Skip to main content

Revising And Editing Poetic Pearls

To assist young poets to polish their raw words and transform them into poetic pearls  requires some scaffolded support.
I have created the following Revising and Editing checklists. Feel free to use them as a starting point with your student writers.

Remember writing poetry is about using powerful words in tight spaces. That way you are more likely to create some sparks!


My Revising Checklist For Poetry
SKILL
Student
Teacher
I have tried using repetition of words, sounds or phrases.


I have experimented with lines and white space.


I have read it aloud to see if the line breaks work for emphasis.


I have tried to use surprising language.


I have replaced ordinary words with stronger words.


I have tried different leads or endings.


I have tried different titles.


I have used strong VERBS at all times


I have tried changing the order of the lines or stanzas.


I am providing enough detail for my audience of readers to get clear mind pictures.


I have tried to include, where possible SIMILES, ALLITERATION or METAPHORS in my poem



















































My Editing List For Poetry
Skill
Student
Teacher
Have I used capital letters for the names of specific people or places?


Have I circled words that look wrong?


Did I get rid of any unnecessary words?


Have I read it aloud once more to listen to the flow of my words?


Have I used contractions when appropriate to provide my writing with a natural voice?







Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Life Cycle -A football poem by Bruce Dawe

This poem by Australian poet Bruce Dawe epitomises the unique connection sporting tragics have to their preferred football teams, -an almost tribal allegiance. Each season supporters stare down the twin imposters- victory and defeat. They remain both loyal and hopeful of eventual triumph. This poem refers specifically to Australian Rules Football, but it's themes are universal. I share this poem on the eve of the 2017 Grand Final to decide the Premiership for this football season. My team, the Richmond Tigers have reached the play off to decide the ultimate victor. They have not contested the Grand Final match for 35 years. My hopes fly with them. This poem links two of my great loves -football and poetry... Life Cycle When children are born in Victoria they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots, having already begun a lifetime’s barracking. Carn, they cry, Carn … feebly at first while parents playfully tussle with them for possession of a rusk: Ah, he

Poetry Friday: The Safety Pin Poem

Poets not only write poetry, they also read poetry. In order to be able to write poetry, one must read it. Lots of poetry in fact...  I want to share a short little poem by Valerie Worth. I bought Valerie's book, 'All The Small Poems And Fourteen More,' while living and working in New York, some time back. It remains a personal favourite.  I love the way the poet shines a special light on everyday objects, transforming them into something unique and worthy of attention. Her close observations elevate her poems into the special category.  Each poem in the collection celebrates earthly wonders. From eggs to garbage, from potatoes to pockets, each object is given special attention in the form of short poems employing keen observations.  Valerie Worth demonstrates through her poems she totally understands the saying-'ideas exist in things.'  The poem I have chosen to share with you (one of my personal favourites) is titled, 'Safety Pin'. S af

Opposite Poems

O pp o s ite P oem s In his book, ' How To Write Poetry,'  Paul Janeczko presents the idea of opposite poems. Paul suggests they could also be referred to as antonym poems. This is wordplay and it's fun to try. Here are some examples Paul provides to help us see very clearly how these short little poems work. I think the opposite of chair Is sitting down with nothing there What is the opposite of kind? A goat that butts you from behind Paul Janeczko You will  notice the poems are written in rhyming couplets. They can be extended so long as you remember to write in couplets. Paul shows us how this is done. What is the opposite of new? Stale gum that's hard to chew A hot-dog roll as hard as rock Or a soiled and smelly forgotten sock You might notice that some of Paul's opposite Poems begin with a question. The remainder of the poem answer the question posed. Opposite poems are a challenge, but it is a challenge worth trying. Not e