Draft Journey

A Look at the Process

Revising, editing, tweaking—sometimes it feels like a poem is never truly done. My poem, Burlesque Crush, went through a couple of drafts before being published in my chapbook, Taking Back the Body. Sometimes they were tiny tweaks. A word here, or rephrasing there. And honestly, I can still see places where I could make it better. But, it’s already out in the world and I’m okay with that.

Here are a few things I focused on while revising—take what works for you, leave what doesn’t:

Sharpen the imagery

I replaced bringer of stomach flutters with bringer of flutters down below to create a more precise and intriguing image. Because let’s be real, was I talking about my stomach or…? 😜

Play with punctuation

Adding a period after Giver of good fuck-me-eyes gave the line more weight and set the tone for the rest of the poem. Poetry is subjective, but punctuation is a small tool that can shift the whole energy of a piece.

Cut the clutter

I revised In June we stood beneath the stage lights to In June we stood beneath stage lights. It’s one word, but it streamlines the rhythm. If something can be removed without changing the meaning or impact, I usually say to cut it.

Who really knows when a poem is done done? We could always find something to tweak, even established poems or the classics. Just keep revising, experimenting, and trusting the process.

Pro Tip: Find a space where you can get feedback on your work. I co-run Revision Roundtable with Sara Beth Brooks, a monthly space for writers to get fresh eyes on their poems. There are plenty of virtual spaces out there, both free and paid, or you can hit up a writer friend and swap drafts—sometimes an outside perspective is exactly what you need to spot what’s working and what still needs a little love.

About me:

Talicha J. is a Black queer poet and teaching artist, nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize. She was a 2024 Collaborating Fellow at The Poetry Lab. Her debut collection, Falling in Love with Picking Myself Up (2015), led to a national tour and helped grow her presence as a poet.

In June 2024, she released her chapbook, Taking Back the Body, which won the Beyond the Veil Press chapbook contest. She also curates writing and editing sprints, leads online generative workshops, and hosts a monthly publication submission space. Her work has appeared in or is forthcoming with Plenitude, Fahmidan, Peach Fuzz, Lucky Jefferson, Just Femme and Dandy, Button Poetry, and more.