Here’s a list of other books to support your work.
Addonizio, Kim. Ordinary Genius: A Guide for the Poet Within. New York: W. W. Norton, 2009. Addonizio shares her own writing process and encourages writers to find inspiration in poetry recent and old.
Hacker, Marilyn, Kazim Ali, Donald Hall, Annie Finch, David Lehman, eds. Poets on Poetry. 123 vols. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1978–2019.Some recent books in the series are Resident Alien: On Border-crossing and the Undocumented Divine by Kazim Ali, Pivotal Voices, Era of Transition: Toward a 21st Century Poetics by Rigoberto González, The Mirror Diary: Selected Essays by Garrett Hongo, and Noise that Stays Noise: Essays by Cole Swenson. These books are terrific but they’re a bit pricey. Check with your public library to see if interlibrary loans are offered.
Heilbrun, Carolyn G. Writing a Woman’s Life. New York: W. W. Norton, 1988. A case for women to write the complicated truths about their lives.
Hoagland, Tony. The Art of Voice: Poetic Principles and Practice. New York: W. W. Norton, 2019. This is the best book on poetic voice I’ve read—it’s clear, accessible, and chock-full of writing prompts.
Kuusisto, Stephen, Deborah Tall, and David Weiss, eds. The Poet’s Notebook: Excerpts from the Notebooks of 26 American Poets. New York: W. W. Norton, 1995. This is a collection of journal entries from such poets as Donald Hall, Joy Harjo, Yusef Komunyakaa, Mary Oliver, and Charles Simic. Each selection is preceded by comments about the journal by their author, and some are followed by a poem.
Rilke, Rainer Maria. Letters to a Young Poet. Translated by Stephen Mitchell. New York: Vintage Books, 1984. A timeless collection of advice to an emerging poet. “[O]nly be attentive to what is arising within you, and place that above everything that you perceive around you. What is happening in your innermost being is worthy of your whole love.”
Ueland, Brenda. If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1938. First published in 1938, this book continues to be in print because it’s both reliable and encouraging, especially to new writers. Read it for a reminder of the value of your own voice and creative spirit. If You Want to Write is published by more than one house and is easy to find.
Vecchione, Patrice. Step into Nature: Nurturing Imagination and Spirit in Everyday Life. New York: Atria Books/Beyond Words, 2015. Join me for walk in nature to enliven your creativity and express yourself through various forms.