You Want To Write? Write Poetry.
Who knew poetry was key to being a creative writer?
I have battled a lot with the concept of "show, don't tell" in writing. Has to be the hardest thing about writing, especially fiction, yet the very essence of writing.
To be able to paint a clear picture with brittle strokes of words that can transport your reader's mind from the distractions of reality into an existence you have created that only manifests in their minds.
You see how beautiful that is? That is showing and not telling.
Writing is likened to producing a movie, one which you tell your readers what the characters look like, the tone of their skin, the colour of their outfits, the mess in their rooms, their reaction to something they heard or saw, and exposing all their vulnerabilities.
But you don't want to do too much while at it, unless it's necessary, you can skip mentioning the name of the dog in the park, how many lights were turned on in a room, or the sound made by an owl in the night.
You want to talk about how the hairs on Sarah’s skin stood tall and rough tiny balls formed on her arms when James held her face, pulling her slowly to himself as he stroked her lips gently with his thumb, keeping his gaze on her while Sarah could barely keep hers open nor her heart still as her underwear moistened with each breath she took.
And not how goosebumps formed on Sarah's skin as James attempted to kiss her.
I know the second is simple, but you must have felt something with the first one. That is what writing is about. You create the emotions, set the time, day and place, the season and make your readers live in your world.
That is showing and not telling.
For me, writing poetry has helped advance this skill, and I've also found that the more I write, the more my writing breaks out from the influence of my emotions.
Else before now, I would only be able to draft a beautiful piece about love if I felt it, about life when mine is taking a beating, about friends when I miss them or about home when I think of it.
For me, poetry is the language of the Dothraki, created by humans, and spoken by a few to many, in strong and powerful tones that instill fear and warmth at the same time.
It is the tale of seasons, the beauty of dusk, and the voice of roosters at dawn. The sound of waves as the waters in the ocean race to shore, the dwindling of a midnight lamp kept in the middle of a room, the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning, the possessing of a lover’s lips and wrapping their tongue with yours, the look in their eyes as they go down gently in a squat, taking along with them the pants off your legs, as you anticipate in hushed breaths the joyride of ecstasy.
Poetry is a sin that must be committed, the words that must be spoken, and the music that must be heard.
Poetry is life in words!
I really didn't know where I was going with this, but if you enjoyed it, give me a clap, follow, subscribe and talk to me in the comments.
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Thank you, till next time…
