How Poets Work

More about the book

Ten British and American poets describe how they structure their writing days, give brief details of their careers, and explore the creative process. They supplement their essays with the complete drafts of a favorite or significant poem. They then discuss the process of how that poem came about, how it developed from a single line (not always the first) or idea, how it was revised and re-worked, providing readers with a unique insider's perspective on the making of a poem. The participating poets include: Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Michael Longley, Anne Stevenson, Don Paterson, Dannie Abse, Simon Armitage, Gillian Clarke, and Helen Dunmore.