Becoming a nature poet in New Zealand

rewriting my poetry manuscript for the eighth time

Harley Bell
8 min readDec 14, 2023
Writing nature poetry in a forest in New Zealand
Photo by Imat Bagja Gumilar on Unsplash

Becoming a nature poet in New Zealand

I’m rewriting my poetry manuscript, Wild Altar. It was rejected recently. This made me think.
Was there a valid reason?

I didn’t see it at first. But yes, the poetry could be better.

I’ve worked hard to finish the manuscript and it’s a harsh truth to face. My work isn’t done.
It sounds cliché but all I need to do is believe in myself.

Ultimately, it’s about my mindset and the time I put in.

I’ve rewritten it 7 times already. I’m going to do it again.

I said I’d keep you updated on the process.
This article is about the lessons I’m learning from rewriting my manuscript.

This is my journey to become a nature poet in New Zealand.
Let’s get to work.

Proving something to myself

You know what scares me? I’m excited to get working.
I hardly recognise myself. I don’t want it to be easy. I’m actually glad Wild Altar hasn’t been published yet. I don’t want accidental success. I don’t need anybody…

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Harley Bell

I write about writing, creativity and business. I'm currently working on a poetry book, titled Wild Altar. www.harleybellwriter.com