Kelli Russell Agodon's Blog, page 62
January 3, 2012
Confession Tuesday
My New Book of Kells blog banner is the left upper corner of this painting...
Dear Reader,
It's been a year-change and a new anthology since my last confession. I am catching up on the things I let slide winter break, mostly emails, mostly emails and laundry. I'm not sure what's on my mind today, let's see if there's anything worth sharing.
To the confessional--
I confess, so far I've been doing pretty well with my resolutions (okay, I know it's only day 3, but it's a start). I have not gone onto Facebook (I have returned to Facebook Fridays) and have been spending much less time online.
I've been doing a sketch-a-day in my journal and really enjoy getting lost in drawing.
I confess I have always wanted to be a visual artist, but have never felt my talents were there or have even known where to begin. With writing and poetry, I can just sit down and create, with art and drawing, it's a struggle for ideas, for what to do and what to do next, and I never really like my own artwork, so that's a huge bummer right there.
But what I love about art, museums, and artists is how they inspire me to live more authentically and they inspire my own work.
~
I confess new year's always make me think about beginnings and what I can do differently, how I can start fresh. Like my new banner and blog colors (if you're reading this on GoogleReader, you may have no idea what I'm talking about), but I like to mix it up a bit, not because I like change, but because I don't like change.
The photo of the cakes is one I took at the Smithsonian. Wayne Thiebaud's, Cakes (1963) It makes me incredibly happy to look at it because it mixes two of my favorite things--dessert & art.
I chose it because my next manuscript is dealing a lot with art and I wanted a visual reminder of artwork in my blog (I also like cake a lot).
It will take me a little while to get comfortable with the new look of my blog, but I do this each year. It's kind of annoying if you don't like change (like me), but I make myself feel uncomfortable every so often just to see what I can gain from it.
I confess I am most happy in my routine and habits. Sometimes it scares me how happy I am there.
Amen.
Kelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
New eBook: Fire On Her Tongue: An eBook Anthology of Contemporary Women's Poetry
Annette Spaulding-Convy & I have spent the last year editing this eBook anthology of poetry from some of the most incredible poets writing today and on December 28th, it became available for sale on Amazon.com
The Details--
What: Fire On Her Tongue: An eBook Anthology of Contemporary Women's Poetry
(Two Sylvias Press, 2012)
A 460-page eBook anthology of poems by women poets writing today.
It is the FIRST eBook anthology of contemporary women poets and features over 70 women poets writing today.
Why: Annette and I both purchased eReaders and were discouraged by how few poets were represented on this technology.
Where: Currently available as an eBook on Amazon.com (for your Kindle), Barnes & Noble (for your Nook), iBooks and coming soon to IndieBound.org, eBooks.com, Powell's, Sony Reader Store and many other eBook outlets.
It will also be available in PDF form at Two Sylvias Press (twosylviaspress.com) later today.
Who: Poets featured in this anthology--
Kim Addonizio, Deborah Ager, Ivy Alvarez, Nin Andrews, Elizabeth Aoki, Elizabeth Austen, Lana Hechtman Ayers, Dorothy Barresi, Judith Barrington, Mary Biddinger, Elizabeth Bradfield, Ronda Broatch, Gloria Burgess, Jill Crammond, Barbara Crooker, Rachel Dacus, Madeline DeFrees, Susan Elbe, Patricia Fargnoli, Annie Finch, Kathleen Flenniken, Rachel Contreni Flynn, Rebecca Foust, Suzanne Frischkorn, Jeannine Hall Gailey, Maya Ganesan, Arielle Greenberg, Kate Greenstreet, Lola Haskins, Eloise Klein Healy, Jane Hirshfield, Erin Coughlin Hollowell, Anna Maria Hong, Holly Hughes, Ann Batchelor Hursey, Luisa A. Igloria, Jill McCabe Johnson, Tina Kelley, Janet Norman Knox, Keetje Kuipers, Dorianne Laux, Jenifer Browne Lawrence, Kate Lebo, Carol Levin, Rebecca Loudon, Erin Malone, Marjorie Manwaring, Frances McCue, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, January Gill O'Neil, Alicia Ostriker, Nancy Pagh, Alison Pelegrin, Susan Rich, Rachel Rose, Natasha Sajé, Peggy Shumaker, Martha Silano, Judith Skillman, Patricia Smith, Ann Spiers, A.E. Stallings, Joannie Kervran Stangeland, Marilyn L. Taylor, Molly Tenenbaum, Ann Tweedy, Nance Van Winckel, Katrina Vandenberg, Sarah Vap, Kary Wayson, Katharine Whitcomb, Wendy Wisner, Rachel Zucker.
And the best part of this anthology besides the most incredible poets involved, is that all of this amazing talent and 460 pages of poems can be yours for $7.99 (no kidding).
One thing Annette & I wanted to do was to bring poetry to a larger audience, so we priced it lower than what we believe it's worth. We want more people to know about these poets and to read their poems. We wanted this anthology on every eReader, so we priced it not so we could vacation in the French Riviera, but so we could cover costs.
It was truly a fulfilling and challenge project. We have learned so much about eBook production. We worked with PublishGreen.com to help with the challenges that come with formatting poems and they were absolutely incredible, professional, and really helped us so much with this first project (I would highly recommend them if you choose to publish your own eBook as they work with individual authors as well.)
I know I'll be blogging more about this, but I wanted you to know that it's here.
I'll also post when it's available by PDF as we've learned the #1 eReader in America is the laptop!
Happy Reading!
Kelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
January 2, 2012
Poets On The Coast: A Writing Retreat for Women is Happening in 2012!
On of my favorite photos from the retreat (Sylvia Beach & James Joyce on the wall behind us)
Welcome to 2012.
I'm writing to you on the last day of winter break after a snowfall of endings and beginnings. I'm thinking about my year ahead and how I will make time for myself as a writer. Last year, I did quite a few projects that promoted others' work. It was incredibly fulfilling, but I found it left me with this huge desire to work on my own writing this year.
So I've been thinking about how I will take time for myself this year. I have one residency planned in the spring, but am also looking for other new things to spark new work.
~
One thing I will be doing again with Susan Rich that I hope will spark new work for others is Poets on the Coast: A Writing Retreat for Women, Sept 7-9, 2012.
We are excited that we have already filled about 1/3 of the spots in just a week of announcing it (and it was a pre-announcement, the official registration started yesterday!)
If you're interested in attending (it's on the Oregon Coast near Cannon Beach) at the most incredible literary hotel ever-- The Sylvia Beach Hotel-- where every room is decorated for an author, you should probably sign up for this year, as I can't guarantee this will happen again in 2013. We may take a break from it next year, this year, we returned because we had such an incredible time and were asked to keep it going one more year.
Also, I will not be staying in the Emily Dickinson Room this year, so that room is up for grabs along with the Jane Austen room! This year I will be sleeping with Mark Twain (I know, that sounds bizarre, but it is true.)
Of course, if you're local in Oregon, you can commute in, but most of the guests have chosen to stay at the hotel or close by. The Sylvia Beach Hotel prices are very reasonable and include the most delicious breakfast & an inspiring author's room.
What I loved about this retreat was how kind the women who joined us were. We had brand-spankin' new poets to poets who have written books.
This year will have a lot more longer writing times and a Master Class Poetry Workshop each day where you can share your poems and receive feedback on them (if you choose, there's also a writing session that will happen at the same time as the Master Class). Susan and I also do one-on-one time with each of the women poets were we look at your work or talk about whatever you want to talk about--this was probably one of my favorite parts of the retreat.
So if you're a woman poet, writer or interested in becoming more of a writer in your life, you can find out more about the retreat here on the website, there's a Frequently Asked Questions sheet and you can also register online. (Oh and prices go up on Valentine's day, so we have the lowest price right now until then.)
And if you're ready to go to Poets on the Coast right now, here's the registration form.
~
I am looking forward to the year ahead. I hope it is filled with health, happiness, creativity, and poetry, and I hope your year is too.
Kelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
January 1, 2012
December 31, 2011
New Year's Resolutions: To Do or Not To Do?
[image error]
res·o·lu·tion/ˌrezəˈlo͞oSHən/
A firm decision to do or not to do something.
I love New Year's. And I love making resolutions (I know, I'm a sick sick gal). But anytime I can take an opportunity to start fresh, I do.
For this year, I made a list of projects/goals and actual resolutions I'd like to work on. I realized some of the things I wanted to accomplish (such as finish poetry manuscript #3 & begin second eBook project with Annette) should actually be on my goal/project list and not resolutions (unless I planned to break them down into smaller pieces).
For me, a resolution is something small, doable (usually daily or weekly) and does not require another person to complete. Publish book of poems is a goal/project. Write a poem a day is a resolution.
I also realized my resolutions tend to fail if I don't have a plan for what I really need to do. I can write "less time on the computer" but what does that really mean? Since I write on the computer, I want to be on there writing, but I do not want to be on the computer spending time on Facebook or reading celebrity news.
So you'll see on my resolutions, I took them a little further to remind myself what I really myself to do--
So here's what I came up with:
Goals/Projects:
1) Finish poetry manuscript #3
2) Begin eBook with Annette (my co-editor at Two Sylvias Press & Crab Creek Review)
3) Complete Half-Marathon
Resolutions:
1) Less internet / More Writing
a) Only check into Facebook on Fridays & my birthday (the only exceptions being if I have to post something for Crab Creek Review, Two Sylvias Press or Poets on the Coast or if I'm tagged in a post/photo.)
b) Only check or post to Twitter from phone
c) Avoid MSN.com & any other timewasting website
2) Draw Daily in my Sketch-a-Day journal
3) Be very aware of what I purchase and/or bring into our home. Choose to live with less.
That last one can be more specific, but basically, it's my reminder not to buy things I don't need, or buy things I think I need, but really don't. I should get a little more specific on it.
~~~
I think the key to keeping resolutions going all year is to FORGIVE YOURSELF if you don't always do or remember to do your resolutions.
For example, I will probably check into Facebook absent-mindly on a Wednesday while on the ferry. If I do this, I won't discard my whole resolution and call myself a failure, I remember ALL the extra time I've had off of Facebook for the days I got it right.
Let's say you choose to write a poem a day and you do this perfectly all through January then on February 8th decide you're tired of it or you don't do it for 2 months. It doesn't mean it wasn't a success because you have 39 poems you wouldn't have had, had you not tried.
I expect to screw up and mess up. I do it all the time. I always start a new habit then forget it then start it back up again. That's my life. It's what being human is-- we are not perfect. I have learned I am nowhere near perfect, sometimes not even on the same continent as perfect and I will make mistakes again and again. Sometimes the same mistakes.
But on January 1, I start with a clean slate and see where 2012 will take me. I may follow my resolutions perfectly, or I may wander on and off the path. Either way, I'm gaining something from trying. I like getting my thoughts organized and the feeling as if I'm stepping onto the path of a new year.
Cheers to all of you!
Kelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
December 30, 2011
New Year's Resolutions: Loving Your Family's Quirks
I love New Year's Resolutions because my inner Capricorn is always looking for a project to fix and what's more perfect than a human (myself)? We humans are filled with quirks, from the way I am happier if the microwave has no time left on it (I always clear it to zero if I see someone has pulled their food out with 00:08 left) to the way I tell my husband I will be ready in seven minutes (not five or ten, but seven).
Each year my family and I go around and ask each other what resolutions we'd like each other to work on. (Okay, honestly, if I didn't make us sit down and do this, it wouldn't happen, my husband and daughter are absolutely fine not making resolutions). This year my husband came up with "overlook each other quirks" for all of us and I think this is a great idea. When you live with someone for X number of years, what used to be a cute quirk becomes a huge annoyance.
For example, I am always the last one in the car. It doesn't matter if I'm the first one ready, but before we leave the house, I always have to do a check of all the rooms, make sure everything is off, grab a book, a magazine, a journal & pen, then make sure I have coffee and/or a snack, then check one more time to make sure the space heater is really off in my office.
I have patient family members. I have gone out into the car 3-10 minutes later to find them casual sitting and talking while waiting for me. If they wanted to, they could be completely annoyed with this behavior and I would have to agree with them. (I know I would probably be completely annoyed if either of them had this behavior.) But they aren't. They are able to see that "This is Mom. Mom is from another planet where space heaters turn on by themselves and she needs to make sure this didn't happen or the house will burn down... of course."
And with my family overlooking my quirks (from my bad habit of feeding our golden retriever at the table to talking to the cats as if they are babies), I will overlook theirs-- from a half-drank coffee cup (with cream) left in my office to the music playing extra loud from behind the closed bedroom door.
There has been a saying going through my head lately: The days are long, but life is short.
I remind myself that all the things that annoy me now, I will miss at some later date.
These are our lives, made up with quirks and bothers, with shoes dropped off at the door, coats thrown on the bench and not hung up. There will be a time when my daughter will be grown and I will miss that there are less coats in my home and ache for a few moments with the young girl who threw it there.
Cheers to tolerance, love, and understanding for all of us.
Kelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
December 29, 2011
Thankful Thursday
How to be Rich without Making More Money
The average income around the world is $7000.
When you are feeling poor, deprived, sad, remember that. I know I will. $7000 is what most people live on...or less.
In his blog post, David writes this:
And those powers are nothing compared to what else you can do with your riches. What would they pay to be able to:speak to someone across the sea
have the knowledge of thousand encyclopedias in their pocket
watch segments of the past (or someone else's past) unfold in moving pictures, in real time
see the face or hear the voice of a dead loved one
heat the house without stoking a fire
cook food in thirty seconds
clean and dry their family's clothing with ten minutes of actual work
suck the dirt out of a rug
get all their water from inside the house at whatever temperature they wish
access instructions on how to do almost anything that can be done by humans
These are insane powers, which most of humanity could never have dreamed of, and they're all yours, right now. Do you really think more money will make you feel rich if you aren't blown away by what you already have?
It's true. If we can't be thankful for what we have, how can we be thankful for more?
We must find gratitude daily and remember that Christmas it seems, doesn't come from a store. And neither does happiness.
Hoping you all find your blessings and gratitude for a new year.
or TweetKelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
December 28, 2011
Getting Organized for the New Year
A few days after Christmas, I tend to lose my mind.
It's a good losing-of-mind though in that it reflects my inner desire for simplicity and ease in life. Basically, I walk into my house and realize it looks as if we could be the Christmas episode of Hoarders--stuff everywhere. Even Andy Rooney's quote: One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly, is lost under piles of Christmas paper and tipped over snowmen.
I realize I am someone who needs tidiness to help keep my mind clear. It also helps me feel less stressed. Walking into our living room and seeing a huge mess immediately weighs me down. Maybe it's because my inner 50's housewife thinks, "Great, now I have a chore." But I prefer simple over excessive, tidy over Dear-gawd-I'm-going-to-be-swallowed-by-Christmas decorations.
I pulled out my favorite books I received for Christmas two years ago-- One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good
, a fantastic book if you need help cleaning up and one I find rather motivating. Here are a few other things you may find helpful if you're also feeling overwhelmed by things--
There's a great (FREE) declutter calendar that you can print out month by month (or all at once to do a big purge). I've printed out January - April.
Another great item to help you stay organized is the BusyBody Book (about $12). While this book was made to keep track of larger families and who is doing what each day, I use it to keep track of my projects and what I need to do each day with them.
SimpleMom.com has a great group of free downloadable organizers. The Daily Docket is a great way to stay on task each day. And I just saw she also has 2 New Year's downloads--one for goal setting, the other for reflection on the past year.
So along with playing our new Jeopardy game for the Wii (I won $32,400 last night-- too bad it's in Wii money) and Uno Attack (our favorite family game), I'll be organizing my life this week with new year's resolutions on my mind...
Kelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
December 27, 2011
Confession Tuesday
Dear Reader,
It's been a week of sugar, wrapping paper, hospital visits, and ferry rides since my last confession. I confess I realize that one can actually eat too much fudge, that looking out the window doesn't make the decorations go away, and that things can change in a moment...
To the confessional--
I confess that my Nana's fall and broken hip at 99 years old has made me consider my own life and what I want from it. I realize that I'm not sure I want to live until 100, perhaps, 92 would be a good number. If that is the case, it seems that in 3 years I'll be celebrating the half of my life or maybe I've already celebrated half of my life.
This is the weird thing about living, we don't quite know if we will be like my Nana and live past 99 or if we will be the 9 year old girl who was killed by a falling tree on Christmas Day in my state.
The not-knowing is both a luxury and something that also sucks.
Should we be saving all our money for retirement because we will late into our 90's or will we be the car crash, the early heart attack?
It makes me think a lot about moderation and how I use my time.
In the next week and as the new year arrives, I'm looking closely at my choices in life. And with a new year, comes new beginnings and I ask myself, "What can I do better?"
~
I confess I will be making new year's resolutions this year as I always do. The main one being less internet, more words. Meaning-- write more than I read.
I bought a sketchbook One-Sketch-a-Day and plan to draw in it daily. (Maybe I'll share a few sketches here --would you want to see that?)
~
I confess many times at the new year I remind myself of my motto-- Experiences before things. Meaning--- I have a certain amount of money each year, I would rather use that $$ on experiences than things.
I want to make sure that my money makes memories, not clutter.
If you're been reading this blog for the last couple months, you may have noticed the word "scattered"-- I confess I have used it to describe my emotional/intellectual/spiritual state and pretty much as the adjective of how I felt much the final months of 2011.
I am putting this adjective away for 2012. I'm packing it in a bag and sending it off to the Island of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy words.
And my word of the year? Faith. Faith that I will end up where I need to be and the right doors will open. Faith that I'll know where I need to be what I need to be doing. Faith that things will work out.
Amen.
Kelli Russell Agodon
www.agodon.com
![[image error]](http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/154389093445272567_UeNzB9eO_c.jpg){kind=link}
![[image error]](http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/60869032433177152_GoDwJTD2_c.jpg){kind=link}
![[image error]](http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/59461657549616828_6xHA7azo_c.jpg){kind=link}