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Poets and Writers, O My 4/1/2013 9:54:45 AM
I've often wondered how Poets and writers from long ago would have handled it if an editor were to critique their writings...such as Emily Dickenson
" Because I could not stop for Death, he kindly stopped for me"
if an editor somewhere were to say " Hmmmm death has human characteristics??...He??--seems a tad strange?"
" perhaps you should change it to " It"
Not sure how Emily would have handled that suggestion as those kind of comments can almost kill a Poet let alone a writer in any time period.
or perhaps if the Book Moby Dick were to be stopped before the story of the Great whale was told-at the words
" Call Me Ishmael"
An editor could have said
" Hmmm isn't Ishmael a word that is sensitive to Muslims..
you got my attention but who calls a kid these days Ishmael...why not call me George...or Cornelius....or Dwight."
a poet like a writer needs a strong opening--catch the reader with a strong impact, hold them with thought provoking ideas and end with a Bang!
Like the story of the old Pastor trying to teach the art of sermon making to a young man
" Use a Catchy title--make it so powerful of a title for the Church sign that it would make even that bus that goes by here early Sunday morning urge the people on it to get off and listen to you preach!"
the Young man said " I Understand"
Sunday morning came but as the old pastor approached the Church he saw a dozen police cars with flashing lights, an ambulance and a fire truck--when he got close to the Church
he saw the church sign out front
" THERE'S A BOMB ON YOUR BUS !"
yes sometimes some things need to be edited-yet for many poets and writers-to tamper with what we write can easily make us bristle with anger
if we think it's great-why change it? well even I as a Poet would say--some poems should be thought about before posting or sending it somewhere. I have even been known to throw out poems that a day later made me go " What was I thinking?"
of course I suppose if the monetary compensation is quite generous I am sure even a Poet might say-" Change what you want-just send the check"
It is a tight and slippery slope we all must cross...the writer composing their thoughts and where needed in some cases an editor making bold suggestions(or "criticisms " as we might see it)--of our masterpieces
