"I Edit by Ear." Inspiration from Literary Granny Amy Clampitt - Quote, Prompts & More

Be inspired by Literary Grannies in January: Writing Prompts, quotes and more to get your writing flow moving with ease.

Quote:

“I edit by ear. I want to hear how the sentence falls. I want to hear a cadence someplace.”

Amy Clampitt

To learn more about Literary Granny Amy Clampitt, please visit the Poetry Foundation.

Questions:

When was the last time you closed your eyes and listened to “the sounds of silence.” Truth is, naturally, there is always sound going on: in the quiet there is much to hear. Allowing space to hear that nothingness may have an important impact in your writing.

Describe how the sentences in your last piece of writing “fell” onto the page.

What senses do you use the most in your editing process?

What senses to you use the most in the early stages of writing, before the editor voice is invited? Note: if you don’t leave time for a creative, edit free environment, you will miss out on something important in your writing process. Begin experimenting with that now.

Lists:

Make a list of 5 - 10 sounds you usually only hear in “silence” -

Make a list of 5 - 10 sights you usually only see in the dark -

Make a list of other writers whose writing voices have a distinctive cadence -

Make a list of 3 - 5 ways your writing would benefit from working on your written voice.

Bonus: Take actions from one of the items on your list.

Conventional Writing Prompt

When I edit by ear, my writing…..

My sentences fall….

My writing voice is…..

My writing voice would improve if….

Why be inspired by literary grannies? Read the introductory post here -

This series (now a part of the Ultimate Blog Challenge) is also serving as a bridge to my new blog which will be unveiled in the middle of the month. In past blog challenges I have offered prompts under the "Let Your Words Flow" name. The Inspiration from Literary Grannies serve as a subset of that series.

I welcome your comments, your questions and your quote contributions. Please share the prompts with your writing buddies and friends!

In fact, as you read books written by women in 2015, take note of inspiring quotes. I would love to add them to my collection and may even write a prompt from them.

This is Ultimate Blog Challenge Post 5/31 in January, 2015

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Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming Winter 2015 and beyond.

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