I'm suffering from PCW: Poetry Conference Withdrawal.
You know how some brides feel a big let down after the wedding is over? Because the excitement of planning and preparing for a big event is through and life is hum-drum once again? It's sort of like that. Like poetry and I had a love affair, actually. All week long it was just me and poetry - and all the other poets having poetry affairs.
"Don't you wish we could have an orgy?" said a conference-attendee and my newest poet-friend.
Yes. I really do.
Part of my overall bummed-out-ness is due to the fact that I'm ramping up with work again. But, but, wait! I said. Poetry and I were just getting into a good rhythm. We hadn't been getting along for many months. Things were finally in the groove, me and poetry for a few hours each morning. Now I have to adjust my whole schedule again and lose my momentum? Nooooo!
Except I don't. At least that's what my therapist tells me.
Isn't it easy to let the really important things slip from our fingertips? I am simultaneously feeling like I have no time and I have a whole lifetime to spend with poetry. Today the Best Therapist in the Universe said, "I feel like we have to assume that your block of writing time is the number one priority. That comes first. It's most important." She went on, "I feel protective of it - you need to protect it too."
Damn, girl.
So that's the plan. Keeping those large poetry blocks in my schedule is key to my sanity, and also my success as a writer. So while poetry and I won't be having a week-long orgy anytime soon, we will have thrice-weekly afternoon trysts. Yes, yes please.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Litshare: Female Figure, Fashion Fan Fic, and the latest Birdfeast
Wondering what's happening in the land of lit mags? Newpages shares their mini-reviews of the latest print and online publications for August!
A list of the 25 Best Websites for Literature Lovers is up on Flavorwire.
La Femme Folles has a call for submissions of art and writing on their newest theme, The Female Figure.
Great lineup of poets over at Birdfeast's just-released 7th issue, including Arielle Greenberg and Stevie Edwards.
Sarah Griff drools over clothing she can't afford in this delightful series of fashionista fan fiction on Medium.com.
An argument against self-publishing.
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*Got some literary news to share? Send it via Twitter or G+ and/or use the #litshare tag!
A list of the 25 Best Websites for Literature Lovers is up on Flavorwire.
La Femme Folles has a call for submissions of art and writing on their newest theme, The Female Figure.
Great lineup of poets over at Birdfeast's just-released 7th issue, including Arielle Greenberg and Stevie Edwards.
Sarah Griff drools over clothing she can't afford in this delightful series of fashionista fan fiction on Medium.com.
An argument against self-publishing.
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*Got some literary news to share? Send it via Twitter or G+ and/or use the #litshare tag!
Monday, August 5, 2013
LitShare: Inflections, Calls for Submission, and 100% BS-free Writing Advice
I returned from a life-changing trip to Napa on Friday with five solid poem drafts, two of which I've already revised. I worked with Jane Hirshfield and 11 truly amazing poets all week. I learned more than I could have imagined, such as Jane's invented poetic form, the Inflection, which she writes about here by using the form itself. Here is another one. Can you figure out the form?
The LA Times is looking for opinionated poets to submit some opinionated poems. Dancing Girl Press is creating an anthology to be revealed at AWP in Seattle. They are seeking typewritten poetry or hybrid works that contain typewritten elements. Like on a typewriter.
Reading in Pittsburgh! Robert Yune reads with Nick Sturm and Carrie Long at a distillery on Monday, August 12th. Lots of boozy deliciousness. Proceeds from drinks benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Literary Council. More info here.
Delightful word canapés! Jonterri Gadson has a bunch of lush, corporeal, earthy poems up at VerseWrights. Angele Ellis wrote haikus for Lilliput Review's blog and has a piece of fiction at Prime Number. Also, Donna Vorreyer has a new book out from Sundress Publications entitled The House of Many Windows.
Concerning craft: Jane Hertenstein talks about memory and writing flash memoir for WOW! Women On Writing. Also, an old interview with Donald Hall discussing the Art of Poetry for the Paris Review. In this video via Poets & Writers, poet Nikki Giovanni says, "poetry is air and water and fire and soil... one of those basics that will always be there." Those of you who remember Def Poetry Jam will enjoy Mos Def's fan-boy introduction.
In publishing news, Amazon may not be the cheapest game in town for books. Who is? Small presses seem to offer better deals, says some folks with anecdotal evidence (good enough for me!).
Cheryl Strayed offers writing advice that's 100% awesome - and BS-free!
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*Got some literary news to share? Send it via Twitter or G+ and/or use the #litshare tag!
The LA Times is looking for opinionated poets to submit some opinionated poems. Dancing Girl Press is creating an anthology to be revealed at AWP in Seattle. They are seeking typewritten poetry or hybrid works that contain typewritten elements. Like on a typewriter.
Reading in Pittsburgh! Robert Yune reads with Nick Sturm and Carrie Long at a distillery on Monday, August 12th. Lots of boozy deliciousness. Proceeds from drinks benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Literary Council. More info here.
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| Jane Hirshfield & Laura, 2013 Napa Valley Writers' Conference |
Concerning craft: Jane Hertenstein talks about memory and writing flash memoir for WOW! Women On Writing. Also, an old interview with Donald Hall discussing the Art of Poetry for the Paris Review. In this video via Poets & Writers, poet Nikki Giovanni says, "poetry is air and water and fire and soil... one of those basics that will always be there." Those of you who remember Def Poetry Jam will enjoy Mos Def's fan-boy introduction.
In publishing news, Amazon may not be the cheapest game in town for books. Who is? Small presses seem to offer better deals, says some folks with anecdotal evidence (good enough for me!).
Cheryl Strayed offers writing advice that's 100% awesome - and BS-free!
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*Got some literary news to share? Send it via Twitter or G+ and/or use the #litshare tag!
Monday, July 29, 2013
LitShare: Lemon Wedges, Giraffes, and Poetry Geniuses
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| a room of one's own with a view: my hosts back yard |
From Paper Darts, poet Anis Mojgani offers straightforward, valuable advice to emerging writers, and about the writing process in general.
Junot Diaz is a Poetry Genius, declares the Los Angeles Times, because he shares an excerpt from his novel on a annotation site.
Just because I love giraffes so much, here's "Giraffes", a poem.
TweetSpeak's Poetry Top Ten list for last week has some neato tidbits.
Weave Magazine's reviews editor Nicole Bartley's "Popping A Cherry With A Lemon" for Diverse Voices Quarterly begins, "A buxom young brunette loomed above me with a lemon wedge pursed between her lips. She set a full shot glass of Lemon Pucker with sugar beside me." Who wouldn't want to keep reading after that?
Gigantic Sequins gives Karen Lillis' pop-up indie bookstore a shout-out.
Finally, Napa is wonderful. Two poems drafted, one workshopped today. I may have to skip Wednesday this week, but we'll see how things go.
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*Got some literary news to share? Send it via Twitter or G+ and/or use the #litshare tag!
Friday, July 26, 2013
LitShare: Primal Vowels, Creative Spaces, and Twitter Poems
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| the best buttons ever via Portland's Wordstock Festival |
Poet Kelly Egan muses about the primal experience of vowel sounds. She will read for Quiet Lightning (again!) in October along with former Weave contributor Patrick O'Neill.
Fiction writer Natalie Sylvester discovers less is more when it comes to her available writing time.
Poems by my CPITS students are up on their website! I'm so proud of these young writers. You can donate to their IndieGogo campaign to help support poetry in the schools!
Here's a cool journal I recently discovered Dress Room Poetry. While we're on the subject of rooms, enjoy some photos of the workspaces of some of the world's most creative minds. Also from BuzzFeed, 49 really freaking beautiful libraries (hashtag iwanttogotothere).
Bitch Magazine's Nijla Mu'min writes a smart response to the film Fruitville Station in light of the George Zimmerman verdict, addressing the notions of facts, fiction, true stories, dramatizations, race, and portrayals of authentic human beings in film.
Lastly, according to some poets Twitter promotes poetry through the economy of 140 characters.
Have a fab weekend, lit lovers.
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*Got some literary news to share? Send it via Twitter or G+ and/or use the #litshare tag!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Lit Roundup Renamed LitShare & Other Delightful Literary News!
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| my word list from this morning. you're welcome. |
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Found a cool journal for lady-writers: When Women Waken. Also, Unsplendid has an open call for writing by ladies for their next lady-themed issue. Also, Codex Journal wants your digital poems (.MP4 or .MOV only poems/stories less than 3 minutes long).
Karen Lillis has been hawking indie literature all over Pittsburgh.
Two former Weave contributors, MRB Chelko and Alicia Salvadeo, are Poetry Society of America Chapbook Fellowship Winners! Congrats!
Trying to write daily like me? Here are five scientific ways to build habits.
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*Got some literary news to share? Send it via Twitter or G+ and/or use the #litshare tag!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Creating a Daily Writing Habit
Hello, dear reader. If you're still with me, well by gosh and golly gee, you must really like me, my poetry, and/or my silly little blog musings. It's been a while, and even before then updates were less frequent. I can't promise to be more frequent, though I should promise. Not-blogging is similar to not-calling a friend you haven't spoken to in a while: the more you wait, the more awkward you feel about reaching out.
Well, awkwardness be gone!
Writing has always come to me in waves. poetry, blogging, essays, stories, emails, descriptions of pretty hair accessories - whatever I'm writing, the words are never steady. I'm a good writing-sprinter. This process works for many, many writers.
A few weeks ago I decided it doesn't work for me anymore.
If you know me, you're probably used to my dramatic, sweeping lifestyle changes. Every few years or so I have a new job, life path, hobby, partner, apartment, and favorite snack (Triscuits!). But these things have remained mostly the same after year one here in San Francisco. Still a poet, 4+ years with Sal in the same apartment (good god I never want to move again). And while the last two years were full of many new things, as I begin my third year in San Francisco this month, I realize that I've kinda got this down. Perhaps that's why I'm doing so well with starting a new daily-writing habit.
My newfriend (ok...) therapist pointed out last month that it seems like I don't take my writing seriously. How could this be?! All I do is writing-related! And that's it right there. Related. Not writing, not mine. I've got Submission Bombers, Weave, teaching, copy writing, readings, submitting, etc. but none of these things boil down to Butt-In-Chair™ (BIC) Time (trademark pending...).
Most of the time, I decide to do something and then do it for a day and then forget. Or I do it for 5 minutes and get distracted. Occasionally I do it for a few weeks and then forget. And sometimes I decide to do something and I do it. Today. Yesterday doesn't matter (though I'm proud of it), tomorrow will come (though I do prepare for it). Today is most important. Today I spent four hours in a cafe (mostly) writing, which included the following exercises:
I also spent time doing the following non-writing things:
My estimate would be at least 2/3 of my time was spent on writing, which is pretty good for me. I'm not so distracted because small exercises like word lists or 11-syllable lines count as writing time. I never have to draft a poem even. It helps that I'm reading Jane Hirshfield's Nine Gates simultaneously. She describes both boredom and interest as distractions. I don't write because I desperately want to in these morning hours: I write because it's my job, my art, my life-work. I'm developing habits so that later in life I'm not struggling with the same old tired issues, and I can learn to concentrate, in that poem-making way, on what it is I have to say.
Well, awkwardness be gone!
Writing has always come to me in waves. poetry, blogging, essays, stories, emails, descriptions of pretty hair accessories - whatever I'm writing, the words are never steady. I'm a good writing-sprinter. This process works for many, many writers.
A few weeks ago I decided it doesn't work for me anymore.
If you know me, you're probably used to my dramatic, sweeping lifestyle changes. Every few years or so I have a new job, life path, hobby, partner, apartment, and favorite snack (Triscuits!). But these things have remained mostly the same after year one here in San Francisco. Still a poet, 4+ years with Sal in the same apartment (good god I never want to move again). And while the last two years were full of many new things, as I begin my third year in San Francisco this month, I realize that I've kinda got this down. Perhaps that's why I'm doing so well with starting a new daily-writing habit.
My new
Most of the time, I decide to do something and then do it for a day and then forget. Or I do it for 5 minutes and get distracted. Occasionally I do it for a few weeks and then forget. And sometimes I decide to do something and I do it. Today. Yesterday doesn't matter (though I'm proud of it), tomorrow will come (though I do prepare for it). Today is most important. Today I spent four hours in a cafe (mostly) writing, which included the following exercises:
- revising old poems
- revising more recent poems
- reading old journal entries
- writing word lists
- pilfering words from the Hayes Valley Newsletter
- pilfering words from word lists
- writing 11-syllable lines
- turning 11-syllable lines into a sonnet
I also spent time doing the following non-writing things:
- writing postcards (doesn't count as creative writing for now)
- posting pictures of tea and breakfast to Instagram
- Tweeting too much
- IMing with Sal about Justin Timberlake & Jay Z concert tickets
- securing said Justin Timberlake & Jay Z concert tickets (24th row!)
My estimate would be at least 2/3 of my time was spent on writing, which is pretty good for me. I'm not so distracted because small exercises like word lists or 11-syllable lines count as writing time. I never have to draft a poem even. It helps that I'm reading Jane Hirshfield's Nine Gates simultaneously. She describes both boredom and interest as distractions. I don't write because I desperately want to in these morning hours: I write because it's my job, my art, my life-work. I'm developing habits so that later in life I'm not struggling with the same old tired issues, and I can learn to concentrate, in that poem-making way, on what it is I have to say.
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