CREATIVITY FOR THE LOVE OF IT, PART 1: POETRY by Max Jason Peterson

Edgar Allan Poe

Today I want to begin talking about a particular passion of mine—art for art’s sake. In this series, I’ll delve into two forms of creativity that I deeply love, which provide great joy, meaning, and value for their creators and audience (and in my own life): poetry and fanworks. Though some creatives involved in these art forms may well be professional writers, I’m classifying these particular types of creations as art for art’s sake because they are typically not associated with providing a living wage by themselves. They can indeed lead to other opportunities, help the writer develop necessary skills or experience the pleasure of interacting with an audience, or help to spark creativity in other areas that do lead to income. But fanworks are not compensated monetarily, by their very nature; and poetry most frequently pays relatively small amounts or in copies. Thus, those who invest their time and talents in creating poetry and fanworks—while these can sometimes be part of the career of a professional writer, artist, or teacher—are generally making these works for the love of them. The pleasure of creating these works and sharing them with the audience is in fact the primary reward.  

Poetry is very accessible and can be a gateway for those with writing aspirations. Poetry is also among the oldest of literary forms—encompasses great variety—is enmeshed in popular culture even today, with poems chosen to commemorate important occasions, heard daily in the form of song lyrics, or shared as quotes and wisdom on social media—and can provide moments of hope, insight, compassion, and thoughtfulness about the world and our place in it; or, quite simply, fun. Poetry can be structured in forms that carry the joy of a puzzle while you create them; often the form itself adds to the poem, such as when writing a shape poem (words arranged to form a picture) or an acrostic (the first letters of each line spell something). But free verse grants the ability to explore thoughts without formal restrictions. 

I’ve found that a great many people have art in their souls, and there is something so satisfying about putting one’s hopes, dreams, fears, experiences, humor, and more into a tangible format that can be shared with others.

As Adele Gardner, several times a year I conduct poetry and prose workshops for Hampton Public Library (free, ages 18+, registration required, one-hour sessions via Zoom, keep an eye out for Adele’s Writers Café at Hampton Public Library's Eventbrite, especially in April for National Poetry Month). These are actually inspiration sessions, and while some may have a theme or focus (Micro Poetry, Characters, Narrative, Micro Fiction, Micro Horror, etc.), I welcome poetry or prose poetry/flash fiction at each. Basically, I create prompts to inspire, and we all write together for a set time; then those who wish may share what they come up with. These sessions are not recorded or broadcast, in order to protect the copyright of the writers. They aren’t critique or instruction sessions; they’re just a chance to create together, to share our joy in making art. Hearing the wonderful things everyone comes up with is so uplifting! And we've all surprised ourselves with just how well something comes out. Some of the poets have later had work from these sessions published; others gained insight into novels they were writing, or simply enjoyed creating something during their lunch hour. Experiencing poetry and exploring one's creativity can truly refresh our souls.

One of the interesting things about poetry is that it takes us deeper into the mind of the speaker, the narrator of the poem. So I have found, as a fiction writer, that it can be helpful to write a poem from the point of view of one of my characters. Some of the participants in my workshops have done the same. I welcome you to try it. If you have a plot tangle in your novel or are unsure how to resolve an emotional situation for your characters, try writing a poem or two from their point of view to see what they think about it all. You might be surprised at the solutions or new angles you will uncover.

I don’t mean to suggest that poetry is not compensated—or that it shouldn’t be. Far from it. But in the realities of this world, poetry, by itself, is less likely to provide a living wage than many other forms of writing. The point I’m making is simply that, for many poets, the reward is simply the joy of creating something beautiful and/or true, that speaks to the soul, shares the heart or mind, helps make living bearable or shares our pain and our joy, or brings us closer in some way. 

When attending (and participating in) readings by members of the Poetry Society of Virginia, for example, I find myself illuminated, lifted up, and touched by emotion and revelation. It’s a numinous experience—like being part of the beauty of the universe—both because of the amazing creations being read, and the fact that these are creative people who are giving their time and spirit to share these works of beauty for the sake of art itself. The very purpose of art, for me, is so important: to communicate with one another on a deeper level than we may tend to achieve in our everyday lives.

For those who are interested in genres like mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and horror, there are lots of places to share poetry in those genres—and many of them do pay something (at varying rates). I’ve had hundreds of poems published, mostly as Adele Gardner, also under other bylines such as Max Jason Peterson.

For those who want to create books, novels in verse have become popular again, and can be found at adult, young adult, and children’s reading levels. Many of these explore the world inside each character’s head—poetry is such a great way of gaining insight. Narrative poetry is a wonderful form with a long history in literature. One can also collect one’s poems, published or unpublished. I personally enjoy collecting work I've first had published in other venues. Grouping your poetry by theme helps readers connect with it. For instance, my most recent poetry collection, Halloween Hearts by Adele Gardner, contains mostly literary and horror/fantasy poetry, all with themes appropriate to Halloween, including poems that draw inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe (available from Jackanapes Press).

Some may feel daunted by poetry—please don’t. If you’ve ever tried writing down a dream, you may find that it can easily be transformed into poetry. If you’ve ever described a moment of revelation or something you found touching or beautiful to a friend—you have the seed of a poem. Now just put it down in tangible form for others to enjoy. Likewise, when reading poetry, just take your time. Savor the words, how they sound, what they make you feel. Imagine you are taking the writer's hand as if they are a trusted friend. Because that, for me, is the essence of poetry.

Here are just a few resources that writers creating poetry may find useful:

The Horror Tree: Horror fiction and poetry markets, reviews, and writing advice.

Horror Writers Association: including Markets for Horror Writers & Poets. Includes links to other market sources and advice on where & how to submit.

Mystery Writers of America: including Approved Publisher List. See especially the section about Approved Periodical/Webzine Publishing Companies. Some of these do publish poetry, and even pay, including Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, among others.

Poetry Society of Virginia: Annual contests (deadline: Jan. 19, Poe’s birthday) and regular regional in-person and virtual poetry readings.

Poets & Writers, Literary Magazines Database: You can filter your results by type of writing or do a keyword search. The results page gives some quick info; click on the title for more detail. Check up-to-date info at the publication itself.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association: Many helpful resources free to all writers, including model contracts, market listings, and Writer Beware; poetry is now included in the ways one can qualify for professional membership options.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association: Includes market listings, as well as guidelines for SFPA publications & awards. Check the actual market’s current page carefully.

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For more information about Max Jason Peterson (they/them), visit maxjasonpeterson.wordpress.com or the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram links through gardnercastle.com.