Monday, April 13, 2009

On writing for NaPoMo

I'm not much of a 'write for contests' kind of guy, preferring to commit to art rather than things which would produce some kind of personal recognition but I have participated, for the first time, in National Poetry Month because it is, in part, about something in which I believe. For any of you who are unfamiliar with it, this is an American event created to specifically promote poetry and increase public awareness of poetry and poets, in general. What is asked of us during the month of April is to write a poem each day of the month. I begin to be a little uncertain here, wondering if some quantitative value is going to do anything worthwhile for poetry but, what the heck; it’s for a good cause so I can tolerate a portion of sloppy logic to go with the good intentions.

I’m used to external discipline as it is applied to learning. I’m a teacher and I try to do this for my students all the time as I also help them with the process of learning how to do that for and by themselves (called learner autonomy). In my life as a poet, I frequently find I need to learn more about my art. How does W. C. Williams bring that larger context along with that object, The Red Wheelbarrow, with such a simple, short poem? How does Basho find the soul of something physical and familiar to us? How does a sonnet or sestina work? I must learn from these external things so I can do what the art of poetry demands of me.

When I seek to gain knowledge from external sources I am practicing learner autonomy in my own life. If a poet acquaintance like Robert Lee Brewer takes upon himself to post a daily prompt for each day of National Poetry Month for use by hundreds of poets on the internet, this is another form of external discipline because now I must write not only daily (which I already do) but on a specific theme. Sometimes a thousand or more poets respond and post their themed results on an internet location where they can be collected and judged. I am the kind of poet that likes to revise and this regime gives no time for that activity to take place. In essence, we are being asked to produce the best work we can with rather short notice and with very little opportunity to revise before submission. This is so far away from the writing regime I have been using for years but I find I am learning some unplanned lessons in areas I usually don’t even think about by participating in this experience.

We are nearly half way through and it is not too late to pick up your pen and join in the fun. If, like me, you would never consider doing such a silly (although well motivated) thing like this, I invite you to give it a try. After all, being a holy person in the isolation of living on a high mountain is one thing but coming down and trying to be pure in the city with its myriad temptations is a whole ‘nother. Join the crowd!

6 comments:

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

I'm just finishing my last asignment for my degree so I'm about ready to try and forget all I know and get back enjoying writing again. It's ver quiet here in blog land has everyone moved over to face book do you think? Word verifacation says dresist I wonder if that's a person who is anti dresses?

Russell Ragsdale said...

Congratulations Sue! I still have a few classes and my Thesis to write for mine. Blogland may be quieter but we're still here. Great to see you and thanks for coming by to comment!

Rethabile said...

I begin to be a little uncertain here, wondering if some quantitative value is going to do anything worthwhile for poetry but, what the heck; it’s for a good cause so I can tolerate a portion of sloppy logic to go with the good intentions.Excellent reasoning. I don't participate because I can't. Full-stop. But I think for those who can, it's a win-win thing.

Thanks for updating us each time.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Rethabile for your thoughtful comment. I'm glad to know you are enjoying the updates, my friend.

Russell CJ Duffy said...

My, Oh my have you been busy. Sounds like fun too. Blogland is quieter and yes, it is good to see you all are still out 'there'.

Paticipation would be good but I have so little time nowadays. Would love to see the end results though and, on another note entirely, I really enjoy the words you have been posting on facebook.

Such a shame that guys like you and Sue don't start a collective of world poets and then produce a series of chapbooks. I would be delighted to help with that if you ever felt the inclination.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi CJ, I'm very interested in doing something like that. My main problem is time. I'm doing a Master's right now and also very busy teaching at the same time. Thanks for those nice words about the Fbook posts. I'm glad you've been enjoying them. Let's talk about the Publishing collective some more, I'd really like to hear your ideas on how we could do that.