When a local writers group asked me to teach a class on inspiration, I was stopped in my tracks. How could what inspires me inspire this community of prose writers and poets? The more I thought about what might be universally applicable, however, the more excited I got. […]
Rob Carney presents his readers with two poems as examples of writing myths and origin stories, entitled “Sometimes It Isn't the Same Old Story” and “On Mars as It Is in Heaven.” He also reflects on the current political climate and how “Poems have jobs. They use the […]
I'm always answering the question, "Why poetry?" The question assumes different shapes depending on who's asking. A tinder match will say, "But what are you going to do with that degree?" A relative at my grandmother's funeral will roll her eyes when I tell her I'm retiring from […]
Creating a regular writing practice and making time to write can be challenging. Recently, when talking with a friend about how to switch gears and write creatively after a day job of editing (or frankly, anything that does not require creative head space), I suggested creating a ritual […]
Creating a regular writing practice and making time to write can be challenging. Recently, when talking with a friend about how to switch gears and write creatively after a day job of editing (or frankly, anything that does not require creative head space), I suggested creating a ritual […]
The personal is political.--feminist slogan I was raised in a family and culture with "a strong work ethic"--an inflexible ideal. Part of this philosophy is that we should never give in to pain; we must always overcome it. I am a professor, poet, wife, mother to three dogs. […]
LAST WEEK, THE SPALDING MFA Alumni Twitter account tweeted about my small online lit mag: "@slushpilemag is accepting #fiction, #poetry, and #cnf submissions through @submittable & will provide feedback!" it cheerfully announced. The post got a handful of likes and retweets. Then came this: "Do you pay your […]
LAST WEEK, THE SPALDING MFA Alumni Twitter account tweeted about my small online lit mag: "@slushpilemag is accepting #fiction, #poetry, and #cnf submissions through @submittable & will provide feedback!" it cheerfully announced. The post got a handful of likes and retweets. Then came this: "Do you pay your […]
It's tax time, you had a new project at the office, the kids were serially down with a stomach bug, and your sister came to visit last week. Sometimes taking an hour to write feels impossible. You finally find the time and a quiet place, and your head […]
Here are seven ways I know of drawing upon words and languages, the tools of our craft, to ignite the spark which inspires the creation of poetry. Three Word Addresses On this map 'what3words', the whole world is divided into some 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares and […]
