Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out - Softcover

Fletcher, Ralph

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0380797038 ISBN 13: 9780380797035

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2002

Synopsis

A practical guide to demystify the process of writing poetry, by the bestselling author of A Writer’s Notebook and the ALA Notable Book Fig Pudding.

Poetry matters. At the most important moments, when everyone else is silent, poetry rises to speak.

This book is full of practical wisdom to help young writers craft beautiful poetry that shines, sings, and soars. It features writing tips and tricks, interviews with published poets for children, and plenty of examples of poetry by published writers—and even young people themselves.

Perfect for classrooms, this lighthearted, appealing manual is a celebration of poetry that is a joy to read. Young poets and aspiring poets of all ages will enjoy these tips on how to simplify the process of writing poetry and find their own unique voice.

About this title

About the Author

Ralph Fletcher has always been a special person for children's literature. He is the author of picture books, nonfiction, and novels for young readers. How to Write Your Life Story is the fifth book in Mr. Fletcher's series of instructional writing books, which includes A Writer's Notebook, Live Writing, How Writers Work, and Poetry Matters. Mr. Fletcher lives with his family in New Hampshire.

From the Back Cover

Maybe you've heard before that poetry is magic, and it made you roll your eyes, but I believe it's true. Poetry matters. At the most important moments, when everyone else is silent, poetry rises to speak.

I wrote this book to help you write poems and to give practical ideas for making your poems sound the way you want them to sound. We're not going to smash poems up into the tiniest pieces. This book is about writing poetry, not analyzing it. I want this book to help you have more wonderful. moments in the poetry you write. I want you to feel the power of poetry. it's my hope that through this book you will discover lots of ways to make your poems shine, sing, soar...

-- Ralph Fletcher

Reviews

Grade 5-9-A concise, nuts-and-bolts guide to creating poetry. The book begins by defining poems as "emotional X-rays" that seek to delve into a person's inner being. Chapters deal with images; creating "music," or sounds and rhythms; how to generate ideas for poems; the construction of the words on the page; and more. Tips on fine-tuning are also given, from experimenting with wordplay to finding a voice and narrowing the focus of a piece. Major poetic forms are defined, including haiku, ode, and free verse, and there is a section on ways to share your work. Interspersed are Fletcher's personal insights and interviews with three poets-Kristine O'Connell George, Janet S. Wong, and J. Patrick Lewis-who discuss what inspires them and how they go about creating their work. The many examples of poetry throughout embody the author's advice by showing how writing techniques actually function in poems. Since this thought-provoking book covers more of the internal, less-tangible aspects of poetry, it may be more suited for readers who have some experience with the genre.
Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Throw out the formidable rhythm and rhyme schemes: Ralph Fletcher's Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out laughs in the face of formality. Organized into two sections "Lighting the Spark" and "Nurturing the Flame" and peppered with interviews with published poets, Fletcher's accessible volume teaches kids to write poetry from the heart.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 4-7. Chatty, but never condescending, and encouraging about how to get started and how to keep going, this informal paperback guide packs in a wealth of information without a word of jargon. It's also an introduction to the fun of reading poetry. In short chapters Fletcher talks about feelings, images, music, and wordplay, and he explains what these are with lots of immediate quotes to turn kids on. He warns against message, against the "fake sentiment in a greeting card," and against pushing for rhyme, and he encourages young poets to find a personal voice. There's a brief chapter about form (haiku, free verse, etc.), but Fletcher's emphasis is on crafting the poem to describe something "as if we're seeing it for the first time." Brief, accessible interviews with three children's poets reinforce this view of the joy and hard work of creation. There's a lengthy annotated bibliography, and the cheerful, open, paperback format makes the book an excellent choice for classrooms and writing groups as well as individuals. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0380797038
• ISBN 13: 9780380797035
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160