When I arrived at the poetry workshop, she sat on the other side of the room. I didn't know her personally, but her poems got to me through Facebook, and I liked most of them very much. During the break, we talked a little. I introduced myself and told her I read some of her poems, and she shared with me that she also got to read a poem or two of mine.
During the poetry workshop, the instructor instructed us to compose five poems. As with every poetry workshop I attend, I remind myself that the objective is not to create masterpieces during the workshop but to practice and learn new techniques and tools. Therefore, I do not anticipate producing a masterpiece during that time. On the contrary, I expect to produce terrible poems. I cannot recall even a single poem I composed during any workshop I participated in that eventually made it into one of my books. Needless to say, the possibility of me publishing a poem I crafted during a workshop is almost non-existent.
When the instructor asked who wanted to share one of the poems they had written in the workshop, that poet and I proposed ourselves and read from our poems. Her poem was very much to my taste, although I knew she could write much better than that. At the end of the workshop, I said goodbye to her and told her I would love to see her again at another workshop or poetry reading event.
When I got home, I got a notification on Facebook that she had published a new post, and I was astonished to find out that she had published one of the poems she wrote in that workshop merely two hours after writing it.
One can classify poets into Fried Chicken Poets and Brisket Poets. Fried Chicken Poets fry their poems in boiling oil and serve them straight from the pot. They like their poems "fresh". On the other hand, Brisket Poets cook their poems in a pot for long and continuous cooking and serve them only when all the ingredients have softened.
When I got to know the poet better, I discovered she was part of the Fried Chicken Poets group. She prefers to publish her poems shortly after writing them, claiming that it allows her to maintain authenticity and avoid any filters. She likes publishing her poems “when they are still hot.” On the other hand, I am a Brisket Poet. I take my time with my work, sometimes spending weeks, months, or even years crafting a poem. In September 2023, I celebrated the second anniversary of a cycle of poems I have been working on. Despite thinking I had finished it many times, I have not yet completed it.
A question arises: which is better? Should I publish my poems right after finishing them, or is it better to wait? What do I get out of waiting for a poem to be published? And if I have already chosen to wait before publishing a poem, what should I do next? To answer these questions, you must first answer another question: Why do I even want to publish my poems in the first place?
If the purpose of publishing your poems is to share your feelings and alleviate stress, there's no need to delay the publication. In fact, the longer you wait, the more doubts will creep in, such as the fear that no one will care or that it will be embarrassing. If this delay between writing and publishing the poem means it will never be published, it's better to publish it and get it out of the system. I suggest this approach for new writers who still need to gain more experience in poetry writing and publishing.
On the other hand, if my goal in publishing poems is to reach as broad an audience as possible, to get people excited and identify with my words, then publishing the poem too soon will likely sabotage that goal.
That is, as soon as I know why I want to publish poetry, I will also know when to publish it.
Often, the initial version of anything we attempt is not optimal. Even the greatest basketball players in history missed their first few attempts at shooting the ball into the basket. Similarly, the best painters often sketch a preliminary draft in pencil before starting on the actual canvas. Furthermore, even the world's most talented pianists practice a musical piece numerous times before performing it live on stage.
When I post a poem right after I write it, I'm basically saying that this poem has no way of being any better than it is right now. If I wait, I'm telling myself that there is a better version of this poem somewhere inside of me, and I believe in myself that I can reach it. In doing so, I allow the poem and myself to grow.
I don't mean to criticize the poet from the poetry workshop. I appreciate her bravery in presenting herself and her unrefined poems to us. Just like an unpolished diamond still holds beauty, the same is valid for her work. However, if she were to polish and refine her writing, I genuinely believe it could shine even brighter.
I may have convinced you to wait before publishing your poem. Some of you may be asking: "Okay, so I waited. Now what?"
After waiting for the poem's publication, I can get to self-editing. What is self-editing? How do you do it? What are its advantages and disadvantages? I will discuss all of this in the next post.
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