"I was very committed to the process of composing, working at poems, putting things together and taking them apart like some kind of experimental filmmaker"

This quote by David Antin speaks to the imaginative procedure of writing poetry. He likens it to the process of an experimental filmmaker, recommending that the exact same kind of experimentation and trial and error is essential when developing a poem. He stresses the value of commitment to the process, recommending that it is not something that can be done quickly or without commitment. He also implies that the process of writing poetry involves assembling and taking apart ideas, words, and expressions in order to develop something that is meaningful and powerful. This quote speaks to the value of the innovative process and the devotion that is required to produce something that is really significant.