Readings to bring back the muse
I was on the phone with my mother last weekend and she asked if I’d written any poems lately. Um, no, I had to reply, and it bothered me more than a little. Not only am I not writing anything creative, I’m not even in the kind of state where language feels inherently interesting. I used to get into that state a lot more often, if my commonplace book is any indication. I’ve been wondering how to get it back; this list, a compendium of Things That Might Get Me to Write Again, came out of that wondering. It’s mostly for my own future reference, but I thought I’d put it out there in case any of you are interested. So, herewith, my to-look-at list:
- Anything with (relatively) unfamiliar language: the language of knitting made me want to write poems when I first encountered it, as did the language of systems analysis during my first semester of library school.
- Poets’ commonplace books and notebooks. There’s a good collection called The Poet’s Notebook that I’ve been revisiting lately.
- Writing exercises. Perhaps it’s time to dust off my battered old copy of The Practice of Poetry, or look again at Charles Bernstein’s writing experiments.
- Books on city design, architecture, and urban planning. It’s partly my ongoing spatiality obsession, but something about books on the relationships between streets or buildings or rooms make me want to write. Must find a copy of Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language at some point (because what I want for myself is another kind of pattern language).
- Books that link poetry with visualization in interesting ways. I’m reading Jill Stoner’s Poems for Architects (hat tip to Jane Dark for the recommendation), and the way she turns villanelles into cross-sections of buildings makes me want to run out and do the same thing.
- Overheard conversation. I should spend more time surreptitiously eavesdropping.
What am I leaving off this list that ought to be there?
Little Red Leaves might belong with the “poetry with visualization” crowd.
Ooh, interesting! Thanks for the link!