I'm not the only person in the world who is suffering. I'm trying to talk to the world, responding to those voices.
Dorianne LauxI share my life experiences as a poet with my students. My poetic difficulties, joys, struggles and discoveries. If I read a new poem or essay or book I'm excited about, I bring it in.
Dorianne LauxJoseph [Millar] is much more disciplined than I am. He's up every morning meditating, then he writes, and he reads throughout the day. He probably reads ten books to my two and writes twice as much as I do.
Dorianne LauxWriting and reading are the only ways to find your voice. It won't magically burst forth in your poems the next time you sit down to write, or the next; but little by little, as you become aware of more choices and begin to make them -- consciously and unconsciously -- your style will develop.
Dorianne LauxI donโt worry anymore about writing. There are times that I go through dry periods. I never go through a block. Iโm always writing, but there are times where Iโm just not on my game, and Iโll use that time to read some new poets, go see some art, walk down to the river and just stare at it, or have a conversation with my sister, or whateverโdo whatever it is that I do in my life, hoping that Iโll get filled up enough. And something will happen, some juggling will happen and boom.
Dorianne Laux