Hi Janet. Beautiful photos on your site, and thoughts. I look forward to seeing and reading more.
You write about combining poetry and photography - perhaps that is why you just subscribed to my Substack Poetry Shack? I've only been on Substack just over 3 months myself, but something which immediately attracted me to it, once I found Substack, was the opportunity to combine text and image. Poetry and writing are my passion, but I love photography too - and I've been working to improve my "eye" for an image. I also have a wonderful partner - Meg (who showed me Substack to begin with). Meg is an artists and some of her work appears on my Substack - with more to come. The combination nation of text and image can be extremely powerful - and as a Poet I find it huge fun to play with.
Years ago a Publisher/Editor told me sternly that "Good Poetry needs to stand on it's own." We were disagreeing over whether I should include a brief explanatory note for a poem in my first collection.
In the end, he let me do it (See "Junga Yimi" on my Substack) but the conversation has always stuck in my mind.
In principle I think he was correct. A good poem should be able to "stand on it's own." However - I strongly believe that a good poem can be made even better, and more meaningful, when presented in a wider context. That could be an explanatory note, images, sound, a performance, a specific place.....
Well - here on Substack we can play with some of those additional elements - and there is no Editor to say "No!"
That comes with a risk of course. Editors can protect us from being self indulgent and publishing things that seem great to us, but not to readers. There is certainly a lot of self indulgent "stuff" on Substack, and writing which needs more work. On the other hand, there is a rich diversity and creativity - and a direct dialogue between writer and reader - which traditional publishing just can't match.
So - thanks for subscribing. I currently add approx 2 posts per week, but that will slow down when other things are happening in my life. I totally agree with you when you say that don't want to feel pressured - so yeah - just post when you feel like it. I look forward to seeing more!
Hello Dave, thank you for your kind words and for such a long and considered comment. I did indeed follow your Poetry Shack because I was interested to see how you were using words and imagery. I intend to take some time to have a good read through your posts.
I do understand your editors point of view, and indeed similar arguments often arise in the photography world around images and titles - some like titles as a way of adding some context, others are adamant that an image should not require any further information and that titles detract. Personally I'm not a fan 'rules' around a creative process, they can be stifling if we pay too much attention. And whilst both a good poem and a good photo should be able to stand alone there can be something quite special about the right combination.
I look forward to catching up with more of your posts,
Thankyou Janet! Only A brief reply - because I’m on the road today. It’s a pleasure to meet another lovely person here on Substack. Let’s enjoy each other’s work and keep creating things we love !! Have a marvellous Sunday!
Hi Janet. Beautiful photos on your site, and thoughts. I look forward to seeing and reading more.
You write about combining poetry and photography - perhaps that is why you just subscribed to my Substack Poetry Shack? I've only been on Substack just over 3 months myself, but something which immediately attracted me to it, once I found Substack, was the opportunity to combine text and image. Poetry and writing are my passion, but I love photography too - and I've been working to improve my "eye" for an image. I also have a wonderful partner - Meg (who showed me Substack to begin with). Meg is an artists and some of her work appears on my Substack - with more to come. The combination nation of text and image can be extremely powerful - and as a Poet I find it huge fun to play with.
Years ago a Publisher/Editor told me sternly that "Good Poetry needs to stand on it's own." We were disagreeing over whether I should include a brief explanatory note for a poem in my first collection.
In the end, he let me do it (See "Junga Yimi" on my Substack) but the conversation has always stuck in my mind.
In principle I think he was correct. A good poem should be able to "stand on it's own." However - I strongly believe that a good poem can be made even better, and more meaningful, when presented in a wider context. That could be an explanatory note, images, sound, a performance, a specific place.....
Well - here on Substack we can play with some of those additional elements - and there is no Editor to say "No!"
That comes with a risk of course. Editors can protect us from being self indulgent and publishing things that seem great to us, but not to readers. There is certainly a lot of self indulgent "stuff" on Substack, and writing which needs more work. On the other hand, there is a rich diversity and creativity - and a direct dialogue between writer and reader - which traditional publishing just can't match.
So - thanks for subscribing. I currently add approx 2 posts per week, but that will slow down when other things are happening in my life. I totally agree with you when you say that don't want to feel pressured - so yeah - just post when you feel like it. I look forward to seeing more!
Best Wishes - Dave :)
Hello Dave, thank you for your kind words and for such a long and considered comment. I did indeed follow your Poetry Shack because I was interested to see how you were using words and imagery. I intend to take some time to have a good read through your posts.
I do understand your editors point of view, and indeed similar arguments often arise in the photography world around images and titles - some like titles as a way of adding some context, others are adamant that an image should not require any further information and that titles detract. Personally I'm not a fan 'rules' around a creative process, they can be stifling if we pay too much attention. And whilst both a good poem and a good photo should be able to stand alone there can be something quite special about the right combination.
I look forward to catching up with more of your posts,
Take care,
Janet
Thankyou Janet! Only A brief reply - because I’m on the road today. It’s a pleasure to meet another lovely person here on Substack. Let’s enjoy each other’s work and keep creating things we love !! Have a marvellous Sunday!
Best Wishes - Dave:) 🌸
Such beautiful words and pictures, Janet. Wonderful post!
Thanks so much for your kind words Rebecca, and thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I do hope you are soon on the mend x
Such a pleasure - and you’re so kind, thank you. x
"Autumn approaches with a flutter
and cool morning air that nips
with puppy sharp teeth
and decorates blades of grass
with crystals that glitter..."
This is beautiful, Janet. Clear and crisp and vivid. Keep writing. Pull those notebooks out and dust them off! Cheers.
Thanks so much for your kind words Jed! My notebooks are dusted off and ready to go, 2025 is going to be a year of writing poetry!