Kelli Russell Agodon's Blog, page 23

So Many Poets Participating in the BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY, I Ran Out of Alphabet! Here's the list:

WIn free poetry books by going to these blogs and leaving a comment.Happy National Poetry Month!

BLOGS PARTICIPATING IN THE BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY!A. Kelli Russell Agodon: Book of KellsB. Susan Rich: The Alchemist's KitchenC. Deborah Kate Hammond: Woman of a Certain AgeD. Karen J Weyant: Fussings from A Rust Belt WriterE. Erin Coughlin Hollowell: Being PoetryF. Donna Vorreyer: Put Words Together; Make MeaningG. Rebecca Loudon: Calling Dr. BombayH. Jennifer LaVoie: RoomthilyI. Allyson Whipple:J. Margo Roby: WordgatheringK. Diane Kendig: Home AgainL. Laura E. Davis: Dear Outer SpaceM. Catherine Fitchett: Still Standing on her HeadN. Ruth Foley: Five ThingsO. Drew Myron: Off the PageP. Karen McDonnell: Read Write HereQ. Andrea Beltran: Poet TreeR. Martha Silano: Blue PositiveS. Jessie Carty: 58 InchesT. Mark Jay Brewin, Jr.: Livin' the DreamU. Elizabeth Austen: Washington Poet LaureateV. Joannie Stangeland: Poe-queryW. David Meckleburg: The HagengardX. Lexanne Leonard: To Create...Y. Jenn Solivais: Sparkly Poetic WeirdoZ. Kory Wells: Our Lady of the Spiral NotebookZa. Marianne MersereauZb. Rodney Wilder: I, MosaicZc. Molly Sutton Kiefer (Nestuary): maps + poetryZd. Joseph Harker: Naming ConstellationsZe. Stella PieridesZf. dani harris: my heart's love songs

To giveaway 2 books of poems on your own blog, go here: http://ofkells.blogspot.com/2014/03/big-poetry-giveaway-2014-celebrating.html

~ Kells
Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

Confession Tuesday: The Shallow Insecurities Edition

Dear Reader, 

It's been a couple weeks since my last confession. What does this mean? There's a lot to talk about and I've had a lot of insecurities lately, so if you have these (or any) insecurities also, you will know you are not alone...

To the confessional--

I confess, while I do like some of my photos, I tend not to like them until about a week or month or so has passed.  Only then can I look back at the image and not see myself, but some other person and maybe it's with time, I see myself as someone else and maybe I'm easier on her, I'm not sure.


On Sunday I had the opportunity to work with an amazing photographer named Kat St. John.  She's not only a photographer, but a makeup artist too.  The full-meal deal. 

I arrive with my hair a little ferryboat windblown and absolutely no makeup.  On the ferry, I kept thinking people were looking at me.  I wondered, "Is it because I look worse...or better?" This brought up insecurities that 1) I am a horror sans makeup  2) I do not know how to apply makeup so when I don't wear it, I look better and people are noticing.  

Either way, they were probably looking at me because I was carrying a men's suit onto the boat and a few other hangers of items I brought for the photoshoot.

Kat does my makeup and we went with something out of my comfort zone-- dark eyeliner and shadow.  This is good for me. I am routine and love my comfort zone (a lot).

I have a graduate degree, have cofounded a small press, kayaked with Orca whales, given birth, can do a handstand, I mountain bike down steep thin-trailed hills, and always choose the fastest line at a bank, but I cannot for the life of me, apply eyeshadow without making myself look as if I'm trying to out for the part of Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

We start to take photos, I am awkward at best, goofball at worst. I freeze up, I try to look casual, smart, sexy, interesting, alluring-- but my face always looks the same:  dorky and confused. 

Kat helps by directing me with what to do with my hands, which I had forgotten about. She is encouraging, funny, easy, and making me feel much more comfortable with myself.  I get better, by the end, I'm actually attempting to pose and almost *be* model-like, at least in spirit.

~

I confess in my rational mind, I know I'm not hideous or super ugly, but when I think about myself or look at photos I focus on the things I don't like.  

Like my nose.  It's broken.  And if we somehow get into a topic about broken noses, I will grab your hand and make you touch my nose so you can feel the bump.  Yes, that's weird. But I do it every time.  We may have just met and if you bring up broken noses, you are feeling my face.

But here's the thing, when I look at other people, I don't see any of that.  In fact, unless someone is a jerk or an ass to me or someone else, I have hard time *not* falling in love with them.  When I look at others, I tend to see beauty, and when I look at myself, I see a list of mistakes.

We talk about body dysmorphic disorder, that what we see in photographs or the mirror is not what others see. 

I have been doing this all my life.  



photo by Kat St. John

Kat takes beautiful photographs so I've had to look at myself with new eyes.  

I'm trying my best to this.  This is wonderful and painful at the same time. Why is it so hard to love ourselves ( says the poet switching into "we" because it's so much easier to say than "I").


~
Insecurities as Poet:

I had a book release reading which went wonderfully, over-the-top fantastic, standing-room-only-on-a-sunny-day!  Books sold! People came and said nice things.

A half-hour before the reading, I said, "What if nobody shows up?" 

I worry that no one likes/liked or will ever my work. Why would anyone come to see me?

~

I keep a long list of shallow insecurities.  

I can get this weird need for validation and not all the time, but every-so-often, and when it comes on full-force I think, "This is ridiculous to need this much acknowledgment." But there it is.  

I think part of it is being a writer/artist in the world.  
I think part of it is being human.

This want to be validated.
This you-are-amazing-and-talented! This you-have-so-much-to-offer!

But the worst feeling or need to be validated is wanting something, but not knowing what it is.  

Like being chosen for a play I didn't even know I was auditioning for, I sometimes yearn for that. Being picked out of a crowd. 

Maybe the spring and a little more sunshine will help the light shine through. Maybe I just need to be a little less hard on myself.  All things I'm trying to work on. 

We need to realize we are enough.

I know one way to help everything is gratitude.  Maybe that's what I need more of in my life. Maybe a more thankfulness all around.

Amen.

_________________


(P.S.  If you'd like, please feel free to add your own insecurities in comment section-- anonymous comments always welcome for those feeling shy).  It kind of feels good to say them out loud...









~ Kells


Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by Email

Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

14 Poets & Blogs Participating in the Big Poetry Giveaway: Win Free Poetry Books

 
Here's the updated list of blogs participating in the Big Poetry Giveaway.

If you want to learn about these poet bloggers and/or win the books they are giving away, click on the link and leave them a comment on their giveaway post to be entered.
If you want to giveaway 2 books of poems (one of yours and a favorite poet's book), go here to learn more about the BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY!


BLOGS PARTICIPATING IN THE BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY!A. Kelli Russell Agodon: Book of KellsB. Susan Rich: The Alchemist's KitchenC. Deborah Kate Hammond: Woman of a Certain AgeD. Karen J Weyant: Fussings from A Rust Belt WriterE. Erin Coughlin Hollowell: Being PoetryF. Donna Vorreyer: Put Words Together; Make MeaningG. Rebecca Loudon: Calling Dr. BombayH. Jennifer LaVoie: RoomthilyI. Allyson Whipple:J. Margo Roby: WordgatheringK. Diane Kendig: Home AgainL. Laura E. Davis: Dear Outer SpaceM. Catherine Fitchett: Still Standing on her HeadN. Ruth Foley: Five Things

~ Kells
Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

My Giveaway: Free Books for National Poetry Month! (Leave a comment to be included in the drawing!)

Welcome to the 5th Annual Big Poetry Book Giveaway 

on Book of Kells!

If you have a blog and would like to participate by giving away 2 favorite poetry books (or more!) on your blog, click here for more details.



MY BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY!(Leave a comment at the bottom of this post if you'd like to be in the drawing for any of these books...)


Book 1: HOURGLASS MUSEUM, by Kelli Russell Agodo n

The first book I'm giving away is my book, HOURGLASS MUSEUM (White Pine Press, 2014). 
It's a book that was written from me to you, and should be read in bed or in the bath. 








It's a book about the struggle of living a creative life and seeing our lives reflected back to us in art.

Some notes about it:  

The book came out a year earlier than planned.  Because of that, there are poems in it that make me feel self-conscious and a little vulnerable.  If I had a year to think about it, they may not have appeared.

A lot of poems focus on Frida Kahlo and on the way to a writing residency, I found this canvas of her which inspired a few poems.


___________________

BOOK TWO: NECESSITIES by Christopher Merrill






The second book of poems is a White Pine Press book by Christopher Merrill.

"Christopher Merrill is one of the few genuine men of letters left on our literary scene. He excels at everything--history, memoir, translation, poetry, and now Necessities."

This is his fourth collection of poems and he really explores narrative through the prose poem.

______________________


BOOK 3?!  Yes!

FIRE ON HER TONGUE: AN ANTHOLOGY 
OF CONTEMPORARY WOMEN'S POETRY

And while I know we only have to give out two books of poems, I also will offer this as it JUST came out in PRINT form:




Fire On Her Tongue: An Anthology of Contemporary Women's Poetry, edited by Kelli Russell Agodon and Annette Spaulding-Convy

It's an incredible collection of about 79 women poets who are writing today and is the very first eBook anthology of its kind!  

Poets in the collection include Jane Hirshfield, Dorianne Laux, Kim Addonizio, Natasha Saje', Aimee Nezhukumatathil, to name a few.  But there are many many more.  

It's a great anthology to help introduce you to new poets!

________________

BOOK 4? No way!  

Way. 

THE DAILY POET: DAY-BY-DAY PROMPTS 
FOR YOUR WRITING PRACTICE 

by Kelli Russell Agodon and Martha Silano







Martha Silano and I wrote The Daily Poet after spending many afternoons in coffeeshops where we brought each other writing prompts to write to.  We realized other people may find these useful as well, so we took what we had and added many more to create 366 writing prompts--one for EACH day of the year.

______________________________________________


An introduction:

Me at Dick's Drive In last week (chocolate shakes are my favorite)

I'm Kelli Russell Agodon, (aka Kells), the one who started this event for poets/poetry five years ago after being inspired by artists-who-blog who put together a similar giveaway in February.


Some things about me--

I am a poet, writer, and editor (in that order on my best day).

I cofounded an indie press with my friend Annette Spaulding-Convy called Two Sylvias Press.  

Our first project was anthology by women poets called Fire on her Tongue: An Anthology of Contemporary Women's Poetry, which is now available both as a PRINT or eBook.

Since then Two Sylvias Press has published these print and eBooks:

The Daily Poet: Day-By-Day Prompts for Your Writing Practice  (both print/eBook)
She Returns to the Floating World (Second Edition) by Jeannine Hall Gailey (both print/eBook)
Dear Alzheimer's: A Caregiver's Diary and Poems by Esther Altshul Helfgott 
Hourglass Museum by me (just the eBook edition only - the print version is available by White Pine Press)



We also have the Two Sylvias Press Chapbook Prize going on where you could win this trophy! (Plus publication in print and eBook, $$$, and author copies... but a trophy too!)


poets should get trophies!

Two Sylvias Press also has this cool Kickstarter campaign 
for poetry tarot cards if you want some good karma 
and to be a good literary citizen and support us: 
 

 *******************************

Here are a few things about me--

I believe in hard work and kindness, but not in that order.

I like coffee, dessert, museums, sunflower seeds in the shell, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking, hiking, golden retrievers, To Do lists, the color orange, artists, winning things, and bubble water.

I am always looking for: ways to do things better, new artists, birds, how I can achieve balance, simplicity, a small house on the water, pens, my slippers, an escape route.


I just published Hourglass Museum this year through White Pine Press and am slowly beginning my 4th manuscript. I like writing poems better than anything else, but I also write essays, creative nonfiction, some short fiction, blog posts, and emails.

I know I'm too busy if there are no fresh flowers in my house.  And much of this year, I've been too busy.  I look forward to doing less in the future.

To me, success is how much downtime I get, how many days I can do nothing.  


My writing process is to sit down and write daily.  Usually in the morning before anyone gets up. 
I will also be writing a poem every-other day for National Poetry Month.


Some of my favorite blogs are:
Susan Rich's The Alchemist's Kitchen
Martha Silano's Blue Positive
Jeannine Gailey's Jeannine Blogs

January O'Neil's PoetMom

I love postal mail, typewriters, inkwells, keylime pie, swing music, fedoras, and anything vintage.  
I sometimes think I was born in the wrong decade.

I like to giveaway things.

_______________________________________________



So there we are--  4 ways to win!   2 collections of poems, one anthology, and one book of writing prompts! 

Not bad for just leaving your name and email in the comment section.


This drawing is open from now through ALL OF APRIL 2014, National Poetry Month!

If you'd like to be entered, please leave your name and email address by midnight (Hawaii time), APRIL 30th, 2014 below in the comment section of this post and I'll be randomly choosing all lucky winners the week of May 1st, 2014.


And again, if you want to giveaway 2 books of poems, learn more about that here.

Good luck and Good Reading!

xo,
Kells

~ Kells
Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

Big Poetry Giveaway! 2014: (Celebrating Year 5!)

So it's that time again-- National Poetry Month is around the corner and for those of us who love poetry, poets, and their books, it's time for us to share our favorite books (and our own books) with you.

This is our FIFTH annual National Poetry Month BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY. 
And it's simple-- anyone with a blog can giveaway 2 books of poems.  
Anyone can enter any or all of the giveaways.  Yes, poetry is that easy!

What is the BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY?

Bloggers give away 2 books of poems-- 

the first can be your own 

and the second book must be of another favorite poet of yours.

The goal is to share our favorite poets with others as well as to visit different blogs and see who others are reading. There is also a benefit for those who participate as it will bring people to your blog and share your work and/or the work of a favorite poet with them.

I'll keep a list of all the blogs participating on this post and to the left side of my blog.



If you're interested in participating here are the GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES--

The Poetry Book Giveaway is officially started and the giveaway will run through April 30th, 2014 (all of National Poetry Month).



If you want to have your blog be part of this giveaway, here's what you need to do by SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014--

1)  Create a blog post that includes the above image (so we know you're participating) that announces the two poetry books you are giving away.  

(You are welcome to include a little note about yourself, your own book you're giving away (if you have one) and the poetry book(s) you choose and why you love them.   Also, feel free to share a few other blogs you read and if you'd like, something about your writing process, where you write, or what you're working on.)  

Somewhere in your blog post, you can include a link to this page, in case others have questions or want to participate.  I will keep a running list on the side of my blog as well as on this post (note: the side list will be the most up-to-date, I'll update this list below every few days).

2)  Once you have your blog post up, leave me a comment below with --

a)  the name of your blog 
b)  your full name
c)  a link to your giveaway blog post

I will be keeping a complete list of bloggers who will be giving away poetry books for National Poetry Month and will add you to it.  (I'll update this page every few days with the complete list.)


Then sometime in the week of  May 1st, 2014, choose 2 winners for your giveaway.

--You can do this buy putting everyone's name who commented on the giveaway in a bowl and choosing one. Or you can use the random number generator and then count down the comments until you get to the winner. (Make sure to email them so they know they won...)

**** NOTE: If you are participating in this giveaway, you must be willing to mail 2 separate books of poems to ANYWHERE in the world. You pay for the postage, the winner DOES NOT.


Questions you still may have about the giveaway--


1) Can I enter the drawing if I don't participate in the giveaway?
Yes, the drawings are open to anyone.

2) Can I enter the drawings if I am a blogger giving away two books?
Yes, again, the drawings are open to anyone.

3) Can the two books I give away both by written by me?
No. One book in your giveaway must be by another poet, specifically one of your favorite poets.
4) Can I give away two books that I wrote and one book from someone else?
Yes! You can give away as many of your own books as you like as long as you make sure to give away a book by someone else. You are also welcome to give away a subscription to a favorite literary journal as an extra prize if you like, but again, you cover the cost.
5) I'm not a blogger, but can I participate?No & Yes.  You cannot participate in giving away 2 books of poems, but you can enter to win books in the giveaways.
6) Do the books I give away have to be new?
No. But only give away gently-used books. They should look newish (and smell newish).

7) I'm not a poet (or don't have a book of poems), but I love poetry can I participate in the giveaway?
Yes! Just give away books by two of your favorite poets.

8) I'm a poet, but only have a chapbook, does that count as a book?
Yes! Chapbooks are books! Feel free to give away your chapbook and then another collection by a favorite poet.

9) I don't want to pay postage if someone wins. Can I still participate?
No. You must be willing to mail the books to the winner anywhere in the world at your cost. That's what makes it a giveaway (not a pay-me-for-postage-to-send-you-your-winning-book-away.)

10) Do I need to have a blog to enter for the drawings?This is completely up to the blogger who hosts the drawing you sign up for. When I did it for last year, I allowed readers without blogs to sign up but only if they include their email so I could get ahold of them if they won.
11)  If I don't have a blog and I sign up for a drawing, how will the blogger contact me?Make sure to leave your name and email address!
12)  How long will you be accepting posts/links for the giveaway?
All emails or comments below with your blog name, your full name & a link to your blog giveaway MUST be emailed or posted below to me by midnight PST, April 5, 2014, if you want to participate. 
13) What are the exact dates of this giveaway?The giveaway begins immediately.  And you can enter someone's contest as SOON as a blogger posts their giveaway. 
The giveaway ends April 30th, 2014 at midnight (PST or Hawaii-time, not sooner).
The winners will be chosen the week of May 1st, depending on the blogger's schedule.  

14)  How will I know if I've won?  A blogger will contact you probably by email to let you know and will then ask for your mailing address to mail the book out to you.
15) Where's THE LIST of all the blogs giving away books of poems?
On the left side of this blog.
16)  This is becoming an annual thing, why do you do this each year?
Because I want to introduce people to poets they may not have heard of.Because I want more people to read poetry.Because I love the idea of poetry books being mailed off to new readers.  Because I like learning about new blogs and bloggers.Because it's National Poetry Month and I want to bring more attention to poets and poetry.


So if you're interested in participating, make a blog post with the 2 books you're giving away, link it back to this post, and leave me a comment below with your FULL NAME, BLOG NAME, and a LINK TO YOUR POST.  

Got it?
You can see my post here (as an example of how to do this) -- and feel free to leave a comment to enter the drawing if you like.
Any questions, email me at  kelli (at) agodon.com


~ Kells
 
Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by Email



________________________________________________________

Here are the blogs giving away books in the BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY as of March 27, 2014 at 8:00 AM--



BLOGS PARTICIPATING IN THE BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY!A. Kelli Russell Agodon: Book of KellsB. Susan Rich: The Alchemist's Kitchen

Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

The Big Poetry Giveaway: 2014 (Coming Soon!)

So for the last 5 years, I've been doing this Big Poetry Giveaway.  Last year, I was in London, so Susan Rich was kind enough to handle it for me.

Today I looked at the calendar date and realized... it's almost that time! And YES, it will happen again.

What is the BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY?

The BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY is an event that will begin Thursday, March 27th and go through April 30th.

Basically, poets and people with blogs that want to give away 2 poetry books (one can be their own, but the other must by a poet they love) will create a post and anyone can leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for the two books.

Yes, they can give away more than two poetry books (but ONE book must be by a poet they love!) 

And yes, they can also give away a subscription to a favorite literary journal, or a broadside they have, or a first edition book, but TWO BOOKS must be books of poems.

If you want to participate as a blogger and give away two books of poems, check back here on March 27th to see how to do it (I'll be adding blog posts to our list of poet bloggers giving away books from March 27 - April 6th, 2014.)

The only thing required of bloggers is they giveaway 2 books of poems (one can be your own) and that you will mail them to ANYWHERE in the world.

If you want to participate as a reader and possible winner, check back here on March 24 and THROUGHOUT National Poetry Month to enter your name in the different drawings.

So that's the scoop!

See you on the 27th with more info on how to participate!


And to keep track on Facebook, you can like this page:
https://www.facebook.com/BigPoetryGiveaway





~ Kells
Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

A Letter from Anais Nin on why Harper's Bazaar isn't Right For Her: I will die a poet killed by the nonpoets. . .

Saw this isn BrainPickings: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/12/19/anais-nin-leo-lerman/ and thought her letter was beautiful--

In December of 1946, Harper’s Bazaar editor Leo Lerman asked Nin for a short auto-biography to use in a profile feature. She respectfully declined. Her letter to Lerman — disarmingly honest, brave and vulnerable at the same time — 
I see myself and my life each day differently. What can I say? The facts lie. I have been Don Quixote, always creating a world of my own. I am all the women in the novels, yet still another not in the novels. It took me more than sixty diary volumes until now to tell about my life. Like Oscar Wilde I put only my art into my work and my genius into my life. My life is not possible to tell. I change every day, change my patterns, my concepts, my interpretations. I am a series of moods and sensations. I play a thousand roles. I weep when I find others play them for me. My real self is unknown. My work is merely an essence of this vast and deep adventure. I create a myth and a legend, a lie, a fairy tale, a magical world, and one that collapses every day and makes me feel like going the way of Virginia Woolf. I have tried to be not neurotic, not romantic, not destructive, but may be all of these in disguises.It is impossible to make my portrait because of my mobility. I am not photogenic because of my mobility. Peace, serenity, and integration are unknown to me. My familiar climate is anxiety. I write as I breathe, naturally, flowingly, spontaneously, out of an overflow, not as a substitute for life. I am more interested in human beings than in writing, more interested in lovemaking than in writing, more interested in living than in writing. More interested in becoming a work of art than in creating one. I am more interesting than what I write. I am gifted in relationship above all things. I have no confidence in myself and great confidence in others. I need love more than food. I stumble and make errors, and often want to die. When I look most transparent is probably when I have just come out of the fire. I walk into the fire always, and come out more alive. All of which is not for Harper’s Bazaar.I think life tragic, not comic, because I have no detachment. I have been guilty of idealization, guilty of everything except detachment. I am guilty of fabricating a world in which I can live and invite others to live in, but outside of that I cannot breathe. I am guilty of too serious, too grave living, but never of shallow living. I have lived in the depths. My first tragedy sent me to the bottom of the sea; I live in a submarine, and hardly ever come to the surface. I love costumes, the foam of aesthetics, noblesse oblige, and poetic writers. At fifteen I wanted to be Joan of Arc, and later, Don Quixote. I never awakened from my familiarity with mirages, and I will end probably in an opium den. None of that is suitable for Harper’s Bazaar.I am apparently gentle, unstable, and full of pretenses. I will die a poet killed by the nonpoets, will renounce no dream, resign myself to no ugliness, accept nothing of the world but the one I made myself. I wrote, lived, loved like Don Quixote, and on the day of my death I will say: ‘Excuse me, it was all a dream,’ and by that time I may have found one who will say: ‘Not at all, it was true, absolutely true.’
~ Kells
Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

In Search of Literary Paparazzi : Or Why I'm Not Posting About TV on Facebook

So this article, If Other Professions Were Paid Like Artists came out a few weeks ago and it was highly shared on Facebook & other places.

I thought the article addressed many important things-- 


it reminded me that we each need to understand our own emotional relationship with money and deal with ithow to live generously, but also support yourselfa reminder to talk about money without shameto move past what you can't control and focus on what you cana list of questions to help you consider your thoughts on money

But there was something nagging at me in this article and something more I think should be addressed.
It said: Because the larger culture has discovered our secret: that most of us will make art even if it doesn’t make money.
And this:As artists, it’s time to shift our mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance. Pricing our work appropriately, saying “no” when necessary, and setting concrete financial goals for our creative practice are signs of self-respect. The larger culture exploits artists, in part, because we allow it. We may not be able to change the world, but we can certainly change our response to it.

The problem with pricing our work "accordingly" is that as writers, we are partially responsible for how our work is valued and who is interested in it. 
We can't change the world, but we can make changes in our own lives to create a world that is more focused on the literary arts, and create the world we want to see (I'm obviously stealing from Gandhi here: Be the change that you wish to see in the world.  And I'm pretty sure Gandhi was thinking about literary promotion when he said this also.)
Here's what I mean changing who we are as writers in the world-- right after the article came out and was shared, I saw posts around Facebook saying:  "Writers should get paid more! Our work is important! We shouldn't work for free!" Yes, all lovely thoughts and true.
But where do we place our values in life?
A few minutes later, after all the "we are hardworking writers & deserve more" talk settle down, we returned to much of the regular-- a writerly person posted a quiz about which Downton Abbey character they were. I took a quiz on which Big Bang Character (I was Sheldon, fyi).
A few minutes later, there's a post on how much the world needs to ignore Miley Cyrus (do you see the irony in that?) and something about Ellen, The Walking Dead, and/or True Detective. 
If we are all saying, "Writing is valuable and others should see the value in it," then why are we posting about television shows, celebrities, and pop culture?  
More than one person has pinned me in a corner and proceeded to tell me (in detail) the entire plot from start to finish of Breaking Bad.  This happened to me at a book group too. (Please don't ever do this to someone, by the way.)
As much as writers love to talk about writing and writers, they love their televisions and their films. They love bashing Sarah Palin and Justin Bieber. They have celebrity crushes (hey, I've posted quite a bit on Ira Glass, Elvis Costello, & Conan O'Brien.  And don't even get me started on Jimmy Fallon). 
Sometimes they say Benedict Cumberbatch in their sleep.

But here's the thing-- 
Every time we write, post, or share something about television or film, we miss an opportunity to share about our art, writing, and the literary community around us.  (And I'm definitely including myself in this "we.")
I think about this a lot.

Standing in line at the grocery store, there are numerous people who appear on television and in movies staring back at me on the cover of magazine as I hand the cashier my bubble water and mueslix. There is now even a screen so I see clips from talk shows while I wait.  There is never anything about books or writers.  Just films. Just televisions. Just videos.
Last night, I couldn't sleep and I realized if you stay up past midnight and flip on the television, you are literally Keeping up with the Kardashians.
This morning, I wanted to post, "What the heck happened to Bruce Jenner?" But I didn't. I didn't post that, or much I love Tim Gunn & Project Runway, or that I have seen every episode of the Big Bang Theory. These are conversations I will have with the 8th grade kids that wander into my home. These are conversations I may never have. 
What am I looking for more of? Literary paparazzi.  
Virtual literary paparazzi.  I want to know what's important in your literary world.  Who you are reading? Who did you just go hear at a reading and did you take a photo? Whose words are rocking your world?
I want to see your literary rockstars, your literary celebrities.

Like seeing Martha Silano last week at Open Books in Seattle:

And this Sunday, March 16th at 3 pm, I will be seeing Susan Rich read there too.


And here's an amazing book of poems about pie by Kate Lebo:

[image error]

I want to know what new poet you've discovered (who has been writing for eight years) and what you are working on.  I want to hear about your acceptances, or who's accepting submissions, or tell me how rejections suck. They do.  They suck and suck, but they are proof you are doing your job.
I want to see how in love you are with your literary world.  I want to see the value in books, and authors, and writing.
I know it's there.

If you had told people in the early 90's that kids would wait in long line at midnight wearing a stripped scarf and round glasses to buy a book the size of War & Peace, we would have laughed and said, Whatever.
If you would have said there would be birthday parties where literary characters would appear on cakes and cups, and that kids would get in fights with their parents at bedtime not because they were up playing their videos games, but because they couldn't put down their book, we would have said, Not in this lifetime. But it happened. 
People love what you feed them.  If it's cake and Kardashians, or crumpets and Harry Potter. They just need to know about it or they can't fall in love or lust or become obsessed with it. 
We need to share what we love so others can love it to. (Or not love it, but let's at least let them know about our favorite things.)
So where are we here? 
Maybe if we want others to see our work as valuable, we need consider what we're giving value to in our own lives throughout our day.
Maybe the next time we're about ready to post about a celebrity, or a television show, ask if it really needs the extra attention, OR post about it, then post two useful items about a writer or poet, a favorite book or quote, or something about a reading, bookstore, or a literary organization.
I'm writing this to remind myself as well. 
I'm writing this because if we want to know why "the larger community" doesn't value our art, it's because we don't always either and we are part of that larger community.
If we're always talking about celebrity culture then complain that no one reads our books, we may be part of the problem. Or the problem. Or a sliver of it.

Some ideas to make the literary arts more valuable:
Put the spotlight on your favorite poetWrite a blog post about your favorite bookQuote a dead writer or better, a living one.Mention what you're reading, not what you've watched.Give a shoutout to your favorite indie bookstoreShare a new book or an old book you just found and loveBe open and generous with sharing other's successes
No, we don't have to give up our televisions (though only if you want to and you may find you have a lot more time for writing if you're not binge watching Breaking Bad), but we do have an opportunity to choose what we share.

And if you want to mix pop-culture with art, check out this amazing artist, Fab Ciraolo, who has it down!
Oh and don't think pop-culture doesn't have its benefits, here's an interview with Robert Lee Brewer where he writes:
The idea for the Remixing the World’s Problems challenge came to me as I was doing one of my long monthly drives up to Ohio. It’s me and my music in my car while I drive, and it was while listening to Britney Spears that the whole remix idea started to form. Solving the World’s Problems is a collection of lyric poetry, so it made some sense to ask folks to remix my poems–as music artists re-mix the music of other musicians. In fact, I often spend time brainstorming ways to try and get poets to engage with each other.
(You can read the whole article where he was interviewed by Jessy Carty here.)

Most of us live in America, so celebrity culture is kind of everywhere. But I'm reminding myself in my best world, there are literary celebrities, famous because their words connect, and I want others to read the writers I love.  So I can help with that by sharing more writing of others.

_______
Art can be come from anywhere, but we need to be in the poetic mindset to find it.
And get your books signed whenever possible.  Every author dreams of being a bit like Elvis, even if they don't admit it.







Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

The Poet Tarot & Guidebook Kickstarter Project...

Happening now: from Two Sylvias Press - 

The Poet Tarot & Guidebook:
A Deck of Creative Exploration

This has been a labor of love for us, mixing two of our favorite things-- poets and creativity.

When working on creative project, you can draw a card to help you determine where to go next. The deck is 70 cards, 30 of them poets, the rest are suit cards made up of Quills, Letterpresses, Muses, and Mentors.

You can support our project on Kickstarter as low as $1 or as high as $500 (for $500 we'll design a tarot card for you!)  The money we earn will help fund a printing of more decks and guidebooks.

We would love for you to support our project in any way you can, either by becoming a backer or sharing this project with other likeminded creative folks.

Cheers!



 
Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon

RE: RE: Personal Ad #6 by Michael Schmeltzer (Poems to rock your Lenten Season)

Here's a poem by a good friend of mine, Michael Schmeltzer, who you will be hearing much more from in this poetry world--



Re: Re: Personal Ad #6 (An Egg, Delicate, Repairs the Days Now Cracked)

When I first heard about the Twin TowersI thought, “How do we move on from here?” And the next day I cracked and poured three eggs on a skillet, made myself an omelet. I bought             boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I made stuffing. I baked an apple pie with an old family recipe,sprinkling cinnamon generously over the crust. In my head I colored each daylike another barn in a paint-by-numbers landscape.Do you understand?  Let me put it this way; when we meet I will fuck you so moderately you will not want to call. But you will. Each number pressed will feel as rewarding as stepping over a load of dirty laundry. Do you know why? Because we move on
by doing things that bored us before.


by Michael Schmeltzer

Previously published in Rattle #42, Winter 2013





~ Kells


Don't Miss a Post ~ Subscribe to Book of Kells by EmailKelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon