First drafts, journalling, notes,

Lately I've been working on my new poetry collection and to kick start the base load of 50 poems, I've been snatching my old journals off the book shelf and flicking pages, seeing if lines or ideas jump up at me.

Every time I do this I make a mental note to write more in my current journal- I can't believe the little gems just waiting to be discovered again.  Of course not everything I write has a future in permanent ink, but its the cardiac workout to something in the near future which might attain that dizzy height.

I also read collections of poems for children/adults/text books on poetry and try my hand at different styles of writing also.  But there is nothing like observation, being outside allowing one's senses to be open to the palette of micro and macro happenings that make up a day.

Lately I've even collected little gifts to record in my journal.  And yes there is a poem attached to it- but that one is currently on my editor's desk.

There is no substitute for sitting and writing- it's the delectable surprise that comes, the joy of seeing the world in a tiny shard.   How do you garner ideas?

Month of Poetry

Last year I joined Kathryn Apel's site for a whole month of writing one poem each day for the month of January.  And this year I joined again.

I need to write many poems for my next collection- this is just the impetus I need.  To date I have written every day- although not every day has resulted in a workable poem but most days have unearthed treasure, and some days two poems have emerged.

I've gone back to some of my writing journals over the years, to see if I can rework that initial spark that set pen to paper; looked over my considerable supply of articles and ideas about writing poetry and the magic of disciplined writing has emerged.

Sometimes it amazes me that over the years, a thread of an idea keeps surfacing in different guises until I conquer it in a poem that satisfies me.

I haven't shared any poems on the blog because my publisher this time wants the poems to be all unpublished- so here's to a new writing spree-I'm approaching the 40 poem mark need to read 60...

I'm hoping my hard work will result in my third collection with Walker.  More poems for my grandchildren to read!

And a huge thanks to Kat!!