Dana Gioia: Why Poetry Matters | How I Write

Listen to this episode from How I Write on Spotify. Dana Gioia is a poet, former Chairman of the NEA, and one of America's most insightful writers on the craft of poetry and prose. This is the deepest conversation I've ever had about writing. Dana breaks down the writing process from his first drafts to revision, and shares practical wisdom about finding your voice and creating work that lasts. His straightforward approach makes writing less intimidating and more accessible to anyone who loves language. Enjoy!Get 60 days free Readwise Reader at https://readwise.io/davidperell/0:00 First Drafts7:52 The Power of Saying No11:48 Objectivity in Writing18:05 Learning from Writers21:29 Daily Writing Routine28:30 Poetry Analysis: Catullus29:05 Production vs Consumption36:07 Opera as Poetic Drama43:47 Finding Your Voice46:09 Personal vs Universal Writing52:17 Breaking into Publishing57:01 Writing Through Grief1:05:21 Emotional Directness1:10:16 Teaching Poetry1:14:30 Poetry in Education1:20:48 Unifying Literary Works1:23:15 Patience in Writing1:26:17 Improving Your Poetry1:30:48 The Art of Description1:34:34 Reading to Write Better1:38:08 Creating a Masterpiece1:45:08 Book Writing Process1:47:45 The Art of Revision1:48:45 Peer Feedback1:55:47 The only app I use to read articles [Readwise Reader]1:57:11 Anatomy of a Poem2:02:29 Writing with Gratitude2:08:00 Corporate World Lessons2:16:40 Writing in Digital Culture2:24:30 Poetry and Magic2:28:55 Being a Catholic Writer2:36:17 Catholic Literary Culture2:37:40 Biblical Language in Poetry2:39:51 Commonplace Books2:45:24 Literary Influences2:51:38 Cheever on Death2:53:11 Tarantino vs. Tolkien2:54:54 Tolstoy vs. Dostoevsky2:55:47 The Modern Novel3:01:18 Characters in Opera3:09:06 Understanding Your GenreDana Gioiahttps://danagioia.comI also made a website that helps you learn from the best writing of all-time: https://writingexamples.com/Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.Follow me Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv X: https://x.com/david_perell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices