Poetics Serendipity

10:34 a.m. — San Antonio

listening to songs from the Broadway musical Alexander Hamilton

Hey ho, people! I am back from an eating trip to Atlanta. Granted San Antonio has some good restaurants, Atlanta is all about food and we were spoiled for five years. I am somewhat more roly-poly than when I last spoke to you. This might — ugh — involve exercise. Meanwhile, let’s see what we have.

1] This first is more a reminder. We know the words that should not appear in our writing, but I know I get lazy with my prose and if I get lazy with my prose, I might get lazy with my poetry. Besides, the layout is fun. Check out Jennifer Frost’s infographic Five Weak Words to Avoid and What to Use Instead.  (Any former students reading this will be laughing. They know this list well,)

2] I grant you this next one is only of interest generally, unless you live near, or in, or are going to visit, Chicago. Also, you’d need to be interested in American literature. With all those caveats, I still think it’s exciting news. The Guardian posted an article about an American Writers Museum, the first of its kind, that will open in Chicago in 2017. Of interest, ‘the Poetry Foundation is one of the affiliates and is, said its media director Elizabeth Burke-Dain, “committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture”.’

3] Trish Hopkinson’s Where to Submit NonTraditional and Traditional Poetry is, as all her articles are, full of helpful information. If you haven’t wandered around her blog, get yourself a hot drink, or a cold one, get comfortable and click the archives, or scroll back through.

4] Speaking of non-traditional, read the interview, Six Questions for Lise Quintana, Editor-in-Chief, & Allie Marini Batts, Managing Editor, NonBinary Review. Then check out the links to the right. Beware. Once you start going through the other Six ?s For, you might find an afternoon gone.

See you Tuesday for our next prompt and Thursday for more links.

Happy writing, everyone.