Ask the Author: Adam Sol
Answered Questions (3)
Adam Sol
Read, then read, then write in response to your reading, then in argument with your reading, then read some more, then write in homage, write in discussion, read some more, etc etc. Repeat and rinse.
Adam Sol
Thanks for the question, Deborah, and apologies for the slow reply. I used to have a quick answer to this question. Something along the lines of "While fiction is interested in plot and character, poetry is interested in language and gesture." I'm not sure I believe that 100% any more, but it still guides my thinking about the comparison. Poetry has to take a lot of care with its language, but doesn't always have to answer some of the questions (what happened? who's speaking? where are the cookies?!) that other forms of writing need to answer.
Adam Sol
As long as I don't worry about writing something "good," it's always a pleasure for me to write. It's like noodling at the piano, or fingerpainting -- if nothing worthy comes of it, fine, it goes in the garbage. But it's still a pleasure to play.
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