Concussion Hai*Kovids and other writing processes
During the first pandemic year, in the middle of one August night, my writing process took a dramatic turn. On the way to the washroom, I walked forehead first into the closed oak door of my bedroom. I knew immediately
Nomadic Voluptuary: Nature and Art Inspiring Poetry
I have been drawn to art since I was young. I wanted to excel in art class in high school, but never did. I was the girl who fell behind in math, science, French, and art. Despite my poor luck
Writing is Counting: Why I Tally-up Syllables to Draft a Poem
I always count syllables to write poetry. Not only when scribbling sonnets and haikus (both of which dictate a set number of syllables per line), but also when penning free verse into my notebook. At first glance, it might seem
The Pen
I’m writing this with a fountain pen. A green marble hand-finished pen made by Visconti in Florence, Italy. It's called Pericles, a pen that is normally manufactured in pearlized colours with a hinge clip that resembles Pericles's own headgear.
Mischief: why is a raven like a writing desk
Since 1989 I have seen fit to place what I call a mischief somewhere in every book I write. It’s a little secret between myself and myself. Something inserted that remains hermetic, sealed against reader comprehension. Something only I know.
A Writer Needs a Desk
If it might be said of a writer, as it would certainly be said of me, a writer needs a desk. Though writing well rarely if ever comes down to a mere matter of good furniture, from the very beginning
Poets using fountain pens
My wife put it bluntly: no one can read your handwriting. I can't read your handwriting. Mystery is the key to love and love comes from the soul, but then my daughter added, "Why puzzle the reader? I can't read
On the use of commas in poetry
One of the things that I should probably point out is that poetry is not, how shall we put it, like an undergraduate essay. Poetry relies on sonics -- the sound of the words, the lines, and especially (with the
Good editors – and why they matter
T.S. Eliot once said that it is the duty of every editor to rescue the work from its author. I don't think he meant impose a reading on the work; on the contrary his vision of the editorial process was