Question for the forum...

[Raz]

Just out of curiosity, when you write something, how much thought do you put into how it looks? I don't mean grammatically, but in terms of visual aesthetics.

Generally, all I care about is how the paragraphs or lines flow. I've noticed more and more lately though on this forum that I'm using italics, bold print, brackets and line placement to create a specific visual aesthetic so that each piece has a definite look to it which (hopefully) enhances the idea I'm trying to get across.

I'm interested in people's thoughts on this...I've never really liked using a computer for creative writing before because it's harder for me to think creatively...but I'm finding that this visual aspect is a new factor which makes up for that.

Anyone have any comments?

--Raz--

 

[neverwas]

well im not really one to vary the format of what i write...as in how i type it out for veiwing ad stuff...

normally when i write i nut out and do my drafts on paper...but if i just feel like getting out of my head whats in there i normally just speal out whats there onto screen and stuff...

i like using italics when i want to emphasise or say something in a different tone to what i am writting. i use bold to but not bracets really. i guess really it depends on the stke of the peice...

...man i had soo many typos in here... 8)

 

[vurtomatic]

i've written a couple which have to be seen and read visually, i enjoy experimenting from a graphical point of view. it's kinda like playing with type in graphic design even though im not a designer.

the use of spacings helps to emphasise an image i am trying to bring across, sometimes, in the form of movement.

having said that, i dont usually set out to write something visually, it just happens with the subject matter i am writing about.

probably a subconcious desire on my part having failed to pursue graphic design

[edit: it's harder to post them up on bluelight cos the forum software messes up the spacings when it parses the text]

 

[vurtomatic]

one of the best known poets who experimented visually would be e.e. cummings... i started reading his works when someone mentioned the influence in my own writing, and to think i thought i was being creative 8)

r-p-o-p-h-e-s-s-a-g-r

 

[smileyfish]

When I write on paper I very much consider the visual aspect of the piece. I actually tend to get frustrated with posting online as I can't format things the way I'd like to. The look of a work can really influence the mood of a piece - you can make wrting playful, angry or soft and floaty so easily - really adding to the impact of your words. Like Vurt, I'm a big e.e. cummings fan - read Hist Whist to see how much he uses word placement to communicate tehe pace of a poem.

Smiley

P.S. Vurt, thanks for the grasshopper poem - hadn't come across that one before!

 

[ice-9]

Like the other writers here, i put a great deal of thought into stanza and placement. It has to follow the flow and rythm of how i say it in my thoughts. I have also experimented with visual and literal positions from a graphic point of view like vurtomatic.

 

[Raas]

A lot of my writing has some sort of didactic theme. From there all the prosodic features, form, structure etc comes naturally - never planned.

I'd love to post some of my poetry on here, unfortunately the content is pretty unpopular and i don't think my poems would get the recognition they deserve. My best poem is called "Squeal Chinky, squeal!" - If anyone happens to want a copy, PM me

 

[ice-9]

Don't be discouraged raas.

I enjoyed writing "unpopular" content and posting it up, but was surprised at some of the responses i got. I suppose getting some recognition may be a part of why people post here, but just the act of releasing emotions to the wind is very comforting in its own way.

 

[*SWeeT-e*]

^^^^

I totally agree. Post your stuff Raas!! Why do you think the content would be pretty unpopular? I've posted some pretty fucked-up shit on here before.

As for the original question, I don't put much conscious thought into how my poems will look visually, as in I don't plan it out, it just sort of flows naturally as I'm writing. If there's rhyme, I like to keep the lines short enough that the reader can easily follow it and the whole thing flows together evenly. If it's free verse, I'll group together lines that form a coherent idea or statement into separate stanzas. Sometimes I'll have only one word per line in order to further impress something upon the reader. For example:

...
I am torn.
Friend
Foe
Lover
Master
Dare I give myself over to You again?
...

Or even to visually express the very thing I'm writing about. For example:

...
I feel a surge of electric energy
which rises within me
taking me
back to the stars
up
up
up
and away from the earth.
...

I definitely use italics when appropriate, usually it's to convey a kind of external, aside thought that doesn't fit into the scheme of the poem, or at the very end of the poem to cement in the theme of the work. For example:

...
Your heart
like a delicate red rose
I would remove all its thorns
and water it with my love.
Do I love you because you are beautiful,
or are you beautiful because I love you?

Or I'll use brackets for the same effect:

...
I see you,
and I tell you I love you
even if no one else does
and the crystal's really got a hold of you
(did I do this to you?)
...

I think that manipulating the look of a poem can have a large impact on the meaning you're trying to convey. I use it for a subtle extra effect, not too much so as to take away from the work. Sorry for the long response, I thought a visualization would be nice, considering the thread topic.

~*~kimmy~*~

[edit: awww dammit that's the problem with posting your work on boards, the formatting gets lost. In that second example, the "up, up, up" is supposed to be indented so it literally looks like an ascending staircase. %@$#&!]

 

[ice-9]

...
I feel a surge of electric energy
which rises within me
taking me
back to the stars
      up
   up
up
and away from the earth.
...

Like that?
Just use {code} xxxxx {/code} instead of quote. Oh yeah, replace { with [ .

 

[*SWeeT-e*]

^^^^

Exactly...thanks.