Tips for Smart Back-to-Poetry Shopping

Sep 7

Written By The Poetry Society of New York

It’s that time of year. Nights are a few lines longer as the fireflies’ light glows increasingly more succinct. Embrace the change of seasons as a proposition seeped in prepositions primed for new poeting. Now is a page-turning opportunity to prep pencils, similes, and poetic prowess, and stock up on key supplies for a coveted crop of new words and poetry. Read on for tips for back-to-poetry shopping. Don’t forget your favorite notebook!

Map a Realistic Route to More Poetry

There’s a poem perfectly suited to all poetry priorities. A modern haiku versus a more formally dressed sonnet? A six-word story that perfectly captures a butterfly’s personality or a sestina on the philosophy of scent? An epigram for a micro-memoir or an epic poem on evolutionary biology? Whatever form you choose, it’s okay to start small and revise plans as leaves fall into new positions. Piece by piece you can build a personal library.

2. Reuse, Recycle, and Embrace Time’s Finite Qualities

There’s no need to go heavy on poetry seeding. Don’t worry if you draft only a line or two each day. Even one word can sprout backpacks full of poetic ingenuity. Documenting a single observation is better than none, and two phrases in hand can be molded to become something unexpectedly fun. Prune, polish, and reimagine for fresh beginnings. When time permits, scroll and shuffle unpublished digital and paper files and works in progress for new pairings and extended miles.

3. Pack Light and Poet in Bulk When Possible

Prioritize spontaneous pockets primed for new poetry. Plan ahead and pack prompt lists in nonperishable rain-proof pockets. Pluck phrasing from a tulip’s socket. Seize unexpected delays to focus on the senses each new situation curates. Document moments with details to capture the essence of the back-to-poetry shopping season.

Take advantage of bulk buying, notetaking apps, and stress-free browsing. Explore online dictionaries for words with new meanings. Read publications from favored presses for hot off the press poetry and prose. New phrasings are as spontaneous as they are contagious. Be thrifty with words and make every syllable work until the bell rings. Whenever you’re on a roll, keep on writing.

4. Budget and Organize Carefully

Identify needs versus wants when budgeting for poetic dining. Free workshops and open readings offer inspiration and support for the literary community. Bookmark favorite authors and revisit lines that leave you both breathless and baited for more poetry fishing. Pay just as much attention to where you store half-baked poems as you do to their construction. Consider filing works-in-progress and daily notes by form, theme, or any metric you will easily recognize. Reframe downtime as inspirational brainstorming. Keep prompts and works-in-progress organized. Doing so can save precious time when searching for an ideal opening to a writing session.

5. Stock Supply Stations and Manage Receipts Wisely

You know yourself best. What supplies are most likely to maximize your poetic prowess? Natural light or mugs with dark-roast caffeine? Chocolate kisses or cafés with kittens in your midst? Gather what generates your creative buzz in space and place. Keep pencils sharp and desktops clean. Collect details, from spoken words to angles of expression, with the resilience of a Hello Kitty puff sticker and the spirit of a Troll Doll pencil topper. As you submit work to journals, keep track of your poems’ journeys. Sites like Submittable, Duotrope, and Chill Subs can stretch your poems’ reach. Trackers in Google Sheets, Excel, or similar tools can optimize your poetry spending power.