Book Review of Creating Poetry - Tundraco's Guide for the Frustrated Writer

Tundraco's Guide for the Frustrated Writer
Creating Poetry

Creating Poetry
How to begin a poem, use word combinations and new forms, apply the lessons from master poets to individual poems, choose words and images carefully, and much more.
By John Drury
Writer's Digest Books, 1991
ISBN 10: 1-58297-463-2
ISBN 13: 978-1-58297-463-7

Reviewed by Auggie Moore - January 3, 2007

Poetry is a unique art. Poems can follow a very strict formula, or they can be so free formed that it can be hard to tell that a poem is really a poem. If you've ever wanted to try your hand at writing a poem, or of improving your craft, you'll want to take a look at Creating Poetry. Written by John Drury this book is not only an excellent introduction to the tradecraft of poetry, but it is also an excellence reference guide on the fundamentals of poetry writing.

This book is divided into twelve chapters that take you step-by-step through the entire process of writing a poem, from the development of a poet's mind-set to revising your finished poem. Tips on marketing of your completed poem are also included. Along the way, Drury explores word combinations, language, the various poetic forms, where to find inspiration, editing your poem, developing an ear for the sounds of a poem and the use of such techniques as alliteration and assonance.

Throughout this wonderful guide to poetry, Drury as included a wealth of writing exercises that will ensure (if you do them all) that by the time you complete this book that you will have composed a large volume of poems. Granted, odds are that not all of these poems will be of stellar quality, but you will have had a great deal of practice writing a variety of types of poems on a range of subjects. From this beginning you will be well started along the path to becoming a skilled, and hopefully, a published poet. For those of you who have moved from the apprentice to the journeyman stage of your poetry career, you will discover that this is an excellent reference guide that you can use to review the various poetic forms, and in which you'll find new inspiration and technical advice.

Creating Poetry is a must-have book for every poet, and would-be poet out there. Not only does this book teach you the fundamentals of poetry writing, but it will inspire you to write and to hone your poetic skills. Overall, this book will help to sharpen your poetic sensibilities and to grow as a poet, while also giving you the technical skills needed to become an accomplished poet. All that you need to bring to the table is perseverance, an openness to learn, and the willingness to devote adequate time to developing your craft. Without reserve I can say that if you are serious about writing poetry, get this book. Not only will you use it during the process of learning how to write poems, but you'll refer to it time and time again in the years to come. Highly Recommended!