I don't care what anyone thinks. I feel pretty confident about what I'm doing. I didn't show Tarantella (as a whole) to anyone except my editor, until I asked poets I admire to write blurbs for me. I take my poems to a workshop (not all of them) but that's mostly so I can drink and visit and gossip and read and enjoy their poems. I rarely use people's suggestions for my poems these days. They're pretty finished when they're finished.
On the other hand, I'd love to have Maxine Kumin read my manuscript so I could have an excuse to meet her. I'd love to exchange soup recipes and talk about horses and farm life. I probably wouldn't use her suggestions for my poems either, but I think we could have a fabulous conversation.
As for this " Does it take away from your own voice to have another finger in the pie." Absolutely not. Nothing can take away from your own voice. It's yours. Your outlook is unique.
As for the 3 poems. If you are reading them to get work on them, to workshop them, then take poems that are near finished but not quite working. If you are reading them just to impress the class, take your best most finished.
Can't wait to hear all the details about the conference when you get back. You and Suzanne are at the same conference, no?
What a great time~!
Ha! I wish I was going to warm, sunny Palm Springs. :p
Addendum:
When I got the feedback on from the other poets their comments were on arrangement, flow, theme, the chap as a whole. (One of them actually did write indepth comments on each poem and that also helped with the final arrangement.)
Interesting question...
I'd have Li-Young Lee read it, just for the pleasure of being able to say "Li-Young Lee read my manuscript."
I believe that ultimately, it's the original poet who knows the book best, however, an editor made a suggestion about my manuscript regarding order of my first chapbook and it was a much better chapbook because of it. In that case, I was too close to the narrative it carried throughout it.
For my book (and with my newest manuscript), I know what I want and in this case, am not interested in other's ideas. I think others can be helpful if you are considering different things, but definitely not necessary.
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