This is more of an advice request/experiment. I've been writing poetry on and off over the last fifteen years, but rarely have I ever edited my work. I mean I might change a few words here and there to better convey the message I want to be delivered. Or, I might rearrange the lines to other locations within the poem because it flows better when read out loud. However, I've never actually sat down and objectively "destroyed" my poetry.
I'm curious more than anything to see what everyone else's strategy for editing poetry looks like. Doesn't necessarily need to be for publishing a book either. Simply put, just the editing process in general.
Usually I have to get through a first draft to even find out what I am trying to say. Then I write and rewrite the poem, adding new things as I go. Once I’ve said all I can think of, I’m left with a pretty encumbered poem with a lot of unnecessary junk. So I have to give my poem a haircut and clean everything up.
once that is done, I try to focus on metaphor and trying to use those in such a way that the metaphors contribute to the overall mood.
for example, I once e a poem that compared my relationship to cooking a fancy dinner. I made sure my metaphors were associated with food and cooking, specifically French wine and cuisine. It was an extra step to “thread the needle” between my metaphors in a way that served the poem. But before that could be done, I had to write a bunch of shit to Even have anything to work with
I love @Bendy Nguyen line about no filler all killer! I’m going to remember that one!
Once I’ve written the first draft, I’ll do a first pass. Make sure everything is sounding good, and all makes sense, then it gets put in the edit draw for at LEAST 2 weeks. (Or just gets forgotten about entirely)
Then I’ll make sure I still like it. If I do, I know that the poem has the heart, desire, and captured everything I wanted it. That’s when I’ll start considering better enjambments, metaphors etc. And again it goes away for at least two weeks. Repeat a third time, and usually if by this point nothing stands out I’ll send to an editor if I’m publishing or it’ll go into my completed tray.
Hey Ken,I will say,the editing process depends for me.
If it's for spoken word,I will edit the living heck out of it.Cross lines. Punctuate with commas,to stop performance from being a run on.Rearrange words,taking a line or even a whole stanza off the piece for various reasons.Might not match the message I'm conveying,how they are worded or straight up filler.Think of it has: "No filler,all killer." The message can either be concise,straight to the point or elaborate,expressions accurate towards the poem your sharing.
Now if it's just a straight up poem,hardly ever would I edit.Thats because,I found that the works that I share,which wasn't edited,turn out to be my favorite pieces.
Probably because I've been ready to express myself for very long time,and when I do write,it's often times written from my heart.Now,yes,music does influence poetry I'm writing.Often times,the works I produce were ones that were hardly edited,which depends on the approach your taking into poetry,as in,whats reason does your poetry need to exist?Once reason is clear,then decide "To edit or not to edit",Tis the question one made ask.
If edit,journey lies ahead.
Not,end the road,create new one.