The Thrill of Life Dedicated to Poetry and Writing in General

I began writing poetry as a teenager. I will never forget the thrill I felt the first time someone in the know told my I was good at writing poetry. My English teacher in freshman year, Mr. Coletta, loved my poetry and even sent one off to be published in a textbook. I can't remember the details, too many dead brain cells since then, and I didn't realize at that time that it might be important later down the road. You see, I wrote that sappy kind of love poetry, the purple prose of the adolescent. But it got me writing and that was what was important.

Now, at 57 years of age I have decided that it's time to make poetry my number one focus, although I will continue to blog professionally several times a week. I have never stopped writing, and have had many poems published both online and in print, but I never really said to myself, "Poetry is my career. I AM a poet." Things are different now. I was motivated toward this decision when my chapbook made the first cut in the first poetry contest I entered. I will find out tomorrow if I made the second cut in the Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook prize competition. I don't expect to, but in the back of my mind I know it's a possibility.

Either way, poetry is now "what I do" when someone asks, and "a poet" is who I am. As well as a blogger, I will always be one of those too. I was watching MIDNIGHT IN PARIS a few nights ago, for the first time, great movie, and Ernest Hemingway told Luke Wilson's character, "You have to say you are the best writer." I have to claim my spot in the world as a poet or how can anyone else claim me as such?

I started this blog to journal my journey, to share helpful info with other poets, and to propel poets and writers in general into living their dreams. This life is a beautiful one and I couldn't be more thrilled.

A Must-Read for Women Poets

This is a fascinating round table discussion on women and poetry, women poets, poetry around the blogosphere, women poets getting published, with great input from poets such as Sina Queyras, Elisa Gabbert, Shanna Compton, Juliana Spahr, Vanessa Place and Danielle Pafunda. Gotta read this one.