Writing the Life Poetic

"The Life Poetic iPoem Contest" deadline extended to November 1!

Sage Cohen, author of Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry (Writer's Digest Books, 2009) invites you to submit up to three poems that express the spirit of "the life poetic" to "The Life Poetic iPoem Contest" by November 1. Sage will be choosing 365 poems for inclusion in an iPhone app that features a poem a day for a year.

Following are the prizes and submission guidelines:

ENTER TO WIN:

First prize (value of more than $295)

• Free tuition in an upcoming Poetry for the People online class with Sage Cohen (non-transferable)

• Signed copies of three books by Sage Cohen: WRITING THE LIFE POETIC: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry, THE PRODUCTIVE WRITER: Tips & Tools for Writing More, Stressing Less and Creating Success, and LIKE THE HEART, THE WORLD poetry collection.

Second prize (value of more than $125)

• A review of your 10-page poetry manuscript + 1/2 hour editorial consult with Sage Cohen

• Signed copies of three books by Sage Cohen: WRITING THE LIFE POETIC: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry, THE PRODUCTIVE WRITER: Tips & Tools for Writing More, Stressing Less and Creating Success, and LIKE THE HEART, THE WORLD poetry collection.

Life Poetic prize (exposure = priceless!)

I will choose 365 winning poems, including first and second prize winners, to be published in the "Life Poetic" iPhone app, which will feature one poem per day and give users a panoramic experience of the "life poetic". Winners will receive one free copy of the "Life Poetic" iPhone app.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Poem specs:

• Please submit up to three unpublished poems.
  
• Each poem should have NO MORE THAN 20 lines.
• Poems should express the poet's interpretation of the theme "The Life Poetic."

Submissions specs:

• Submission should be a single Word doc that includes: cover letter + one poem per page (for a maximum total of four pages).
• Please include your name, email address, phone number and birthday (Month and day) on every poem.
• Cover letter should include one URL you'd like to appear as a bio credit after your name.
• Please name Word doc with your first/last name. For example, mine would be: sagecohen.doc.
• Send submissions to: Sage(at)sagesaidso(dot)com. You will receive confirmation within 48 hours of receipt.
• One submission of up to three poems per poet, please.

Deadlines:

• NEW DEADLINE: Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. PST on November 1, 2010. 
• Winners will be announced by January 1, 2011.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please ask them in the "comments" section here, and I will answer them for everyone. I can't wait to read your poems!

You're invited to submit to the "The Life Poetic iPoem Contest"!

With the advent of the iPhone, a whole new world of iPoetry is possible. I'm excited to dip my pen into those waters, and I hope you'll join me!

Welcome to the "Life Poetic iPoem Contest"! You are officially invited to submit up to three, unpublished poems that you feel represent the spirit of "the life poetic" for consideration. I'll be choosing my favorite 365 for inclusion in a "Life Poetic" iPhone app that features a poem a day for a year. 

Following are the prizes and submission guidelines:

ENTER TO WIN:

First prize (value of more than $295)

• Free tuition in the September Poetry for the People online class with Sage Cohen (non-transferable)

• Signed copies of three books by Sage Cohen: WRITING THE LIFE POETIC: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry, THE PRODUCTIVE WRITER: Tips & Tools for Writing More, Stressing Less and Creating Success, and LIKE THE HEART, THE WORLD poetry collection.

Second prize (value of more than $125)

• A review of your 10-page poetry manuscript + 1/2 hour editorial consult with Sage Cohen

• Signed copies of three books by Sage Cohen: WRITING THE LIFE POETIC: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry, THE PRODUCTIVE WRITER: Tips & Tools for Writing More, Stressing Less and Creating Success, and LIKE THE HEART, THE WORLD poetry collection.

Life Poetic prize (exposure = priceless!)

I will choose 365 winning poems, including first and second prize winners, to be published in the "Life Poetic" iPhone app, which will feature one poem per day and give users a panoramic experience of the "life poetic". Winners will receive one free copy of the "Life Poetic" iPhone app.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Poem specs:

• Please submit up to three unpublished poems.
  
• Each poem should have NO MORE THAN 20 lines.
• Poems should express the poet's interpretation of the theme "The Life Poetic."

Submissions specs:

• Submission should be a single Word doc that includes: cover letter + one poem per page (for a maximum total of four pages).
• Please include your name, email address, phone number and birthday (Month and day) on every poem.
• Cover letter should include one URL you'd like to appear as a bio credit after your name.
• Please name Word doc with your first/last name. For example, mine would be: sagecohen.doc.
• Send submissions to: Sage(at)sagesaidso(dot)com. You will receive confirmation within 48 hours of receipt.
• One submission per poet, please.

Deadlines:

• NEW DEADLINE: Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. PST on August 8, 2010. 
• Winners will be announced by October 16, 2010.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please ask them in the "comments" section here, and I will answer them for everyone. I can't wait to read your poems!

Make the most of National Poetry Month!

Happy National Poetry Month! Throughout April, good folks like you and I will be coming together to celebrate poetry through readings, events, lectures, and celebrations. Whether you are a practicing poet or simply curious about the possibilities of poetry, April is an ideal time to prime your poetry pump, connect with other people who love poetry, and find fun, new ways to tune into (and write) the poetry of your life. Here are a few ideas and a bunch of free stuff I'm offering to get you going.

GET A DAILY TIP FOR CULTIVATING YOUR POETRY AND PUBLISHING PRACTICE

Every day this month, Reading Local Portland will be featuring a daily tip from yours truly about cultivating your poetic lens, lifestyle and language. You'll find tips on craft, publishing, online resources, community-building, poetry prompts and more.

TAKE THE POEM-A-DAY CHALLENGE

National Poetry Month is the perfect time to put your poetic pedal to the metal and start burning some rubber -- in the company of many thousands of other poets who are doing the same. I dare you to write -- and share -- a poem a day! Details about daily prompts and sharing your work here.

COMMIT TO YOUR CRAFT: SIGN UP FOR A POETRY CLASS

If you're ready to take your poetry to the next level, I'm ready to support you! In early May, I'll be offering Poetry for the People Levels 1 and 2. Get all the details and sign up now to reserve your place!

"Sage was able to respond to each poem (and poet) in a uniquely sensitive way, meeting the material (and its creator) exactly where it is. In other words, her responses show what living as a poet is all about. What a gift this is." -- Amanda H. 

I'll be posting student poems on my blog throughout the month to celebrate their work and their commitment to the life of poetry.

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF POETRY FOR UNDER $20!

Want a friendly, informative, fun guide to writing and publishing poetry? I've written a creative companion to take you there! Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry (Writer's Digest Books, 2009). 

And for a straight-up shot of coming-of-age, on the rocks, you are invited to experience my poetry collection, Like the Heart, the World.

ATTEND MY FREE, TWO-HOUR POETRY WORKSHOP (by podcast)

On March 2, I gave a poetry workshop on The Inkwell. In this two-hour poetry workshop-meets-contemplation of the life poetic-meets interview, I covered so much poetic ground that my voice nearly gave out.

And now, you can listen any time you want -- for free. Get comfortable at your computer with a pen and paper, and join me in my longest monologue yet about how to tune into the poetry of your life (and get it down on the page).

Be prepared for five sets of poem-triggering prompts throughout the conversation to ignite your poetry pilot light -- or keep it burning bright.

RADIO INTERVIEW ABOUT THE LIFE OF POETRY

On March 30, I joined radio host Nyla Alysia on The Inkwell Radio Show to talk about the life of poetry -- writing, submitting, editing, publishing, productivity and more -- and answered listener questions on the air. You can tune in any time to the podcast archive of our conversation.

FIND THE PROSPERITY IN YOUR LIFE POETIC

I have a new article in Read Write Poem titled "Shifting Our Lens from Poverty to Prosperity." I hope you enjoy it -- and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.

COME BACK AND VISIT, Y'HEAR?

I'll be posting a variety of resources, poems and more throughout the month. And I'm always happy to hear from you. Come back any time and let me know how your National Poetry Month is treating you!

Wishing you a wildly productive and prolific creative adventure this month -- and always.

See 12 Oregon authors bare more than their souls in the 2010 OWC calendar

Calendar Girls, move over! The Oregon Writers Colony just released a 2010 calendar featuring 12 Oregon authors exposing themselves to literature. And I (gulp), along with my in-utero son Theo, am one of them!

Created to benefit the Colonyhouse Accessibility Campaign, the calendar features a series of tender, sexy, hilarious, thought-provoking and exquisitely rendered photos in which writers bare far more than their souls!

Photographed by the magnificent Eric Griswold (whom I promptly hired to for my own personal photo session after seeing his work for this project) and coordinated by Writing the Life Poetic Zine columnist Shawn Sorensen, the OWC calender features the following in-the-buff authors: Mark Acito, Larry Brooks, Peter Carlin, Sage Cohen, Robert Dugoni, Cai Emmons, Julie Fast, Shanna Germain, Elizabeth Lyon (pictured above), Steve Perry, Jennie Shortridge and Daniel Wilson. And boy do they look good!

Why this calendar?

For over twenty-five years, Oregon Writers Colony has offered workshops, retreats, conferences, author readings and comraderie to Northwest writers. Colonyhouse, a log house in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, provides OWC-member writers, writing groups and teachers a supportive learning and writing environment.

The Colonyhouse exterior and interior are accessible only by long, high-rise staircases. Workshops, meetings and other activities are not accessible to visitors and members with physical difficulties. Its goal is to make Colonyhouse accessible to all. With sufficient funds, they will add an annex for an interior elevator, accessible rooms, and bring the Colonyhouse up to current ADA codes.

You can help! Buy an Oregon Writers Colony 2010 calendar and make literary learning accessible to all. Literature has never been so...revealing.

We appreciate your support!

Write a review. Win a book.

I am so grateful for your kind and enthusiastic feedback about Writing the Life Poetic. It makes my day every time I hear from readers that my intentions for the book are being realized in your hands! Now I'd like to invite you to share your feedback with a wider audience.

Online reviews are one of the most powerful ways to support the authors and books you enjoy. Describing your experience of Writing the Life Poetic can help others decide if it's the right book for them. The more favorable reviews, the more a book is likely to sell.

If you'd be willing to make your praise public, I'd be delighted to send you a free book! Check out these great places to share a review: amazon.com, powells.com, barnesandnoble.com, goodreads, shelfari, LibraryThing. The first five folks to notify me (via the comments in this post) that they've posted reviews on at least three of these sites will win a free copy of my poetry collection, Like the Heart, the World. (To keep it fast and easy, you can write a single paragraph and post it in three places!)

I can't thank you enough for your support!

Send your favorite love poem and qualify to win Writing the Life Poetic!

I've always loved Ted Kooser's tradition of mailing a valentine poem every year to his friends and family. It was my plan to do such a thing this year for the first time. But then I gave birth to my newest, drooliest dear valentine and the best-laid plans went into the diaper bin! Instead, I thought I'd celebrate here, with you!



Have a favorite love poem? Send it to me at sage@sagesaidso.com by midnight on February 13 and qualify to win a free copy of my book, Writing the Life Poetic: An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry. I'll choose my favorite and post the winner right here on Valentine's Day. Then as soon as Writing the Life Poetic is available in April, I'll mail a copy to the winner.

Thanks for playing and happy Valentine's Day!