Poetry Friday: Show Your Work
Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is at Karen Edmisten’s blog.
Show Your Work
At the end of 2021, I decided to reread SHOW YOUR WORK by Austin Kleon. I’m a big fan of his work. Even though I’d read it before, this time, I knew it was time to take action. I decided to do more to “show my work” and to really dive in MORE to my poetry.
I was hesitant.
I had imposter syndrome.
I was afraid I’d fail.
But I decided to start by sharing some work with a few close friends and people in the industry (agent, editors) who already liked my work. I created a calendar with my photos and haiku and gave them as New Year’s Gifts.
Then I started creating postcards with my photos and haiku. My goal was to send them out quarterly to writing friends. I started small. Then I began to add people to my list.
I also dove into Poetry Friday posts. Many, many years ago, I did Poetry Friday posts. But I was afraid. Would I be able to do a weekly post? Would I have enough of my own work to share? There was only one way to find out.
I’ve kept up my daily haiku habit and that has given me enough haiku to choose from for my Poetry Friday posts and my postcards.
I took poetry classes from Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. I committed to a weekly poetry group in Inked Voices called “The Nevermores.” I took a poetry class with Inked Voices.
I had two poems published in anthologies.
I have produced a lot.
So what have I learned?
I get better with practice. This seems obvious, but truly, I’m a better poet now than I was a year ago.
The community is so encouraging. The Poetry Friday community has been so welcoming! My writing friends have sent me encouraging messages that they love receiving snail mail in a world of junk mail and bills.
I don’t know where my “Show Your Work” challenge will lead. But I want to keep writing poetry. And I want to keep being a part of the poetry community.
I continued my haiku calendar tradition for 2023, and I’ve decided to give one away. If you are interested in winning a calendar, enter into the rafflecopter below. All of the haiku and photos on the calendar are by me and none of them have been published as postcards or on my Poetry Friday posts. They’ve never been seen before.
If you want to get in on the occasional poetry postcard mailing list, sign up here.
Haiku of the Week
in the downpour
leaves become gutters—
storm in a drop
Photo & Haiku © 2022 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Haiku Moments Playlist
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What I’m Reading
by Ada Calhoun
I just finished listening to this book on audio. It’s a memoir and Ada Calhoun talks about her father, Peter Schjeldahl, who was trying to write a biography of the poet Frank O’Hara.
The audio version of this book is fascinating because it incorporates the original tapes that her father recorded when he was doing his research. It also is a fascinating frame for a memoir–the relationship with her father and his relationship to work he never got to complete.
20 Comments
Rose Cappelli
Your posts are always inspirational to me, Marcie. I’m continually amazed at how you jump feet first with gusto into a project. You’ve got me thinking about how I might revitalize my writing life in 2023. And thanks again for the beautiful calendar.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
You are so welcome, Rose! Here’s to more poetry with the Nevermores in 2023!
Carol Labuzzetta
Marcie, I applaud you for your efforts with poetry this year. I think it’s hard to put one’s self out there. I’m a writer by nature but not formal training. This leads me to doubt myself. However, I have continued to search for supportive poetry groups (Poetry Friday is one) and this year published my own poetry chapbook. I see my growth as a poet as well. Putting it out there is important. It’s led to more opportunities and an increase in confidence. In 2021, I participated in the first, “We” book by Wong and Vardell. It was a great experience and led to my being an indie publisher. I have a ton of ideas, just need to work on them. Best of luck to you – You have accomplished a lot!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much! I just read that “Imposters don’t get imposter syndrome.” We all suffer from that imposter syndrome!
Susan
Marcie, you’ve accomplished a lot! I really enjoy reading what all you’ve done and I enjoy the haikus! Congratulations on the publications. I read Also a Poet earlier this year, and thought it was great. And felt more than a little sympathy for Ada. Listening to it audiobook would be a cool experience.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I definitely had sympathy for Ada! The audio was very interesting!
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Your discipline and creativity inspire me, Marcie! The Nevermores is one of the best things I did this year, too. So glad to share that space, Poetry Friday, IV, and the Pomelo Book family with you. Here’s to 2023!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Same here! I’m so glad I took the plunge with the Nevermores! What a great group!
Mary Lee Hahn
You learned from your commitment to writing what I learned from my commitment to embroidery: consistent practice along with a public goal produce measurable improvement! I have loved coming along on your journey through your Poetry Friday posts and look forward to the 2023 writing you will share with us!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It’s so true! I mean, I knew that practice would make me better, but I did so much of the practice in private. Thank you for your encouragement!
Margaret Simon
I love receiving your postcards. Your writing is such a gift. I, too, made a haiku calendar this year. I will consider keeping the monthly habit up so I’m ready to make another one next year. This one took two years to make. I love how you are bravely getting your words out there. Keep on! You are an inspiration!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Margaret! Your calendar is on its way to you! Happy new year!
JoAnn Early Macken
I, too, have been learning (and relearning!) the lesson about getting better with consistent practice. For me, 2022 was a year of taking classes, which helped a lot and also provided helpful deadlines. I’m hoping to plunge back in to Poetry Friday, too. Good luck to you!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I love taking classes! I have LEARNER and INPUT in my top 5 strengths (StrengthsFinders) and I’m all about ALL the classes.
Linda KulpTrout
Every time I share my poems, I get very nervous. Imposter syndrome keeps me from sharing more. Your post today is an inspiration for me to take a risk and share more often. I took several poetry classes in 2022 and plan to take more in the coming year. I learn something new from each one. Your poems and photographs are lovely, keep sharing! xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Linda! Thank you for the encouragement!
Molly Hogan
This is such an inspirational post. It’s wonderful to read how you stuck with your goal and how it impacted your world. Congratulations on your publications and on a productive, creative year. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to focus my efforts going forward, and I really appreciate this post as part of that process.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Molly! Yes, this the time of year I get most reflective and I really need to start thinking about next year’s goals.
Karen Edmisten
I always love reading about another writer’s process and in this case, it was fun to read about your process of showing your work and growing. You nailed a message that we all need to remind ourselves of all the time: we get better (at everything!) with practice. Committing to the practice is a huge percentage of the battle. Yay for you in 2022! And raising a glass to raising the stakes in 2023!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Practice–regular practice–is HUGE! Here’s to 2023!