Emily’s Drawing of Amelia Flying

I can’t really say for sure if these would be called “tools,” but I thought they were interesting. While I was writing part the text for today’s post titled “Into The Speckless Sky,” I wanted to check on how much like a poem some parts were.

Those were where Amelia described a remarkable flight she made. Since I’ve said before she has the heart of a traveler and poet, I thought it might be good to have her words in poetic form. While editing, I found these two companion websites: Poetry Assessor and Lyric Assessor.

You simply copy and paste some of your text in, and you will find out how it ranks based on more well-known texts.

On the Poetry Assessor, my text scored 0.3 out of a possible 5.0 which is not good. I guess I’m not a poet!

On the Lyric Assessor, the same text scored 4.5 out of a possible 5.0 which is good! I guess I’m more of a song writer? Should Amelia be singing? (Actually I think Pearl is more the songstress, particularly when she is wearing her Let’s Go Bananas hat.)

Anyway, that little test did convince me to not try to present the text with poetic formatting!

Just wanted to pass these two websites along. It may be fun for some of you to try out, but I don’t think anyone should say “I’m a lousy poet” or “I’m a lousy lyricist” from doing this. (They seem to be of an academic exercise for someone.)

To me, the bottom-line question is this: “Do the words touch another heart?” If the answer is “Yes,” then nothing else matters. Call it what you will. Format it however you will. Just touch another heart.

16 thoughts on “An Interesting Pair of Writing Tools”

  2. I often feel I don’t have a poetic muse, but I like to rhyme. Rhyming poetry is sadly unfashionable, but I didn’t attempt blank or free verse because… how would I know it was petry and not prose?
    And now I have links that will tell me – thank you.
    In the hope of understanding such poetry, I joined a challenge a couple of years ago to write 12 poems in 12 months (at deadlinesforwriters dot com) but it is only this year that I’ve been brave enough to post anything that doesn’t rhyme. I shall bookmark those links forthwith.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. In view poems do not need to rhyme at all, Cathy….don`t worry.
      Creating poems is like drawing paintings with words that trigger individual associations, inner pictures & emotions,
      I do not like the term “tool” in this context. Maybe, something like “channeling”, “inspiration” or similar fits better?
      However, please share your poems…!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. I’m still working on poetry – but ‘paintings with words’ is a nice idea. (Unfortuately I’m no artist either 😦 ) I have been , occasionally, publishing verses on my blog, ‘Writing Wrinkles’, but my fledgling attempts at free verse have yet to appear – maybe next month.

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Children enjoy rhyme very much. I wonder if that is why so many people turn to poetry that does not rhyme? Maybe they think rhyming poetry is just for children. I’ve been reading a book about writing that I will likely do a review on soon. It’s titled “First You Write A Sentence” and is by Joe Moran. He has some very good things to say about writing sentence and will occasionally include something about poetry as well. As for me, I like things that rhyme too, although much of what I’ve tried to write that way turns out to sound more like jump rope rhymes…but, hey, what’s wrong with that?!?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. I suppose I think that poetry, like love and beauty, are in the eye of the beholder. I never set out to write a poem- though I have written many- I just need to find the simplest most direct way to put into words what moves me. It is some need I have to share whatever that is without a lot of ME getting in the way. Call it prose, a poem or a song (sometimes I hear melodies that arise with words that rhyme and so now it is called a song)- I love to hear your unique voice as well to see it through your skills as an artist.

    Speaking of which- A MOST WONDROUS PLACE, is such a well crafted story of love through chicken wisdom. I was so taken by how well crafted it was- using seasons, the meanings of flowers and getting to know your characters were all so subtly interwoven into a most wondrous whole. Your illustrations were perfect (personally, I’d love a more expensive edition with full page illustrations opposite the text) but as is they were prefect accompaniments for the main event. My immediate favorite was the rose illustration …which is extra special as I found out at the end. Thanks for sending along your tips. Much appreciated.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Judi. I’ve always enjoyed your poems. They touch my heart, and that’s what all good writing should do whether they fit someone else’s idea of what makes a good poem or not. Thank you also for your kind words about “A Most Wondrous Place.” Full-page illustrations opposite text would indeed be nice. I will see what I can do. It’s a careful balancing act with color printing because too many pages boosts the cost considerably. Anyway, perhaps one of these days, it will happen! Thank you again! John

      Like

      Reply
  6. Pingback: But is it Poetry? (2) – Writing Wrinkles

Leave a comment