--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I prefer always to think that I am…" description: "\"I prefer always to think that I am creating a book, not a series of stand-alone poems.\" — Martha Ronk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/martha-ronk-20222_book_i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creat_3008972.jpg" --- # I prefer always to think that I am creating a book, not a… ![“I prefer always to think that I am creating a book, not a series of stand-alone poems.” quote by Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/martha-ronk-20222_book_i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creat_3008972.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/martha-ronk-20222_book_i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creat_3008972.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/martha-ronk-20222_book_i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creat_3008972.jpg) > “I prefer always to think that I am creating a book, not a series of stand-alone poems.” [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing poetry as a cohesive narrative rather than isolated pieces encourages deeper thematic development and continuity. **In simple terms:** Treat each poem as part of a larger story. Key Takeaway Write poems that connect to a central idea. Themes creativity cohesion storytelling Mood reflective inspired Type literary motivational When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal journals - anthology projects Key Concepts narrative structure thematic unity Questions to Reflect On - How can you weave recurring motifs across poems? - What central theme could unify your work? A Different Perspective May limit spontaneity of isolated expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-book-2811522/) [Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Stand alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-alone/) [Stand Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-poems-4814994/) [Think Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-creating-562509/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Creating a book and creating a collection involve a lot of editing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sui/creating-a-book-and-creating-a-collection-involve-a-lot-of-editing/) [Anna Sui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sui/) > [It's not even my job to educate, but what I do is try to facilitate by creating a book that works on different levels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-base/it-s-not-even-my-job-to-educate-but-what-i-do-is-try-to-facilitate-by/) [Graeme Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-base/) > [I'm not interested in creating a book that is read once and then placed on the shelf and forgotten. I am very happy when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-scarry/i-m-not-interested-in-creating-a-book-that-is-read-once-and-then/) [Richard Scarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-scarry/) > [I'm not interested in creating a book that is read once and then placed on the shelf and forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-scarry/i-m-not-interested-in-creating-a-book-that-is-read-once-and-then-2/) [Richard Scarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-scarry/) > [Usually, the creating of the book happens while I'm writing the book. I start with Chapter One, with a few ideas and a handful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-king/usually-the-creating-of-the-book-happens-while-i-m-writing-the-book-i/) [Lily King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-king/) > [Every thought we think is creating our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-l-hay/every-thought-we-think-is-creating-our-future/) [Louise L. Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-l-hay/) > [If you think creating a world without any poverty is impossible, let's do it. Because it is the right thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/if-you-think-creating-a-world-without-any-poverty-is-impossible-let-s/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [We are 100% responsible for all our experiences. Every thought we think is creating our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/we-are-100-responsible-for-all-our-experiences-every-thought-we-think/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [When I think about creating abundance, it's not about creating a life of luxury for everybody on this planet; it's about creating a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/when-i-think-about-creating-abundance-it-s-not-about-creating-a-life/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [I think that if you're creating an environment completely or...in my research, what I've learned is that if it's a CG world or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-h-moritz/i-think-that-if-you-re-creating-an-environment-completely-or-in-my/) [Neal H. Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-h-moritz/) > [I really think that creating clothes and fashion has to be a statement about how we live and where we live and what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-burton/i-really-think-that-creating-clothes-and-fashion-has-to-be-a/) [Sarah Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-burton/) > [You are much closer than you think to creating a life you adore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-are-much-closer-than-you-think-to-creating-a-life-you-adore/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I think creating of any sort, whatever line you're in, is paramount - you can be an architect, you can be a banker, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-greene/i-think-creating-of-any-sort-whatever-line-you-re-in-is-paramount-you/) [Ellen Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-greene/) > [One of the great things about writing a series is that with each book, the novel is meant to stand alone on its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-fairstein/one-of-the-great-things-about-writing-a-series-is-that-with-each-book/) [Linda Fairstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-fairstein/) > [A discrete series is a series of terms each of which is empirically derived, each one of which is empirically true. And this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-oppen/a-discrete-series-is-a-series-of-terms-each-of-which-is-empirically/) [George Oppen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-oppen/) ## More by Martha Ronk > [Even your own memory changes over time because of circumstances or even because your body changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/even-your-own-memory-changes-over-time-because-of-circumstances-or/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [I can't remember the past, or I can't see very clearly, or I've gotten older and the person I was isn't there anymore, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-can-t-remember-the-past-or-i-can-t-see-very-clearly-or-i-ve-gotten/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [I want literature to open all the doors that I can't open by myself, and to allow me to see things that I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-want-literature-to-open-all-the-doors-that-i-can-t-open-by-myself/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [I think those of us who use language are always trying for this, trying to keep everything from floating away by trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-think-those-of-us-who-use-language-are-always-trying-for-this/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [I know that in some ways I operate from a kind of antiquated interest in imagery, while many contemporary poets are not so interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-know-that-in-some-ways-i-operate-from-a-kind-of-antiquated-interest/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [I've always been interested in the fragility of things, and with special urgency now because of climate change, but also because of the accidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-the-fragility-of-things-and-with/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [“He finds me charming and so long as I don't think about it, it's ok, but I worry, what if I forget to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/he-finds-me-charming-and-so-long-as-i-don-t-think-about-it-it-s-ok/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Everyone had always told me I had to see alpine flowers, since I was writing about flowers, and I had never seen these. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/everyone-had-always-told-me-i-had-to-see-alpine-flowers-since-i-was/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Language is as fragile as the little alpine plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/language-is-as-fragile-as-the-little-alpine-plant/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [I think about the kinds of gardens that Queen Elizabeth put up. She made gardens in the shape of an "E," for Elizabeth, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-think-about-the-kinds-of-gardens-that-queen-elizabeth-put-up-she/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [One of the reasons I like immersing myself in different texts, putting myself in the company of other writers, is that they do change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-immersing-myself-in-different-texts-putting/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Our mind is dark in some way, and so we use rhetoric as a kind of prop or foil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/our-mind-is-dark-in-some-way-and-so-we-use-rhetoric-as-a-kind-of-prop/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [A number of poems don't work alone. They need to fit together to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/a-number-of-poems-don-t-work-alone-they-need-to-fit-together-to-work/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Gardens do offer a temporal tableau and certainly mean differently in different eras and indeed geographies (think of the formal gardens in France).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/gardens-do-offer-a-temporal-tableau-and-certainly-mean-differently-in/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Often poets fall into groups that exclude others, and don't pay attention to those who write in different ways. It seems so limited to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/often-poets-fall-into-groups-that-exclude-others-and-don-t-pay/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) [Explore all 31 Martha Ronk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I prefer always to think that I am creating a book, not a series of stand-alone poems.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martha Ronk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creating-a-book-not-a-series-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creating-a-book-not-a-series-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/martha-ronk-20222_book_i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creat_3008972.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/martha-ronk-20222_book_i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creat_3008972.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17f/martha-ronk-20222_book_i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creat_3008972.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I prefer always to think that I am creating a book, not a series of stand-alone poems.” — Martha Ronk", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martha Ronk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I prefer always to think that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creating-a-book-not-a-series-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-prefer-always-to-think-that-i-am-creating-a-book-not-a-series-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```