“To risk something real as a writer is to risk making a fool of oneself.” This essay resonated with me: Idra Novey talks about Learning to Be Embarrassed on the Page.
https://catapult.co/stories/learning-to-be-embarrassed-on-the-page
Thirty Poets.
If you want to get the scoop on some talented poets or are just looking for something new to read, check out this from Literary Hub: 30 Poets You Should Be Reading.
The Tishman Review.
in Publications
Volume 2, Issue 2 of the literary journal The Tishman Review is available for purchase. Among the works included in this issue is my poem “Postlude.”
I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to The TIshman Review and I am looking forward to reading this edition from cover to cover.
An Update About Me.
in Acceptances
I have been so focused on posting resources lately that I haven’t talked very much about my writing. But there are good things happening behind the curtain and many more coming down the pipeline.
I do have a desk drawer and gmail inbox filled with rejection notices. Despite that fact, I have work forthcoming in The Talking Stick, Alchemy, Switched-on-Gutenberg, Opossum, and Birch Gang Review.
2016 has been pretty enjoyable so far from a writing standpoint and I am hoping to make it even better as it progresses on. Be good.
30 Non-Fiction Books a Well-Rounded Person Should Read
Bookmarked for future use: Paul Nowak from Iris Reading has compiled a great list of 30 Non-Fiction Books a Well-Rounded Person Should Read.
As a person who devours reading material, I sometimes wonder if there are books I’ve missed that can help in my never-ending quest to become better-rounded. At a glance, this list can be a great place to start. I was happy to see I’ve already read some of these. I see the value in spending some time with the others and maybe even revisiting ones that I studied previously. Happy reading!
Remembering Prince.
From Electric Literature: Catherine LaSota asks authors to reflect on Prince.
http://electricliterature.com/dearly-beloved-authors-pay-tribute-to-prince/
Counterintuitive advice.
A plea for writers to please stop thinking: an interview with Kathryn Harrison by Joe Fassler.
One great quote from this interview: “And I don’t sit there waiting for that perfect, beautiful sentence, because I know I’m going to sit there forever.” So true, so true.
For the Kids.
Wondering how to get kids more interested in poetry? Then this article is for you: 7 Playful Tactics To Get Kids Writing Poetry.
Obsidian.
in Publications
I just received my copy of Obsidian 41.1 & 41.2 and it looks like it will be a great read.
Obsidian is a premier peer reviewed journal of African and African Diasporic arts and letters published at the Illinois State University Publications Unit.
Thanks to Obsidian Magazine for including my poem “For the Tattooed Woman at Lefty’s Tap” in this issue. Appreciate the support and chance to contribute.
More Suggested Reading.
From The Culture, and perfect for National Poetry Month: 11 Poetry Collections by Black Writers Everyone Should Read.
http://theculture.forharriet.com/2016/04/11-poetry-collections-by-black-writers.html#axzz45nyIuYzd
Portage Magazine.
in Publications
I’m happy to announce that I have two poems included in the Issue #2 of Portage Magazine, an online literary journal run and edited by undergraduate students of Carroll University.
Portage publishes literary writing, art, music, film, and cultural commentary from the upper Midwest. Thanks to the editorial staff for the chance to contribute.
If you get a chance, check out “Is This Heaven?” and “Cabin Fever” at: https://portagemagazine.org/adrian-potter/
Another NPM Resource.
We are partway through National Poetry Month, but here's another NPM resource that's definitely worth sharing: the daily BoneSpark blog round-up posts. These posts are awesome. They round up the best writing prompts they found for the day, as well as poems and relevant articles.
Suggested Reading.
From Off the Beaten Shelf – Check out this list of 6 lit mags you should be reading. If you are an avid reader, this is worth checking out.
Protect Yourself Against “Non Writing”
From Poets & Writers: Rita Mae Reese discusses how to fight off “non-writing,” which she likens to a virus. Interesting quick read.
Why Writers Run.
Since I’m training for a race in early June (and maybe another one later in the summer), this one hits home for me - The Atlantic‘s Nick Ripatrazone looks at why writers run. I definitely agree with the sentiment that, “the steady accumulation of miles mirrors the accumulation of pages...”
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/11/why-writers-run/415146/
About Writing Prompts.
In this interesting AWP article, Leslie Pietrzyk describes a group-oriented prompt-writing practice.
Bound?
Are writers of color bound to the race narrative?
Jeffery Renard Allen and others weigh in at The Guardian.
How Most Writers Get Screwed.
The Lulu Fund did the math and the theory is fact – writers who are not part of academia don’t always get the fairest shake in the literary world. Considering that I am one of those writers outside the campus gates, I found this article to be quite interesting.
Speed Reading.
The Wall Street Journal has a test to see how quickly you read. Find out your results, then use their helpful tips to become even quicker.
http://projects.wsj.com/speedread/
Then check out this article: Lifehacker’s Patrick Allan teaches how to read an entire book in one day.
http://lifehacker.com/how-to-read-an-entire-book-in-a-single-day-1749070044
Hey, life is short. If you can read faster, then you can read more. And that is a very good thing.
Jumpstart Your Poetry Endeavors During National Poetry Month.
In case you don’t know….April is National Poetry Month (NPM). And no, that is not an April Fool’s Joke.
In fact, this April marks the 20th anniversary of NPM, which was initiated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996. Over the years, NPM has become a large literary celebration with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets all celebrating poetry’s place in society.
Many writers use National Poetry Month as a motivator to write more poetry. Below I list a number of sites that could help you infuse your poetry practice with new energy during NPM.
Some sites encourage writers to share the poems that the prompts help generate. I personally avoid that step, for two reasons. For one, something I freewrite in response to a daily prompt is not ready to be shared immediately. And second, (and I admit this might be a little paranoid) I want to protect the "unpublished" status of my work so I can freely submit it elsewhere in the future. That’s my two cents to consider.
And with that said, here are some potential sources for poetic inspiration during April:
Poetic Asides PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge:
http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2016-april-pad-challenge-guidelines
Shade 30FOR30 Poetry Prompt Challenge:
http://lutherxhughes.com/2016/03/28/30for30-poetry-prompt-challenge/
NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month):
thirty//thirty:
Poetry Super Highway Prompt-A-Day for National Poetry Month:
http://poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/a-poetry-writing-prompt-a-day/
Poetry Writing Workshops from Mslexia:
https://mslexia.co.uk/workshop/poetry-writing-workshops/
(Note: This is from a previous year. I don't know if new prompts will be offered in 2016, but the archive is a resource itself.)
30/30 Prompts at Asterisk and Sidebar*
http://nicolehomer.tumblr.com/
The Time is Now (year-round resource of excellent writing prompts offered by Poets & Writers):
http://www.pw.org/writing-prompts-exercises
Happy National Poetry Month to all!