Full Description
This accessible writer's guide provides a helpful framework for creating poetry and navigates contemporary concerns and practices. Stephen Dobyns, author of the classic book on the beauty of poetry, Best Words, Best Order, moves into new terrain in this remarkable book. Bringing years of experience to bear on issues such as subject matter, the mechanics of poetry, and the revision process, Dobyns explores the complex relationship between writers and their work. From Louise Gluck to Pablo Neruda to William Butler Yeats, every chapter reveals useful lessons in these renowned poets' work. Both enlightening and encouraging, Next Word, Better Word demystifies a subtle art form and shows writers how to overcome obstacles in the creative process.
Contents
Introduction 1. Approaching Subject Matter 2. Joining Form and Content 3. Reconciling Paradox 4. Aspects of the Syllable 5. Line Breaks 6. Context and Causality 7. A Sense of Space 8. Closure 9. Revision 10. Moral Inquiry 11. Bearing Witness 12. Counterpoint 13. The Nature of Metaphor
