If you’re as busy as I am, every little block of time that can be carved out for a bit of writing is precious. For those of us (like me) struggling to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, the anxieties of everyday life often smother the flame of inspiration. We get so bogged down worrying about the price of gas and making it to work on time that our need to create and communicate is penciled in dead last on our to-do lists. Therefore, there are few things more frustrating to a writer with a day job then to find yourself with a free moment, only to come up completely dry.
So it was with high hopes that I purchased Poemcrazy, a book that, in its introduction, promises to help the reader “set up circumstances in which poems are likely to happen.” The book aims to put the reader in a state of mind that is more receptive to letting your creativity flow. Woven in between rose-colored anecdotes from author Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge’s personal life are quotes from established poets and personal friends, excerpts of poetry written by some of her students, and sections entitled “Practice,” which encourage the reader to experiment with the suggestions she makes.
The book itself, equal parts a guide to self-discovery and portable poetry workshop, is largely effective in its stated purpose. Wooldridge’s advice ranges from sensible (buy a notebook that suits you and it take with you everywhere) to whimsical (start a “word collection” by writing single words on the back of paper tickets) to impractical (“Practice silence. Spend an entire day without speaking.”) to downright nonsensical (“Go out in the rain. Drink rainwater from leaves.”) The overall tone of the book is one of innocent whimsy that can at times be cloying; those of you who aspire to write searing diatribes on the more brutal side of life may not find much help here.
Still, for the inspirationally-challenged, this book is a pretty good place to start, as its gentle suggestions at the very least encourage poets at any level to stop for a moment and look at the world through eyes unclouded by cynicism. And who knows? You may see something you didn’t expect. Maybe something beautiful.
