this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2023
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Writing

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Someone had to start the discussion in this new community, so I figured I'd give it a shot!

I discovered that I have a knack for script writing, so I usually stick to prose and focus on driving the action through my characters' dialogue. I need to work more on describing scenes in a way that isn't rooted in stage directions.

I can appreciate good poetry, but am generally not a fan of "free verse". I prefer the challenge of writing something with a meter, or has a rhyme scheme. Re-writing song lyrics is a fun way to play with that, but maybe I listened to too much Weird Al growing up.

So, if you had to pick a side... poetry or prose?

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[–] storksforlegs@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Prose, every time. But when Im feeling really stalled or uninspired I find I often get more inspiration from reading poetry.

I studied lit in university and have lots of poetry books and anthologies lying around, but I highly recommend this for other writers when theyre feeling run down or stumped. Go get some poetry books!

[–] Zagaroth@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

Prose, absolutely. I can appreciate flowerful verse and such, but that does not fit my style of story telling.

[–] ArtZuron@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago

I prefer prose personally, but I'll occasionally slip in some fancy stuff for a bit of razzle dazzle.

[–] Humanoid@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

For me, poetry has the greater allure;

My prose is unsure and immature—

I've spent more time designing rhymes;

It used to be a hobby of mine!

[–] lamentforicarus@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

Prose, for sure. I am terrible at poetry. I also find it much more open and personal compared to prose, which can have pieces of yourself but much more hidden.

[–] IntheTreetop@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

I wouldn't mind trying to get into writing poetry, but the few times I've looked into it, various communities seemed very gatekeepy so I haven't really pressed too hard for it. In my fiction writing, I'm beyond horrible at description, and I think learning to use the more colorful language you find in poetry would be a big help to me.

[–] neamhsplach@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

I read 4:48 psychosis as a teenager and I think it fucked up the way I write forever 🤣 it's a play but it's written in a dreamy sort of poetic format. Whenever I write anything, Sarah Kane's ghost possesses me to leave gaps all over the page. I should probably try to unlearn it, but then again I'm the only one who reads what I write.

So I think I write in prose but it rarely has any narrative or argument. It'd more descriptive. But I haven't much talent for rhyming or for following meters. Someone else here said that for them prose is work. I think I'm the opposite. I'd have to think very hard to create poetry.

[–] SlamDrag@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

Poetry is always what's spoken to me, free verse in particular. Mostly what gets me going is symbolism and imagery, and using words in uncharacteristic, surprising ways.

I have a deep love of prose as a genre and what can be done with it, but when I write poetry just comes out of me and prose is work.

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