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I find automatic writing and others of its ilk (free writing, writing without thinking, etc.) to be useful for getting things down, but I do think you should then go over what you've done to mold and shape what you have on paper.
I think some people have issues with looking at their own work critically, as they feel they are in some ways "suppressing their inner voice" or something of the sort. I find it to be an invaluable tool. 90% of what I first put down is pure garbage. Through revising, reworking, and editing, I can find connections I hadn't noticed previously, and symbolism I may not have seen. There are also all of the little niggling grammatical issues to be fixed.
And most importantly, there is the matter of going over my work and finding the best word. This is actually enjoyable. Should I use "skipping" or "jumping"? "Illuminates" or "lights up". For me that's where peotry sings and is most fun to write.
Michael
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"Don't imagine that the art of poetry is any simpler than the art of music, or that you can please the expert before you have spent at least as much effort on the art of verse as an average piano teacher spends on the art of music." - Ezra Pound
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