Wherein I confess…
Chapbook Confessions is a series in which poets discuss, at length, the writing of their most recent collection of poems, in whatever way they desire. For more information on the series, go here.
Below, Robert Okaji writes on his 2017 collection From Every Moment a Second.
Chapbook Confession, or, How to Write Chapbooks without Knowing How
I confess that I’ve never intentionally written a chapbook, that I’m too scatter-brained to plan one. Instead, I write individual poems, and after a suitable stack has accumulated, attempt to force them to comingle, however reluctantly, hoping to form a semi-cohesive collection for someone’s reading pleasure (or dismay, as the case may be). This is not to say that the occasional series of poems never escapes my subconscious, but I never deliberately set out to write a certain number of poems with the intention of publishing them as a discrete entity…
View original post 1,640 more words
O at the Edges 
This is great! I’ll reread (again) your latest Chapbook with a little added insight. Applause for the paragraph on diversions as contributors to process and results. I seldom pause with a line half-written, but often get startled by how what happens spontaneously today sends me back to revise a “finished” poem.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I used to get so annoyed with myself for allowing myself to be diverted so easily! But then I realized it was actually a strength, and not something to fight. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good model for others to follow! Maybe I can quit cursing the inevitable interruptions …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! That’s the ticket!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Robert, thanks for sharing your process. I guess writing is like anything else, embrace who you are and bring the voice you have. I am curious, do you think this is true?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do think this is true, though finding one’s voice may take a while. It took me years!
LikeLike
Good to know. I really enjoy your poems and hear a unique voice in them. Thanks for the encouraging thought.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Ali! The answer is in the doing. The repetitive task of writing. The ritual.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting 😃poem
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
Thanks for the suggestions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone’s process is different, but I hope you’re able to find something useful in mine.
LikeLike
I enjoy your writings, and I’m fascinated by your process of writing, and I shall take on-board a few of your ideas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope whatever you take works for you, Ivor. It works for my meandering mind, but…
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s not much method to my writings, so maybe a little bit of system may help haphazard and wandering mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s probably more madness than method to mine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate to madness, so now I feel even betterer about my words !!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person