Tabitha Dial's blog: Where the muse mutters

George Michael falls in love

2010-09-03T01:13:00.000-07:00

Well, not quite. But there's potentially room for me to fall in love again ... someday. For the scoop, and to learn a few awfully cool new words, please visit my re-activated blog over at Two of Words.

Thanks for the read.

Seventy-eight texts, two new words a day, one year

2010-02-24T10:39:00.000-08:00

A lovely fellow named John Ballantrae caught this ol' blog of mine thanks to Google Alerts. He went above and beyond and contacted Nic Nac Nook to send me a very thoughtful message and I am excited to make friends with him soon.

Hello again, John. I promise to write you in a week, if I can't manage earlier. Quite looking forward to your blog.

It's very flattering that John went out of his way to contact me and he just started a new Tarot blog that sounds very interesting. I encourage you to check it out.

I've also begun a new blog, that I think word lovers and Tarot enthusiasts will enjoy. I'll be reading 78 texts in one year, sharing two new words, five days a week. Please let my blog Two of Words explain.

Thanks for the read.

Your masterpiece got roasted, man

2007-09-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

Australia's got loads of cool stuff: Ayer's Rock, kangaroos, steak and eggs for breakfast, and ... latte art competitions.

This photo, courtesy tonx at Flickr, may make you consider the transitory nature of art, nature, coffee ... According to an article at coffeegeek.com, "pouring latte art requires that you do two things at the same time. Pour the milk at a consistent and even rate AND shake the pitcher side to side with the even tempo of a metronome."

The results are beautiful -- creamy-mocha designs framed by the lid of a hot cup of coffee.

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I might try to make some art out of the chocolate milk I love to imbibe in.

I learned about latte art this morning because of this article about latte art from The Herald Sun.

Related links:

Latte art photos
Wiki latte art article
Latte art guide from coffeegeek.com

Bob Dylan embraced by British schools

2007-09-21T17:08:00.001-07:00

Here's a leap of assumption: not since the lyrics shared before the printing press, when a majority of poetry was shared publicly by minstrels, has someone with a talent for words and music been included in any English-language literary canon.

Why shouldn't musicians be included in English text books? A friend of mine in Britain alerted me to an article that hints that this trend could catch on -- Bob Dylan's lyrics will soon be taught in British schools.

My parents grew up in the 1960s, but the age of Dylan doesn't limit itself to their generation -- " The Times They are A-Changing" has been used in commercials and adopted by many balcony bards. It is hard for me not to hear it and think of my boyfriend playing it on guitar and singing Dylan's lyrics, or sitting at the dinner table, listening to it with his parents, the strength of my interpretation of the words enhanced by their experiences.

And " Blowin' in the Wind" will always remind me of my mother, who memorized the song on the piano and can play it at a whirling, wonderful speed -- I feel like I'm in a carnival of sound every time she treats us to her rendition.

The lyrics to both of those songs convey a sense of biblical psalm ("How many roads must a man walk down ..." or "the loser now may be later to win") while being directly political.

Though Dylan referred to himself as just a song and dance man, his words have impacted the lives of many, including Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate of England.

Motion wrote Regime Change, a poem protesting the recent invasion of Iraq and if you read it after listening to "The Times They are A-Changing," you may feel/hear Dylan's musical influence -- moments of comment on current affairs that seem at once simply obvious and timelessly eloquent.

How exciting that what students might study in English class may also echo in the soundtrack of their lives. The recordings of Sylvia Plath or Gertrude Stein aren't difficult to share in school, but their poetry never got the airplay Dylan's has. Both commercial and legendary, his work should get good reception in the classroom.

Tabitha Dial is an MFA poetry student at Colorado State University.

__________________________

Related Links:

Poet laureate writes Iraq lament (BBC News article)

No Direction, Period (a wonderful video parody of Bob Dylan and his influence on the top 40)
Blowin' in the Wind (Wiki article)
Blowin' in the Wind (video)
The Times They are A-Changing (Wiki article)
The Times They are A-Changing (video)
Bob Dylan (profile on poetry.org)
The Bob Dylan Fan Club

40 poems in one day

2007-09-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last week, I came across a sleek idea to feed the poet in us all -- write 40 poems in one day. I tried it. I liked it.

For the structure of the concept and to read more, visit my blog here.

Thanks for the read.

Top Ten Colorado poet blogs

2007-09-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

I've put together a list of my top ten Colorado poet blogs ... but honestly, only less than half of the folks on the list have blogs. The rest are poets who I wish had a blog.

Still, I figure I may as well encourage anyone wandering by this blog to check it out here.

Harry Potter never fluffed my cloak, if you know what I mean ...

2007-07-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make.

I've never really cared for Harry, but I am a huge fan of the books. I've enjoyed reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and have stopped at chapter 32 to resist giving away too much of the book and to write a review, available here:

I am hoping to break my record number of hits with this blog entry and hope you will help me out by following this link and sharing it with others through e-mail ... I have posted it to Digg and Newsvine already.

Ah, the power of the Internet in all of our hands!

Let me know if there are any blogs you would like me to pass along to my friends, too.

Thanks for the read and are you a little miffed at that particular scene between Ron and Hermione? You know, that inevitable matter of their first kiss ...

Writers' rooms project

2007-02-20T05:11:00.000-08:00

YourHub.com is asking writers to post photos of their writer's rooms: http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Blogs/Arts-Entertainment/Literature/Writing/Blog~185188.aspx. This idea was inspired by an article in The Guardian and I will happily help you post your photos.

You will need to register at YourHub.com to post. It takes just as moment and you will not be spammed. Please visit my blog at http://denver.yourhub.com/~MusingsOfTabithaDial for details on how to contact me if you have questions with the site.

Thanks for the read!

It was quick and mixed

2007-02-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes someone who posts to YourHub.com has an idea that others quickly imitate on the site.

One of our contributors posted her very own mixed tape, with links to the songs on YouTube. As soon as I discovered hers, I had to create my own mixed tape online.

If anyone online creates their mixed tape, too, please post a link to it for me in this conversation.

:-)

Thanks for the read (and the listen!)

Cool event combines writing, actors and art

2007-02-15T08:27:00.001-08:00

I got to see one of my poems performed on stage last weekend. It was pretty cool. For pictures and more, please visit my blog at Dial "T" for Tabitha.

Thanks for the read.

Girl Wonder: Her future may rest with you

2007-01-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

I wandered back onto an online community I've been a member of for many years and found some interesting information from the world of comic books. I'd be honored if you would read my blog about it here.

Thanks for the read.

Who's afraid of Santa Claus?

2006-12-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

Who's afraid of Santa Claus? (Just Now)
I wI was at the local library to get photos of Santa this week. It was a lot of fun and I learned new facts about his reindeer and his elves.

Can you guess what reindeer need to fly? You can find out by reading my blog, here: http://denver.yourhub.com/PARKER/Blogs/Family-Community/Community/Blog~157358.aspx

That day was awfully cool. After I saw Santa, I wanted to get some more library photos -- they're doing a silent auction to raise funds for themselves, for the town's cultural center and for the local artists guild. I was really very lucky. One artist has donated 42 pieces for the auction and he was hanging his paintings while I was there, so I got photos of him hanging them and I interviewed him.

I'm working on that blog and hope to have it up later today.

I'm looking forward to the end result.

Thanks for the read.as at the local library to get photos of Santa this week. It was a lot of fun and I learned new facts about his reindeer and his elves

Coloring outside the page

2006-11-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

I discovered a fun new way to approach poetry. It's really opened me up to some new poems and I hope you enjoy learning about it and checking out my painted poems: http://denver.yourhub.com/PARKER/Blogs/Arts-Entertainment/Art/Blog~154931.aspx

Enjoy and thanks for the read.

10 Things You Can Do to Make a Difference in Your Community

2006-11-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

1. Get out of your box and attend a cultural event outside your frame of reference.

2. Donate a book to your local library.

3. Volunteer to read to children.

Denver Poet Laureate Chris Ransick shared his list of 10 Things You Can Do to Make a Difference in Your Community at a reading/discussion he led last night. I of course blogged about that at YourHub.com, too.

My favorite item on his list was 6. Get to know a local poet -- get to know that person's work. Attend their events. Get to know them. Discuss it with others.

If you like, you can check out his list of 10 things you can do to make a difference in the community in in a blog I wrote about the evening.

Enjoy.

And thanks for the read.

Slam poets are sooo egomaniacal ...

2006-11-17T03:44:00.000-08:00

Well, a 2006 Denver Slam Team poet basically said it, not me. I attended an event called Slam Poetry 101 at a nearby college this week. It was a brilliant time.

I hope you'll check out my blog about it here. It has 28 photos, lots of quotes and cool links. Even some links to some of the slam poetry the performers did!

And for a parody of William Carlos William's "This is just to say", which I wrote about candy found in the newsroom where I work, please click here.

Thanks for the read.

A luau just a click away ...

2006-11-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

OK, so I didn't go to any luaus while in Hawaii, but I did do plenty of other great activities. Please check it out in my blog, here: http://denver.yourhub.com/PARKER/Blogs/Active-Life/Recreational/Blog~144823.aspx

Thanks for the read.

For the first time ever ....

2006-10-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

Two firsts, dear readers!

I posted my own poetry to my blog for the first time. You can check that out here.

And I also wrote about my high school, which you can read about here. Did you go to Grand Junction High School in Colorado? Well, then. You're sure to like that blog. It's got a wav file of our old fight song.

Thanks for the read.

Happy Fall

2006-10-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

For you, dear readers, a fall poem.

And some artwork.

And stuff from a trip I took to Chicago.

Enjoy and thanks for the read.

Love blogs? You'll love this place

2006-07-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

I've been very busy at my job at www.YourHub.com/Parker. And yet I've committed to spending four hours every weekend revising my book. I've decided to blog about it over in my blog so that I will stay on task. Or at least try to explain why I've not stayed on task.

That's all well and good, but what's better is all the blogs that I've helped encourage on the site: Check out Stephanie Blake, a stay-at-home mother of three, Joe McDanielan international traveler and photographer striving to be the best blogger he can be, Lauren Wood, a teen who has a blast taking fun pictures and Rob Guthrie, who hates the Beatles but has a teenage son who plays hockey so he can't be all that bad.

Harry Potter and the blog that once was....

2006-06-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

Long time since I've visited here. My apologies.

Here's the latest in my blogs-- Harry Potter and the Pistachio Brittle of Denver.

Enjoy.

And thanks for the read.

Always a kid, even when I've just made my first deposit on an apartment...

2006-05-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

It’s finally time for me to move into my first apartment. My boyfriend, Alex, and I are pretty excited. I'll be getting some moving boxes early tomorrow morning (I hope) from King Soopers so we can start a-packin', though we won't move for several days.

And alhough we’re becoming big adults now, I still plan to have lots of fun on YourHub.com-- hey, if not for YourHub.com, what would I post here? Things like my Viking cow will still pop up all over YourHub.com.

And I’ll surely remain nostalgic with blog entries like the one I wrote about the Strawberry Shortcake Dollhouse I had when I was little and my continued fondness for the video game Super Mario Brothers.

I hope you'll log on and let me know who your favorite Super Mario Brothers characters are and how you manage to still remain a bit of a kid, too!

Thanks for the read.

Hail last night... that was my sign!!!

2006-04-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

My sign that I've neglected my blog here. Ok, so it's really just set up to let people know what I've spent my time blogging on at YourHub.com. But just the same!!!

It's the last Monday in April. So I'm finished with creating a new poetry prompt each Monday. I hope you'll have a little time to play Poetry Poker, to let an acrostic enhance your creativity, to find out if a letter can be a poem and to enjoy the creativity that can come from writing a Poetic “mistake” known as the lune (it’s an easier variation of the haiku). Finally, have you ever wanted to write how your mood is like a red, red rose?

I've also visited the driving range for the first time. Tomorrow I'll be swinging the clubs again, elsewhere.

Thanks for the read.

Herrrmm... can a letter be a poem?

2006-04-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

I'm not talking about Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet (though, man... great book!). I'm talking about you-- yeah, you!-- writing a poem that you approach as a letter. Verse attending a masquerade, if you will.

I think it can be done. Why not?

Creativity abounds

2006-04-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

Good news. I've reconnected with an old friend. He's known to some as DJ Ion. Check out his music here.

Creativity abounds in my YourHub.com blog, too. I've posted my first poetry prompt of the month. It comes thanks to two wonderful poetic resources-- one's a book, the other's my friend and poetic colleague, Steve Eggleston. See Let an acrostic enhance your creativity for the prompt and more.

Now go on and enjoy National Poetry Month-- you know you want to.

Thanks for the read.

New blogs for National Poetry Month

2006-03-28T10:04:00.000-08:00

I can't help it! Every day is Poetry Day for me, so I've started off National Poetry Month early at YourHub.com, in my blog there.

I have started posting poetry prompts in my Monday entries. I will continue to do so every Monday in April. Please check out my Poetry Poker game and poetry prompt, ready for your amusement now!

I also have posted some pictures of the new Denver Poet Laureate. Along with those pictures, you can also find a link to an April Fool's Day poem and more on my blog from Friday.

Thanks for the read!

A fun challenge for y'all

2006-03-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

Hey there! In addition to asking that you check out my blog every Monday in April for a different poetry prompt, I'm asking that you scope out this fun challenge I cooked up at YourHub.com. Can you tell what my scarf says?

Thanks for the read!

Roses are red, good poems are true

2006-03-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

I'm really thrilled I got write another first person column at work! I wrote about my own understanding of poetry and I am asking for other people to post their poems at YourHub.com.

There's also a picture of some of my poetry on the column, for those of you who are curious...

Please share my column with everyone who is interested in poetry. It also tells how I'll be posting a poetry prompt every Monday in April at my blog at YourHub.com.

Learning to ski and stepping into high school

2006-03-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

This Saturday I am going to ski for the very first time! YES!

Please read this to find out why that's so important to me.

You'll also hear about a couple of other things I have been wanting to do for a long time. Getting to try out a cheesecake recipe invented by my good friend is also on that list.

Today in my duties at YourHub.com, I found a blog entry from one of the bloggers in Parker that I think a lot of people will enjoy reading. I invite you to read blog about her son entering high school.

Thanks for the read.

Everyone loves Girl Scout Cookies

2006-02-27T13:26:00.000-08:00

The following are some of my recent reflections on Girl Scout Cookies.

Thanks for the read.

Enjoy!

Haiku at YourHub.com

2006-02-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

A new friend of mine, who I am planning on doing Saturday morning workshops with, has posted her haiku on YourHub.com. I hope you will check it out and email it to anyone you think would be interested: Local Poet Michele Harvey Explores Japanese Forms.

Please read my freshest blog at YourHub.com, my place of work!

Thanks for the read.

You say it's your birthday...

2006-02-22T11:51:00.000-08:00

Actually, I say it's MY birthday.

I'm gonna have a good time. ;-)

Dial 'T' for Tabitha? New blog name?

2006-02-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

A colleague of mine at work suggested I change the name of my blog at YourHub.com. "Dial 'T' for Tabitha" would be a clever reference to my work e-mail.

Since you, dear readers, are a creative lot, I thought you might be interested in my my blog entry about it.

I would like your input on changing my blog name, but please act fast if you can-- I'd like to change it by 10 a.m. MST tomorrow.

Excellent.

Happy Heart Day

2006-02-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest and most personal poetry blog entry at YourHub.com.

In it I talk about being a guest poet at the nearby college and I say that perhaps Valentine's Day should be more about what you love rather than who you love. I hope you have time to visit and enjoy.

Thanks for the read.

Same blogger, new blog...

2006-02-08T11:38:00.000-08:00

I had to stop contributing to this blog because I felt I just didn't have time.

Then I had my review at work. The boss asked me to start a blog about my experiences as a reporter for www.YourHub.com in Douglas County, Colorado.

I try to get poetry in when I can.

...You can comment and rate any blog, picture, story, etc. at www.YourHub.com once you register as a user. I hope you'll have fun checking out the site, registered or not!

This is my tenth blog entry, and it DOES have a lot to do with poetry, so I hope you'll check it out.

How to make a sore throated girl better, Or... last night! This morning! Wonderful! Or...YAY!!! I found the blog of the author of a book I just got

2005-12-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

I got the book at Tattered Cover in Denver. It's my favorite place in the world. Well, my favorite retailer in the world.

I got the sore throat from A. I had been making pre-emptive strikes via Vitamin C doses every two hours or so. And I avoided kissing him on the lips. Which wasn't fun...

But I got the sore throat.

Haven't missed work, and it looks like I won't have to. I still feel crummy, but much better, and I am amazed that I didn't have to go to a doctor and get a prescription to feel better per the old family tradition.

Last night I almost didn't feel like going out for dinner. But I did. And I had a rootbeer, which makes sore throats feel way better. And it has more lasting effect, I think, than over the counter stuff.

And the conversation was great and I felt much improved and just found I kept wanting to talk-- strange for someone with a sore throat-- NOT strange at all for me.

Then A and I spent about an hour in his hammock listening to music and cuddling and... ::sigh:: Simply put, I'm well-cared for and absolutely adored.

This morning I woke up at 5 (A has to leave for his job earlier than that) and went to my pretty pretty Jeep for the gifts I had left there. And I wrapped. And wrapped. Then called my parents. Then tried to sleep, but couldn't because I have two gifts left to wrap by 3 p.m. and I also wanted to update my blog (there are a bunch of handy links on that sidebar now, cheeky baby!!!).

So I got up, got online, and needed to find a link for a book I had bought myself at Tattered Cover.... It's How to Make a Living as a Poet by Gary Mex Glazner. I googled. And I think the 7th or 8th hit revealed a blogspot link!

I could not quite believe my eyes, but Glazner DOES have a blog at blogspot! HOOOOOORAAAAAAYYYYY!!!! :-)

So I posted and I linked. And I link again, for his book states clearly in its firstest pages that the book is intended to HELP SELL POETRY BOOKS. And I can think of few causes more worthy of promotion: Gary Mex Glanzer's How to make a living as a poet blog

So I commented on his latest entry WITHOUT reading it! ... Shameful... but I only did it because I was too darn excited to have the patience to read... because I wanted to update my blog.... because soooo many things.... And because it is always nice to have things to look forward to.

.... a final word or 800: My friend T L Reynolds, another fellow blogspot blogger, posted about Leaf Press. Here's another site to look forward to investigating. They state they publish poetry chapbooks. It looks like they have contests aplenty for poets. And I've heard they Web publish one unknown poet's poem every Monday.

It seems the Internet has more to offer than I previously imagined.

News: College paper pulls GLBT advertisement

2005-12-10T09:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not entirely pleased with this news, but I saw it working yesterday and emailed the link to myself with a promise I at least post the link.

Gay ad booted from school paper

Scared of Santa

2005-12-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

Like many tots and children, I was PETRIFIED of Santa. I remember I didn't want to walk past him at the mall. I stuck to the storefronts and away from the center floor, where Santa sat, large, in charge... awaiting my behind and my wishes.

I'm certainly not alone! Here are pictures of children frightened of Mr. Claus, compiled with contributions to the Chicago Tribune Online: Season's Screamings.

Happy holidays.

Expect more news here in the next 24 hours.

Blue Mountain Arts looking for submissions

2005-12-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

Blogger's note: This comes from an email I recently received. I do not know enough about copyright law to really encourage submitting your work here. I do have some information on the other side of town about copyright, and I do intend to post that information as a blog later this week. "Exclusive" sounds pretty scary. I guess if you aren't much of a poet (and not many people buy poetry anyway so this could be a good way of getting money for poetry), this is ideal. Also, if you copyright your work, which you can do in bulk once a year, this could be beneficial.

Forgive me that I am learning, oh blog-readers.

Blue Mountain Arts is a Boulder, Colo. based publisher of greeting cards,
books, and gift items. We rely on freelance writers to provide much of
the material we publish and thought your students or faculty might be
interested in submitting original
material to us for possible publication.

Our books and anthologies cover a wide-range of topics, including:
self-help, personal growth, young adult, teen/tween, family, and
relationships. The themes of our cards include: love, friendship,
family, encouragement, special occasions, and life dreams and challenges. It has
often been said that our cards express emotions people want to
communicate but don't always know how to put into words.

We pay $300 for a work chosen for publication on a greeting card or $50
for a work chosen for one-time use in a book.

We would greatly appreciate your sharing this opportunity. I've pasted a copy of our writers' guidelines below. You may also request a copy of our guidelines by e-mailing me at write4us@sps.com.

We also accept book ideas or submissions. If you would like to receive
those guidelines, let me know and I will forward them to you.

Please send submission to:

Blue Mountain Arts Editorial Department WU

P. O. Box 1007

Boulder, CO 80306

Or e-mail them to: write4us@sps.com

WRITER'S GUIDELINES

Blue Mountain Arts is interested in reviewing poetry and writings that
would be appropriate for our greeting cards.

1. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: Contemporary prose or poetry written from
personal experience that reflects the thoughts and feelings people
today want to communicate to one another, but don't always know how to
put into words. Because our cards capture genuine emotions on topics
such as love, friendship, family, missing you, and other real-life
subjects, we suggest that you have a friend, relative, or someone else
in your life in mind as you write. Writings on special occasions
(birthday, anniversary, congratulations, etc.) as well as the
challenges, difficulties, and aspirations of life are also considered.
We are looking for new, original, and creative writings that do not
sound like anything we have already published.

2. WHAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR: Rhymed poetry, religious verse,
one-liners, or humor. Try to avoid frequently overused words and
phrases, such as "special," "gift," "sending you a hug," "birthday
wishes for you," and "angel." We receive a large number of submissions
about mothers, sons, daughters, and love. For these themes, we only
consider writings that are refreshing and unique or that express
age-old sentiments in new and different ways. (Hint: Avoid lines like
"You were always there for me," "I remember when you were a baby," "I
am so proud of you," and "You are my dream come true.")

3. POSTAL SUBMISSIONS: Send to Blue Mountain Arts Editorial Department,
P. O. Box 1007, Boulder, CO 80306. Work should be typewritten; one
poem per page please. Your name should appear on every page. You may
submit as many poems at one time as you wish. If you would like a
response and/or to have your work returned, you must enclose a
self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) of adequate size, with the
correct postage. Be sure to include your name, address, and telephone
number with your submission, and please keep us informed of all address
and telephone number changes. Include your e-mail address if you wish
to receive periodic e-mail updates of our current needs.

4. E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS: Send to editorial@sps.com. PLEASE DO NOT SEND
ATTACHMENTS OR WEBSITE LINKS. Type or paste the text of your work(s)
into the body of the e-mail. You may submit as many different works as
you wish all in the same e-mail. Be sure to include your name, address,
and telephone number.

E-mail submissions will receive an automatic reply as receipt of your
submission.

5. SUBMISSIONS SELECTED FOR FURTHER REVIEW will receive a response by
postal mail within 2 to 4 months. We are unable to respond to e-mail
submissions that are not chosen for further review, so if you do not
hear from us within 4 months, you can assume that your work is no
longer under consideration.

6. PAYMENT: We pay $300 per poem for the worldwide, exclusive rights to
publish it on a greeting card and other products, and $50 per poem for
one-time use in a book. Publication procedures will be explained in
detail prior to actually publishing your work.

7. QUESTIONS concerning your submission can be sent to Blue Mountain
Arts Editorial Department, P. O. Box 1007, Boulder, CO 80306, or you
can e-mail us at editorial@sps.com. Please do not telephone.

8. COPYRIGHT: Your work need not be copyrighted prior to submission.
For information on how to apply for a copyright, please contact the
United States Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC
20559.

9. SUBMISSIONS FROM OUTSIDE THE U.S. are accepted, but only in the
English language.

10. SEASONAL POETRY SUBMISSION DATES: We welcome material for the
following holidays. Submissions received after the dates shown may be
held for review until the following year.

Christmas & General Holiday: Sept. 12, 2005

Valentine's Day: Oct. 24, 2005

Easter: Jan. 9, 2006

Mother's Day: Feb. 27, 2006

Father's Day: Mar. 20, 2006

You... call.... that.... art...?

2005-12-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

Some days there's no arguing about it -- I have the funnest job in the world.

Yesterday was one of those days!

At my employer, YourHub.com , we're having a holiday illustration contest.

And we've received some great illustrations: A train at the North Pole... an elf talking to Santa on his cell phone... and the Sugar Plum Fairy visiting a house decorated with a very pretty tree

I thought it'd be fun to try my hand at illustrating the holidays, too. My friend took pictures of me as I worked, and added his input about what I should include. It was an hour full of laughter, and I think the story turned out to reflect the experience.

You can see my drawing, the story, and a photo of myself working on my illustration at my desk. It's called You call this art?

I also hope you'll leave a comment or rate my drawing at the Web site, if you have time.

Happy holidays!

News: Alas, he could've saved a lot of money...

2005-12-06T15:24:00.000-08:00

Man jailed after beheading gecko

Just wanted to share a story I found while looking to update one of my Web sites at work.

Accidents

2005-12-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

I think many writers will agree on one thing: rarely are there accidents in art-- just things that could use revision.

My professor just emailed me about a poem I had recently written. I had titled it "Maternal Voice". She referred to it only as "Maternal".

And I vote for that as a better title.

There are many instances of an intended word-- even an intended relationship-- fatefully turned into an unintended insight..... or apathetically, lazily, accidentally, mistakenly better.

Ah, sweet mystery of meaning.

;-)

Any other stories like that floating about? .... I know there are... Please share.

::offers a chair with good lighting and a nearby desk with pen and paper::

A proposal for National Poetry Writing Month

2005-12-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

Dear readers (and honorable lurkers)!!!

I am MOST thrilled to have found for the writer in you today a couple different places to peruse.

First, I went to Teh Blogfather site, where blogs can be submitted for humorous review. And I saw one review that compelled me to follow through on the link, and lo and behold, I think I have a new best friend, even if SHE doesn't know it yet.

T L Reynolds is looking into a freelance writing career... and as she does so, she is SHARING HER REVELATIONS!!!! Donne's Holy Sonnets, that's brilliant and generous!!!

And inspiring.... I think I'll do the same on this blog (instead of just within email). The main focus, of course, will be on poetry.

(And a side note: If you live in the Denver metro area, or the Memphis metro area, then YourHub.com is THE PLACE for writers and photographers. You can post your work for free. It will appear on the site. It may appear in print, too. All copyright remains yours.

Milk it for all its worth. Get clips. Do you need travel writing clips? SUBMIT travel writing!!! Are you someone near Memphis or Denver who is trying to GET submissions for a publication? POST A PRESS RELEASE. Yeeehah. ;-))

::deep breath:: There are a lot of caps in this entry, because I AM excited. :-) I know it's soooo unjournalistic, and NOT AP style!!! :-P

Right. So that's the first great discovery of the morning. And a plug for YourHub.com.

My second great discovery, which inspired this post and its title, is this post at Living Poetry (A bloody beautiful site, and sure to be a favorite of mine, and OH HOW I MUST UPDATE MY LINKS AND ACTUALLY ADD BLOGS I VISIT REGULARLY!!!!): National Poetry Writing Month?

I think we need to launch this concept. There's been National Novel Writing Month for a few years or more (I've not done the research). I reckon I'll wait til the New Year to see if a Web site for National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) pops up (and I've not researched that yet, either!!!). Then, if there is none, that's when I strike.

I plan to promote it hardcore, regardless.

You have been warned.

The zen and art of haiku and holiday package maintenance

2005-12-03T10:22:00.000-08:00

Blogger's note: The use of the word "zen" here is misleading. In fact, readers' efforts to help the author find the zen in haiku and holiday package maintenance are encouraged.

Haiku is cool.

Well, mostly.

Actually, I'm not too fond of it. Ain't for me to write, just to read.

It's not meant for English, you see.....

My friend and fellow poetry workshopper, Steve, told my poetry group (finally named! The Liminal Wrablets of Hermes) a few months ago that an American writer gave the old haiku a facelift. That wonderful writer, whoever he is, has decided that English haiku must follow a 4/8/4 pattern, not 5/7/5. Because, hey, our language is different. It fits our syllables better, thank you.

I have a longtime friend who keeps a haiku blog: Pink Shoe Haiku

And she recently started an open haiku thread. So knock yourself out and pay a visit, even if just to see what everyone else has done.

Updated daily as far as I can tell, here's another impressive haiku blog at blogspot:
">James A Lockhart

And, finally, the director of the Colorado Poets Association led me to this haiku link:
The Colorado Poets Association's haiku page

As for holiday package maintenance, OH DEAR. I had virtually all of my holiday gifts purchased at least two weeks before Thanksgiving.

And I was in the mood to wrap them and bring them to Thanksgiving at my parents'.

But, no, I've absolutely NOT done anything close to that. And I have gifts to mail to Jerusalem.

I thought the holidays were about spending time with those you love. And warmth. And fun things. But now that I'm out of college and on a career path I can live with, I very much understand where the working world comes from.

Preparing for the holidays is a right pain.

YOU people can come get your pressies and we'll save the environment together by me not wrapping them:

Steve
Kathy
Nick
Julie
Yael
Mom
Dad
Mom2
Dad2
Ga-Ga

Oh man... And I'm going to be in the secret gift exchange at work, and I'm leaving for vacation Dec. 17...

And yeah, I did this last April, too!!!

2005-12-03T09:49:00.000-08:00

I used to have myself a home on a BBC Web site. The premise behind it is the creation of a virtual Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yes. It's based loosely on the Douglas Adams series.

I worked on some guide entries. One on Emily Dickinson, one on drums... I'm a big fan of both, but dunno why I didn't create a guide entry about RINGO, who is undoubtedly my favorite BEATLE.

And one about Beowulf.

Right. So here's that old post:

Things I'd like out of life
Apr 24, 2005

two weeks in Italy
time on Crete
visit with Lady Pennywhistle in Jerusalem
more kisses from Virgo2
flight courtesy of Virgo2
poker lessons/games with Virgo2
internship in Turkey
visit St. Petersburg with my friend Julie
spend time with Julie, in person, at least once every two years
touch down on all seven continents
publish at least one book
live happily: write and contribute for a living*
receive random roses.... at least once...
have a bath drawn for me without asking
Rethink grad school and travel plans in one year

And perhaps... Scotland and Ireland

*this means that I never run into debt and I can support myself and any dependents. Contribute means volunteer work/caring for others as well as submitting to various publications.

::post transimission concluded::

How far have I come?

Still working on:

visit with Lady Pennywhistle in Jerusalem
more kisses from Virgo2
touch down on all seven continents
publish at least one book
live happily: write and contribute for a living

I have apparently abandoned:
receive random roses.... at least once...

Why? I have realized that this was merely a materialistic representation of something I really wanted: To feel wholly loved and accepted. And I get that all the time, from one Virgo2, who is known here as Le Aviator (name subject to change).

The other items have been edited, or they go on the very very back burner:

The original, in their original order:

two weeks in Italy
time on Crete
flight courtesy of Virgo2
poker lessons/games with Virgo2
internship in Turkey
visit St. Petersburg with my friend Julie
spend time with Julie, in person, at least once every two years
have a bath drawn for me without asking
Rethink grad school and travel plans in one year

These would now be:
flight courtesy of A, which is happening in exactly 14 days. YAY!!!
more poker games with A
spend time with Julie, in person, at least once every ten years
visit St. Petersburg with my friend Julie
continue to enjoy baths (yes, they've been drawn for me!!! And yes, I shower every day)
two weeks in Italy?
time on Crete?
internship in Turkey?
Rethink career and travel plans

Now for my official, updated list of Things I want out of Life!

More A
Travel places I want to travel to:
Jerusalem
Greece
Turkey
Russia
Africa
Antarctica
MAYBE Australia (I worked with someone who's invited me to visit her there)
Asia
South America
Possibly Italy
Potenially Easter Island, or just some nifty, handy islands
To publish my bloody book, or at least feel I did a bang up job trying
To inspire other poets
To write for a living, and to try living as a freelance writer/layout person for at least 8 months straight
To probably realize I should wait til I get a position on the Antarctic Sun before I try working freelance, since then I can keep my good job and excellent insurance until then, at which point I may not have a job when I get back from The Ice.
To get over my issues with my mother
To have a clearer, more relaxed head so I can put forth energy into my "extra-curricular" writing
To submit three poems once a month. I feel I'll never get to this point. I WANT TO LET MY BRAIN AND TYPING FINGERS RELAX WhEN I'M NOT WORKING FOR THE PAPER!!!!

::ahem::

Thank you.

Law and Order vs. Law of Nature

2005-11-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

GAAAAHHH!!!!

For weeks, I've pledged I'll work on revising my book.

Then other diversions-- sleep, cuddles, poetry, the need to brain fry-- they all stop me cold.

Here I sit, with Dante's Inferno in front of me, and I keep telling myself I have to work on revising my book.... You see, the blessed ms is called "One Hell of a Book" and I started re-writing it solo this summer. And I realized I could finish it by April, if I dedicated two mornings a week...

I just find it hard to put distance between myself and le Aviator (my beau). Why should I!??

.... because I keep kicking myself in the butt for doing sod all with my book.

That's why!!!

And I'm ALSO frustrated that there's so much to be done in the world of poetry. I have over a hundred poems to revise... and I want to... I love revision...

It's just...

It feels a bit daunting, you know!??

After 40 hours (sporadic, too-- often I'll have a little overtime on Friday, Saturday, and/or Monday that I have to eliminate on Wednesday and Thursday.... so I'll do work six days a week many times, even if it's not a full shift each day...) of journalism each week.... Man oh man!!!

I just don't feel much like looking MORE at prose.... and reworking it... Honestly, I don't feel much like looking at my poetry and reworking it, either.

::steam:: I'd like a break.

Yeah, I was out sick for two weeks, but I've not had a bloody vacation since... June of 2004.... so yes, I am tired.

Is that too weak of an excuse!??

I only feel like doing diversionary pastimes-- which only take short bursts of energy. Maybe I can allow myself to revise in short bursts. I just know how fiction's been in the past--- takes over my hours quickly....

And I think that the hours awake after being sleepy.... even though they provide precious time with le Aviator, well, they apparently aren't that great an idea. They MIGHT be effecting my energy enough to have me looking apprehensively at Dante and unwilling to open my ms file.

And maybe that's not it, either!??

I DON'T want to shut out the blessings in my life just to get my book revised. I want both blessings and time and energy for revision. I have the technology to follow through on writerly promises with myself.

Gotta commit to my physical self, too.

Hopefully that'll put things in the balance I'd like to see....

YAY!!! ... It's beautiful!!!

2005-11-25T10:11:00.000-08:00

I've been honored by Friends of the Friendless... :-)

>You see!? You see!!??

It makes coming back to work the day after Thanksgiving very much worth it.

Especially since the picture of the band has some of my faaaavorite people ever in it. ::biiiggrin::

... I wonder if the drum in that scene really says what it says it says in the picture.

Poetic License: Wonderful lyrics that don't make sense

2005-11-13T10:06:00.000-08:00

Dear Chuck Berry,

I love you. You hear that all the time, I am sure!!! And how wonderful that you are called "rock and roll's poet laureate". I know that I am writing greatness.

But!!!! Whatchu gotta say for yourself, Chuck?

Here are some of the words to one of my favorite songs of yours, Mr. Barry:

Memphis, Tennesee

Long distance information,
give me Memphis, Tennesee.
Trying to find the party
that tried to get in touch with me.

She would not leave a message,
but I know who placed the call!!!
M? ? ? took the message
and he wrote it on the wall.

What now, Chuck!? The narrarator of your classic rock and roll piece said the caller didn't leave a message and then he said that someone wrote the message on the wall...

Does that mean the message was, "Somebody in Memphis called"!??

I am sorry I do not have all the words correct. It seems that your lyrics are terribly difficult to find-- one site that promised your lyrics was a blog in Spanish.

Thank You,

Tabitha Dial

...But that doesn't make it right....

2005-11-13T09:10:00.000-08:00

I dunno, fair readers.

I could do a lot of networking. For this blog. And I haven't. Yes, I've told friends about this spot, but really, there are the bloggists, the lurkers, and the unconverted.

I'd like more bloggists to make comments. You know-- people I don't know through a group or from school or work or suchlike already.

But there are thousands-- bazillions-- of blogs out there (LibrarianPirate, is there a Dewey Decimal System for online items!??).

Why should mine matter!??

.... In all fairness, it doesn't. There are a lot better things we could probably all be doing with our time.

I just know that there are excellent conversations about writing and poetry going on out there... maybe I am approaching this wrong. Long story short: I don't want to just SHARE and SHARE and SHARE and hear the crickets chirping. And I don't want this place just smoothered with compliments from friends I know.

Less ego, more learning and dialogue. I have to make more compelling entries, then, and draw readers. And posters.

Look out, Emily Dickinson

2005-11-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

Well yeeeehah....

I printed off all the poetry I've written that is worth looking at. Well, since about 20 months ago or something.

My friend Steve, from my regular poetry workshop (he suggested we come up with a unique name, like the Inklings.... I haven't come up with anything yet, but if anyone out there is just dying to give a creative name to a threesome of poets, please share! Fame awaits!) came up with the inspired idea of us each printing off our poetry to give to one another this Cmas.

YES!!!

.... Except.... my back hurt for about half an hour after I figured out what poems to print and which ones to keep hidden. No, it's not that there are SO MANY my back went out trying to lift them. It's just the repetitive motion.

Emily Dickson wrote 1707 poems (that's just a small withdrawal from my memory banks). I know I was over 1500 by the age of 20. Tonight I counted 137. A few are missing. But then, a few of those are really repeats... Poor naming of files habit I've got.

So... 1637. Only 170 left. And actually, I could have reached this benchmark and not known it. Now I want to move all my old, almost all untyped poetry from my parents to Denver.

Ah.... Denver...

Maybe I'll write about the early stages of looking into Denver apartments another time...

I like that I am...

2005-11-09T17:48:00.000-08:00

No, I did not think of this on my own.

"A Revision" is the name of the blog where I found this... and I like it.... http://carolsbookblogs.blogspot.com/2005/04/i-like-that-i-am.html

So the following is my version...

I like that I am...
1) Listening to the Beatles
2) Sitting in front of a mini altar that has the Tarot cards "The Fool", "The Tower" and "The Sun" on it.
3) Sitting in front of beautiful burning candles
4) Sitting behind a computer that I've written on for years-- fiction, non-fiction, resumes, poetry; this screen has seen it, baby, yeah! ;-)
5) Courageous
6) Willing to listen
7) Unwilling to compromise
8) Very happy with my job
9) Sure of who I am
10) Happy with the poetry I have been writing
11) A member of a fantastic group of poets who meet bimonthly or more often to share our joys, doubts, and passion for poetry
12) Able to call Julie Kraft my friend
13) Able to call Yael Pennywhistle my friend
14) A member of a cool blogging community that my oldest friends*, known at blogspot as "The Pink Shoe" and "Librarian Pirate", have introduced me to
15) A member of the Colorado Poets Association
16) A member of the Denver Woman's Press Club
17) Working at YourHub.com
18) Taking pictures for an income
19) Writing for an income
20) Doing newspaper layout for an income
21) Realizing I'm certainly not perfect
22) Not living from paycheck to paycheck
23) Sharing a bed with someone I love
24) Often laughing with the person I share a bed with
25) Very much in love-- or in adoration-- or longing to embrace-- or without question-- with the person I share a bed with
26) Free to do quite a number of things
27) Someone who's been able to try out just about everything she's wanted: skiing needs to happen soon!
28) My mother's daughter
29) My father's biggest fan
30) My brother's sister (it's quite obvious that I am; we're a lot alike!)
31) The proud owner of a gorgeous Jeep Liberty
32) Warm in the winter
33) Cool in the summer
34) Not far from water when I am thirsty
35) Familar with many people who are happy to offer me a drink
36) Going to play Poker again this weekend
37) Still friends with five different people I worked with in retail
38) Never going to forget what it's like to work in retail
39) Eating with my parents at IHOP tonight
40) A former oboist
41) A former clarinetist
42) Aware of the meaning of life, as per Douglas Noel Adams
43) A once and future guitarist
44) A once and future pianist
45) A once and future songwriter
46) An owner of many gorgeous books I have never read, such as "The Once and Future King"
47) Able to read
48) Able to write
49) Able to get online!
50) The owner of a very large aloe vera plant my grandmother helped me get about ten years ago.
51) The owner of my grandfather's peacoat from his days in the Navy in WWII
52) A reciter of my grandfather's sayings: "My cup runneth over!", "Miiighty lerapin!", and "Don't step in the grease!", to name a few
53) Not in trouble with the law
54) Not dating former boyfriends
55) Not in debt
56) Not in college, though grad school somewhat appeals
57) Still living in Colorado
58) Being read by you
59) Close to my brother
60) Not too far from my family at all times
61) A Colorado Native
62) A Pisces
63) A Monkey
64) Able to cook my mother's chili for my new family as well as she does for ours
65) Lucky enough to see the mountains every day
66) Lucky enough to see at least one horsie every week
67) Colorful
68) Onery.... but with a chocolate coating of caring
69) Honest
70) Realizing I should sometimes not be THAT honest
71) Smiling in most of my pictures, and wanting to in the ones that people told me not to smile in... ;-)
72) Well traveled
73) Looking forward to traveling further
74) Invited to Jerusalem, Athens, Chicago, St. Louis, Virginia, Florida...
75) Digesting a chocolate milk at this moment
76) The recipient of an email from my beau from seven minutes ago
77) The granddaughter of a painter
78) The great-granddaughter of a poet and much-admired English teacher
79) Loved and protected
80) Not afraid to confront myself
81) Not afraid to commit to myself
82) Not afraid to share myself with others
83) 25 years old
84) Many different people all at once
85) Reading Mary Oliver's latest collection of poetry, which she signed
86) Reading from two Poetry journals
87) Reading a chap book that won a local contest this year
88) About to revise five or six poems I wrote in the last week
89) Sitting up in this computer room while my mother teaches piano below
90) The person who carved the cute spider pumpkin outside the home I call my own in Denver now
91) Able to detatch from less-than-desirable relationships
92) Me
93) Not too worried about anything
94) Open to suggestions
95) Cultivating a wicked sense of humor-- good or bad
96) Hoping for the best
97) Looking past the worst
98) Going to change
99) Going to grow up more
100) Going to keep my childlike enthusiasm

*These friends are actually younger than me. So they aren't old. I've just known them longer than any of my other friends!**

**Imaginary friends and favorite book characters and rock idols and family members, regardless of real or imagined status, are not included.

God save the muse-driven

2005-11-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

I guess us creatives have a problem with conceit.

Though I'm not entirely convinced. I look at many poets-- Mary Oliver and Naomi Shihab Nye-- who make a point of caring for humanity in their work.

And I think on my own: the majority of my poetry captures the passion I have felt in my life, on a one-on-one level. I write about the things that have changed me, the things I wonder about, the ideas just outside my window, and the world I never want to trap within myself.

And I know my emails are like that, too: writing is a salve. Of course! So I do write about myself when I send my words out into the world, as poetry or as email.

And earlier this week, I was accused of being fixated on myself. CLEARLY fixated, particularly in the last few months, I was told. And how selfish of me to expect someone else to write back when she just didn't have the time and energy to acknowledge my emails (some of them responses to her blog; I thought that was a fair effort on my part to show I was reading up on her and actually gave a damn). She also didn't have the energy or motivation to call (but neither did I, as I much prefer email).

Consequently, I've dissolved that relationship, and feel much better.

But I've begun to think (again): where's the problem? I do not believe "the problem" is wholly owned by myself. The muse-driven can be incredibly one-minded, and maybe only truly appreciated by their admirers and family.

Maybe friends aren't the best thing for creative types, unless those friends can understand and tolerate and accept what it is to be creative.

I also have a habit of shooting from the hip when it comes to people I consider pretty close. This has, to my knowledge, only hurt the feelings of two people. When someone is acting or doing something that I think is daft-- harmful to themselves; obsessive; counter-productive, I tend to tell them.

Maybe I ought to put it into verse and keep it under wraps.

You can't always get what you wa-ant...

2005-11-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

PIDDLECAKES and POOPOOMUFFINS.

I didn't get the four-week writer's residency at the Vermont Studio Center that I applied for. I read the letter on a favorite holiday, Halloween.

Can I admit I cried for about 20 minutes while listening to Joni Mitchell's album, Blue!?? I wanted to find After the Harvest by Neil Young, but. You can't always get what you want.

Interesting how writers can take some things sooooo sensitively. The experience had me thinking: Am I really happy with my creative life!?? I wonder if anyone really is, even maybe when they GET TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE all the time.

There are surely always obstacles. Or what would be the point of life?

The Vremont Studio Center does want to give me a Writer's Grant and a Financial Aid Work opportunity, but I'd still have to pay $2200 plus travel expenses, and I'd be out of work for four weeks.

They want a $300 deposit by Nov. 18 if I accept.

I don't think I will.

I could do other things with $2200-- that's almost five months of savings for me nowadays.

My beau, Le Aviator, was very encouraging and sweet and WONDERFUL when I arrived last night, still all teary and sensitive. He said I must apply again. This I probably will do-- it only costs $25.

My emotions last night revealed a lot. I was last month sick at home for two weeks with a nasty ear infection. The highlight was getting to spend my days with books and my notebook. I knew I would be happy freelance writing.... But then one day I knew I'd miss the photography aspect of my job.....

Iknow I need to reinstate the habit of submitting to two or three publications a month. May was the last time I did so. I concentrated on joining groups, checking out poetry functions, discussing potential projects I could do for other publications, and writing favorite poets.

So it wasn't lost.

I just think it lacked a little reward.

Now, where to begin on this scary freelance endeavor, should I choose to...

The story of Wild Geese

2005-10-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Last December, my Objective and Subjective Poetry course took a session to share our favorite poetry. My friend Alice Dugan recited "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver, with the preface that a friend of hers had recently died, and his parents wanted a poem for his service. "I'm not crying," I remember Alice telling herself. "There's no crying at school."

As soon as I got home, I looked online for the poem. It was still amazing, on that stiff screen, hours away from the warmth of Alice's voice.

I put it on a userpage I had at a site based off of Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I had been a very active member (I had far and away the most posts at one period) for about five years... and then... shortly after I put Mary Oliver's poem up, a new thread had popped up on my site.

"Wild Geese!" it cheered. The person who wrote it explained that she was very happy to see the poem. She had read it in Arabic and loved it so much she had recently found the original in English and wow... she just had to say hello.

And that's how I began to be great friends with a poet I've never met. We've been exchanging despair (it suits "Wild Geese", should you know the poem) and poetry and laughter and email and snail mail books (of poetry, what else is there!??) since then.

Write your poets!

2005-10-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Your favorite poets like letters just as much as anyone else. Write them!

Who doesn't want fan mail?

Who doesn't want to hear from the people they admire?

Just find that poet's publisher and send a letter care of the publisher.

Now that I'm done with my declarative and rhetorical statements, I will admit that *I* really need to get on the ball and finish my letters to favorite poets. I dropped one in the mail for Wyslawa Szymborska last week. I hand wrote one for David Lehman a few days ago.

And it all started with my great fellow poet friend, Yael, who decided she wanted to write to Naomi Shihab Nye, who has been warm with her response.

Beautiful world, eh!??

..... In other news, we had a snowstorm here on the Front Range of Colorado last week. It broke a lot of branches, and even killed a person or two. I hadn't been able to access the damage in Parker, Colo. where I had lived the last seven years.

This morning I saw that my FAVORITE tree, just outside my computer room window, is much altered. Almost a quarter of the branches that stretched sunwards and teased my window with their leaves are now leaning away from the house.

And the birds have left.

Not a pleasant state of affairs.

At least only one of the branches has shown any breakage.

Poor birdie paradise that was!

Now back to myself with further poetry news:

I am entering a competition in Richmond, Virginia called "Write Small". They're going to exhibit miniature art, no taller than three inches. And they are going to publish booklets of poetry with pieces no bigger than 2 and a half inches wide.

The poems much be six lines, 9 pt font, and no more than 33 characters a line (COUNTING spaces). You may submit up to six poems, and have them all on the same page-- no cover page is required.

The deadline is Oct. 29. Mail to: Write Small PSV/art6
P.O. Box 35160
Richmond, VA 23235

Author retains all copyright. There is a $1 entry fee.

I know... I write this a week before deadline... but you never know who else might have the chance...

And maybe someone will decide that writing six line poems is a fine challenge. I've enjoyed it!

So it starts

2005-10-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well… journals have to start somewhere. That’s sometimes the hardest bit.

How’d this little piece of work come about, anyway? ... I’ve been nursing a ful ear infection for about a week. I’ve been sick from work for four days. I’ve been reading the blogs of three of my friends, Marcia, Kellie, and Manea… and I’ve decided that many a successful writer today has a blog, so why not me?

I don’t know that I’ll be sharing a writer’s diary as much as I’ll be sharing clips and post-it notes of my life.

I like that. The clips being, “Yes! Look what I and my poetry workshop and the books I’ve been reading, or what I and my editors managed to achieve!” And the post-its being little happy asides about “Wow! The tree outside my window is sooo purdy today!” or “Damn… my boyfriend is dead wonderful… he went on about the title page of his favorite book, Slaughterhouse Five in this very long email to me, just to me, and I love the dearheart and can’t bloody wait til I get to see him again, but this STUPID EAR INFECTION….”

Yeah. Post-it note me arse. Uhhhh…. My usual excited ramblings can’t fit on a post-it. Although they DO come in a variety of sizes these days… ;-)

Who knows where this will lead...

So it starts, love, so it starts

2005-10-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Journals and journeys and mornings and nights and lovers all have to start somewhere.

That's the sometimes tough bit.

And so many things can't be said in journals or journeys or mornings or nights or lovers. But I can say a tonne, anyway: I've been a writer since the age of nine. Or, I guess, I've been a writer since conception, but it didn't dawn on me until I was nine and began writing short stories.

My genre was fiction-- only fiction, and often about cats or girls rescuing boys, until my first poem wandered into my bed as I tried to fall asleep when I was 13.

I memorized it. And told it to my grandmother, who insisted I write it down, or it could be lost forever. "I've thought of so many poems," she said.

A few years later, I fell in love with Emily Dickinson. A mistake and a blessing. A mistake because, almost ten years later, I found myself frustrated and crushed because a poetry professor didn't like me capitalizing abstract words like E.D. A blessing because I decided I had to write as many poems as she has.

According to "The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson" that's 1775. I know I wrote over 1500 by the age of 19, though let's be honest: only about 25 of those are worth a closer read. And all need some revision.

I thought I was done with poetry around the age of 19. I was going to be a historical fiction writer! Then, after re-reading Douglas Adams, I was going to be a female Douglas Adams who didn't set anything in outerspace or in a detective agency.

And at about that time, I needed to take poetry in order to get my BA in writing. Drat. I tried to use my work experience from writing for the college newspaper to worm my pretty way out of that credit.

And couldn't.

"Journalism isn't the same as poetry." And then I was read a description of what a poetry class offers: criticism and revision and workshopping and the discipline of succint language.

Uhhh... duhhh.... "That's what I'm getting at the paper!" I argued.

It didn't work.

And I'm VERY glad my attempt failed. After a couple weeks, the poetry class was declared my favorite. And about a year later, I was stunned with revelation shortly after fellow students broke up into groups of three for poetry workshops for about the 28th time in my college experience: "I could do this," I thought. "I could LOVE to do this... be a poetry professor..."

And so I hunted down MFA programs for a couple months. And jumped up and down while talking about them. I had my sights narrowed on three institutions when someone at a Denver newspaper thought my resume merited picking up his phone and talking to me....

So I'm working instead of studying.

It's not just for the money or the bylines. I REALLY love that job...

"The people I went to grad school with were mostly there because they didn't like what they were doing..." I paraphrase a very good friend of mine.

I like what I'm doing; why go to grad school, particularly when the city of Denver is VIVID with poets and writers and journalists and opportunity...

Why, in one month, I spent about $500 on poetry. From poets I had actually met, even done workshops with... And ok, $175 was put into applying for the Denver Woman's Press Club, but all the rest was invested into honest-to-goodness poetry.

AHHH.

I really feel I've come into my own.

I wanted to transplant myself to Chicago, where it's clear there's a vibrant culture of poets, possibly more active than in Denver. But I don't need it. I've found what I want and need.

I'm very very lucky.

So why create a blog to boast about it, eh? Well.... many a smart writer has a blog these days. I may as well join them.