Poet and Editor Liam Cross & the Importance of Creativity: Writing Pet Peeves and Tackling Poetry-Ep.21

This week Poet and Editor Liam Cross joins us to talk about how he balances editing, writing, and other jobs, how to access poetry, and a few challenges he faces as a poet. We also delve into some memorable reading experiences, important writerly reads, Kaisha’s romantic ideas about writing poetry, Liam’s love of burgers (gasp! Kaisha don’t listen), and the myth of creative genius.

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This month we will be giving away a lovely book box put together by the amazing author, Dawn Husted.To enter, simply interact with us on social media or leave us a review! We explain more about how the giveaway works toward the end of the show notes.

Listeners weigh in:

Who are your favorite poets?

Let us know in the comments section below, or by tagging us on social media! Your response might be featured in an upcoming show and you will be entered into our monthly giveaway!

Liam’s poetry:

What draws you to poetry?

I love the way that words can flow in such different ways, that they can have totally different meanings based on how they are placed beside one another. How they can mean so many different things to so many different people. For me, this is poetry.

Who are your favorite poets?

I’m quite an old-school guy – William Blake, Alfred Tennyson, Shelley, Keats, Rossetti and of course, Shakespeare.

Describe your writing process for us.

Messy would be the correct word for it – let the words flow for themselves, don’t plan much.

Don’t miss as Liam reads one of his poems for us!

Liam on Editing:

What is life like as a freelance editor?

Tiring, especially in these stages because I’m currently working two other jobs on top of my writing endeavours and training at the gym too. I have been putting in around 80-90 hours a week lately, and that’s with just half days on Sundays.

Any pet peeves? What drives you up the wall, especially when reading published work?

Grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. I’m yet to read a published book that I haven’t found at least one in, and I always make sure to note them on the page there and then. It’s a little game I like to play.

What is your biggest piece of writing advice?

Write for yourself, for what makes your heart beat and soul sing, and never ever let anyone tell you that you’re doing it wrong.

What should people look for in a freelance editor?

Authenticity, their attitude towards you and others, their completed projects, their reviews/testimonials, their specialities. Check my website, all good editors will set theirs up with similar information.

Liam’s Most Memorable Reading Experience:

When I finished the first chapter of Want To Play by P.J Tracy. I’m a huge sickler for crime, and the shocking reveal at the end of that first chapter – the way it was written, the way it was presented in terms of characters and how it was set up – was almost too good to be true.

The poem every writer should read:

The Tyger – By William Blake.

What made this story impactful to you as a writer?

The natural feeling to the rhyme scheme. This is difficult to do, and Blake does it flawlessly.

Is there anything you don’t like about the poem?

That I didn’t write it…

What technique does the author use well?

Natural rhyming, a wide array of metaphors and imagery, and solid structural organisation. (Sorry for messing up your document with my English spelling lol)

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Don’t forget to enter our giveaway for October. This month we will be giving away a lovely book box put together by the amazing author, Dawn Husted! To enter simply interact with us on any of our social media platforms. A winner will be drawn at random on November first.
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