Effing the Ineffable #2: Endless editing, the end of the world, and dinner parties

An occasional poetry round-up

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I used to write a singular date on a poem denoting when I wrote it. Now I write time entire periods, like a resume. Poem name, June 2021 — Present.

What I’m learning early and often about writing? It’s a long game.

Maybe it’s because I’m still deep into learning about editing and craft, and I’m in a major workshopping phase, but it feels like I rewrite a poem at least a hundred times before it’s done. I don’t actually count (and what counts as a rewrite? When I change the stanzas from couplets to tercets? Is it another rewrite when, a few days later, I decide I liked it better before and change it back? What if I move a comma, delete a line? Are those rewrites?) but if I had to ballpark it, I’d say around a hundred. I’m beginning to accept this as what being a poet is for me, and not see it as a sign I’m doing it wrong.

One thing I’ve learned in the role of editor is that lots of people feel they write too slow, or too academic, or not academic enough. But everyone’s voice is…