Admittedly, it has been a while since I have checked-in with a post. I won't even attempt to explain all the comings-and-goings of the past several months, I will simply jump right in to the deep-end of the pool with an issue that I have been pondering for some time... Back on February 5th, I posed the following question to my Facebook group, (Kandice's Poetry Korner): “What is poetry?” My own answer was/is that, “Poetry is life.” For me, it really is that simple. Poetry, my poetry at least, is reflective of my personal life journey; while at other times, it is my observations/interpretation of the people, circumstances and happenings occurring around me. Finally, poetry can simply be an expression of a vision – one’s personal vision of life as they wish it could be.
I believe that when you write, you exercise the God-given power to influence others. Therefore, I advocate being a responsible artist. What does that really mean? Well, for me, it means that I truly endeavor to think about the words I use before I commit them to being shared with others. I will often edit one piece numerous times before I place it in a medium where others will read it and therefore be influenced by it. To some of my fellow artists reading this, you may feel that to follow such a process is a form of self-censoring or not “being real.” I respect that contrasting point-of-view as a supporter of free speech. Furthermore, I acknowledge that as human-beings we experience some very raw emotions. Finally, I acknowledge that for artists it is the process of tapping into/conveying that emotion which makes others connect with your work. However, I believe that in donning the title of “writer” (i.e., “poet”) – meaning one truly committed to the craft – I henceforth commit to the millions of words/arrangements available to convey one single feeling, thought, opinion or experience. I personally feel that by doing so, you distinguish yourself as a truly great writer versus perhaps someone who just likes to write. Do I express raw emotion in my work? Yes. Do I tell the story in a way in which my readers can feel like they are right there in the moment with me? I have had the privilege of being told that the answer to that question is also yes. Yet, I choose to connect in a way that is real, that is raw yet is still responsible…respectful of others. My philosophy is that even in “being real” or “telling the truth like it really is,” one can express the point/or message while ultimately edifying. What is my point in saying any of this? I get concerned sometimes that we artists take this beautiful gift from God – words – and we use them for every other purpose than to help, console, share or influence positive change. You see, when you share (something positive) someone else gets something (positive) from the experience as well. As we saw in the last election, artists have a wonderfully unique opportunity to serve as an impetus for change; yet, we don’t always choose to avail ourselves of this opportunity. We get stuck in the creative stage of venting sometimes and don’t come full-circle, (1) to the lesson learned, or (2) to how the negative experience can help someone else. Will some pieces simply be about venting or the expression of pain? Yes of course, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, you may want to ask yourself along the way, is this the totality of my work?
In closing, I pose the following as food for thought for those who desire to don the title of poet, writer, author… (This is not at all directed toward those who merely have an appreciation for the artform or who are using writing as an admittedly good form of self-therapy.) Ask yourself, “What is my purpose for writing/sharing this creative work – is it to antagonize, embarrass or belittle someone else?" Consider: “Can my readers anticipate the topic of my piece, the story I’m about to tell and language I am going to use to convey the story?” You may need to ask yourself, “Am I versatile in my language?” Just because you can say anything you want to say, like you want to say it, doesn’t mean you should. (I once heard someone say that when someone consistently uses four-letter words and other forms of vulgarity in every-day conversation, it does at the very least lead one to wonder how large your vocabulary really is – being that once again, there are so many words available for use in the modern language.) In conclusion, my self-test for whether or not I am being a responsible artist – in regard to the work that I share on a public platform – is to pose this question: “How will my work prove productive to/or for anyone other than myself?”
I believe that when you write, you exercise the God-given power to influence others. Therefore, I advocate being a responsible artist. What does that really mean? Well, for me, it means that I truly endeavor to think about the words I use before I commit them to being shared with others. I will often edit one piece numerous times before I place it in a medium where others will read it and therefore be influenced by it. To some of my fellow artists reading this, you may feel that to follow such a process is a form of self-censoring or not “being real.” I respect that contrasting point-of-view as a supporter of free speech. Furthermore, I acknowledge that as human-beings we experience some very raw emotions. Finally, I acknowledge that for artists it is the process of tapping into/conveying that emotion which makes others connect with your work. However, I believe that in donning the title of “writer” (i.e., “poet”) – meaning one truly committed to the craft – I henceforth commit to the millions of words/arrangements available to convey one single feeling, thought, opinion or experience. I personally feel that by doing so, you distinguish yourself as a truly great writer versus perhaps someone who just likes to write. Do I express raw emotion in my work? Yes. Do I tell the story in a way in which my readers can feel like they are right there in the moment with me? I have had the privilege of being told that the answer to that question is also yes. Yet, I choose to connect in a way that is real, that is raw yet is still responsible…respectful of others. My philosophy is that even in “being real” or “telling the truth like it really is,” one can express the point/or message while ultimately edifying. What is my point in saying any of this? I get concerned sometimes that we artists take this beautiful gift from God – words – and we use them for every other purpose than to help, console, share or influence positive change. You see, when you share (something positive) someone else gets something (positive) from the experience as well. As we saw in the last election, artists have a wonderfully unique opportunity to serve as an impetus for change; yet, we don’t always choose to avail ourselves of this opportunity. We get stuck in the creative stage of venting sometimes and don’t come full-circle, (1) to the lesson learned, or (2) to how the negative experience can help someone else. Will some pieces simply be about venting or the expression of pain? Yes of course, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, you may want to ask yourself along the way, is this the totality of my work?
In closing, I pose the following as food for thought for those who desire to don the title of poet, writer, author… (This is not at all directed toward those who merely have an appreciation for the artform or who are using writing as an admittedly good form of self-therapy.) Ask yourself, “What is my purpose for writing/sharing this creative work – is it to antagonize, embarrass or belittle someone else?" Consider: “Can my readers anticipate the topic of my piece, the story I’m about to tell and language I am going to use to convey the story?” You may need to ask yourself, “Am I versatile in my language?” Just because you can say anything you want to say, like you want to say it, doesn’t mean you should. (I once heard someone say that when someone consistently uses four-letter words and other forms of vulgarity in every-day conversation, it does at the very least lead one to wonder how large your vocabulary really is – being that once again, there are so many words available for use in the modern language.) In conclusion, my self-test for whether or not I am being a responsible artist – in regard to the work that I share on a public platform – is to pose this question: “How will my work prove productive to/or for anyone other than myself?”
