I submitted four poems today! I have been avoiding submissions lately, but a friend told me that another poet she knows counts her rejections, and tries to get at least 100 per year. That is a lot of rejections, so I think I will aim for 50 before the end of December.

The class I am teaching is so much fun! My students are very willing to try anything, enthusiastic, and vulnerable. This makes my job so much easier; I don't feel like I need to drag anything out of them. We have our 2nd meeting next week and I can't wait to see what they've been up to!

Enjoy your week!

Peace & Love,
Erin

Another batch of poems submitted! I feel a sense of relief that I have some poems out in the world, being read and considered for publication.

I started teaching a workshop here in Bemidji last week. We are reading Ted Kooser's Poetry Home Repair Manual and using a ton of writing prompts to draft new work. One member of the class will be performing in a poetry slam to be held in a couple of weeks. I am excited to see him perform some of his more rhythmic poems.

April is National Poetry Month.

Peace & Love,
Erin

My first batch of poems for 2017 has been submitted! When I looked back at 2016, it indicated I only submitted once. Submissions are a numbers game, so I know that I need to just keep sending them out. I am sending out a lot of disability/sexuality poems right now and hope I can find a worthy home for those deeply intimate poems.
Spring weather is on its way to Bemidji! It is supposed to be in the high forties, so I suspect we will be spending some time outside as a family. The little kitty, Izola, will get her open windows soon.

Peace & Love,
Erin

I often feel that I am not a real poet. I do not give myself permission to spend time working on my craft, which causes anxiety and depression. I am a perfectionist, which means I am fearful of vulnerability and use that fear as an excuse to not put myself out there as a poet.

This time of my life is over.

There will be poetry every day in some form. The only specific commitment I am making at this time is to submit work on Mondays. Publishing is something I have thought and worried about for a long time, so the time has come to just do it. Yes, I am afraid.I will submit anyway. This is the only way to move through the fear and conquer it. I am terrified of coming to the end of my life and realizing I didn't accomplish anything. I don't need to be the best and brightest poet out there. What I want is to know that I tried and that my nieces and nephews saw me work for what I wanted.

My goal is to create a life in poetry, but I need to develop it slowly if I am to succeed. For now I will post on Mondays after submitting my work and build from there. I hope to acquire some readers for this blog, so stay tuned!

Peace & Love,
Erin

I am late wishing you all a happy 2017! A new year always brings resolutions and most people abandon them by February. It is human nature to want to do and be better, to become the best versions of ourselves. In the beginning we are hopeful and perhaps over commit, taking on more than we can handle. I have learned that breaking things down into smaller, more manageable pieces can improve my chances of being successful. I don't need to make huge, sweeping changes on January 1st. I can start small and build from there.

1. I have taken on a secret project that must be completed by April 1st and I am determined to to stay on track so I don't have to cram in the last few weeks. I will work on this project daily with the intention to finish a couple of weeks early.

2.  I will work up to walking 30 minutes five days a week.

3.  I will have my full-length poetry manuscript completed by March 1st. A friend has generously agreed to check in with me weekly to help me stay on track. I have procrastinated putting this together because of a fear of rejection. I have prepared myself for the inevitable rejections and know they are not a reflection of my talent or abilities.

I had to put my sweet kitty, Emma, to sleep right after Christmas. It was hard, but I know it was the right thing to do, as she was suffering. She was with me through some of the most difficult moments of my adult life. There were times when knowing that she needed me to care for her was what got me out of bed in the morning. She was a good girl and I will miss her.

A lovely, affectionate orange kitty came to live with me recently. Emma was a bit standoffish, so Izola's need to cuddle has been a comfort. Izola is playful--most mornings I wake to all her toys at the end of my bed!

Peace & Love,

Erin