Poets portray time--the past, the future, the passage of time, this moment now, and changes over a lifetime. Moments may be in front of us or behind us. Fictional poems can be set in the future or in a world where altitude or colors influences the passage of […]
The type of verbs selected for a poem, essay, play, or friendly conversation impacts us--mind and body. The brain processes language--what we hear, read, and write but more and more research indicates that the body also pushes into our ability to recognize and use language. Often verbs generate […]
We all have lines from other poets inside us, their voices, narrative or lyrical styles, and syntactical qualities that make their work unique, and loved by us. And we read or know about lives of poets whom we identify with or maybe don't, in their biographies finding a […]
We all have lines from other poets inside us, their voices, narrative or lyrical styles, and syntactical qualities that make their work unique, and loved by us. And we read or know about lives of poets whom we identify with or maybe don't, in their biographies finding a […]
Why do you read poetry? This question might seem a bit odd, doesn't it? I mean, why am I even asking good poets like you such an insane question? People aren't just called poets for nothing. If anyone ever called you a poet it is because you write […]
One of my favorite ancient sites in the American Southwest is Tuzigoot, a pueblo ruin located in Arizona's Verde Valley. Resting atop a 120 foot limestone ridge, which provided the white stones used to construct the pueblo's many rooms and multistory central tower, Tuzigoot stands against the sky, […]
Networking is often a confusing task, especially for writers who aren't currently enrolled in an MFA program, but meeting other writers can be a wonderful thing. Artistic connections keep us from feeling isolated, they can help us filter industry information, provide feedback as critique partners, help us bravely […]
Like the advice from school teachers to ask your question because someone else, probably, has the same question but is afraid to ask; writing in your own voice can be a frightening thought. The fear of being laughed at and embarrassed is enough to stop many people. […]
As poets we write about topics that matter to us. These topics might be anything: race horses, the nature of the divine, our lover's hands, caterpillars, environmental degradation, or jazz trombone. And then there's always that one huge, delicate, and potentially difficult topic: family. How honest can we […]
If you're blocked and can't write, what's the best way to get yourself pounding the keyboard again? Or let's say you're like me and you have a routine, so you force yourself to write even when you're blocked, only to discover you're producing dreck. What to do? Remedies […]
