Remember that poem I was so excited about that my writers’ group wasn’t so excited about? Guess what was just accepted for publication? I want to feel vindicated. I knew that format worked best for the idea I was trying to present. The group didn’t like it, in particular, they didn’t like the format. It… Read More Vindication = Confusion
You know that moment when you finish a poem you think is really amazing and you can’t wait to share it with someone? That was my moment last week when I hosted writers’ group at my house. I was excited because it was the first time I’d used a new format for a poem. Usually,… Read More Being True to Your Audience
An epiphany — no, let’s just call it a moment. I had a moment recently (yesterday) where every poem I’d written looked, well, wrong. Not one — not even the one nominated for the Pushcart Prize — appealed to me. I would open one file, move some words around, then close it in disgust. I… Read More That Sink-or-swim Moment
I was talking with another writer recently about familiarity in writing: specifically, colloquialisms. For those unfamiliar with the term, a colloquialism is that word or phrase we would use in ordinary speech. Slang, idioms, local vernacular — all of it falls under the colloquial umbrella. Anyway, the conversation was about my use of one word… Read More Informally Yours: Colloquialisms in Poems
Maybe I just want something different. My goal with this blog is not to provide a running monologue of my work, but to share thoughts, discuss techniques, and build camaraderie around poetry. For me, the conversation is much more important. But is there a purpose to sharing one’s works? These days, publishers ask “What’s your platform?”… Read More Sharing Your Poems Online
