Unfortunately, one of the books while encouraging you to "write deeply" the author also at many times criticises all the ways you can fall into "trite" and/or "workshop standard" poetry and how absolutely awful it is - as a way to try to convince you why it needs to be deep. Almost setting up rules to follow and expectations for qualities, or you'll inevitably be an unworthy poet (my interpretation of the introduction.) What a way to discourage people from even trying.

Write that trite poem and play around with it, go to that poetry or writing workshop, enjoy the community. Express yourself.

And yeah unfortunately that book is going to go straight into the next donation pile. I'll see what the other one brings for ideas.

#writing #poetry #opinions #currentlyReading