stop writing

stop writing

if your words aren’t bursting out your gut and making

everyone see your insides,

stop writing.

if you’re doing it because people

told you you’re good at it

stop writing.

if you’re doing it for a pay cheque and a straight to DVD movie

written by some bumblefuck director

stop writing.

if you ever think I’m more interested how your poem shaped American counterculture

than the f*****g poem itself

stop writing.

if your fingers are tapping to the beat of the deadline

then they’re going too fast. Slow them down and

stop writing.

 

there’s a million books for the fatheads

who judge poems by the stars in the smug reviews

of some Cambridge c**t.

and for the shackled old women

who need the same detective

solving the same case

with the same f*****g wry smile that leans out of the book

with eyes that beg you to keep reading.

why add to that saturated s**t show

when there’s so much more you can throw out there

and I mean throw, with all your force like

a roided up jock throwing his weight.

 

 

stop adding to the libraries,

they’re so obese with stories

that they’re shitting out metaphors

and spewing your similes.

burn them down if you have to " here!

I’ll give you the lighter.

We can watch it burn together,

every allusion,

reference

and sly wink can fill the air with smoke

if it wasn’t from the heart.

 

After the clouds roll away take this pen

and put it in your pocket.

Let it rest there until you need it,

until your heart explodes and your soul

shoots out your mouth onto the page.

When you’d rather stick the pen through your skull

than never bare your breast on that page;

then you can start writing.

Reviews

[D Connolly]

While I agree with a lot of this stuff, I have to ask, what's wrong with wanting to make a living with something you're passionate about? I've always wanted to be a writer, I have stories pouring out of my head and characters screaming to be let out into the world. I think there's a balance between writing FOR the consumers simply to sell, and writing what you like, which just happens to be what other people are interested in too (like vampire novels or romance for example). I mean, Dean Koontz writes basically the same story in every book, which I think is really lame, but he's certainly not worried about my opinion as he falls asleep on a bed of money every night LOL. Here's to writing what we love, may everyone else love it too, and give us all their money.

[Hell in a Hip Flask]

There's nothing wrong with making the living but it's the passion that I think can be lacking from people like Dean Koontz and I understand people will need to make money with what sells and that's fine but what I'm more trying to focus on is that the writing that really engages me is the writing that is written from that place of sincerity instead of an ulterior motive. I appreciate that not every piece of writing will be from that genuine place, people gotta make that dolla dolla but when it is it's just more refreshing for me. I also think it's pretty essential to enjoying your own writing and the process of writing your own stuff that you are engaged. If someone writes 100 vampire novels and still feels like that's really what they want to write then all power too them but if they don't you can normally tell, thanks for the comment made me think about my poem a bit more :)

[D Connolly]

Artists have it rough... I do want to be that best selling author, and I would be lying if I said any different, but I have a feeling that as soon as someone gives me an actual deadline or starts harping on me about a new story, or even if a fan wants to compare me to the sunshine or something like that, I'll clam up and hide in my room so I can write what I'm passionate about without any pressure to sell. It's a rock and a hard place. How can you do what you love and make a living without bending to the pressures of the market? Anyway, this is a good take on the situation, and it's making people think; that's obvious and that's what writing is supposed to do; someone sent this to me. I will read more of your work soon
Dani

[Hell in a Hip Flask]

Yeah it's definitely a subject I think I'll be focusing on a quite a bit over some poems I have planned and thanks I'll be sure to check out your work too

[Tony Jordan]

Nothing to add but can I just say I love this interaction!!

[writ rajat]

We should just write and publish it no motive well said

[Tina H.W.]

It's very very clear you love writing! I liked this a lot and can relate . Writing is a passion, not a chore.
Really well worded :)

[Tbear]

stop adding to the libraries,
they’re so obese with stories
that they’re shitting out metaphors
and spewing your similes.

and

until your heart explodes and your soul
shoots out your mouth onto the page.
When you’d rather stick the pen through your skull
than never bare your breast on that page;
then you can start writing.

You GOT me!!! Right in the GUT! I will not stop writing but the writing will make me stop :) Great piece you have here... write on!

[Andrew Leister-Frazier]

I write for the hope that one day I might get some money and recognition. I write because it is my best hope.

[mercy party]

good rant. i read it fast, it made me! the way i see it youre not gonna stop writing anytime soon! i'm glad.

[...]

definitely on your side with this one.
i putter around to release feelings and thoughts.
i have been published and never want to be again.
it was a joy kill for me. i am comfortable enough that i can write for me and me alone. as a hobby.
people will have different views on this I guess and yeah, i guess if you need the money then go for it but i think doing it because you need the release makes it purer

[Relic]

I can see where you're coming from although you sound pretty angry with all the s***s and f***s throughout this writing.

I took a break from here to revise and ready myself for some new poems. Now I'm not so sure I should have returned at all. Don't read any of my writing okay. lol I don't write with passion because I don't know how. I write for enjoyment. I guess I should stop writing altogether.

I'll try to remain in the dark here.

Thanks for writing this.

[Hell in a Hip Flask]

I wouldn't want to disengage anyone with their writing that's not my intention, I'm simply saying that I find it more compelling to read something that wanted to be written. And that doesn't have to have passion in every line or at all, it could be about a grey wall, it's the desire from the author that creates compelling work and I feel that can be seen in someone's work very clearly when it's there. That's what writing for enjoyment is, writing because you wanted to write and not worrying about how it's received, so if I were you I'd keep writing the stuff I wanted to write about and good luck with it.

[Hell in a Hip Flask]

Meant to say 'what you wanted to write about' at the end there oops

[Relic]

Good reply.

[Voidwvlf]

I was a bit skeptical at first, but I think perhaps you might be another one who sees how bloated literature is with mediocre stories and poor amateurs who believe they've s**t gold when they've just s**t. No one seems to acknowledge this, and finding someone who does is immensely refreshing. Thank you for confirming my standards are not too high.

[Hell in a Hip Flask]

While there are certainly writers who should maybe take a step back from their work I don't actually have too much of an issue with an amateur writer if they're writing something they genuinely want to write, you know as opposed to the person who sits at a computer and thinks well lots of people write poems about love I should write one too and that person could be any skill level. What I see from the best writers is a style that comes across as genuine because of how invested they are in what they write so they feel natural, especially in poetry when it's such a quick shot of someone's thoughts. It's good to have standards though we won't improve without them, thanks for the review.

[Gee]

To some it is a job, others a pastime, me just to while away a wee bit of time. Each to their own eh, same as opinions

[Hell in a Hip Flask]

I agree, we should write for any reason we want to but the most compelling writing is made when you have something you genuinely want to say, whether that be for a job or a pastime you can write about anything as long as you care enough cos that what makes it engaging to me

[roamingraven]

Awesome,truth in every line.