Feeling stuck? Write a poem • Hacker News Board

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#81

Post by runevault » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 8:56 PM UTC

manifestsilence wrote: post #55

I love poetry, but think this advice is slightly off. A better way to get un-stuck is free-writing. Just write whatever comes to mind without stopping. If you hesitate, just write "I don't know what to write" - anything to keep writing. If you can sustain this for twenty minutes, you are now immune to writer's block. You know you can always write. This shifts the question to what to write. You find you can sculpt the…

Different approaches. Poetry structure can be all over the place from almost non-existent to something like a sonnet. The power in poetry I think is trying to find surprising imagery to express the point, and that shift in perception is what this article is arguing for.

Is there value in free writing? Of course. I've done morning pages. I've also done free writing when struggling with problems in multiple realms (code and prose/novel writing). But sometimes it simply doesn't push you hard enough compared to the forced perception change.

You can certainly TRY to create that change in free writing, but then are you REALLY free writing, since you are limiting what you put on the page?

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#82

Post by runevault » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:00 PM UTC

komali2 wrote: post #17

Wish I "got" poetry. Spent 4 years studying literature and got a degree in writing, and throughout it all poetry just annoyed me. I think I made a genuine effort but I couldn't get over feelings of "get to the point" or "so what?" Everything from Byron to Billy Collins. Doesn't do anything for me.

I already appreciated poetry, but this book a friend who previously didn't realize I wrote (prose but interested in getting back into poetry) helped me get an even deeper appreciation, as it explores different poets works, then after each poet's section challenges you to write a poem taking techniques from one or more of the poems by the poet of the prior section.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074FSXKI/ And after that I read this which I also appreciated https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L203TW/

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#83

Post by manifestsilence » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:02 PM UTC

alfonsodev wrote: post #69

manifestsilence wrote: post #55

I love poetry, but think this advice is slightly off. A better way to get un-stuck is free-writing. Just write whatever comes to mind without stopping. If you hesitate, just write "I don't know what to write" - anything to keep writing. If you can sustain this for twenty minutes, you are now immune to writer's block. You know you can always write. This shifts the question to what to write. You find you can sculpt the…

Do you think handwriting or typing makes a difference ?

A lot of people say handwriting is fundamentally better, but I much prefer typing because I can keep up with the flow of my thoughts more, and find I catch a higher percentage of the thoughts that are occurring. YMMV

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#84

Post by reaperducer » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:03 PM UTC

I wonder if this article will spur a nerd poetry genre, if there isn't one already.

There are a lot of niche poetry genres. One of oldest and largest is cowboy poetry. It has a national radio show, books, yearly gatherings and even a museum.

https://www.nationalcowboypoetrygathering.org/

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#85

Post by manifestsilence » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:03 PM UTC

ben_jones wrote: post #68

manifestsilence wrote: post #55

I love poetry, but think this advice is slightly off. A better way to get un-stuck is free-writing. Just write whatever comes to mind without stopping. If you hesitate, just write "I don't know what to write" - anything to keep writing. If you can sustain this for twenty minutes, you are now immune to writer's block. You know you can always write. This shifts the question to what to write. You find you can sculpt the…

Isn’t it perverse that we need such optimization techniques so that we can sit at a desk all day. I think it’s a wonderful technique but it makes me wonder why and if we’re just -not built for this-.

I agree, totally. But I think that 20 minutes of journaling per day is really valuable even if it's not for work optimization.

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#86

Post by robocat » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:16 PM UTC

komali2 wrote: post #17

Wish I "got" poetry. Spent 4 years studying literature and got a degree in writing, and throughout it all poetry just annoyed me. I think I made a genuine effort but I couldn't get over feelings of "get to the point" or "so what?" Everything from Byron to Billy Collins. Doesn't do anything for me.

My extremely smart ex got an English degree: she watched the movies instead of reading the assigned books.

I believe English is best spoken; if you really want to understand poetry, perhaps get involved with spoken poetry.

Caveat: I am more of a literal engineer type, personally I don't see much pleasure in poetry, although I admire the occasional evocative piece.

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#87

Post by lkrych » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:35 PM UTC

__s wrote: post #77

manifestsilence wrote: post #55

I love poetry, but think this advice is slightly off. A better way to get un-stuck is free-writing. Just write whatever comes to mind without stopping. If you hesitate, just write "I don't know what to write" - anything to keep writing. If you can sustain this for twenty minutes, you are now immune to writer's block. You know you can always write. This shifts the question to what to write. You find you can sculpt the…

I did this for three days back in highschool: https://serprex.github.io/w/50k=0 (took some breaks to eat, sleep, attend school) It permanently changed the way I write, perhaps for the worse

Hey, thanks for sharing!

I recently read A.R. Ammons Tape for the Turn of the Year (1965) and it is composed in much the same way (although it is a little more polished ;p).

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#88

Post by preommr » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:38 PM UTC

manifestsilence wrote: post #55

I love poetry, but think this advice is slightly off. A better way to get un-stuck is free-writing. Just write whatever comes to mind without stopping. If you hesitate, just write "I don't know what to write" - anything to keep writing. If you can sustain this for twenty minutes, you are now immune to writer's block. You know you can always write. This shifts the question to what to write. You find you can sculpt the…

Here's an easy way to always have something to write about:

Step 1: Try new framework/language/dev-tool/library.

Step 2: Make bullet point list of pain points.

Step 3: Come back to the list anytime you need to write something and expand on why the thing sucks so much and how everyone involved must've been dropped on their heads as a child.

It's easy to overcome writer's block with rage and the drive that people need to know how much you hate the thing you hate. Bonus points for making it as personal as possible.

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#89

Post by mitchtbaum » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 9:39 PM UTC

eruci wrote: post #30

Ant farts are hard to hear hard to smell yet so near they cause minor headwinds in hindsight of tiny hind legs they cause minor earthquakes yet nobody is scared, or cares.

ear to the ground

nose to the wind

feet firm in place

heart rich in space

Re: Feeling stuck? Write a poem

#90

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Oct 30, 2019, 10:04 PM UTC

wwweston wrote: post #18

Some people, when confronted with a problem, think “I know — I’ll write a poem.” Now they have two problems. Some poets, when stuck writer-blocking, think “I know — I’ll write a poem.” Now they do not have two poems.

[deleted]