How do you revise poetry and when do you know you should?

1. 70

   buckleupdorothyposted 11 years ago

   How do you revise poetry and when do you know you should?

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2. 76

   silverstararrowposted 11 years ago

   I do not usually revise any of the poems that I write. I check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, punctuations, formatting etc. but I do not usually review my poetry and change the content matter.
   
   Whatever I write comes with a certain flow. Should I try to revise it, it'll become another poem altogether. So, I refrain from rechecking/revising.
   
   Again, this is the practice that I follow. There may be many out there who review their work.

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3. 59

   MickSposted 11 years ago

   I don't  know when you should but I know how.  You spend all morning in a heart wrentching internal discussion, and put in a comma.  During the afternoon you go through the same soul searching and you take it out again.

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      Civil War Bobposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This was a good chuckle, MickS!

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4. 89

   chipped teacupposted 11 years ago

   It's hard to know what needs to be revised as soon as you write it.  I suggest leaving it be for a day or two without looking at it.  This way you have a fresh mind when you look at it again.    You will be able to see errors more clearly and make any necessary adjustments.

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5. 75

   arbposted 11 years ago

   I've probably revised 80% of mine. Mostly a word, sometimes a line. I find when laboring over a work too long, it begins to talk back to me and I loose the beat a little. A subtle itch when writing, needs a big scratch the following day.

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6. 60

   Civil War Bobposted 11 years ago

   I think with poetry you have to set it aside a couple of days and read it again.  If it "strikes" you right, let it be.  If not, then agonize or ask a friend to suggest a change.

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   Randy Behaviorposted 11 years ago

   After asking a friend I respect and... the next day when I'm sober.

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   Gelbeeposted 11 years ago

   I revise with constructive feedback from other poet's who I KNOW have great poetic skill's..and know all the form's free vs. and rhyme that flow's well or reads well. Sometime's whether or not something make's any sense at all.....I have been writing now for several year's and there are older piece's I have that I might go back and revise a bit....simply because my skill's have gotten better since those day's. It might just be one line re-construct....but it is hard to take the criticism when you think you've written something well....but their are pro's out there that know more than I do, I know that....

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