Chris Lauer, how do you actually write a poem?

The fact that people are increasingly resorting to novels and not for poems has a good reason, as Chris Lauer notes at a meeting in the Café Bloom in the station district of the capital. In their opinion, the schools are primarily to blame.

« The way in which poetry is conveyed there makes it difficult to access. » While contemporary novels are often on the curriculum in class, people often deal with poems that have been written far in the past. « In these poems you will encounter worlds that are not congruent with the world in which we move today. »

According to Chris Lauer, current forms of poetry have no place in the education system, « this is a failure ». Contemporary poems, « lively poetry », as she calls it, would be the alternative that would make it easier for young people to find access to this genre. She also says all of this because she is one of the people in whose life the topic plays a major role. The 30-year-old is not only a journalist, but also a poet. For them, working with words, words and words is more than just a hobby. In 2023 she published her first volume of poems entitled « Well -cleared shooting stars ».

Your tip: If you want to use the pen or the keyboard, you should start reading first. « Reading is the biggest engine of writing, » said Chris Lauer, while sipping a steaming coffee. « This is the only way to recognize what is possible, which shapes and voices already exist. And so you also find your own voice. » The confrontation with the world of thoughts of others is essential.

The empty white sheet

What follows afterwards is the confrontation with the empty white sheet. Anyone who is perfectionist may have problems at first. « But it is about finding a rhythm and not being distracted from your own critical voice that grabs into the writing process. You have to get involved with what comes up in yourself without being condemned and condemned yourself. »

Rigid constructions such as stanzas, rhyme schemes or stylistic devices may initially be a good scaffolding to explore a limit of your own work. « In the limitation, it is then possible to find a new freedom. This way you miss the shock rigid that comes over when everything seems possible. » However, limits are a hindrance to others. « But that may also depend on text to text. » This is reflected in her first published band. « At the moment I experiment a lot with rhymes, I wouldn’t have thought that before. »

And how do you avoid drifting towards kitsch? It is not so easy, but dealing with good authors is essential. « Then you quickly get a feeling for what is tapped and what is not. But writing has a lot to do with real life, that cannot be separated from writing: experiences as a person, that helps not to fall into stereotypical. » This process is very complex, almost « a life’s work ».

With the letter, the author from Koerich only started intensively during her studies in Freiburg – she owner of a master in recent German literature, culture and media – about five years ago. « No text that I have written since then I thought that it is complete nonsense, » says Chris Lauer with a laugh. And if a text does not appear in your eyes, she let it rest, revise it or swap areas. « I see a certain potential in the designs. »

Chris Lauer is not a big fan of poetry slams. « However, I respect the aspect that these authors put the active aspect of poetry in the foreground. Poetry can also be embodied. » But a poetry slam text is not automatically a good poem, here the understanding of the audience is in the foreground. It likes more complex works, which may also require a little more analysis. Better likes the reading format, not only punch lines and comedy are required here. « But the texts must not be boring either. »

With the toes in the water

« Readings are less effective, you don’t have to compete with others. » At first she was still quite shy and avoided the stage. « In the meantime, I like to carry my poems very much. I would not describe myself as a performer now, but I want to feel the performative aspect of poetry and also play with it. I will never be a real entertainer. » They literally immerse their toes a little into this water. « I am still an author who reads and not just to be heard. »

However, Chris Lauer’s work is not only heard and read, but also excellent: The author recently received the news that her poem « Half » was able to take second place in the 9th Ulrich Grasnick Lyric Prize, which will be awarded in Berlin in September. The topic of the competition was « answer to colors » and was expanded by a few lines by poet and publisher Ulrich Grasnick.

A total of 274 authors each submitted two works. « It is incredibly difficult to win a prize. And it is nice to know your own writing so recognized, » said the Luxembourg author. « Knowing that what you think of yourself and then sends it out into the world like a signal, also arrive somewhere, in humans who bring passion and competence are delightful. » Of course, further submissions would have earned an award. « And some luck was also involved. »

« Of course, you can also ask yourself whether such a hierarchization of the literature makes sense at all. There are already enough gatekeepers, » explains the poet a bit thoughtful. A competition set up a ranking, the headlight is then directed to a few individuals, others remained hidden. « But you also need these prices to set statements, also with regard to the quality of authors. »

A novel? Perhaps …

She is currently working on another volume of poems, reports Chris Lauer. It should appear in 2026. However, a novel is not being planned. « Strangely, one always asks poets whether they don’t want to change the genus. The other way around, this is never the case. But I understand the question: Prose is the dominant genre. »

With her, her literary career developed naturally. « But you can’t » hunt « to quote Goethe. » An expansion of her repertoire is not excluded, she reveals at the end of the conversation, but that will bring the time with it.

The meeting of journalism and poetry ends at this point, in one afternoon in the station district. Chris Lauer would like to use the day with changeable weather a little for further training. « I want to read a little more, » she explains and dives in the everyday noise of the café, between milk frother and clinking cups, probably a few minutes later into her own literary world. What will arise from this journey of thought will be shown in the coming months.