The
Writing Journey of Linda Imbler
I was introduced to poetry by teachers when I was
very young. As a young girl, I used to write poetry about what I observed
in nature. Back then, everything had to rhyme. I made my own poetry books from
paper, cardboard, and shiny wrapping paper.
I do not remember
my first poem. I am sure it was about a bird, tree, or a flower. I was 9
years old and the memory of the content has faded, but not the sensation of the
accomplishment. I remember I read it to my mother and my brother. I
honestly cannot remember their reactions, other than whatever they said or
however they responded did not deter me from continuing to write more poems
later in life.
As I went into my
teens, I began to hear poetry through music lyrics. This is when I began to jot
images and thoughts in response to what was happening around me. This influence
was huge, and this visceral response to life still continues to be the impetus
for much of my poetry. I have been influenced by the lyrics of those whom I
consider to be some of the greatest songwriters ever: Bob Dylan, Gordon
Lightfoot, Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), Joni Mitchell, George Harrison,
John Denver, Jim Croce, Paul Simon, Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, Robert
Plant, Sam Cooke, James Taylor, Willie Dixon, Bernie Taupin, Al Green, David
Bowie, Dolly Parton, Woody Guthrie, Lou Reed, Kate Bush, Van Morrison, Neil
Young, Leonard Cohen, Bob Marley, and Stevie Wonder.
At this stage
mentioned above, rhyme still was important to me. Once I discovered free
verse as an adult, all restraints were off and an entire new world of poetry
opened up to me. I realized that lyric and narrative were both legitimate
forms of poetry.
Today,
I understand writing not only as a craft, but as an art. It is said that art is courageously baring your soul to the entire
world through whichever medium suits your strengths. It is baring one’s
soul or exposing one’s current state of mind or most vivid memories. In this
regard, my poetic art is my way to make sense of the world and to organize
memories. It helps me from feeling transitory. In some instances, writing
allows me to memorialize some person, a thing, or some event. It doesn’t hurt
to mention that it’s a terrific way to exorcise personal demons. If I
wish to be truly creative, writing also lets me see things from another’s point
of view. In several instances, I have practiced writing from a different point
of view, and the results were quite astonishing.
I do the majority
of my writing in the dead of night, because I am a hopeless insomniac. So the
days are mostly set aside for editing, submissions, and rewrites.
I have a several stage process
from start to finish. I keep a recorder on my nightstand and record
images and lines as I dream them, or as they tickle my brain while I am
lying in bed. On nights when I’m sure sleep has eluded me, I tend to dig
through my box of thoughts and see if anything clicks. Or, if I am in
daylight, I grab a notebook and proceed to write down the ideas and add those
to the box. I have written things down in
restaurants. I have pulled out my phone and asked Siri to open voice memo
in stores, parks, and concert halls so that I could not lose a phrase or an
idea for a poem, or even a title. The process
of stringing phrases together and fleshing out the piece can take days or
weeks. I can walk away from a piece and then go back to see if the ideas
are working or not. In some cases, I have taken a poem in a completely
different direction from where I thought it was going, especially if I am
re-reading it and thinking, ‘what in the heck is this dribble?’ Once I’m
satisfied with it, I then take my work to my computer and dictate the poems to
see if they sound right. As much as I care how my poems look, I care as
much how they sound. My poems are meant to be read, but they are also
meant to be spoken, and meant to be heard. So, I make revisions at this stage
also.
I work on each poem until I feel I have said what I
want to say in the way I want to say it. Only then do I submit it.
I wish to thank Literary Garland for offering me
the opportunity to share my journey toward becoming a published writer.