Dear Poets,
I am determined to get out another summer missive before we start swimming in all the ‘summer is going too fast’ ‘where did it go’ kinds of posts. It is still summer — and early August at that. I hope you’re enjoying cool drinks, ripe fruit, perhaps a wade into a body of water. And, of course, making space for your own writing.
One marker I do feel aware of is being just past the midpoint of the year. I’ve been thinking about what writing milestone I’d like to reach before the calendar flips — comment below or hit ‘reply’ and let me know what you are reaching for.
I’ve moved into doing more one on one editing and coaching this year but am contemplating offering a fall class. Do tell! Would you take it? What times/themes appeal? I am mulling over offerings but would love to hear from you what works best.
Meanwhile, the perennial student myself, I am gearing up for a week at UCLA’s Rare Book School — very excited! And was happy to write about Barbie for Ms. magazine. The articles about the film are flying fast and furious. I’ve been thrilled to see the film get such a strong response.
Kudos to former students Emily Bernhardt and Sally Kreuger-Wyman for attending the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference this year. And one-time student, Donna Metz, for speaking on the First Books Panel!
A special shoutout to Writing Workshops LA founder, Edan Lepucki, whose newest book Time’s Mouth just launched this past week to incredible acclaim. Her book is on this LAT list of “Ten books to add to your reading list in August” and it was total delight to see her profiled in the NYT this weekend!
Sharing with you:
I couldn’t make it to Beyond Baroque to see Ilya Kaminsky and Katie Farris read last night (though I tried to watch the livestream on their YouTube channel, guessing it will post later), but a second chance is coming round tomorrow. They will be reading at Chevalier’s Books at 6:00 in Larchmont Village on Monday 8/7.
I just caught the tale end of the WWS Latina Writers Conference this afternoon. Very glad to hear the recordings will make their way to the Women Who Submit YouTube channel.
You all know about The Sealey Challenge, don’t you? Invented by poet Nicole Sealey in 2017, she challenged herself to read a book of poetry every day in August and posted on social media with #TheSealeyChallenge. It’s been a thing ever since. Here are some FAQs, a suggested reading list, a downloadable bingo card, and a link to a downloadable certificate. If you email your list, they will then email back a gold seal.
I kvell for Carla Sameth and Peter J. Harris — Altadena’s two current poet laureates who were just named 2023 Poet Laureate Fellows by the Academy of American Poets. They will have $50,000 to use for programming. Prime your calendars for their 2023-24 season premiere event at the Altadena Library on August 30th from 6-8:00 p.m. I plan to be there.
I greatly admire the work of Terrance Hayes — as a poet, thinker, and visual artist. I enjoyed this interview with him (“A Sacred Unusual Space”) in Teachers & Writers and didn’t realize he has not one but two books just out this past July. So to Speak is his new poetry collection; Watch Your Language: Visual and Literary Reflections on a Century of American Poetry “charts a lyrical geography of reading and influence in poetry. Illustrated micro-essays, graphic book reviews, biographical prose poems, and nonfiction sketches….”
Since I’ve taught the ‘burning haibun,’ invented by torrin a. greathhouse, I was glad to read their essay: “Writing from the Ashes: On the Burning Haibun; On the generative failures within a text.”
Here is a call on Twitter to give a lecture for the Annulet Lecture Series this fall on “any topic within poetics, reading, research, or writing.” There is an honorarium — apply by August. 15th.
Don’t miss the opportunity to apply to be a mentee through AWP’s Writer to Writer Mentorship program. I was a mentor several years ago and loved it! Still in close touch with my mentee, now friend. Deadline August 15th.
AWP is also offering an HBCU Fellowship Program — deadline August 31st.
I never knew C.D. Wright’s work well but was grateful to hear Forrest Gander (her widower) speak about her when I attended the Napa Writers’ Conference a few years ago. This Zoom lecture series looks like a wonderful, intensive way to understand her legacy, “The Community of Writers is offering ‘a five-week intensive series on the life and work of poet CD Wright taught by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Forrest Gander and Griffin Poetry Prize-winning poet Brenda Hillman.’” August 31 – September 28: 4 pm- 6-pm (Pacific).
Finally, the NYT seems to love to come out with articles like this regularly: “Why Does God Keep Making Poets?” Why, NYT?
But this NYT review (“Blaise Cendrars at the Morgan: A Modern Match of Poetry and Painting”) of the show “Blaise Cendrars (1887–1961): Poetry Is Everything,” at the Morgan Library makes me want to jump on a plane immediately.
As ever, I hope to hear from you! ✍️ Happy August.☀️
Thank you for the shout-out!