tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post2699899956358040646..comments2024-03-29T01:19:03.714-04:00Comments on Poet Mom: My Revision Process for Manuscript #2Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13036651950996873368noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-24439100054564132102010-07-26T14:03:29.568-04:002010-07-26T14:03:29.568-04:00Hi Ann. I will post a response on the blog later t...Hi Ann. I will post a response on the blog later today. Thanks for your question.Januaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036651950996873368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-20349275622155041392010-07-25T21:57:44.792-04:002010-07-25T21:57:44.792-04:00Hello January! My name is Ann and im in prof. Jean...Hello January! My name is Ann and im in prof. Jeans class at Salem State College. I enjoyed your poems and your readings in class. I never knew that the revision process was so intense. I have written many poems and to be honest I've only revised two of them. For some reason I cant get myself to revise them or change them. I like them the way the are. When I wrote those poems I wrote them just to have fun. Some of them because I had a lot on my mind and writing helps me express everything that I had in my mind. Maybe someday I will like to write a poem book and include some poems but how will I be able to revise them if I think they are just fine the way they are. Thank you so much for sharing your revision process I know that its reall going to help me!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06444813307508085288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-62324660452492175912010-07-19T08:57:10.713-04:002010-07-19T08:57:10.713-04:00That’s interesting, Jessie, that you went back to ...That’s interesting, Jessie, that you went back to the original order. I’m amazed at how many poems you publish—just incredible. <br /><br />Keeping our fingers crossed for your next book!Januaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036651950996873368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-24178959128046893952010-07-16T12:54:27.133-04:002010-07-16T12:54:27.133-04:00thanks for sharing your process in all of this!
m...thanks for sharing your process in all of this!<br /><br />my 2nd manuscript really took a lot of turns as I tried to shape it. the version it is in now is actually the original overall order that I had, funny how i returned to it. I actually took it out of its original form because I was reluctant to have sections. I went back to the sections.<br /><br />When i started to realize I might have a 2nd manuscript was when I noticed how many individual poems I had published. Once I had close to 50 that weren't in the first book I started trying to look for themes. It took a while but eventually I realized I had a good 4 solid sections that all seemed to work together.<br /><br />I weeded through mine in much the same way you described, just looking at them and grouping them, letting go of ones that weren't as strong.<br /><br />I had 3 people read the first version and then the more revise version only went to 1 or 2. I don't have as wide of a number of people that I would feel comfortable burdening a whole manuscript with.<br /><br />The hardest decision for me was deciding how to proceed with the 2nd. I sent it to contests for a while but now I'm trying to decide if I want to keep doing that...I might have some news soon about it though..sooon :) <br /><br />Good luck with yours!Jessie Cartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181286764480973423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-26348688468258037432010-07-16T07:00:19.045-04:002010-07-16T07:00:19.045-04:00Twitches, you have a good process already. Putting...Twitches, you have a good process already. Putting together is easy compared to sending it out and the emotions that go with putting your work out there to be judged.<br /><br />I have no doubt that you'll find a publsiher when ready.Januaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036651950996873368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-73022347069152206012010-07-16T06:57:38.333-04:002010-07-16T06:57:38.333-04:00Evelyn (et al), Check out Diane Lockward's pos...Evelyn (et al), Check out Diane Lockward's post on her experience with book contests and reading manuscripts as a reader/judge. Seems appropriate for this conversation:<br /><br />http://dianelockward.blogspot.com/2010/07/some-thoughts-about-poetry-book.htmlJanuaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036651950996873368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-45261720040477633512010-07-15T14:29:36.219-04:002010-07-15T14:29:36.219-04:00Wow, your process is great to hear (or read rather...Wow, your process is great to hear (or read rather).evelyn.n.alfredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08171703688316482928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-34463367810465253602010-07-15T12:42:01.968-04:002010-07-15T12:42:01.968-04:00I'm just now working on ms. #1. I'm readin...I'm just now working on ms. #1. I'm reading the book "Ordering the Storm," which is helpful. I must admit your archives of your first ms. process have been helpful as well. All I've done so far is winnow the poems down to a big stack that I think are decent - step #2 is to narrow them down and come up with a order. Then I have two friends lines up to review it, and I'm sure I'll add at least two more people to the list. As far as WHERE I will send said ms. I do not know. Will figure that out later!mareymercyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03407666873261385487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-59181790173267777722010-07-15T08:10:47.823-04:002010-07-15T08:10:47.823-04:00Rethabile, sounds like your manuscript has had an ...Rethabile, sounds like your manuscript has had an interesting journey. Your process will lead to a much stronger collection. Take all the time you need to create something you’re proud of.<br /><br />I want a strong collection of poems—no weak spots, no transition poems to maintain the theme.<br /><br />Nice to hear that you're not rushing to produce something you're happy with. And I’m sure once it’s out there, it will be picked up right away.Januaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036651950996873368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-22084910465990663962010-07-15T08:05:00.059-04:002010-07-15T08:05:00.059-04:00Thanks DJ. I like reading about how others tackle ...Thanks DJ. I like reading about how others tackle big projects, so reading about process is helpful to me, too.<br /><br />I like having a cohesive thread, and sections, but there's certainly nothing wrong with a collection (meaning: a grouping of poems not bound by themes or arcs).Januaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13036651950996873368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-78395828999233986582010-07-14T20:03:56.147-04:002010-07-14T20:03:56.147-04:00Interesting for me to read about this. I always st...Interesting for me to read about this. I always struggle with trying to decide whether or not a manuscript really needs a cohesive thread through the whole thing -some collections I read have it and some don't.<br /><br />So far, I have only put together chapbook manuscripts, which are usually more focused since there are so few poems.<br /><br />I have the goal of working on a full-length collection over the next year. I write mostly shorter poems, so for me the number of poems is significant as most houses want anywhere from 48-80 pages. <br /><br />Thanks for the insight into your process - I look forward to reading more.DJ Vorreyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02166957214456197239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14397387.post-33937013242138410022010-07-14T15:39:34.597-04:002010-07-14T15:39:34.597-04:00I'm working on a manuscript. I still feel it&#...I'm working on a manuscript. I still feel it's not the end of the process, yet. I've been writing poems for a while, put together a MSS three years ago and submitted it. Then the crunch hit, and several houses, some of which had already accepted it, pulled back.<br /><br />I'm glad they did, because in the time since then, I have written more poems, grown a bit more, and re-read and revised with more insight.<br /><br />The manuscript was 50-something poems long. It is now 40-something poems long. Size doesn't matter (pardon the cliché). I want to have poems that I like in my book, I want to have a book I would have enjoyed reading.<br /><br />If I have 40 good poems in a book, I'll be happy.<br /><br />Following your suggestion, I spread my poems on my dining room floor and pondered them. Thought of organisation, theme. And I did find a suitable order (this was three years ago, about). I don't feel I should section the MSS; I'd just like to group some poems and have them follow one another, trying to keep some kinf of coherent flow to the book.<br /><br />I need time. I need time to grow and read more and learn more and live more, so that I may reflect all these in my work.<br /><br />I showed my MSS to two poets I admire. I know that they liked some of the poems therein, but I also know that I think some of them aren't "complete"...<br /><br />The urge to have a book out is strong, but I need to bottle it long enough to write good poems. I think I will be ready with a MSS in 6 months to a year.Rethabilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03523368313680103826noreply@blogger.com