WOW. i loved this so much! so relatable! i have also been struggling to write fiction for a bit. i am also a writer who has always said i would never, could never write poetry. i also tend to abandon projects/challenges if i miss a day. this is so inspiring! poetry! who woulda thought! congratulations for finding a creative outlet that has felt good and constant!
Aw, thank you! I'm so glad reading it is spreading little threads of inspiration to folks. It's so neat and exciting to feel something new in terms of a creative practice—a good reminder of what is possible. I hope you go for poetry if you feel like it, and wish you all the fruitfulness and fallowness in your own writing.
I love this for you Laura!! It’s so funny how we can initially resist something because we don’t feel like we ‘know’ enough. I grew up thinking poetry was so complex (from studying it at school) and under the impression you have to be a certain person to write it. But then you realise anything can be a poem and anyone can write one. And that’s enough to define yourself as a poet.
I write poems inconsistently in my notes app but this whole, beautifully written, piece has me thinking I should make it less of a sporadic practice and try and do one every day/week? Your joy and practice is inspiring! I love it.
Oh, I love this! Yes, it is so easy to convince ourselves we can't do something, and what a wonder it is to realize that is not at all the case! I hope you find so much creative joy in your poetry, whether you make it less sporadic or not!
I feel this! I've been having lots of resistance to writing fiction, mostly due to lack of time and energy. I keep coming up with ideas, write 1-2 pages, get interrupted, and never return. BUT, I've been writing a poem a week this year! Not every day, but I seem to be able to manage weekly. They're not great, but there is something really special about writing poems.
It can be such a struggle. Hurray for writing a poem a week! I agree there is something about poems that feels magical at times and for me at least, easier to just go for without stressing/overthinking.
As I was coming down through here I was thinking, "great, at the bottom here we're going to get to read a bunch of Laura's poems!" Maybe some other time...
This is hands-down my favorite thing you've ever written, anywhere ever. I drank every word of this so fast. Oh my god, Laura, I can barely formulate a coherent response.
I can't think of any form where it matters less if you're trained, have studied, are "qualified" (whatever that means), have always defined yourself in opposition to -- you're writing poetry, you're doing it! and that makes you a poet. Full stop, the end.
I can't wait to see where this leads, if anywhere (and if "nowhere," then know this is enough -- not what you've written, but the process by which you're coming alive).
There aren't enough heart emojis available to express how much I love this comment. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for reading and understanding and seeing my words. It means so much.
I adored this! Thanks for writing it!
My pleasure!
WOW. i loved this so much! so relatable! i have also been struggling to write fiction for a bit. i am also a writer who has always said i would never, could never write poetry. i also tend to abandon projects/challenges if i miss a day. this is so inspiring! poetry! who woulda thought! congratulations for finding a creative outlet that has felt good and constant!
Aw, thank you! I'm so glad reading it is spreading little threads of inspiration to folks. It's so neat and exciting to feel something new in terms of a creative practice—a good reminder of what is possible. I hope you go for poetry if you feel like it, and wish you all the fruitfulness and fallowness in your own writing.
I love this for you Laura!! It’s so funny how we can initially resist something because we don’t feel like we ‘know’ enough. I grew up thinking poetry was so complex (from studying it at school) and under the impression you have to be a certain person to write it. But then you realise anything can be a poem and anyone can write one. And that’s enough to define yourself as a poet.
I write poems inconsistently in my notes app but this whole, beautifully written, piece has me thinking I should make it less of a sporadic practice and try and do one every day/week? Your joy and practice is inspiring! I love it.
Oh, I love this! Yes, it is so easy to convince ourselves we can't do something, and what a wonder it is to realize that is not at all the case! I hope you find so much creative joy in your poetry, whether you make it less sporadic or not!
Thanks for the wonderful recommendation of Martyr! - I look forward to checking it out.
I hope you love it! It's incredible.
I feel this! I've been having lots of resistance to writing fiction, mostly due to lack of time and energy. I keep coming up with ideas, write 1-2 pages, get interrupted, and never return. BUT, I've been writing a poem a week this year! Not every day, but I seem to be able to manage weekly. They're not great, but there is something really special about writing poems.
It can be such a struggle. Hurray for writing a poem a week! I agree there is something about poems that feels magical at times and for me at least, easier to just go for without stressing/overthinking.
As I was coming down through here I was thinking, "great, at the bottom here we're going to get to read a bunch of Laura's poems!" Maybe some other time...
Haha, they're not quite ready yet, but hopefully they will be soon!
Wonderful! You are finding joy, joy of your own creation! This makes me happy, happy for you, but also just plain happy!
Aw, thank you! This makes me happy to read!
Really great stuff here Laura. Thanks for sharing your story. Keep up the great work.
Thank you!
This is hands-down my favorite thing you've ever written, anywhere ever. I drank every word of this so fast. Oh my god, Laura, I can barely formulate a coherent response.
I can't think of any form where it matters less if you're trained, have studied, are "qualified" (whatever that means), have always defined yourself in opposition to -- you're writing poetry, you're doing it! and that makes you a poet. Full stop, the end.
I can't wait to see where this leads, if anywhere (and if "nowhere," then know this is enough -- not what you've written, but the process by which you're coming alive).
There aren't enough heart emojis available to express how much I love this comment. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for reading and understanding and seeing my words. It means so much.
Love hearing about your creative writing journey! I have one similarly meandering, if less prolific. Cheers to daily, low pressure poetry!
So glad you enjoyed hearing about it! It was quite cathartic (and illuminating) to write it all out.