And if you are keen on watching what the big publishers are doing it’s also interesting to note that Little Brown Books have got a digital only imprint launching mid year called Black Friars.
I did, as you will have noticed rediscover poetry in February which resulted in my writing a speculative fiction poem that I have submitted for publication in an online magazine. So I haven’t been totally sedentary. It’s called Bad Ground and has an Australian/Cthulu-esque vibe.
I tell you though if you think its hard working out submission requirements for short stories, well poetry guidelines seem to be even more nebulous and seem to amount to make sure it’s good and if you write traditional poetry ie metred verse with rhyme, make sure it’s bloody good.
So do I think I have a chance…no idea.
I am not a big fan of free verse, I prefer the likes of Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. Or maybe it’s the quality of the free verse I have read? For I can be put off by wrenched rhyme and clichéd turns of phrase as much as the next person.
One perhaps does not automatically think of poetry when mentioning Stephen Fry, he is after all famous for his comedy and television appearances and as a bit of an ubergeek. But as he mentions in The Ode Less Travelled , Fry harbours a dark secret, a love of writing poetry and not the sort of poetry one might associate, with his rather modern technophile persona ie post-modern.
No, Fry is a fan of what might better be described as “traditional” poetry, works constrained or supported by form, metre and rhyme. Fry argues that its these qualities that give him enjoyment far more than modern free verse which he has described as anemic.
This book aims to give you the basic understanding of the technical aspects of traditional poetry and to encourage you to experiment even if it is only for personal pleasure.
It contains observations examples and exercises, all delivered with typical Fry humour. And contains I think one of the best exercises I have come across for “getting your ear in” in terms of iambic pentameter.
Poetry can be seen as both elitist and a little bit embarrassing and Fry works hard to get us to shuck these silly self imposed restraints on our creativity. How can writing poetry be any worse than pottering in the garden, or any other number of hobbies that we get great joy from.
I enjoyed and treasure this book so much that I intend to hunt down a hardcopy.
This book was borrowed through the South Australian ebook library
