Craft Talk

The Assignment

Below I've listed a selection of books available at Amazon that you could read with an eye toward honing your craft. (You can buy these from whatever site or bookstore you'd like--no Amazon required.) 

You will be responsible for reading this book from cover to cover, writing a 1000 word (about 4 page, double spaced) report on the book, which you will save in your Google Drive "Craft Talk" folder. After you save, please right click and press SHARE and share it with everyone in the class (besides you, of course): benjamincarter@u.boisestate.edu, carmiacosta@u.boisestate.edu, kirbycarlson@u.boisestate.edu, charliesutton@u.boisestate.edu. 

In order to get a good grade on this assignment, which is worth a decent chunk of your assignment grade, your report should address the following questions:

What was the most significant thing I learned from this book? (More than one thing is good, too.)

How do I see myself applying this knowledge to my own writing?

What are some 3 x 5 card tidbits from the book (i.e., quotes about writing that would be worth writing down on a 3 x 5 card and taping to your wall)?

How does the author see the craft of writing--instinctual? mystical? practical?

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The Schedule

February 27, Craft Talk #1:
 Ben

March 13, Craft Talk #2:

 Carmi

April 3, Craft Talk #3:

 Kirby

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The Books

A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide To Understanding and Writing Poetry, by Mary Oliver.

Rules For the Dance: A Handbook For Writing and Reading Metrical Verse, by Mary Oliver.

The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetry Forms, by Eavan Boland.

The Art of the Poetic Line by James Longenbach.

poem crazy: freeing your life with words, by Susan G. Woodridge.

Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke.

The Art of Syntax: Rhythm of Thought, Rhythm of Song, by Ellen Bryant Voigt.

The Art of Description: World into Word by Mark City.

The Art of Recklessness: Poetry as Assertive Force and Contradiction, by Dean Young.

The Art of Attention: A Poet's Eye, by Donald Revell.

The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises From Poets Who Teach, by Robin Behn.

The Triggering Town, by Richard Hugo.

The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry, by Kim Addonizio.

Ordinary Genius: A Guide For the Poet Within, by Kim Addonizio.

The Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics, Including Odd and Invented Forms, by Lewis Putnam Turco.

All The Fun's In How You Say A Thing: An Explanation of Meter and Versification, by Timothy Steele.

Rhyme's Reason: A Guide to English Verse, by John Hollander.

Wingbeats: Exercises & Practice in Poetry, edited by Scott Wiggerman and David Meischen.

Wingbeats II: Exercises & Practice in Poetry, edited by Scott Wiggerman and David Meischen.

The Poem's Heartbeat: A Manual of Prosody, by Alfred Corn.

The Sounds of Poetry: A Brief Guide, by Robert Pinsky.

In The Palm of Your Hand: The Poet's Portable Workshop, by Steve Kowit.

The Crafty Poet: A Portable Workshop, by Diane Lockward.

Writing Poetry From The Inside Out: Finding Your Voice Through the Craft of Poetry, by Sanford Lyne.

Structure and Surprise: Engaging Poetry Turns, by Michael Theune.

*****Feel free to find a craft book that isn't on this list. (I'd try the poetry section of the library or bookstore.)