From Publishers Weekly
Throw out the formidable rhythm and rhyme schemes: Ralph Fletcher's Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out laughs in the face of formality. Organized into two sections "Lighting the Spark" and "Nurturing the Flame" and peppered with interviews with published poets, Fletcher's accessible volume teaches kids to write poetry from the heart. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-9-A concise, nuts-and-bolts guide to creating poetry. The book begins by defining poems as "emotional X-rays" that seek to delve into a person's inner being. Chapters deal with images; creating "music," or sounds and rhythms; how to generate ideas for poems; the construction of the words on the page; and more. Tips on fine-tuning are also given, from experimenting with wordplay to finding a voice and narrowing the focus of a piece. Major poetic forms are defined, including haiku, ode, and free verse, and there is a section on ways to share your work. Interspersed are Fletcher's personal insights and interviews with three poets-Kristine O'Connell George, Janet S. Wong, and J. Patrick Lewis-who discuss what inspires them and how they go about creating their work. The many examples of poetry throughout embody the author's advice by showing how writing techniques actually function in poems. Since this thought-provoking book covers more of the internal, less-tangible aspects of poetry, it may be more suited for readers who have some experience with the genre.Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. Chatty, but never condescending, and encouraging about how to get started and how to keep going, this informal paperback guide packs in a wealth of information without a word of jargon. It's also an introduction to the fun of reading poetry. In short chapters Fletcher talks about feelings, images, music, and wordplay, and he explains what these are with lots of immediate quotes to turn kids on. He warns against message, against the "fake sentiment in a greeting card," and against pushing for rhyme, and he encourages young poets to find a personal voice. There's a brief chapter about form (haiku, free verse, etc.), but Fletcher's emphasis is on crafting the poem to describe something "as if we're seeing it for the first time." Brief, accessible interviews with three children's poets reinforce this view of the joy and hard work of creation. There's a lengthy annotated bibliography, and the cheerful, open, paperback format makes the book an excellent choice for classrooms and writing groups as well as individuals. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
Maybe you've heard before that poetry is magic, and it made you roll your eyes, but I believe it's true. Poetry matters. At the most important moments, when everyone else is silent, poetry rises to speak.
I wrote this book to help you write poems and to give practical ideas for making your poems sound the way you want them to sound. We're not going to smash poems up into the tiniest pieces. This book is about writing poetry, not analyzing it. I want this book to help you have more wonderful. moments in the poetry you write. I want you to feel the power of poetry. it's my hope that through this book you will discover lots of ways to make your poems shine, sing, soar...
-- Ralph Fletcher
About the Author
Ralph Fletcher has always had a special passion for children's literature. Her is the author of picture books, nonfiction, and novels for young readers. Poetry Matters is the fourth book in Mr. Fletcher's series of instructional writing books, which includes A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You, Live Writing: Breathing Life into Your Words and How Writers Work. Mr. Fletcher lives with his family in New Hampshire.
Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out FROM THE PUBLISHER
Maybe you've heard before that poetry is magic, and it made you roll your eyes, but I believe it's true. Poetry matters. At the most important moments, when everyone else is silent, poetry rises to speak.
I wrote this book to help you write poems and to give practical ideas for making your poems sound the way you want them to sound. We're not going to smash poems up into the tiniest pieces. This book is about writing poetry, not analyzing it. I want this book to help you have more wonderful. moments in the poetry you write. I want you to feel the power of poetry. it's my hope that through this book you will discover lots of ways to make your poems shine, sing, soar...
— Ralph Fletcher
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Throw out the formidable rhythm and rhyme schemes: Ralph Fletcher's Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out laughs in the face of formality. Organized into two sections "Lighting the Spark" and "Nurturing the Flame" and peppered with interviews with published poets, Fletcher's accessible volume teaches kids to write poetry from the heart. (Mar.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo
Budding poetry writers will receive plenty of encouragement here for both the creative process and the crafting of a poem. In part one, "Lighting the Spark," Fletcher addresses the emotional aspects, the imagery, the sound and what to write about. He tells his readers, "The best poems don't tell us what to think, they show us, and they let us feel it, too. In Part two, "Nurturing the Flame," he tells the reader to think fragments, consider the shape of the poem, the importance of the last line and wordplay. He addresses several problems that writers will encounter, such as flat language, vague ideas, and poems that go on too long. There are interviews with three renowned poets-Kristine O'Connell George, Janet S. Wong and J. Patrick Lewis, in which they respond to questions about where their ideas come from, how they deal with writer's block and what advice they would give to young writers. Fletcher encourages "Bring Your Own Poetry" parties where everyone shares a favorite poem and sometimes there are group readings. He often uses student poetry as examples, which is a nice encouragement for other young writers. He keeps his tone light and his examples straightforward. An excellent annotated bibliography of contemporary poets and selected works is found at the back of the book. Teachers will find many helpful tips in working with students and their poetry efforts. The book is very approachable for the students themselves.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-9-A concise, nuts-and-bolts guide to creating poetry. The book begins by defining poems as "emotional X-rays" that seek to delve into a person's inner being. Chapters deal with images; creating "music," or sounds and rhythms; how to generate ideas for poems; the construction of the words on the page; and more. Tips on fine-tuning are also given, from experimenting with wordplay to finding a voice and narrowing the focus of a piece. Major poetic forms are defined, including haiku, ode, and free verse, and there is a section on ways to share your work. Interspersed are Fletcher's personal insights and interviews with three poets-Kristine O'Connell George, Janet S. Wong, and J. Patrick Lewis-who discuss what inspires them and how they go about creating their work. The many examples of poetry throughout embody the author's advice by showing how writing techniques actually function in poems. Since this thought-provoking book covers more of the internal, less-tangible aspects of poetry, it may be more suited for readers who have some experience with the genre.-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
In this pep talk for aspiring poets, Fletcher (Have You Been to the Beach Lately, 2001, etc.) speaks directly to his readers in a chatty, non-threatening manner, as if he were a guest lecturer in their classrooms or homes and he reminds his audience that poetry must be an honest expression of the heart and soul. In the first of two parts, he focuses on what he calls "the guts" of poetry: "emotion, image, and music." He explains the key role that each of these elements plays in the creative process and he also tackles the tricky problem of selecting a subject. The second part involves the nuts and bolts of crafting a poem. Throughout, he cites extensively from his own work, as well as those by other published writers and students. Also included are several interviews with poets who are asked about their inspirations, methods of writing, and advice to young poets. There is a lot of information to digest and understand, and it is not always presented clearly; ideas are thrown at the reader in rapid succession with hardly a breath in between. Each idea is ostensibly illustrated by a poem, but in too many cases neither the idea nor the poem is adequately explained before the next one comes along. Fletcher is obviously passionate about his subject. However, he might do well to follow the warning he gives to young poets: "beware of going on and on and draining the energy." Someone already intrigued with the idea of writing poetry might find just the right hints and tools here to spark that first successful poem. Anyone else will be overwhelmed and confused. (Nonfiction. 10-12)
Art & Photography
Book Info
