Kelli Russell Agodon's Blog, page 93

My 2011 New Year's Message for the Poets, Writers & Artists in the World. . .

Wishing you everything good that 2011 can bring you.  Cheers to you and the new year!



~ Kells

Blog Topic Ideas Welcomed!

Someone recently emailed me (or left me a comment in a post that I received in email) about something they wanted me to blog about... and I've lost it!



If that was you, please email me again (or leave a note in this post) about what it was.



Also, this is an open invitation for anyone else to let me know if there's anything you want me to blog about in 2011.  Just email me at kelli (at) agodon.com  or leave me a comment at the end of this post and I'll put it on my list.



I already have a request for the difference between Facebook and Twitter for writers and the benefits of both.



Looking forward to hearing what you're interested in for 2011!



Cheers and happy new year!

I somehow wandered upon this blog that posted what they...

I somehow wandered upon this blog that posted what they thought the 5 traits of successful artists were.  They focus on visual artists, but I think many of these work for writers too.



I'll put my own thoughts below in blue text...







5 Common Traits of Successful Artists:

1.  Art is the core of their lives. Successful artists wake up and go to sleep thinking about art. They carve out time in their day making art or marketing it. (In fact, for these artists, there seems to be no clear distinction between the creativity of making and marketing.) If they have a full-time job, it is secondary in their minds to art and mostly a means to and end. Their real job  is being an artist.

-- This is very true for writers too.  Even if you have families, jobs that aren't related to writing, hobbies, other commitments, your writing is the core of your life.  

I think it's interesting how she mentions "marketing" here as for writers that's an important part of the job too.  I know so many think it's a bad word, but part of the job as a writer is submitting your work.  There is a difference to "smart marketing" or "shameless self-promotion" - you want to be known as a writer, not someone people run away from because they see your book peeking out of your shirt pocket.  



2.  Successful artists understand how business works in the art world. Successful artists understand the entrepreneurial aspects of making a living as an artist. When they encounter something new or unusual on the business side, they investigate and learn to do it or delegate the task. They know the value of relationships and network in person and through social media.  

For me, this one really means, act professional.  If you make a commitment, stick with it.  Don't be flaky, learn how to submit to presses, literary journals, and editors in a professional manner.  Don't respond with what I call "the poison pen" when you feel wronged, rejected, or upset with publisher, literary journal or another writer -- (my Poison Pen definition:  this is when people write fast crazy emails filled with anger and venom then hit the send button without caring how the recipient may feel or what bridge they are burning).

But yes, also when you don't know how to do something, learn how to and do make connections with others (real connection, not phony "build-your-brand" connections, but real I-like-your-work-and-who-you-are connections).



Successful artists have a strong work ethic. They  manage themselves, their creative energy and resources. They balance the time to produce art and to market it. Whatever rhythm of working they choose, they stick to it. Whether these artists enjoy the business tasks or not, they know they must be done  and they do them without complaint or resentment.

---Work ethic should really be #2, it's that important.  Your focus should be on your art first, then the business side of things.  If you're not produce good strong work, you shouldn't be marketing it.



Successful artists are resilient. They know that success does not happen overnight – it requires hard work. These artists understand that things don t always work out the way they expect. When they make mistakes, they focus on solutions, not on regrets. They  learn from experience and experiment to improve on any success they have.

--- I love this one.  I think it's important to remember that everyone gets rejections.  It's not always easy and you will make mistakes.  Be resilient to rejections.  Be very resilient to rejections.  We all get them.  It's again, just part of the job!



Successful artists spend time only with people who are 100% supportive of their art career. They limit their time and emotional involvement with people who are negative  especially about art as a career choice. If people close to them have the skills and inclination to be more directly involved in their art career, the artist can produce more and better. Successful artists do not allow unsupportive people to be an obstacle to their plans for success.

--If you make one change in your writing life this year, this is one thing you should do-- keep the positive, supporting people in life.

6 Word New Year's Resolutions

Many of us have heard of Ernest Hemingway being challenged to write a short story in 6 words (he came up with this: For sale: baby shoes, never worn), last year I tried to write my New Year's Resolutions in only 6 words and here's what I came up with:

(I've bolded my favorites):


New Year's Resolutions 2010:

Try to remember: attachment causes fatigue.

It's about the work, nothing else.

Be open, be giving, be kind.

Never throw rocks at whales- never!
(that was my dad's resolution every year). ;-)

Keep faith close, assume the best.

Realize my path is only mine.

Talking about problems doesn't fix them.

Trust myself, but not my fears.

Stay off the grid a bit.

More quiet time, bye bye news.

Be good to myself and others.

Find art in my life daily.

Become a little more Frida Kahlo.

~~
As I read over these, I'm thinking that they are pretty close to this year's resolutions (or as "New Year's Suggestions"), but here are a few more for 2011 (and a couple added tweaks to last year's resolutions):

2011 6 Word New Year's Resolutions:

Help others in surprising positive ways.

Dream a little bigger than normal.

Keep positive people in my life.

Living with less causes less stress.

Focus on the good in others.

Always have keylime pie when available.

Write more snail mail: postcards/letters.

Always stay focused on what matters.

Facebook causes fatigue: dine with friends.

Talking about others doesn't fix them.

Make art in my daily life.

Be useful like Thomas the Train.

Be a little more Jane Austen.



What are your 6 word New Year's Resolutions? Please feel free to share.

Old School Poet Bloggers...

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In yesterday's post, I called some of us who have been blogging for quite a few years now  "old timers" (and I am included in that mix), but as I write today's post with a list of these poets who had blogs back in the day I think I'll change that to Old School Poet Bloggers.



And yes, when I say Old School, I mean it in the good way, not "old school" meaning we're the cassettes while everyone has moved onto CDs, but that we've been here for a while. In fact, I've been reading, corresponding and following these folks since at least 2005.



To make sure I found this group, I went back and checked my old blogroll on the Wayback Machine (aka internet archives) from my now defunct blog to see what names still had a blog today and had done a post in December (the only one with before December post was Anne Haines, but since I always "see" on Twitter, she felt current.)



So here's the list of some of the Ol' Skool Poet Bloggers of who were around back then and are here, writing, and still blogging today.  



Here they are in *almost* alphabetically order by last name--



Seth Abramson

Deb Ager

Ivy Alvarez

Jeff Bahr

Mary Biddinger

Kristy Bowen

Eduardo Corral

Rachel Dacus

Lyle Daggett

Oliver de la Paz

Jilly Dybka

Justin Evans

Jeannine Hall Gailey

Anne Haines

Suzanne Frishkorn

Paul Guest

Esther Helfgott

Charles Jensen

Collin Kelley

Reb Livingston

Rebecca Loudon

Emily Lloyd

Cornshake (who I'm sure is still is not incognito, but if you go to this site, you'll know which poet this is)

Peter Pereira

Russell Ragdale

Steven Schroeder

Matthew Thorburn

David Vincenti

Wendy Wisner

C. Dale Young





***A pretty great list of people who have done a lot of pretty great things...

Thankful Thursday - (Favorite New Blogs Edition & a Look into Blogger Past)

My friend, Susan Rich asked me to send her some of my favorite blogs.  I realized, I read a lot of blogs and this year, have picked up a few of the newer blogs to read. (Note: the blogs aren't new at all, I'm just new to finding them.)



I do hope to put together a list of favorite "old timers" with folks like Charles Jensen, C. Dale Young, Suzanne Frischkorn, Collin Kelley, Jeannine Hall Gailey, Peter Pereira, Paul Guest, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Victoria Chang, Jeff Bahr, Eduardo Corral, and others.  These are the folks who I am very thankful for and folks that were blogging early on.



A lot of us have been blogging for a long time.  Even before many even knew the word blog.  I know a few of us came over from LiveJournal to blogger together.  The first blog post I ever wrote was:  Dec. 31st, 2002|09:25 pm  on my LiveJournal account.





So that makes 8 years this New Year's Eve.  Amazing. (I am thankful for these 8 years.)





There are about 2 years I lost to when I deleted my first blogger account after feeling what Jeannine calls "online shy," feeling as if I had put too much about myself out there then became self-conscious, concerned who was reading it or what they'd think.





Then I remembered I was a writer and that's part of the job.





But Susan asked me what I'm reading now and here's an incomplete list of blogs I have found over the last year that I'm thankful for





(btw this list definitely doesn't include all the blogs I read, I just wanted to share some of the blogs I've started reading this year & apologies for those I left out as I know there are a few I inadvertently missed) --







Writers/Poets/Artists:

Kathleen Kirk:http://kathleenkirkpoetry.blogspot.com/

Maureen Doalles:http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com/

Jessie Carty:  http://jessiecarty.com/blog/



Erin Hollowell:  http://www.beingpoetry.net/

Jim Brock:  http://godsandmoney.blogspot.com/



Karen Weyant:  http://thescrapperpoet.wordpress.com/



Midge Raymond:  http://www.midgeraymond.com/blog/



Sandy Longhorn:  http://www.sandylonghorn.blogspot.com/



Kristin Berkey-Abbott:  http://www.kristinberkey-abbott.blogspot.com/





Kelly Thiel:http://kellythielpottery.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Gresham http://everydaybright.com/





Self-Improvement/Lifestyle Choices/Changes Blogs:

http://thinksimplenow.com/  (about living simple & in the moment from one woman's perspective - very positive person)  I believe she's a Seattlite too!



Bubblegum for the brain blogs...

http://bneato.com/Totally quenches my Capricorn desire for organization and ideas to keep my less cluttered.

http://www.gavethat.comCool ideas for gifts 

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/A focus on cool, cute, interesting, orange things (my favorite color)

http://penelopeloveslists.com/Inspiration for the unapologetic organized soul



~





So there we are.  Some blogs I started reading over the last year.  Hope you find one or two you like as well.

The Details of Publishing a Book: January O'Neil Interviews me at Poet Mom ~

Sylvia Beach Hotel on the Oregon Coast


January has just posted an interview with me that includes the process of putting my book together and sending it out for publication.



Also, if you're in the Northwest or live in Oregon, or want to travel there, there's a sneak peek at a Writer's Retreat Susan Rich and I are hosting at the famous, literary-themed, Sylvia Beach Hotel next September!

Free Copy of Letters from the Emily Dickinson Room

 



If you haven't signed up for the drawing for a free copy of Letters from the Emily Dickinson Room, you can do that by going to this post and leaving me a comment.



Also, take a moment to read the comments on what people are grateful for, really gives you that hot cocoa feeling inside.



~



I have one more "Loaner Copy" of my book if anyone wants it (these are copies I offered to send to you to read then pass along to someone else when you're done).



Just drop me an email at kelli (a) agodon.com and I'll send a copy your way.

Confession Tuesday - New Year's Edition 2011

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Dear Reader,



It's been Christmas wrapping paper and 5 chocolate oranges (at least) since my last confession.  It's been 2 days of wearing only pajamas, 1 Christmas eve day of flying through the city visiting friends and family as well as Candy Cane Lane.



But now we look forward to New Year's.  To new beginnings. To happy endings. To the confessional--





Becoming Emily Dickinson--



I confess I'm always a little melancholy when the Christmas season is over and there is no longer Christmas music on the radio.  I know many people are quite happy to be putting away the decorations, tossing the tree, but I like these winter moments of being at home with sparkling lights.



I also think part of me enjoys that the weather is so bad (wet & cold here in the Northwest) so it's okay to stay inside and read. I don't have to tend the garden.  I don't have to deal with the outside world of landscape, weeds, or lawn.



In the winter, it's okay to be Emily Dickinson in my upstairs room waving to the children outside. I actually enjoy staying in (almost too much) and sometimes I can see my future self as an old woman in a white nightgown sitting by myself reading and the thought is not scary to me, but oddly comforting knowing how much I like to be home and staying in.



~



New Year's Possible Guidelines -



I confess there is something wonderful about a New Year approaching.



Maybe it's the knowing that we can start fresh.  I know that every day can actually be a fresh start, but this feels more official.  A new date, a new year, a new calendar.  I enjoy looking back at my year. And I also appreciate looking forward at what can I do differently or better.



I confess I actually like writing resolutions, though I've never liked the name "resolutions" as it's too stuffy for me, so I tend to refer to mine as New Year's Suggestions.  There's less pressure to perform that way if you see them as "possible guidelines" or "suggestions" as they become something one cannot actually fail at.  I mean, who wants to start the year by screwing up?



~

The Organized Poet (is not an oxymoron)--



I confess I love opening new calendars and organizers for the new year.



It returns to organizing and New Year Suggestions for me, to start fresh with new habits to make things easier on me in the long run.  It's my Capricorn nature to be organized and for a long time, I wished I was much more spontaneous and whimsical, as I imagined poets, writers, and artists to be, but now I have learned to like my practicality, to appreciate that I'm disciplined and careful.



No, you won't see me with unbalanced checkbook, dying my hair blue, or forgetting to show up for reading.  As much as I'd love to be the cool poet with the jet black hair drinking my 10th martini dropping the F-bomb in thigh-high boots, I'm more likely to be the one who wore corduroy and went home early to read or get some sleep and dream about the cool poet in her thigh-high boots.  Love me for my To-Do lists, for my ability to organize my books alphabetically by the poet's last name, for my Huey Lewis theme song life-- "It's hip to be Square"-- even if it's not, don't let me know that.



~



The Organized Poet Shares Her Very Boring Life of Lists--



And I confess, if you're wanting to get organized or need a new calendar, here are my two favorites this year...



2011 BusyBodyBook Personal & Family Organizer - 

I am currently using this book, which was designed to help you keep track of all your family's activities (each family member gets their own column & you can write where they are or what they need to do each day) except I use mine to keep track of my different projects.  I have columns that say "Writing," "Crab Creek Review," "Personal," "Home," and 2 blank columns I change weekly depending on what I'm working on.



I started using this last year and love it.  Every Sunday night while watching Amazing Race, I organize my week and what I need to get done.





A Working Writer's Daily Planner 2011: Your Year in Writing

***This will be my first year with calendar on my desk.  I plan to use it to keep track of what poems I'm working on and notes on my writing projects, inspiration or ideas.



~



And I confess I wish happiness for each and every one of you in 2011.  You have brought me much happiness and satisfaction with this blog and if I could dish out happiness to you like ice cream scoops, I'd give you extra helpings.



To a whipped cream New Year's with sprinkles and chocolate sauce!

And if you're gluten-free, I wish you an acceptable alternative. . .



Amen.

Life After Christmas: New Poetry Books (thanks Santa) & a Blog Remodel

Good Monday, Friends!



If you celebrate Christmas, did you enjoy it?

If you don't celebrate Christmas, did you enjoy your day?



Christmas Past & Christmas Presents:



I had an incredible Christmas.  Being around my family and good friends really just reminds me why we are all here and yes, what's important.



I think I am finally to the point where I actually feel like an adult in that I get much more pleasure giving than getting.  This probably seems normal in your life, but I must say, even in my 30's I loved to get gifts (think Sue Sylvester on the Glee Christmas special).  Yes, I would rig a Secret Santa giveaway if I could.



But I must be growing up.  I was 28 before I got my cheekbones, maybe I'm just a late bloomer in life.  Yes, I am pretty sure I am.



As for Christmas gifts, I only asked for a few items this year, 2 new poetry books, a new pillow and some ragwool socks from Eddie Bauer.  And guess what, Santa brought me all of them (the bonus of having a short list).



My two new poetry books:  Dear God, Dear Dr. Heartbreak  Aliki Barnstone (and I believe White Pine Press will be publishing a new book by her next year - I love her work!)  and Terrance Hayes Lighthead.  Okay, admittedly, I'm the last person in the poetry world getting this book, but I got it!



Also someone a couple months ago commented on this blog that her husband got a water-based pillow when I was complaining that I spent $20 on what I thought was the perfect pillow (but wasn't) and I got one of those--Mediflow Waterbase Fiberfill Pillow  and I'm loving it! (Thank you for that comment!)



I do keep a fleece pillowcase on it because underneath it can get a little cooler because of the water (and I'm one of those people who sometimes sleeps in bizarre positions with hands under pillow, arms grasping pillow, etc. etc.) so I did notice it was cooler.  But I love being able to add water to change the firmness of the pillow.



It's crazy-heavy (I think I filled mine to medium-firm), but it's been great to have it stay fluffed all the night.  I'm sounding a little obsessive over my pillow (I am), but if you have pillow issues like I have, this might be a life changer for me.  I'll keep you informed.  (My biggest concern is that there is water in this pillow and I may inadvertently be growing sea monkeys in my sleep).



~



New Year's Remodel:



And yes, it might look a little different around here.



I'm trying to clean up my blog and remodel a bit.  If you've been a reader to this blog, you know this is normal for me. I remember one reader saying something about it reminding it of his mom when he was growing up, sometimes he'd come home to find the couch in a new place.  Yes, I've moved the couch as well as paintings on the walls.



I hope you can still find a place to sit here and enjoy and hope you're liking the new look as well as the content.



We will see how it ends up on January 1st...



~



Want Your Name on the Walls?



Oh and by the way, I'm adding/cleaning up my People in the Neighborhood blog list and if you're not on it and want to be - please leave me a note in this comment with your full name and blog link and I'll add you.



Or if you're on my list and want off, please let me know that too!



~