Practicing Narrative and Lyricism

This exercise has multiple steps—submit the results of Step 2, Step 3, and Step 4 in one post to this discussion. Title each step “Step 2: Narrative,” “Step 3: Lyricism,” and “Step 4: Combine Steps 2 and 3” within your post.

Step 1

Think about a moment when you cared for someone or something when they were sick, lonely, or otherwise out-of-sorts. Conversely, you could write about when someone cared for you.

Step 2: Narrative

Write the story of what happened in poem form
Use line ends to create suspense between the lines
Use scene writing description

Step 3: Lyricism

Describe what you felt then
Describe how you feel about the event now
Use line ends
Focus on sound and rhythm too

Step 4: Combine Steps 2 and 3

Mix together your narrative and lyrical lines, like Henry Taylor does in “The Hayfork”
Cut what no longer feels essential and add material that will help transition between anecdote and reflection
Find an order that makes sense

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