Putting A Collection Together

Agreed. I naturally file my poems into collections based on a chronological story or journey I or the speaker is embarking on, even if the speaker differs between each poem- they're all telling one cohesive narrative that could be interpreted as one universal narrative or journey many share. Of course, within that narrative are many different stories, events, characters and revelations the speaker/s experiences and philosophises over. So naturally, towards the end of the collection, at least major revelation or value will be apparent to both the speaker and reader, and a drastic change within the speaker would have taken place.

Well I'm not familiar with any of the singers you guys mentioned, but I imagine if you put a collection together it should have some type of cohesiveness or underlying theme that tie all the poems together. I guess it will just be better to read.

Unless you're making a 'greatest hits' album

or

a posthumous collection...

Taylor has described her song choice and tracklisting as her way of telling an overarching story. Adele has said the same thing when discussing 25 & 30. I think that's the key to these records being so good. There is consideration about how each song interacts with the ones before and after. That's the thing with reputation and folklore that makes them so impactful, to me at least. Red was full of brilliantly written songs, but it wasn't cohesive like folklore. It was all over the place sonically. It's like putting heartbreaking poems among limericks. There should be a mood or theme that the poems conform to.

There's a lot of discourse around Ariel, because Hughes edited it heavily after Plath's death, including changing the 'tracklist', which then changed how the poems interacted with each other. It may be a good collection, but the original publication is missing the author's intent. It's interesting to compare the two (the original listing was published at a later date)

I'm tentatively putting together a collection of my poetry, that charts a decade of my romantic life. The lessons I learned, the mistakes we made etc. I wouldn't out a poem about my parents or a friend in that, because it wouldn't be cohesive. Each poem tells a story of a moment, but those moments all interact with each other (but it's not a date by date chronology)

Not sure if that helps?

Hey Rachel

For one,I believe the last album i listen to from Taylor Swift was Reputation.

I remember jamming out to Taylor Swift on a first generation IPOD.Those were the times,although to answer your question,I mainly did it by figuring out a central theme and create an anthology.

If you haven't seen my poetry series, base on poetry prompts by poetry blogger,it's essentially same process.

I think collections are an anthology,yes,they made have similar themes,they're great enough to stand alone.In The Howl,when I read Transcription of Organ Music and then I read Sunflower Sutra,what they're about maybe different,the premise is the same. Therefore,they may stand alone as amazing poems,just so happen to be in one collection.

So cohesiveness of those poems might be needed,doesn't mean its final.

Just a matter of what you rather create,collection or anthology?I think they're both the same thing,however base on how one interprets both,they could be different.

When I put my collection together,it was during NaPoWriMo in October,I didn't realize I wrote my rough draft in a month affiliated with NaPoWriMo,until I saw your Tik Toks.Could have been something different writing wise,but I wrote as many poems as I could,break down which poems I want in collection and then the ones decided becomes the first poetry book of any kind I will release.

If a collection has a central theme and relates to one another,it depends on how many seeds you plan to plant.

Because poetry is more show don't tell,then tell don't show. Which is all comes down to techniques you use,story your telling within poem and how much heart was in to each piece.

Also,stick to your intuition by having fun and trust your poetry book as consumer's oxygen.

They bought your collection to know you.Support you.And believe in your work doing well.

If you decide to go with that route,

be prepare to market living crap out.

All you need to do is watch what Adam Gary been doing to know what I mean.

If your going to go with that route,for the content portion,I would ask people to read a poem by picking a page,for instance between,1-10,read that specific poem and then ask feedback. For the editing portion,don't skip this part,as it's time consuming.However,necessary to ensure grammer,explore other ways to say a line,and understand what do you really want to say. Then ask an editor and/or proofreader to look over your work.Preferably,from a poet whose already done it,however,if not possible,a competent editor and/or proofreader would be fine.So,yes involves asking two different kinds of people,poets or editor/proofreader who did it(your choice in that direction) and consumers who read/don't read poetry.

However,I would need both inputs to know direction of poetry.

I would probably stick with self publish E-Books,since I can no longer tolerate humanity B.S,however,

Since you already submitted to publishers and have no avail.

Two options here.

Self publish and market on social media.

Or continue to send out to publishers,as you really only need one to say yes.

The next thing I will say can be disregarded if this does not apply to you.Out of respect of one's mental health, if this doesn't apply,stop reading.

Theres really no other way to deal with stress other than perseverance and persistence.I say no other way cause yes,you have tools like meditation,Journaling and reading,may calm stress,whats more effective is go through the thing regardless of stress.This is simply from my own experience in regards to stress.

If you want this,go through whats require.Because you got this,and

You always have what it takes.