poetry

Listen to Me Read a New Poem in the Latest Issue of Golden Walkman Magazine

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Oh, are you in store for a treat today! 😀

I’m thrilled to share that my poem “No Darkness Here (An Ode to Metal Music)” is featured in the latest issue of Golden Walkman Magazine. However, you won’t be able to read a printed version of the poem. You see, Golden Walkman is a podcast-style literary journal that, in their own words, “aims at giving the written word a voice.” So all of the work they publish is in audio format only – which means you’ll be able to listen to me read the poem!

(Read more after the jump.)

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New Poem “Head of the Table” Published at The Bookends Review

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Today I’m honored to share that my poem “Head of the Table” has been published. Usually, I’d include lots of exclamation points at the end of that sentence. (And believe me, I feel that way!! See?) But “Head of the Table” is one of my most personal poems and more solemn and reflective than others that have been published so far. So I feel a mix of excitement, nostalgia, pride, and wistfulness right now. But that’s a good thing, I think.

(Read more after the jump.)

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New at DIY MFA: Identifying Literary Themes in Our Poems

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When my previous DIY MFA post went live, I might have mentioned it was the first of two posts I’d write about literary themes and poetry. 😉 So today’s post is the unofficial part two! It’s about identifying themes in the poetry you write using the original source of the poem’s inspiration (or, rather, what the poem’s about), your reasons for writing it in the first place, and the emotions you were feeling that influenced the poem’s tone. I also share examples from my own poetry to explain this process, then end the post with a thoughtful question: Why is it important for a poet to know the themes they cover in their work?

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New Poem in the Summer 2019 Issue of The Avocet

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More poetry news today! I’m excited to share that my poem “Growing Tomatoes” is featured in the Summer 2019 issue of The Avocet. This is a nature and environmental poetry journal based out of Arizona (United States), and it’s available in print only. You can check out photos of my contributor’s copy earlier today on Instagram.

(Read more after the jump.)

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New Poem Featured in the Summer 2019 Issue of Soul-Lit

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I’m thrilled to share that my poem “Learning to Be” is featured in the Summer 2019 issue of Soul-Lit! This is the second time that my work has been featured in this online journal of spiritual poetry. (The first one was “Elegy,” back in 2013.) So it’s great to contribute once again to such an inspiring, thought-provoking journal that speaks to the heart and mind.

(Read more after the jump.)

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New Workshop: Let’s Write Poetry in Walpole, MA This Fall!

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Happy Wednesday, everyone! I have some exciting news for you today: I’m officially hosting my first poetry workshops this fall!

This September and October, I’m hosting Let’s Write Poetry!, a 4-week poetry workshop series at SheBreathes Balance & Wellness Studio in Walpole, Massachusetts. These workshops are designed to inspire and energize you to write new poems, learn new techniques, and see your work in a new light. So whether you’re a practicing poet who’s looking to deepen your craft or a newbie who’s been meaning to try poetry for a while, this workshop offers something for any and all who are interested.

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New at DIY MFA: Identifying Literary Themes in the Poetry We Read

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How have I not written a poetry-focused article for my DIY MFA column before?? Because like novels, short stories, and other longer forms of literature, poetry is chock-full of literary themes. So that’s what my latest Theme: A Story’s Soul post – or, rather, the first of two posts – is about. We’ll go over four questions that can help us identify themes in the poetry we read, then practice them with an in-text exercise using one of my favorite Mary Oliver poems. We’ll also touch on how we can recognize themes (either on our own or with the help of the four questions) across a book of poetry by a single poet.

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New Interviews at Coach Daddy and SheBreathes

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Hi, everyone! I’m here to share not just one recent interview I’ve done, but TWO. 🙂

First up is a #GirlsRock interview with Eli at Coach Daddy. The #GirlsRock series is dedicated to highlighting women who are doing amazing things and making the world a better place. Some of the women Eli has interviewed in the past include journalists, podcasters, TV reporters, and musicians / artists. So I’m honored – and psyched! – to be featured on Eli’s blog again. (I wrote this guest post for Coach Daddy back in 2015.) We talk about my editing / writing coaching business Heart of the Story, poetry, and my one piece of advice for women who enjoy writing.

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