The 6.5 practices of moderately successful poets : a self-help memoir / Jeffrey Skinner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Skinner, Jeffrey

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Skinner, Jeffrey.

Poets, American--20th century--Biography.

Poets, American.

Poetry--Authorship.

Poetry.

Poetry--Authorship--Humor.

Genre:

Biographies.

Humor.

Autobiographies.

Physical Description:

xx, 184 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

Six point five practices of moderately successful poets

Six and a half practices of moderately successful poets

Practices of moderately successful poets

Place of Publication:

Louisville, Ky. : Sarabande Books, [2012]

Summary:

Revision is the process a poem endures to become its best self. Or, if you are the poet, you are the process a poem endures to become its best self.

Endures because a first draft, like all other objects in the universe, has inertia and would prefer to stay where it is. The poet must not collaborate.

Best self because the poem is more like a person than a thing, and does not strenuously object to personification.

Yo, poem.

But let's not get carried away. It's your poem and you can treat it as you wish; sweet talk it; push it around if that's what it takes. Alfred Hitchcock notoriously said of the actors in his movies, "They are cattle."

A private eye turned moderately successful poet leads readers on a satiric, hopeful tour of how to make a life in the arts, while still having a life. Sections include "The Silence of the Iambs," "The Revisionarium," "Dr. Frankenpoem Answers Your Questions," and "The Periodic Table of Poetic Elements." Revealing, hilarious, and peppered with sly takes on the ins and outs of contemporary American poetry, Skinner offers advice, candor, and wit. Book jacket.

Contents:

Protects talent. What is talent? ; The part that learns without effort ; Rigor, precision ; Unfairness ; Necessary selfishness ; Life and work ; The background check

Finds the liminal place. The in-between ; Ignition ; Let's get lost ; A pathway to the gateway ; Meandering, description, music ; Not so hot, better, limit interference, endure ; Top ten poet complaints

Makes use. Phil & company ; Crafty craft ; O, research ; The private eye ; Bobby the ape

Discipline (self). Bad boat, bad boy ; The silence of the iambs ; The revisionarium ; The time clock

Finds poetry companion. How far from the self ; A little help from my friends ; Ask Dr. Frankenpoem, your poetry companion

Ambitious for the work. Ignores outer validation ; Ink runs from the corners of my mouth ; Things that, while possibly admirable, mean nothing for a career ; Things that may move your career forward ; Things that guarantee you will not have a career ; Smarts ; The pre M.F.A. save-your-time & money quiz

Takes the long view. The long view ; The young ; Family guy.

ISBN:

9781936747276

1936747278

OCLC:

756582237