Poems for the Writing: Prompts for Poets - Softcover

Fox, Valerie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0615782833 ISBN 13: 9780615782836

Publisher: Texture Press, 2013

Synopsis

Valerie Fox and Lynn Levin’s "Poems for the Writing: Prompts for Poets" offers fourteen classroom- and workshop-tested writing prompts that will appeal to both beginning and experienced poets. Among the book's inspiring and unusual ideas are the Fibonacci poem, advice-column poem, and spirit-of-names poem. The book lends itself to academic courses as well as poetry workshops in less formal settings, such as adult-ed, community-based, and "coffee-shop" classes. Individuals will find the book to be a helpful companion to their independent practice of poetry. In addition to the prompts, scores of sample poems by a variety of poets are included. Contributors include Marie Kane, Lewis Warsh, Christopher Bursk, Peter Wood, Leonard Gontarek, Corie Feiner, John Timpane, Dawn Manning, Hayden Saunier, Joanna Fuhrman, and many others. The book includes witty illustrations by Don Riggs.

About this title

About the Author

Valerie Fox's books of poetry include The Rorschach Factory (Straw Gate Books) and The Glass Book (Texture Press). Bundles of Letters Including A, V and Epsilon (Texture Press) is a collaborative work with Arlene Ang. Originally from central Pennsylvania, Fox has travelled and lived throughout the world, and has taught writing and literature at numerous universities including Sophia University (in Tokyo) and currently at Drexel University (in Philadelphia).

Lynn Levin is the author of the poetry collections Miss Plastique, a Next Generation Indie Books Award finalist in poetry (Ragged Sky Press); Fair Creatures of an Hour (Loonfeather Press), a Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist in poetry; "Imaginarium" (Loonfeather Press), a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award; and "A Few Questions about Paradise" (Loonfeather Press). A literary translator, she translates the work of Peruvian poet Odi Gonzales. Lynn Levin teaches at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.

From the Back Cover

"Fox and Levin's Poems for the Writing: Prompts for Poets is a wake-up call to action for poets of any persuasion or skill level. Brimming with fresh ideas, clear methods, and inspiring examples, the authors have created a classroom-tested cornucopia of poetry prompts, supplemented by useful prompts from accomplished poets. From the math-pattern-inspired 'Fibonacci Poem' to the 'Paraclausithyron,' a form excavated from the ancients, Poems for the Writing excites the mind and sparks the hand to move across the page. Rather than the same old writing bromides, this book advocates that you 'Write What You (Don't) Know.' Sure to refresh your writing and teaching practice."
--Heather H. Thomas, Professor of English, Kutztown University, author of Resurrection Papers

"Using canny procedural approaches, Fox and Levin provide a genial and generous prompt-book for anyone wishing to write poems that are contemporary in their flavor but often traditionally inspired. And the sample poems, written with the book's prompts in mind, are delightful instructional manuals in their own right."
--Gregory Djanikian, Director of Creative Writing, University of Pennsylvania, author of So I Will Till the Ground

"Here's a prompt book written for all of us--instructors and poets alike. With a rich range of ideas for form (the easy 'Cameo Cinquain,' the oh-so-mathematical 'Fibonacci Poem') and content (the 'Rules Poem,' the 'I-Hate' poem, the 'Fake Translation Exercise') and lots of unexpected surprises in between, this book is valuable even for those of us who have tried similar resources. Perhaps its greatest strength is the clarity of the prompts themselves, written in strong and concise prose, each an irresistible invitation to craft a new poem. Particularly helpful for the busy classroom instructor is the number and range of sample poems. I can't wait to start using this resource, at once accessible and sophisticated, at our literary arts center."
--Kathleen Sheeder Bonnano, Executive Director, Musehouse: A Center for the Literary Arts, author of Slamming Open the Door

Edition details

• Publisher: Texture Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0615782833
• ISBN 13: 9780615782836
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Riggs Donald
• Number of pages: 154
• Editor: Levin Lynn