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Edit or don't edit - we are asking the wrong qustion

in Poetry Discussion

So I have been listening to Conversing with Poets and listen to discussion on editing. It is not whether you edit or don't edit but what purpose has editing. The songs that survive over decades, well past the fad, have a synchronising between musical structure, the sound of the words and to a lesser extent these lyrics meaning. So editing should be to work out the kernel to the poem, what is it's message: then is the structure, sound of the words and there meaning synchronised to convey to you that message. What others make your poem you cannot dictate so responsible for it. Love to hear others comments

4 comments

Comments (4)

Yvonne Calder

Mar 12

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I watched a YouTube video on using feedback on your poem, the kernel of the poem is what you are trying to say with the words. It is my paraphrasing, but I thought that sounded clearer then how I e pressed it before. ( the channel is Writing with Andrew. The video what to do with feedback.

David Avila

Feb 25

Sometimes my editing process is akin to using chopsticks to reorder the word vomit of chowder I have bestowed upon the canvas page. Other times, I can add and remove commas, replacing them with semicolons or elipsis, only to swap back in in a comma in a seemingly never ending dance that attempts to sync the rhythm of the words in my head. For me, each poem, like a child, has its own needs. Some know they are going to be doctors at a young age and require little, while a few get lock in their bedrooms until they behave, grow up, or move out. Like a dandylion, I am somewhat a father, caring little if my seed allways succeeds.

Yvonne Calder

Feb 26

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Replying to

I agree, some poems don't need an edit. Some of what I initially write can be two poems entangled, so yours are well behaved.😀

Adam Gary

Jan 24

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For me, editing is like a haircut

😂😂😂😂 gosh I don’t know where that came from! I surprise even myself some times, but stay with me.

The first draft is just a full head of hair, but then you have to cut it and style it. Trim off the dead ends, add some layers here and there.

As you say, there is a musicality to a poem that for me is a must. Editing is an opportunity to make sure every note is in the right place

Edited