Writing the Life Poetic

The grace of acronyms (and the life poetic), brought to you by Laura Loescher

THE LIFE POETIC and the POETIC LIFE in acronyms

By Laura Loescher

 
 Trust
 Human
 Evolution
 
 Love
 Is
 Flowing
 Endlessly
 
 People
 Of
 Earth
 Travel
 Into
 Consciousness
 
 
 
 Laura’s
 Intuition
 Follows
 Every
 
 Possibility
 Of
 Endless
 Truth
 In
 Creation
 
 
 Presence
 Offers
 Every
 Trouble
 Into
 Compassionate
 
 Loving
 Inquiry
 For
 Enlightenment
 
 Presence
 Opens
 Each
 Time
 I
 Can
 
 Lean
 Into the
 Fluidity of
 Everything
 

Theo helps Snow Pea blow her nose

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.

Get your free, two-hour poetry workshop here!

"I am truly grateful for your giving spirit and all you do for the craft and to encourage us to grow not only in our art but towards our potential." -- JV

This afternoon, I joined the fabulous Nyla Alisia on her show, The Inkwell at blogtalkradio.

The Inkwell offers writers help and advice in taking their work from page to publication. 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.

Against writing advice

"It's not possible to advise a young writer because every young writer is so different. You might say, 'Read,' but a writer can read too much and be paralyzed. Or, 'Don't read, don't think, just write,' and the result could be a mountain of drivel. If you're going to be a writer you'll probably take a lot of wrong turns and then one day just end up writing something you have to write, then getting it better and better just because you want it to be better, and even when you get old and think 'There must be something else people do,' you won't quite be able to quit." -- Alice Munro

(Thanks to Kim Klugh for turning me on to this one!)

Mari L'Esperance on How a Poem Happens

I just read a fabulous interview of Mari L'Esperance on the blog How a Poem Happens. In it, L'Esperance talks about revisions, inspiration, "received" language, versus "pot scrubbing," fact versus fiction, writing for an audience and so much more. It's an inspiring, engaging read that has me pondering my own process and its influence on my poems. Check it out!

The life, not the writing

"A fully lived life is rich with material to write about—the writing always comes from the life. People who can't find much to write about aren't living deeply enough. The problem is the life, not the writing."   —Michael Ventura

(Another piece of wisdom from Mari L'Esperance!)

Introducing the Writing the Life Poetic e-Zine!

I am thrilled to introduce the Writing the Life Poetic e-Zine, a monthly publication chock full of information and inspiration to keep your poetry fires burning bright! Writing the Life Poetic e-Zine brings you the wisdom and wit of the following  superstar contributors: Brittany Baldwin, Dale Favier, Sara Guest, Jenn Lalime, Christopher Luna, Toni Partington and yours truly! Each of these beautiful writers will offer a monthly gem exploring some dimension of poetry writing, living and community-building.

Writing the Life Poetic e-Zine will launch in April, in celebration of National Poetry Month! Each contributor's column will be featured here throughout the month--and every month after. Plus, you can subscribe to receive the complete monthly zine in your email box every month! To get yours, just enter your email address in the top right column where it says: "Sign up for our e-mail newsletter."

We look forward to writing and living the life poetic with you! 

Introducing "The Articulate Conception" column

In 2008, I became an author and a mom. While birthing my book and my baby at the same time, I got a crash course in life as a writer mama. In The Writer Mama Zine published by The Writer Mama Christina Katz, I'll be writing a monthly column this year titled "The Articulate Conception" that chronicles the trajectory of my mixed-media twins from the twinkle in my eye to the bags under my eyes.

Find out what happens in the first, "Planting the Seeds" installment of my journey toward publishing, partnership and parenthood. Then, if you like what you read, you can sign up to receive each monthly episode by email. The Writer Mama Zine is chock full of great writing, publishing, career-enhancing and community-building tips and resources for writer mamas.