Posted by deborah

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This bit about Trollope’s work habits is from a blog that shares writer work habits on a daily basis. I find what writers do when writing — or to prepare for writing — fascinating.

Every day for years, Trollope reported in his “Autobiography,” he woke in darkness and wrote from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with his watch in front of him. He required of himself two hundred and fifty words every quarter of an hour. If he finished one novel before eight-thirty, he took out a fresh piece of paper and started the next. The writing session was followed, for a long stretch of time, by a day job with the postal service. Plus, he said, he always hunted at least twice a week. Under this regimen, he produced forty-nine novels in thirty-five years. Having prospered so well, he urged his method on all writers: “Let their work be to them as is his common work to the common laborer. No gigantic efforts will then be necessary. He need tie no wet towels round his brow, nor sit for thirty hours at his desk without moving,—as men have sat, or said that they have sat.”

The New Yorker, June 2004

Posted by deborah

Thanks to Eduardo Corral’s blog (who copied this post from Cornshake’s blog), I found this contest to win time at a writing residency.

No recommendation letters. No writing sample!

Go here to enter.

The marketer in me says: “what a brilliant way to increase your mailing list!”

Brought to you by Costa Rica Writers’ Retreats in sponsorship with the Vermont College of the Arts and Orlando Writers’ Workshops.

Enter to win a luxurious one-week writing retreat in Costa Rica.
•No writing samples required
•No purchase required
•Luck-of-the-draw contest
•Open to current graduate creative writing students and alumni worldwide
•Winner must provide proof of enrollment or graduation
• All entries must be made at www.costaricawriters.com/contest.

All entries must be received by April 1st, 2009 and the winner will be announced by April 5th, 2009.

Posted by deborah

Mary Biddinger’s blog post reminded me how much I’m enjoying the simpler things in life these days. My grandmother got married right before the Depression started. One time I asked her what her wedding dress had looked like. I realized I’d not seen wedding photographs. She did not have a special wedding dress. I believe she wore a cream-colored dress she already owned. There was not money for such things, so they married at home among friends and family.

This weekend, we listened to local musicians in our arts district. O and I read library books and played with toys we already owned. We had interesting conversations with visiting family.

Mary asks if people will write more poems since they may not go out as much. Maybe it’s winter or maybe it’s the economy, but I find myself wanting to stay in where it’s warm and where I’m not far from my daughter. Sometimes, I read or write poems.

What about you? Are you staying in more and writing more poems due to the souring economy?

—-

Thanks to Mary Biddinger and Charlie Jensen for answering my meme prompt.

Posted by deborah

Thanks to sci fi writer and former high school classmate, David Williams, for this meme on his author blog.

David (see above) wrote on his blog that the meme below was making the rounds in the San Francisco blogosphere. I decided to import (and revise, of course!) it over here in the poetry blogosphere. Come on bloggers. I invite Mary Biddinger, Charles Jensen, Kelli Agodon, and Eduardo Corral to play. I’d invite more, but I’m tired of pasting in all the links. =-)

If you decide to fill it out and post it on your blog, please post the link in the comments.

Age when I decided I wanted to be a writer: 8
Age when I wrote my first short story: 19
Age when I first got my hands on a good word processor: 22
Age when I first submitted a short story to a magazine: Never
Rejections prior to first short story sale: Never made a short story sale.
Age when I sold my first short story: See above.
Approximate number of short stories sold: Approximately zero.
Age when I first sold a poem: 23? 24?
Poems sold: I have no clue how many poems. (I think a novelist wrote this meme.)
Year I first published a book: 2009
Books published or delivered and in the pipeline: 2
Number of titles in print: 0. Soon to be one.
Age now: What poet wants to share their age?

Posted by deborah

We went to an indoor playspace and Olive and I were on close-circuit TV. She recreated the scene in this drawing.

Posted by deborah

The 2009 Blue Light Award is accepting submissions for their poetry chapbook contest. Read on..

Guidelines:

1. Blue Light Press is dedicated to the publication of poetry that is imagistic, inventive, emotionally honest, and pushes the language to a deeper level of insight. We are a collective of poets, and our books are artistically designed.

2. Please note our new address. To enter, send a manuscript of 50 to 80 pages of poetry, typed or printed with a laser or inkjet printer, to:
Read more…

Posted by deborah

Congratulations to 32 Poems contributors C. Dale Young, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Paula Bohince for winning $25,000 each towards a creative writing fellowship!

Posted by deborah

After a lot of late nights working on 32 Poems, I’m celebrating with a writing prompt. Take that book from the side table in your bedroom and turn to page 32. Pick the 32nd line in the book and use it as inspiration for your poem. If you don’t have 32 lines, then pick line 2 or 3.

If you are so inclined, post the line in the comments here. Happy creating!

Posted by deborah

• Got page proofs of my new poetry book. Trying not to have heart attack. #

Posted by deborah

As you know, Christmas is coming. We’re all trying to save money while getting great gifts for our loved ones. I know I myself am not sure what to get everyone on my list this year.

Well, how about 32 Poems for yourself or a friend?

32 Poems continues to publish the newest voices who soon become nationally-known, award-winning poets: Caki Wilkinson, David Roderick, Alison Stine, Paula Bohince, James Hoch, to name a few.

32 Poems publishes outstanding work — see the next Best American Poets or read the reviews.

32 Poems makes it easy for you to order a gift subscription or two.

32 Poems looks cool, too.

Did we mention it’s easy to order?

Click on the link below right now, and you can pay with Paypal AND get a Free issue.

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Be patriotic. Be thrifty. By all means, be cool. Order now.

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