A Good Read is an effort to unlock some of the secrets to good writing. Each posting consists of a “found” piece—it could be the opening stanza of a poem or the closing jingle of a television commercial—and a brief discussion of an interesting detail, strategy, or technique at work. We want to know specifically how the language (which may include images, too) functions, and we aren’t expecting essays, technical jargon, or perfection. If a piece deals with an excerpt from a larger work, we ask that you include a short summary for context. To submit, please consult the TBPO Writers’ Guidelines.
A Good Read
| Momentum Through Rhyme | May 14, 2010 |
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"By employing such a delay in rhyme, Bird heightens the listener’s expectations...." |
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| Redeeming the Cliché, Flaubert’s Way | April 29, 2010 |
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Even the master embraced them and used them to fabricate characters, dialogue, and situations. |
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| Interpretations of Infinities | January 15, 2010 |
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Can four lines of verse capture the essence of abstract things? |
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| The Thrill of Being Wrong | November 16, 2009 |
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We know who the Count is—and what the Count does—but ... |
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| Kiss the Paper With It | May 15, 2009 |
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Donald Barthelme's cut-up technique invites us to see what isn't entirely present. |
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| An Arundel Rhyme | March 4, 2009 |
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"It’s tiny details like these that make poetry so interesting and so effective." |
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