Kraichgauer wrote:
I like it.
But I gotta tell you - I had a creative writing instructor in college who made it clear that he thought the word alone is the most overused, sentimental word in poetry and fiction. And God help us, he'd let us know that if any in his classes dared use that word!
-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer
Interesting. I've never written a poem. Nor do I read other people's poems. Last time I read a poem was in highschool, 15 years ago. And I bet I was daydreaming. I remember not understanding literature at all.
But I disagree with your teacher on many levels.
He is telling you what he thinks *should* be done in poetry. But who says he's right? Just because it is *overused*, does that mean it shouldn't be used again? I think this is an irrational, even laughable reason not to use a word.
Think about the effect of his words on you and others. Didn't it make you feel nervous about what you should and shouldn't write in a poem? If so, his technique is disadvantageous because instilling nervousness in his student's serves to dampen the creative process.
I realize that your teacher is trying to explain what sorts of things will help increase your chances of success in the market-driven world of creative writing. But he does not necessarily *know* what will or will not sell. Sure he might have some anecdotal evidence, but this does not suffice. His techniques should be based on helping his students learn how to *be* creating in writing. His restrictions limit creativity both directly and indirectly. Directly because he says, 'Don't say alone,' and indirectly because his technique makes students nervous about what is acceptable and what isn't.
Hence his technique serves to dampen the creative process instead of improving it.
But this is why he should learn some philosophy of education like TCS (Taking Children Seriously).
http://curi.us/1540-taking-children-seriously
10 Dec 2011, 11:47 am
