The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets

1A poet's job description12Writing for others193First impressions254Don't worry about the rules355Rhyming, ham cubes, prose poems456Writing about feelings557Can you read your poem through your poem?658Writing from memory739Working with detail9310Controlling effects through careful choices11111Fine-tuning metaphors and similes12512Relax and wait147

\ George Garrett“Kooser’s Poetry Home Repair Manual is marked by impeccable clarity and focus of dedication, and the absolute integrity that characterize Kooser’s other works; I should also add the important qualities of generous and lively good humor and gentle, thoughtful persuasion. During more than forty years of teaching college students, I examined hundreds of books designed to help young writers and readers, and I am pleased to report that this book is by far the best of them all.”\ —George Garrett, the Poet Laureate of Virginia\ \ \ \ \ \ James H. Billington"[Kooser] is a major poetic voice for rural and small-town America and the first Poet Laureate chosen from the Great Plains. His verse reaches beyond his native region to touch on universal themes in accessible ways."\ —James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress\ \ \ \ Crickhollow Books blog\ - Philip Martin\ crickhollow.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/poetry-home-repair-manual-small-press-month-book-recommendation-5/\ \ \ \ \ pagelambert.blogspot.com\ - Page Lambert\ pagelambert.blogspot.com/2010/07/ive-been-spending-day-with-two-poems.html\ \ \ \ \ Dana Gioia"Ted Kooser demonstrates that you can be both accessible and truly excellent. . . . He''s the sort of poet people love to read.”\ —Dana Gioia, poet and author of Can Poetry Matter?\ \ \ \ \ \ Bloomsbury Review"Comings and goings, what is there and what isn't, and the possibilities drawn from personal exploration shape the landscapes in Kooser's poetry. This is not an extended, complex, or experimental kind of writing, but a poetry that rings true, allowing the human sound of being to exist on the page. Its brevity is a launching pad for a simplicity that contains mortal lessons whose language changes the reader. This sense of transformation could be the theme of The Poetry Home Repair Manual. It is not a how-to book or a grand manifesto about poetic tradition. This lively and trim book is Kooser's gift to readers and writers of poetry. . . . The value of this book lies in the way Kooser encourages writers to be real about their expectations, their work, and the fact that the world is not waiting for their poems. . . . Kooser is a poet whose triumphs and tragedies become our own, not to shed their weight upon us but to allow us to revel in the process by which the imagination and the mysteries of poetry make our humanity everyone's horizon."\ \ \ \ \ \ Kansas City Star"Get your hands on this book. Ask your librarian for it—or better yet buy it, along with a highlighter. You're going to need the latter because this book is brimming with good counsel."\ —John Eberhart, Kansas City Star\ \ \ \ \ \ BooklistThe work of Kooser, America's new poet laureate, will be receiving more attention now, attention that is amply deserved"\ \ \ \ \ \ The Wall Street Journal"Ted Kooser could be mistaken for an average guy except for one thing: He writes poetry. That activity sets him apart from most of his neighbors, since they, like most Americans, have very little time for the stuff. A resident of Nebraska and the first U.S. poet laureate from the Great Plains, Mr. Kooser takes a broadly inclusive approach to promoting poetry; even so, he harbors no illusions about its becoming the national pastime anytime soon. Mr. Kooser captures this outsider-status neatly in The Poetry Home Repair Manual, his guide to aspiring poets and aspiring readers of verse. . . . [P]oetry is a tough sell these days. . . . But that only makes a smart and readable poetry guide all the more welcome, and needed."\ —David Yezzi, The Wall Street Journal\ \ \ \ \ \ San Francisco Chronicle"With The Poetry Home Repair Manual, he turns to teaching us what poetry is about, Kooser-style. Much of it appeals. His attitude that ''poetry is communication'' is refreshing in an era when so many poets seem to be babbling to themselves, giving us pages ripped out of their narcissistic diaries. . . . As might be expected, Kooser's advice is practical, down-home. . . . Kooser is a fine free-verser, and the biases of his book show it."\ —Cynthia Haven, San Francisco Chronicle\ \ \ \ \ \ Great Plains Quarterly"A beginning poet would be well advised to read and take to heart the plain-spoken wisdom offered in . . . Ted Kooser''s poetry writing ''manual.'' . . . By poking fun at himself, he encourages the fledgling poet to see past the pose of being a poet to the devotion to craft and love of poetry that this book celebrates."\ —Judith Sornberger, Great Plains Quarterly\ \ \ \ \ \ The Reader“It’s a how-to book for beginning poets and a good read for anybody interested in improving their writing. Kooser is able to instruct with the same clarity (and humor) in which he writes, making his advice easy to understand and apply.”\ —Jeremy Schnitker, The Reader\ \ \ \ \ \ The Weekly Standard"When Nebraska's Ted Kooser was named poet laureate for the Library of Congress last fall, certain quarters of the literary establishment responded with a resounding, Huh? Poets on both coasts scratched their heads, admitting they had never heard of Kooser. It is to be hoped they now have. With Kooser, the middle of the country and Nebraska have triumphed over the self-concerned coasts. Many of his poems involve closely observed Midwestern scenes, their artistry a way of surviving and even enjoying the world. Though Kooser eschews the egotism of many contemporary poets, he is as distinctive a voice as any now at work, a master of metaphor and the short poem. . . . Kooser's book is quietly witty and iconoclastic, with valuable advice. . . . He presents a whole stance toward writing in the context of living one's life. The Poetry Home Repair Manual is brief, lucid, and often remarkably wise."\ —David Mason, The Weekly Standard\ \ \ \ \ \ ForeWord“This handbook is one of the best. It is organized and helpful in both practical and fundamental ways, and offers excellent models for exercises. Most important, this book is friendly. Kooser’s voice is that of a wise and comfortable mentor who assumes that the reader has been working with him for a long time, and has stopped into his workshop to solve a small but thorny problem of language. He will help.”\ —Anne-Marie Oomen, ForeWord\ \ \ \ \ \ About.com“In his own poetry he renders his subjects sensually while projecting an engaging poetic presence. In The Poetry Home Repair Manual he shares his writerly wisdom; any poet, beginner or professional, will come away from reading it with some useful reminder of how to make his or her poems better.”\ \ \ \ \ \ James H. Billington"[Kooser] is a major poetic voice for rural and small-town America and the first Poet Laureate chosen from the Great Plains. His verse reaches beyond his native region to touch on universal themes in accessible ways."—James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress\ \ \ \ \ \ Dana Gioia"Ted Kooser demonstrates that you can be both accessible and truly excellent. . . . He''s the sort of poet people love to read.”—Dana Gioia, poet and author of Can Poetry Matter?\ \ \ \ \ \ George Garrett“Kooser’s Poetry Home Repair Manual is marked by impeccable clarity and focus of dedication, and the absolute integrity that characterize Kooser’s other works; I should also add the important qualities of generous and lively good humor and gentle, thoughtful persuasion. During more than forty years of teaching college students, I examined hundreds of books designed to help young writers and readers, and I am pleased to report that this book is by far the best of them all.”—George Garrett, the Poet Laureate of Virginia\ \ \ \ \ \ North Dakota Quarterly"No other poet seems better suited to represent the United States as its Laureate in this era than Ted Kooser, and The Poetry Home Repair Manual should enhance his grip on our slumbering Republic."\ —Larry Woiwode, Poet Laureate of North Dakota, in North Dakota Quarterly\ \ \ \ \ \ Victoria Advocate“For both wannabe poets and friends as critics.”\ \ \ \ \ \ College & Research Libraries News“Offers friendly and practical advice not only on how to write poetry, but how to think like a poet.”\ \ \ \ \ \ The News Brunswick Reader“A practical common-sense guide to both reading and writing poetry. . . . It underscores the interdependence of reading and writing, a fact of life so often not fully understood by tyro poets.”\ —George Fetherling, The New Brunswick Reader\ \ \ \ \ \ Poetry Renewal“I decided I had to have a copy for my shelf of treasured books on writing and invested the money in buying a copy. And it is an investment. I know I’ll be re-reading this book and referring to it for years to come.”\ \ \ \ \ \ Great Plains Quarterly"A beginning poet would be well advised to read and take to heart the plain-spoken wisdom offered in . . . Ted Kooser's poetry writing 'manual.' . . . By poking fun at himself, he encourages the fledgling poet to see past the pose of being a poet to the devotion to craft and love of poetry that this book celebrates."—Judith Sornberger, Great Plains Quarterly\ — Judith Sornberger\ \ \ \ \ \ Bloomsbury Review"Comings and goings, what is there and what isn't, and the possibilities drawn from personal exploration shape the landscapes in Kooser's poetry. This is not an extended, complex, or experimental kind of writing, but a poetry that rings true, allowing the human sound of being to exist on the page. Its brevity is a launching pad for a simplicity that contains mortal lessons whose language changes the reader. This sense of transformation could be the theme of The Poetry Home Repair Manual. It is not a how-to book or a grand manifesto about poetic tradition. This lively and trim book is Kooser's gift to readers and writers of poetry. . . . The value of this book lies in the way Kooser encourages writers to be real about their expectations, their work, and the fact that the world is not waiting for their poems. . . . Kooser is a poet whose triumphs and tragedies become our own, not to shed their weight upon us but to allow us to revel in the process by which the imagination and the mysteries of poetry make our humanity everyone's horizon."—Bloomsbury Review\ \ \ \ \ The Weekly Standard"When Nebraska's Ted Kooser was named poet laureate for the Library of Congress last fall, certain quarters of the literary establishment responded with a resounding, Huh? Poets on both coasts scratched their heads, admitting they had never heard of Kooser. It is to be hoped they now have. With Kooser, the middle of the country and Nebraska have triumphed over the self-concerned coasts. Many of his poems involve closely observed Midwestern scenes, their artistry a way of surviving and even enjoying the world. Though Kooser eschews the egotism of many contemporary poets, he is as distinctive a voice as any now at work, a master of metaphor and the short poem. . . . Kooser's book is quietly witty and iconoclastic, with valuable advice. . . . He presents a whole stance toward writing in the context of living one's life. The Poetry Home Repair Manual is brief, lucid, and often remarkably wise."—David Mason, The Weekly Standard\ — David Mason\ \ \ \ \ \ Kansas City Star"Get your hands on this book. Ask your librarian for it—or better yet buy it, along with a highlighter. You're going to need the latter because this book is brimming with good counsel."—John Eberhart, Kansas City Star\ — John Eberhart\ \ \ \ \ \ BooklistThe work of Kooser, America's new poet laureate, will be receiving more attention now, attention that is amply deserved"—Booklist\ \ \ \ \ The Reader“It’s a how-to book for beginning poets and a good read for anybody interested in improving their writing. Kooser is able to instruct with the same clarity (and humor) in which he writes, making his advice easy to understand and apply.”—Jeremy Schnitker, The Reader\ — Jeremy Schnitker\ \ \ \ \ \ The News Brunswick Reader“A practical common-sense guide to both reading and writing poetry. . . . It underscores the interdependence of reading and writing, a fact of life so often not fully understood by tyro poets.”—George Fetherling, The New Brunswick Reader\ — George Fetherling\ \ \ \ \ \ College & Research Libraries News“Offers friendly and practical advice not only on how to write poetry, but how to think like a poet.”—College & Research Libraries News\ \ \ \ \ Victoria Advocate“For both wannabe poets and friends as critics.”—Victoria Advocate\ \ \ \ \ Poetry Renewal“I decided I had to have a copy for my shelf of treasured books on writing and invested the money in buying a copy. And it is an investment. I know I’ll be re-reading this book and referring to it for years to come.”—Poetry Renewal\ \ \ \ \ North Dakota Quarterly"No other poet seems better suited to represent the United States as its Laureate in this era than Ted Kooser, and The Poetry Home Repair Manual should enhance his grip on our slumbering Republic."—Larry Woiwode, Poet Laureate of North Dakota, in North Dakota Quarterly\ — Larry Woiwode\ \ \ \ \ \ The Wall Street Journal"Ted Kooser could be mistaken for an average guy except for one thing: He writes poetry. That activity sets him apart from most of his neighbors, since they, like most Americans, have very little time for the stuff. A resident of Nebraska and the first U.S. poet laureate from the Great Plains, Mr. Kooser takes a broadly inclusive approach to promoting poetry; even so, he harbors no illusions about its becoming the national pastime anytime soon. Mr. Kooser captures this outsider-status neatly in The Poetry Home Repair Manual, his guide to aspiring poets and aspiring readers of verse. . . . [P]oetry is a tough sell these days. . . . But that only makes a smart and readable poetry guide all the more welcome, and needed."—David Yezzi, The Wall Street Journal\ — David Yezzi\ \ \ \ \ \ San Francisco Chronicle"With The Poetry Home Repair Manual, he turns to teaching us what poetry is about, Kooser-style. Much of it appeals. His attitude that 'poetry is communication' is refreshing in an era when so many poets seem to be babbling to themselves, giving us pages ripped out of their narcissistic diaries. . . . As might be expected, Kooser's advice is practical, down-home. . . . Kooser is a fine free-verser, and the biases of his book show it."—Cynthia Haven, San Francisco Chronicle\ — Cynthia Haven\ \ \ \ \ \ ForeWord“This handbook is one of the best. It is organized and helpful in both practical and fundamental ways, and offers excellent models for exercises. Most important, this book is friendly. Kooser’s voice is that of a wise and comfortable mentor who assumes that the reader has been working with him for a long time, and has stopped into his workshop to solve a small but thorny problem of language. He will help.”—Anne-Marie Oomen, ForeWord\ — Anne-Marie Oomen\ \ \ \ \ \ About.com“In his own poetry he renders his subjects sensually while projecting an engaging poetic presence. In The Poetry Home Repair Manual he shares his writerly wisdom; any poet, beginner or professional, will come away from reading it with some useful reminder of how to make his or her poems better.”—About.com\ \ \ \ \ James H. Billington"[Kooser] is a major poetic voice for rural and small-town America and the first Poet Laureate chosen from the Great Plains. His verse reaches beyond his native region to touch on universal themes in accessible ways."—James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress\ \ \ \ \ Dana Gioia"Ted Kooser demonstrates that you can be both accessible and truly excellent. . . . He's the sort of poet people love to read.”—Dana Gioia, poet and author of Can Poetry Matter?\ \ \ \ \ George Garrett“Kooser’s Poetry Home Repair Manual is marked by impeccable clarity and focus of dedication, and the absolute integrity that characterize Kooser’s other works; I should also add the important qualities of generous and lively good humor and gentle, thoughtful persuasion. During more than forty years of teaching college students, I examined hundreds of books designed to help young writers and readers, and I am pleased to report that this book is by far the best of them all.”—George Garrett, the Poet Laureate of Virginia\ \ \ \ \ The Wall Street Journal\ - David Yezzi\ "Ted Kooser could be mistaken for an average guy except for one thing: He writes poetry. That activity sets him apart from most of his neighbors, since they, like most Americans, have very little time for the stuff. A resident of Nebraska and the first U.S. poet laureate from the Great Plains, Mr. Kooser takes a broadly inclusive approach to promoting poetry; even so, he harbors no illusions about its becoming the national pastime anytime soon. Mr. Kooser captures this outsider-status neatly in The Poetry Home Repair Manual, his guide to aspiring poets and aspiring readers of verse. . . . [P]oetry is a tough sell these days. . . . But that only makes a smart and readable poetry guide all the more welcome, and needed."—David Yezzi, The Wall Street Journal\ \ \ \ \ San Francisco Chronicle\ - Cynthia Haven\ "With The Poetry Home Repair Manual, he turns to teaching us what poetry is about, Kooser-style. Much of it appeals. His attitude that 'poetry is communication' is refreshing in an era when so many poets seem to be babbling to themselves, giving us pages ripped out of their narcissistic diaries. . . . As might be expected, Kooser's advice is practical, down-home. . . . Kooser is a fine free-verser, and the biases of his book show it."—Cynthia Haven, San Francisco Chronicle\ \ \ \ \ The Weekly Standard\ - David Mason\ "When Nebraska's Ted Kooser was named poet laureate for the Library of Congress last fall, certain quarters of the literary establishment responded with a resounding, Huh? Poets on both coasts scratched their heads, admitting they had never heard of Kooser. It is to be hoped they now have. With Kooser, the middle of the country and Nebraska have triumphed over the self-concerned coasts. Many of his poems involve closely observed Midwestern scenes, their artistry a way of surviving and even enjoying the world. Though Kooser eschews the egotism of many contemporary poets, he is as distinctive a voice as any now at work, a master of metaphor and the short poem. . . . Kooser's book is quietly witty and iconoclastic, with valuable advice. . . . He presents a whole stance toward writing in the context of living one's life. The Poetry Home Repair Manual is brief, lucid, and often remarkably wise."—David Mason, The Weekly Standard\ \ \ \ \ Kansas City Star\ - John Eberhart\ "Get your hands on this book. Ask your librarian for it—or better yet buy it, along with a highlighter. You're going to need the latter because this book is brimming with good counsel."—John Eberhart, Kansas City Star\ \ \ \ \ Great Plains Quarterly\ - Judith Sornberger\ "A beginning poet would be well advised to read and take to heart the plain-spoken wisdom offered in . . . Ted Kooser's poetry writing 'manual.' . . . By poking fun at himself, he encourages the fledgling poet to see past the pose of being a poet to the devotion to craft and love of poetry that this book celebrates."—Judith Sornberger, Great Plains Quarterly\ \ \ \ \ North Dakota Quarterly\ - Larry Woiwode\ "No other poet seems better suited to represent the United States as its Laureate in this era than Ted Kooser, and The Poetry Home Repair Manual should enhance his grip on our slumbering Republic."—Larry Woiwode, Poet Laureate of North Dakota, in North Dakota Quarterly\ \ \ \ \ The Reader\ - Jeremy Schnitker\ “It’s a how-to book for beginning poets and a good read for anybody interested in improving their writing. Kooser is able to instruct with the same clarity (and humor) in which he writes, making his advice easy to understand and apply.”—Jeremy Schnitker, The Reader\ \ \ \ \ The News Brunswick Reader\ - George Fetherling\ “A practical common-sense guide to both reading and writing poetry. . . . It underscores the interdependence of reading and writing, a fact of life so often not fully understood by tyro poets.”—George Fetherling, The New Brunswick Reader\ \ \ \ \ ForeWord\ - Anne-Marie Oomen\ “This handbook is one of the best. It is organized and helpful in both practical and fundamental ways, and offers excellent models for exercises. Most important, this book is friendly. Kooser’s voice is that of a wise and comfortable mentor who assumes that the reader has been working with him for a long time, and has stopped into his workshop to solve a small but thorny problem of language. He will help.”—Anne-Marie Oomen, ForeWord\ \