Becoming a Poet
On September 9th, poet Alison Prine visited Champlain Colleges’ Morgan Room to discuss her career and new book, Loss and its Antonyms. Although she had written poetry since she was introduced to it in fourth grade, Prine did not always consider herself a poet. She always prioritized other things. In college, it was film photography; later, it was her career in social work. It wasn’t until she realized that it was writing poetry that made the poet, not the career, that she could call herself a poet.
“If I write poetry, I’m a poet,” Prine said. Prine compared her writing to a farmer, explaining that if he lays down a field of crops, he will be called a farmer, despite how well the crops actually grow. She explained that this is true for poets as well.
In her 30s, Prine began to focus more on being a professional poet and writing consistently in the hopes of becoming published.
Dual Careers
Prine is also a private practice therapist. When asked about how her career as a therapist impacts her poetry, Prine explained that she keeps her two careers mostly separate. She said that when she first caught wind as a poet, being interviewed by Seven Days and winning multiple awards, such as the 2023 Sappho’s Prize in Poetry, she knew she would pop up if clients Googled her. Nevertheless, she tries to keep the two apart.
“Being a therapist is about tending to them. Being a poet is about tending to me.” Prine said of her two careers.
Prine has been told multiple times that her best work is her most vulnerable. She explained that poems such as “Rearview Mirror, February,” about her mother’s death, can be the hardest to show the world. When planning her book, she had originally hidden her most vulnerable works in the back and had to be coaxed into bringing them forward.
Advice for New Poets
Prine’s advice for those getting into poetry is to “Lean into it.” She said to relax, play with the words, and experiment. Prine said that while some people write entire poems in their heads throughout the day, she doesn’t know what she’s going to write until she’s looking at the paper.
When asked how she handles rejection, Prine smiled.
“You are going to deal with so much rejection,” Prine said. She went on to insist that you learn from this rejection. “You have to keep going.” She added. “Keep Writing. Keep Reading.”
Prine ended the evening with a metaphor. “Writing is like a three-part meal,” Prine said.
The first part is the nourishment. This is the actual writing process, the part that benefits your soul. The second part is the drink. This is the community and friends you get from writing. Prine referenced her writing groups and her writer friends here in Vermont. The final part of the metaphorical meal is the dessert. This is the publication of the work and the external validation it provides.
“You can’t survive on only dessert,” Prine advised. She explained that publishing is a great part of the process, but it is not the essential element to a successful writer.
Alison Prine’s book is available here, and she can be contacted at her email- [email protected].
