I really needed to read this book at this time in my life. I was starting to become doubtful, restless, and frustrated with my poetry, and my future as a poet. This is a rather organic book that doesn't rely on quick fix- type solutions or ways to write poems. Addonizio instead writes of poetry as a journey, a winding road that is unpredictable and always informed by the passion and discipline that the writer brings to it. The writing exercises that she provides are excellent ways to begin those...

Parts of this book is basic, some (well trained and/or clever poets ...) will probably find it too basic, but there is lots of very interesting stuff in between. Addonizio has a direct and intimate voice, giving the reader-writer useful and practical advices, and also - at least in my case - confidence. A great workbook - I like it!http://omstreifer.wordpress.com/2013/...

I love Addonizio's poems and regularly use the book she co-wrote with Dorianne Laux in my poetry workshops, this book, sadly, was more ordinary than genius, but that might be because I'm not its intended audience. For a much more beginner poet this might give them the encouragement and the foundation they need to write.

Breathe in, Breathe outAlot of writing books are heavy on pep talks or the physical act of sitting down and writing. Or they have the best stuff in the first half.This isn't one those books.The book builds the reader with a host of excersizes and examples.I found new forms like the American Sentence Blues Poem, and Pantoum. I have enough excersizes to keep busy all year. I have new websites like postsecrets and addictionZ to bring out the pain.Addonizio save the hardest part - meter for last, so...

There's a lot to like in this guide to writing poetry, and I took a lot of notes. My lightbulb moment was when Addonizio explained something about meter that has always eluded me. Being someone for whom the "music" of a poem is supremely important, I have always wanted to fully understand metrical conventions but never quite got it. This book blew me away with the simple explanation of the role that meter plays in the *meaning* of a poem: it contributes a compelling tension by the juxtaposition

Like many people (I assume), I read this in addition to The Poet's Companion. It probably deserves to be reviewed in its own right, but being that I approached this as essentially a continuation of the Companion, I'll review it as such.Generally, I thought it was a better book. Addonizio is a great writer, and the whole time I felt like I was getting earnest and caring advice from somebody invested in my future. It felt a bit more personal, while the Companion was more of a clinical instruction

I want to get this and Ted Kooser's how-to-write-poetry-book and put them together on the shelf, just to make Ted really uncomfortable around Kim.

Wow. If you’re at all interested in writing poetry, pick this up.

So many wonderful ideas for how to write a poem, and for how to spark and sustain the writing life.

I read this book to prepare for teaching poetry in an Intro to Creative Writing class. The generative exercises and discussions of craft are somewhat useful, but best of all is the material on revision. I read through a half-dozen poetry craft books in a desperate search for craft essays that would convince students of the importance of revision. Found it here. Particularly helpful chapters for helping students learn how to undertake large-scale revision of their poems (such a difficult thing to...

A beautifully written, wonderful book for just about any writer, not just poets.

great for beginners! great prompts, but so much emphasis on older poetry *vomit*

Great for teachers, poets, writers, and anyone wanting to understand or write poetry.

Addonizio gives detailed examples with critique and explanation throughout this book. She uses classic poetry as well as modern to illustrate her points.The writing exercises are plentiful. She shares her own process for revision, and encourages poets to also read widely.

If you read Addonizio's first poetry helper book, The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry, then you can probably miss this one without any great loss. I read it and picked up a few tids and a few bits, all good.If you haven't read the first book and are interested in trying your hand at poetry, I recommend this. It is chock full of prompts and writing ideas (all of which I skipped over because my mind is swirling with ideas awaiting execution as it is), and I'm sure begi...

I've read (and loved) all of Ms. Addonizio's books and this is, by far, one of my favorites. She does cover some of the basics of poetry writing, but also delves into the deeper side of poetry with some fabulous examples - delicious tidbits thrown in by awesome poets like Sharon Olds, Billy Collins, Susan Browne, Lucille Clifton and Tony Hoagland to name just a few. The book is also overflowing with shimmering, thought-provoking quotes by other poets and writers. I wrote several in my "favorite

Many of the prompts and exercises offered are ones I’ve used over years of teaching. Thus, while I didn’t gather much news from this well-written and researched book, I’d advocate it strongly for those just entering the teaching of poetry and those who are neophytes in the writing of it.

Words as ToolsAddonizio, Kim (2009). Ordinary genius: A guide for the poet within. New York: W.W.Norton.Poet Addonizio describes her process of creating poetry, supplemented with description of other possible methods, and plenty of fine examples of poetry. There are good discussions of how to observe keenly, working with metaphor and humor, making use of fairy tales and myths, mastering meter, and the process of revision. It’s all solid, well-articulated advice, none of it too simple for even th...

Honestly, I found this book fascinating. I had very little knowledge of what made good or bad poetry before reading this. For example, I never knew the rhythm underneath the iambic pentameter and so much more. Am I a poet? No, but I do want to appreciate it more, and I enjoy writing it. Much of what Kim covers can be adapted to my creative writing—which I study—pursuits. This book is a must-read for those curious about writing poetry, or like me, who wanted to have a superficial understanding of...

It may have taken me two months to get through this book, but that bears no light on the tremendous wealth this book contains. It's better than any textbook could possibly be on writing poetry, and it's a better guide to teaching poetry than anything I've read because it treats poetry as an art accessible to everyone and the reader (and potential teacher) as a poet as well.I hate dog-earring pages but I couldn't help myself with this one. There were too many lessons I wanted to add to my teachin...