Writing Lessons
Writing Lessons Episode 7: A Conversation With Kathleen Driskell
Jan 28, 2025
Kathleen Driskell, an acclaimed poet and experienced teacher, shares her insights on the art of poetry and writing. She discusses the essential elements that create outstanding poetry, emphasizing the necessity of conflict and imagination. The conversation dives into the crucial role of revision, transforming it into a key aspect of the creative process. Driskell explores the joy found in writing and the balance between mystery and clarity in poetic craft, offering practical advice that inspires poets to refine their work and deepen their engagement with literature.
27:32
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Quick takeaways
- A successful poem unifies structured elements and creative freedom, managing complexities like tension and conflict for lyrical depth.
- Revision is vital in poetry writing, accounting for 90% of the process, focusing on refining drafts for emotional resonance and audience engagement.
Deep dives
The Essence of a Great Poem
A great poem is characterized by its ability to manage multiple complexities, including tension and conflict. This tension can manifest as arguments, misunderstandings, or even internal struggles within the poet. Drawing on the ideas of William Carlos Williams, it is emphasized that poems should function as engines, unifying different elements to create a cohesive piece. The balance between structured elements, akin to the Apollo side, and more free-flowing, creative aspects of poetry, like the Dionysian side, is essential for achieving lyrical depth.
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