A Clearing
Photo by Amy LV
April Notebook Draft
Photo by Amy LV
It felt more important to write about magic today, so I decided to type up the above draft to see what would happen. I played around a lot with the sound and read aloud as I worked. And I am happy I did so!
My tip for today is to make friends with your notebook. Just stuff stuff in there: ideas, wonderings, unusual thoughts, bits and snips of poems, cards, photos, sketches, leaves, ticket stubs, stickers, recipes...anything! See, it is not easy for a writer to do all of the things in one day: think of an idea, draft it, play with the sound and structure, and edit. That's a lot to do! So a notebook can be a trusty friend who holds onto your ideas until you may (or may not) wish to turn then into drafts. I used to keep a whole blog about notebook keeping - Sharing Our Notebooks - and I am considering getting back to this as a central practice in my teaching. Our writing in notebooks helps us know what interests and charms us.
You may have noticed that today's poem does not carry a lot of rhyme. Rather, I focused on the sound, playing with short lines, each one almost contained and holding a bit of rhythm. Reading aloud as I write is one of my most important revision tools. If you don't do this now, I recommend giving it a try. Write a bit...read it aloud...revise what sounds off...keep going.
So consider it - write in a notebook just to see what you get. Revisit the writings in a few weeks to see if one of the bits may wish to grow into a story or a poem or an essay or a letter or something else. Our brains and hearts do a lot of work that we don't even know about, and a notebook can help us hang onto that thinking and love.
This week, Rose is hosting the Poetry Friday roundup over at Imagine the Possibilities with a bit about her "Snippets" log and a poem about imaginings. Each Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.
I send you magic and belief in magic...
xo,
Amy
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Hi Amy! Just yesterday I was introduced to having a "personal curriculum," which seems like a very notebook-y practice. Apparently it became popular on TikTok, but I saw it on YouTube. Thought you might like to check it out! Thanks for the magic :)
ReplyDeleteMagic=AmyLV. xo
ReplyDeleteYes to the magic in your poem and to notebook keeping!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started keeping a notebook, I was selective about what went into it. Is this important? Should I save this or that? When I finally let go of constriction, I was much happier. I love digging around in old notebooks but haven't done it in a while. Thanks for the reminder to get back to it! Love the rhythm and magic in your poem.
ReplyDeleteCharming, enchanting and yes, magical! Thanks for your lyrical poem today, Amy. :)
ReplyDeleteAmy, your poem is lovely. So many visuals that brought a smile. I love how the memory of the joy of the carousel still filled the air. This is how it is when I visit a place filled with memories. All the senses bring the moment back. Thanks for the peek into your process, too. I need to get back to my notebook!
ReplyDeleteAmy, being engrossed in a magical moment deserves capturing. I get to experience such moments with my grand-daughter and her wonderfully vivid imagination. Your poem forever scoops up the magic of the moments you experienced. The words refused to be denied. My notebook regularly captures many of the shared experiences with my grand-daughter and her other worlds. My notebooks and i have been friends for more than forty years, so I find myself in fierce agreement with most pertinent advice.
ReplyDeleteOh do we need magic and music this week. Thank you Amy
ReplyDelete"it is not easy for a writer to do all of the things in one day: think of an idea, draft it, play with the sound and structure, and edit." SO true. That's a really valuable role for notebooks in some form. Thanks for your magic, Amy!
ReplyDeleteYOU are magic, Amy. Love your poem, and it reminds me that I need to tend to my fairy garden before the baby grands come to visit later in the week. My post this week included actual little notebooks I made for my shop with a nod to Downton Abbey, and on my artsyletters blog, you might enjoy seeing a teeny wee blank date book from the late 1920s at the end of the short post. XO
ReplyDeleteHooray for notebooks! I truly miss the daily writing in notebooks I did with my students. It’s not the same working alone. But I want to find a way back to the daily practice. Your poem is magical. I was drawn to the fairy tale, dreaminess of it. A happy place on a carousel.
ReplyDelete