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PS: I "re-stacked" this article. Namaste

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This is exactly what I needed to read this morning. Thank you for sharing your insight into putting together a poetry manuscript. Your words are inspiring. PS: I found you when I set up @thefringe999 on substance (I started in Fracebook as #thefringe999). That alone makes this new adventure worthwhile.

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This is a super interesting explanation of process--thank you!

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Fascinating.

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Thanks so much for this! Very helpful and inspiring ideas to organize separate pieces into a book that has a clear arc and satisfying balance & pacing. Now if I only I could figure out how to choose the top theme for pieces that really could be in multiple categories...!

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Oh my goodness, you're so right! Choosing categories can be tricky. I realized poems I'd categorized as one thing also had references to other things that needed to be taken into account in the final poem order. No poem is ever really just about one thing. (and this doesn't even take form into account... where there might be one long poem, or lots of little poems...) Good luck doing this! I hope it helps.

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Yes, thank you, so helpful. The thematic sorting does make me realize that getting clear on what the main theme really is for each piece will probably help me revise, too. I'm not a poet, but I'll definitely be using your inspiration for shuffling essays into the best order :) Thanks so much!

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"too many driving poems, not enough angels"--I love this as a weird standalone mantra!

But also, as someone working sloooowly toward a poetry manuscript, this is hugely helpful. I am going to use a spreadsheet and the "pile strategy" to clarify my thematic repetitions and obsessions. Thank you both and congrats to Cynthia on the new book (which I'm ordering now)!

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HA! I need that on a t-shirt. ;) And, thank you!

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