Poetry Journey #3

My Biggest Poetry Challenges Right Now

Honest Self Assessment

After two weeks of research and reflection, I'm identifying patterns in my work that I need to address. Here are my biggest challenges:

Challenge 1: Cliché Addiction I keep writing phrases like "golden thread" and "eternity's embrace." They feel natural and romantic to me, but I'm learning they're poetry death. I need to train myself to write past the obvious.

Challenge 2: Emotional vs. Sentimental I thought emotion was enough, but I'm realising there's a difference between genuine feeling and sentimentality. My shorter poems especially risk crossing into greeting card territory.

Challenge 3: Inconsistent Voice Reading my collection as a whole, I sound like different people. Sometimes contemplative, sometimes passionate, sometimes conversational. Is this versatility or lack of identity?

Challenge 4: Technical Inconsistency My free verse lacks intention, my rhymes feel forced, and my line breaks seem random. I need to understand the mechanics better.

Challenge 5: Market Ignorance I have no idea where my work fits in the contemporary poetry landscape. Am I writing for journals that publish Ada Limón or ones that prefer formal verse?

What I'm Working On:

• Keeping a "banned phrases" list

• Reading one contemporary poetry collection per month

• Practising specific techniques (line breaks, rhythm, imagery)

• Finding my authentic voice vs. voices I think sound "poetic"

Questions for Readers:

• What was your biggest poetry breakthrough moment?

• How do you push past your first instincts to find original language?

• Any recommendations for craft books that actually helped?