My memoir instructor from some time ago said, “the writing is easy, it’s the editing that’s hard.” I sometimes agree with that and sometimes don’t in the sense that some of my best pieces flowed forth and required only light editing. Others required so much editing and didn’t get better so I circular filed them and started over. For me, it seems to depend a lot on how long the idea has been germinating and simmering and whether it comes out “in the flow” or more like a difficult birth. I think poetry, especially Haiku, is tricky because you are trying to maximize the impression and feeling with very few words, and that is a good challenge! Thank you for your step process editing example!
I agree that sometimes it’s hard… or, in my case, it’s more like it SEEMS hard. I’ll whine and think “Man… just can’t make it work!” and then I realize I’ve spent MAYBE 15 minutes or less on it. It’s good to keep a realistic perspective. Haiku on!
Rock cries joy not grief
Pours of pleasure plunge below
Casts her rainbow slow
FTG🧡
Cheers for alliteration!
Crashing down the cliff,
Raging torrents roar and scream,
Seeking ocean depths.
Beautiful! Interesting to see your editing process too and the difference a single word makes. I love writing haikus too:
End of the rainbow–
heavy mountain river falls,
wearing down the rocks
Thanks for sharing your edit process, loved how it landed. Here are two versions (the last felt stonger to me)- open to input. 🙏🏼
Each drop becomes one
A force that leaves you breathless
Plummeting in grace
💦💦💦💦💦💦💦
Pouring and crashing
A force that leaves you breathless
Each drop becomes one
I like the second one best. Starts with more action.
The lake is calm now
Hiding its fury below
A north breeze begins
…………………………………
A north breeze begins
A challenge to the lakes peace
The ripples begin
Beautiful photo ❤️
Misty rainbows fly
Moving water plunges down
Easing worried minds
*
Misty rainbows drift
Above fast flowing waters
As minds feel some ease
*
Misty rainbows drift
Above fast flowing waters
Dropping to the sea
*
Misty rainbows drift
Above fast flowing waters
Plunging to the sea
My memoir instructor from some time ago said, “the writing is easy, it’s the editing that’s hard.” I sometimes agree with that and sometimes don’t in the sense that some of my best pieces flowed forth and required only light editing. Others required so much editing and didn’t get better so I circular filed them and started over. For me, it seems to depend a lot on how long the idea has been germinating and simmering and whether it comes out “in the flow” or more like a difficult birth. I think poetry, especially Haiku, is tricky because you are trying to maximize the impression and feeling with very few words, and that is a good challenge! Thank you for your step process editing example!
I agree that sometimes it’s hard… or, in my case, it’s more like it SEEMS hard. I’ll whine and think “Man… just can’t make it work!” and then I realize I’ve spent MAYBE 15 minutes or less on it. It’s good to keep a realistic perspective. Haiku on!
Deep in the valley
High on the green mountain ridge
Waterfall pours down
-jcw
Continuous flow
From watershed to basin;
Trusting the journey