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“Write in the first person, but not about yourself.”

This author heard this statement in a radio interview between Tom Paxton and Matt Watroba. It is a common technique for giving a poem or song more intimacy, to have the character speaking directly to the audience. James Keelaghan used it in his song, “Cold Missouri Waters.” John McCutcheon used it in “Christmas in the Trenches.”

 
Tip Origin: Tom Paxton

 
See Also: Play with tenses, voices, and points of view.

 
Status: Complete

 

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