Wednesday, February 6, 2013

"Everything in Sugar is feminist"

excerpt from Bitch Magazine article "Sugar Rush" issue no. 56, fall 2012 
Can we have a sincere talk about beauty? I'd really like to chat about it. I want to pretend it doesn't affect me. It does. I worry. I fret over silly things. What's worse is I feel good when I look good. Why? Is that ok? Do I have to look good all the time? No, but I do have to have the "right" clothes. I know it's all crazy-talk. Brainwashing by a broken culture. I'm aware of my own internalization of these standards. Now what? I can't just will them away.

And the pictures online. Today I discovered #GPOY (read this for a great analysis of it's cultural meaning). For the most part I only post cute pictures of myself online. Unless I'm being funny. I couldn't share a bad picture. It sounds ridiculous. Why would I share a bad picture? But, why share a good one? Why share any? What are my expectations? This is on my mind a lot lately. Partly because I'm feeling better about my body because I'm taking care of it. I'm losing weight, which is great in many ways. I can honestly say that the main reason I started being healthy was because I was depressed and anxious. I did it for my mental and emotional health and it's working (along with lots of other internal work I'm doing). But I can't help but like how I look. And I feel shameful, mostly because I don't know how to undo it. The truth is I'm a few pounds and a bad hair day away from feeling like crap. Cheryl Strayed is right. But how do we "stand together against the beauty machine" while also not shaming ourselves?

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

OMG I have a book!

When my chapbook arrived in the mail, Sal brought the box up and surprised me in my office. He had the camera ready and then made this video. I say "holy $hit" a lot. It's pretty funny. Also, I'm wearing a tie dyed bandanna, which is always awesome.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Literary Roundup: whoa twice in one week!

found a handmade bookmark in this used book
The Natural Bridge's three-part interview series consists of interviewing a writer, his or her editor, and a reader of said writer. After writing a review of Aimee Nezhukumatathil's book Lucky Fish here and on Goodreads, the editors reached out to me to do the "reader" interview. Of course I said yes after geeking out for a few minutes because I love Aimee Nezhukumatathil. I love her so much that I know how to spell her name by heart and I'm pretty sure I pronounce it correctly. Check out all three parts, interviews with Aimee, Tupelo Press managing editor Jim Schley, and myself.

Two poems by John Oliver Simon over at riverbabble are excellent examples of how to deftly mix the mundane with the sensational or sublime. Also, I love poems about grandparenting. I'd love to read more, particularly from grandfathers. The issue also features pieces by Bay Area writers Sharon Coleman and Cassandra Dallett.

Issue 16 of Redactions: Poetry, Poetics, & Prose is available. John and I both have poems featured, along with a bunch of other amazing writers. Editor Tom Holmes always puts together lovely issues. Highly recommend.

In other news, there are some reviews rolling in for Braiding the Storm. The book is doing really well with its Goodreads rating.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Literary Roundup: Miniature Edition

New issue of Stone Highway Review is live. I've got a poem in there along with my amazing friend Sarah Leavens. Check it out.

The new issue of Right Hand Pointing features a fantastic acrostic poem by Robert Walicki, which is rare these days. The whole issue is worth a read.

Angele Ellis responded to the Next Big Thing on Carol Berg's blog, Ophelia Unraveling. In related news, I finished Berg's chapbook of the same name recently and was hypnotized by her layered, hymn-like tribute to Hamlet's lover.

Enjoy the similes and metaphors from my fourth grade students.

Maybe I should make these permanently miniature? Much simpler.