What poetry doozies were done last week:
1. Read: Read 2 poems poetry pals sent me or posted (published) and read quite a few RWP folks poems.
2. Write: Did not do great on free writes. But I did research and wrote a poem that needs to be changed and improved. It’s a start!
3. Craft: I did revisions on 2 short prose pieces and 4 poems. And sent them out to too good of journals. I set my aim high. Not quite A list impossible, but damn high.
4. Critique: I moved that to this week.
5. Organize: I sorted feedback piles from IRL groups in preparation for revision work.
6. Submit: Sent 4 (!!) submissions out Sunday/Monday. SHort-prose and poetry.
7. Participate: I read Kelli’s poem for poem, thought about it a lot, read other folks stuff via Reader. Not quite the shotgun effort it usually is. But still could use some focus.
My CNF got-er-doners are:
Still need to set goals, but I did revise my CNF piece that has been accepted for fall publication. Got my first contract to fill out and sign. That feels crazy. In a good way.
My poetry toodooze for this week (June 15) are:
1. Read: Read 2-3 poems this week (someone else’s)
2. Write: Free write every day for 15 minutes (posting a dent is optional)
3. Craft: Work on one revision (minimum).
4. Critique: Identify 2 poems for revision for 6/24 group.
5. Organize: Organize old poetry files that I placed on new computer.
6. Submit: Update submission log. Include 4 (!!) submissions sent out Sunday/Monday. And the others that haven’t made the list.
7. Participate: With poem’s poem this week. I already have ideas. Now to pen!
My CNF toodooze for this week (June 15) are:
(Try to figure out real, achievable goals. Once developed I imagine I will revise my poetry goals. This will have to wait, too.)
1. See if the editor has any more revisions I need to do for my cat-bird CNF.
2. Read and prepare for my IRL “Truth OR Fiction” group this Thursday.
3. Suggest 4-6 CNF books for my writers’ reading group that meets tonight. Actually, I already did this. I just need to go tonight and present the ideas and sign up for a hosting date. Yay. I like the books I got at Powell’s yesterday. Too bad I am so broke I have to return then all but the keeper.
What I am reading:
Nature writing : the tradition in English edited by Robert Finch and John Elder. I wanted to read an essay about Glen Canyon Dam by Wallace Stenger and it is in this vast collection. (One that I have checked out of the library and now must have as my very own.) Glen Canyon features in one of my memoir pieces — I need to know what a great writer said about it. I’ll take the book tonight, but don’t suppose the other writers will be as interested in it as I am. (I’m also reading Angle of Repose by Stenger. Finally. It’s been on my list for years and years.)
What I bought:
Gunter Grass’s memoir Peeling the Onion (Controversial, this Pulitzer prize winning author was a Nazi it turns out.)
Fierce Attachments: A Memoir by Vivian Gornick (Also controversial — she is a well regarded writer who recently admitted to “creating” scenes in her memoirs.)
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
The Best American Science Writing 2007
The Best American Essays 2008
And if that is not enough I will take along Mark Doty’s Dog Years, which I adore.
Last year I did 3 essays out of Best American. We’ll see what we all think tonight!
No related posts.
