The Winogrand Approach in Writing

Posted on January 20, 2005 in Writing

I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed.” – Garry Winogrand

“There is nothing as mysterious as a fact clearly described.” -Garry Winogrand.

Last night, I mentioned that principal among my influences as a poetry was the photographer Gary Winograd*. It is true that many of my allusions are unknown to “average people”, but I have good reason to repeat the name of Winograd: he deserves consideration as a cultural icon and an influence.

I write poems just to see how they will turn out. This is the purpose behind much of my incessant journaling: to seek out subjects. Winograd’s photographic technique is worth mentioning: he took his Leica in hand and strolled down American streets, clicking his shutter as long as he had film. Someone asked him once if he ever worried that he might miss a picture while he was changing rolls. Winograd replied “There are no pictures when I am not looking.”

He threw the rolls he took on a given day, dated them, and tossed them aside. Six months or so later, he’d pull them out of the bag and develop them. He believed that he made his best choices by forgetting. This may also be the case with poetry. You should write the storm and then forget what you have written. Then go back to the old stuff and choose the best.

I must confess that as a poet, I only follow half of Winogrand’s advice. In the evenings, I write blazes. In the days that follow, I extract the better lines and put them into poems. The madder the discourse, the more vivid the images, the better the material I believe. As my regular readers know, I often put second rate work up on the blog and hold back my better stuff. Still, I keep a large notebook and restudy what I have done in the past to see if there is room for revision.

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The one thing that I am tired of hearing: You’re a great writer.

I hear this from editors, from other poets. And I am at the point where I must say this: if you believe in me so much, where is the money? Where is the firm offer to do a reading, write an article, publish a book?

If I have to waste my time working on an article for which I have been given the go-ahead by an editor, I want to see it printed. I am more than happy to attempt to give what you want provided you give me a clear explanation. Don’t tell me to write a story and then forget you had me do it. If you think my poetry is great, champion me. Nominate me for a MacArthur Prize. Tell people to invite me to give readings.

What I want to do is write. I’ve seen too many people go to waste self-promoting themselves when they should be writing. It’s about the poetry, the written word. If you like what I do, then make it possible for me to do it.