Pondering Poetry vs Fictional Prose

[notebookishtype]

I'm currently taking a Creative Writing class, and I'm trying to sort out an experience I had.

The first half of the class was poetry focused. Poetry was stressful for me as I've only ever done it for a grade. I find it difficult and not that enjoyable, in general. So, of course, for our poetry workshop, I ended up with a poem that was well received. I got notes that it was "chilling," "powerful," "strong," etc.

So that's cool, I suppose. It doesn't surprise me, not because I think I'm some great writer, but because I told a very personal story that has haunted me since the moment it happened in 1999. I guess I feel a bit discouraged... Like, I'm at a loss for how I could ever make someone feel a fraction of that in a fictional piece. Maybe that's something that will come with more time and practice or will require comparable fictional content...

Comments

[caudipteryx]

FWIW, I think the key takeaway from this story is that you should always attempt to write your passions, even if the substantive content isn't literally true. :-)

[notebookishtype]

That makes sense. I'd like to think that's what I'm doing when I write. If not, that is the goal.