Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry

Staff Pick

Ever wonder if you have what it takes to write a poem? Sage Cohen says, "Yes, you can!" Cohen, a Portland-based teacher and author of the poetry collection Like the Heart, the World, insists that poetry is available to anyone and everyone. She offers a rich, creative adventure that will help you tune into the poetry of your life — and get it down on the page. Filled with whimsical illustrations, ample wisdom, and plenty of sample poems from the great poets everywhere, Writing the Life Poetic is a fun, unpretentious, and user-friendly resource for poets and writers of all levels. We've tried it; we like it; and we think you will, too!
Recommended by chloe, Powell's City of Books

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The Red-Crested Poet, October 12, 2010 (view all comments by The Red-Crested Poet)
The cover first drew me to this book, but the wisdom inside has held me to it. I had been toying with the idea of writing poetry again after a decades-long hiatus, and WTLP was the catalyst that started me writing immediately and almost non-stop. The book is easy to read, the exercises are challenging enough to hold one's interest, the examples are inspirational. Others here have written longer and more beautifully (poetically) than I. If you are looking for a book to help you write your own poetry, buy Sage Cohen's book. It will do the job -- beautifully, poetically, and better than the rest of the others.

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Jessica Varin, September 7, 2009 (view all comments by Jessica Varin)
Writing the Life Poetic is a very comprehensive guide to life as a poet. In eighty short chapters, Sage Cohen breaks down everything from nurturing creativity to publishing. As a young, emerging poet, I appreciate the multiple writing prompts and advice included in each chapter. Sage Cohen covers technique with plenty of examples from established poets. This book was a good resource for both finding and creating new poetry. The cover is beautiful; the layout is accessible and exciting. I highly recommend this book to writers and poets at any stage in their writing.

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thenightwriter, August 13, 2009 (view all comments by thenightwriter)
The first thing I noticed about Writing the Life Poetic when I opened up my package was the beautiful cover. Already, before even opening the book up to the first page, my senses were heightened by the brilliant designs and colors. When I ran my fingers over the cover of the book I was pleasantly surprised by the raised designs (especially on the back cover) and the raised text. Just holding the book was a poetic experience. Then I opened it – Wow! I was struck by the contrast between the bright white paper, the text, the colors, and the illustrations. Without reading a word my creative mind had already been given a jumpstart.

I was a closet poet for nearly twenty years and when I finally had the courage to submit some poetry for critique I realized how much I did not know about poetry. I was discouraged and even considered not writing poetry anymore because it all seemed too complicated and then I saw an advertisement in Writer’s Digest for this book. I thought I would give it a try and I am so glad that I did. My reading of Writing the Life Poetic coincided with a 30-day poetry writing regimen that I participated in and I had the chance to incorporate much of Sage Cohen’s advice with great results.

Her instructions are clear and concise and so easy to understand even for a beginner like me. The chapters are short but provide a wealth of information and encouragement. I read one chapter per day and this easily fit into my hectic schedule. Eighty days later I was not only writing more poetically, I was living more poetically. What Cohen has taught me through these beautiful pages has helped me in all of my writing: poetry, personal essays, and memoir. She has taught me that there is poetry to be found in even the most minute and mundane of things; in the things that might be overlooked even discarded otherwise. She has taught me that it is the awareness of the world around me and the writing of that awareness that is so important even if at first glance I do not consider what I write to be “top quality”.

I recommend this book to beginner and experienced poets and writers alike. Beginners will get a guide book on how to embrace the poetry within and around them. Those with experience will get a fresh perspective on reading and writing poetry and expand their creative minds to higher levels. I also recommend Cohen’s book of poetry, Like the Heart, the World, which will, after reading, unequivocally convince you that she knows of what she writes.

Sage Cohen also has a Writing the Life Poetic blog that you can subscribe to and it is a must read for all the fans of her book. It will provide you with a continuation of the same fresh poetic view of life that is seen within the pages of this book.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781582975573

Author:

Cohen, Sage

Publisher:

Writers Digest Books

Subject:

General

Subject:

Poetry

Subject:

Authorship

Subject:

Poetry -- Authorship.

Subject:

Creative writing

Subject:

Reference-Words Phrases and Language

Copyright:

2009

Publication Date:

20090431

Binding:

TRADE PAPER

Language:

English

Illustrations:

Y

Pages:

262

Dimensions:

8.30x5.50x.80 in. .90 lbs.