I once came across the word “ululation.” I thought “Ululation! I don’t know what this means.” So I went to the dictionary and I looked it up, and it meant “uttering cries.” I thought that was a wonderful idea, so I made a poem called “Ululation.”—Eve Merriam

• This quote comes from How Writers Write by Pamela Lloyd.
• Read a brief bio of Eve Merriam at poets.org.
• You’ll find longer, personal bios about this prolific and versatile writer at masterworksbroadway.com, jwa.org, and the Poetry Foundation.
• Read “How to Eat a Poem” by Eve Merriam at blueridgejournal.com, “Catch a Little Rhyme” at poetryoutloud.org, and seven more of her poems at the Poetry Foundation.

See more quotes about writing here.