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Friday, February 8, 2008

Themed Works: What Do You Say?

I’ve previously asked what themes are common in your work. Today's question is what themes or issues are you interested in exploring in greater depth? Have you ever committed time and space to focus on specific theme(s)? Please elaborate why you are drawn to doing work in select themes.

Can you list works or body of work focused on a particular theme? Are you drawn to writers whose work reflects a specific outlook or focus?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't really have any specific theme. (Well, maybe teenage angst, but that's because I'm a teen.)

I just write whatever comes into my brain and the prompts given to me.

Anonymous said...

Susan,

On the web I just write and post what comes out, partly because I'm responding to prompts.

Of the poems I haven't yet shared or had published (all the others!), I write about my realtionships, memory, aging, and sexuality.

I have an idea of writing a collection of poems tracing certain events in my life. I wrote a long personal essay about the topic,and it needs to be revised. I really don't know what I'm waiting for. Maybe for you to nudge me!

BTW, have you ever thought about going into the manuscript service business? You are a terrific writing mentor.

susan said...

Hi C, so you are interested in particular themes. I'd love to see some of this work.

No, I haven't thought about being a writing mentor. I need to develop discipline for my own writing first. Honestly, I asked the questions I do out of pure interest. I enjoy talking about the writing process. I developed this appetite in school.

SA said...

I think I write about human conditions and matters of conscience the most. We are all complex beings, I like poetry that gives me the chance to examine that complexity. A good prompt offers the chance to go in a direction out of my comfort zone and gives me the chance to stretch.

Anonymous said...

I taught a poetry workshop this summer at church and discovered that my overarching theme revolves around nature and, in general, I write "snapshot" poems. Even though my poems speak of nature, there is always some type of underlying emotion or problem I am working out.

qualcosa di bello said...

as far as common themes in my work (missed that one before), i tend toward deepening faith, relationships & seasonal change.

as far as a theme i am exploring...for the last 2+ years i have been working on a series of poems that take my father's point of view from when he met my mother until his death. it has been cathartic in my healing after their deaths.

as far as what work i am drawn to...i don't know if there is a theme here. i do tend toward works that make me see things differently than i would normally.

Deb said...

I like this question. I write themed poems in response to submission ideas. (I wrote three about insects for qarrtsiluni.) I like the idea of them

I'd like to do more. I have some ideas, but I get distracted very easily!

Like this: I’ve tagged you with a totally optional poetry meme:a 10 x 10 poem. Hope you don’t mind. And feel free to ignore it if it doesn’t spark you!

Crafty Green Poet said...

My major theme is the environment, though that may be obvious to even the most casual reader of Crafty green poet. I enjoy reading other poets work on the environment, but I read any poetry that appeals to me.

susan said...

Thanks all for commenting. Deb, I'll work on a response. Give me a couple of days.

Anonymous said...

jill and i talk about this some time. i think people do return to the same themes and i think it's wonderful. i'm inspired to go through my stuff and see what stands out in terms of themes. off the top of my head, i want to say motherhood, the soul ...

i really want to write about my body and body image but get in my own way when i try for some reason and i give up on it more easily than i do other challenges.

Anonymous said...

Memory is something we take for granted until we begin to lose it--I used to work with people with dementia

That begs the question of perception v memory--we all perceive events slightly differently and we all might be right

I'm obsessed with aging. Something my parents fought yet did with a certain grace

If I look and function two thirds as well as they did I will feel successful

You ask great questions Susan

UL said...

I am forever fascinated by the workings of the mind, mine and others, I also love to explore cultural differences and it's underlying effects on the human mind..may be philosophical..but this is the first thing that popped into my head when I heard theme.

Anna said...

I am taking up the theme of the woman's viewpoint when the husband goes off to war ... I think it is very pertinent right now