The Art and Craft of Poetry
by Michael J. Bugeja
On This Page
Description
This book is about the making of a poet - you. It's written in a particular order to help you develop both yourself as a poet and your poetic works. You begin with a chapter on generating ideas for poems and end with a chapter on the total poem, summarizing key elements in the creation of publishable verse. You'll find three sections in this book:. Journals and Genres: In this section you'll learn how to conceive ideas for poems based on life experience, research and familiarity with show more traditional genres of poetry. You'll learn how poets use journals to keep track of ideas, and how to develop your ability to contemplate, observe and discover - skills that make superior poets. When you've finished the exercises in this section, you'll have as many as one hundred ideas for poems. Tools of the Trade: Here you'll learn the basics of craft. There are six chapters that focus on voice, line, stanza, title, meter and rhyme. At the end of each chapter you'll write a draft of a poem, focusing on skills learned in that chapter. Formats and Forms: In this section you'll learn about modes and methods of expression, from narrative, lyric and dramatic verse (the traditional formats) to poems in fixed, free and sequence styles (the traditional forms). Here is where you begin work on your drafts, identifying which categories they fall into, studying them and then improving upon them. You'll find dozens of poems by some of the world's most talented contemporary writers. Many of these poets also provide comments about the craft of writing poetry, which adds yet another level of instruction. Also included are poems of great English and American writers, along with work by the author. By including his own work, Bugeja is able to illustrate the process of writing poetry in a unique, step-by-step format. What's more, three levels of exercises at the end of each chapter help you generate poems and, ultimately, chapbooks and books. Everything you need to put you on the path of becoming a published poet is here in this book. All that's left is to spark your muse. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Essentially, a course on poetry in a book. I found that the vast exemplars which Bugeja cited were extremely helpful in delineating the various forms, and styles, of poetry. There is much to be garnished here and this book, undoubtedly, has increased my knowledge, appreciation, and toolkit of poetry. I think that it is a great book for poets at all stages to remind, inform, and reinforce the rules of craft that are described, and detailed, here.
5 stars- well worth it.
5 stars- well worth it.
The main thrust of this book is idea generation for poems. Then you begin writing in different poetic formats. You don't learn how to write by reading how to write, you learn by writing itself. This is the best practical instruction book on writing poetry that I have ever seen.
Tools, formats, and popular genres--all may be found in this tome about putting poetic ponderings down with paper and pen. Excellent examples from the living and the dead, and a great guidebook for every budding poet.
Bugeja goes through the actual craft elements of poetry through examples of his own and other poets. It is a very valuable resourse, and guide.
A good, basic entry into writing poetry. Is IMO on a beginner level.
Some useful idea such as life mapping to discover key moments for poetry and how form say short or long lines shape mood.
Not reviewed
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Craft Books
41 works; 1 member
Author Information
18 Works 392 Members
Michael J. Bugeja was born in Hackensack, New Jersey. He received his B. A. from St. Peter's College, M. S. from South Dakota State University and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. Bugeja has worked for United Press International and has taught journalism at the university level. He teaches magazine writing and ethics at Ohio University at show more Athens, Ohio. He is a columnist for Writer's Digest and has published several collections of poetry, including Flight From Valhalla and Platonic Love, as well as books on writing, such as Guide to Writing Magazine Nonfiction, Living Ethics, The Art and Craft of Poetry and Poet's Guide. Bugeja has been a recipient of the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for Fiction and a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in Culture. In 1997, he was named honorary chancellor of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Dedication
- In memory of our first two children,
guardian angels of my daughter Erin Marie
and my son Shane Michael,
for whom this book is dedicated - First words
- If you are just starting out as a poet, you should make a trip to the stationery store, the bookshop and the nearest library.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)If you have patience, you not only will be able to compose a total poem … but you will become a total poet.
Classifications
- Genres
- Poetry, Fiction and Literature, Literature Studies and Criticism
- DDC/MDS
- 808.1 — Literature & rhetoric Literature, rhetoric & criticism Rhetoric and collections of literary texts from more than two literatures Rhetoric of poetry
- LCC
- PN1059 .A9 .B84 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Poetry
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 268
- Popularity
- 119,990
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (3.93)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- UPCs
- 1

























































