As soon as I start to write I'm very aware, I'm trying to…
“As soon as I start to write I'm very aware, I'm trying to be aware that a reader just might well pick up this poem, a stranger. So when I'm writing - and I think that this is important for all writers - I'm trying to be a writer and a reader back and forth. I write two lines or three lines. I will immediately stop and turn into a reader instead of a writer, and I'll read those lines as if I had never seen them before and as if I had never written them.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The poet advises alternating between writing and reading one's own work to maintain fresh perspective.
In simple terms: Switch between writing and reading to stay objective.
Key Takeaway
Read your work as a new reader.
Themes
creativity
writing
self‑reflection
craft
Mood
introspective
inspirational
Type
practical
reflective
When to use this quote
- draft revision
- workshop feedback
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
meta‑cognition
literary technique
mindful practice
Questions to Reflect On
- How often should you switch roles?
- Does reading your own work improve or hinder originality?
A Different Perspective
Over‑analysis may stall progress.