Hey! It’s our weekly writing round up! I hope you find some great resources and write like you’re meant to!
The thing is that sometimes writing is easy.
The thing is that sometimes writing is not... easy.
These are the days of writers. People blog. They text. They NaNoWriMo. They make content.
You are one of those people. You know that it's hard. I know that it is not easy for me to be one of those people, a writer in the days of writers and especially in these times of economic turmoil where there is a recession and entire publishing houses are restructuring, trying to stay alive.
Let me tell you something about writers in these days of writers. Sometimes when we look at a page we see the world. Sometimes when we look at a page we see hope. Sometimes when we look at a page we see nothing at all.
But even on those horrible days -- those self doubt/writer angst days -- we approach the page anyway. We lurch towards it, hands bloodied, heart attacking our ribs. We lurch towards it because we want so badly to reach out to others; we want so badly to make story; we want so badly to be heard.
Writers matter. Stories matter. You matter.
It all matters despite the economy, or maybe even more so because of it.
It all matters despite the fact that the whole world can write and blog and text, or maybe even more so because of it.
So we lurch. So we bother. So we search our mirrors and our lives. So we search in hearts and in actions and we make stories.
No matter what: We make stories.
So go on. Read and study, think and play, feel the truths that form solid hard in the gut and in the throat. Write your stories, blogs, texts, and poems and don't worry if it's Proust or gobbley gook or even if it will get published.
That's my secret advice: Just write.
You owe it to the world and the world owes it to you.
xo
Carrie
COOL LINKS BY OTHER PEOPLE
A poem by torrin a. greathouse
Cause and Effect via Writers' Digest
A bunch of templates on how to plot your novel.
“Muriel Rukeyser 101: Tracing the remarkable work of a feminist pioneer,” an article by BENJAMIN VOIGT
CRAFT EXERCISE
This is from READ POETRY. You can use it for prose too.
“PERSONAL HISTORY
“Look up the year you were born on Wikipedia, and you’ll find a long list of events. Choose a handful you find meaningful or interesting, even if you have to do a bit of research. Then, pick one to use as a jumping off point. You can take the fictional route and imagine being a participant or observer in the event, or a more literal one and imagine all the ways this historic event has affected (or not affected) your life.”
SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY
THRUSH POETRY JOURNAL
Thrush Poetry Journal is a bimonthly publication of “eclectic, moving, surprising” poetry. Named after the thrush, a bird with “the most beautiful voice in the world,” the magazine sponsors poets both new and established — just let your poems sing.
THRUSH – a journal of poetry that will appear 6 times a year. (January, March, May, July, September and November)
We believe in showcasing the best work we receive. We will present a select number of poems per edition.
We recommend reading current and archived issues to familiarize yourself with the poetry we select for publication.
Submissions are now open. We read submissions on a rolling basis. We are not a paying market.
Submit previously unpublished work only. Please do not send us work that has appeared elsewhere on the internet or in print.
Send us no more than three poems, pasted in the body of an email, preceded by a cover letter. If your poem requires special formatting, you may then, also include an attachment. Please include a bio written in the third person.
Please indicate POETRY SUBMISSION on your subject line. Submissions without "Poetry Submission" in the subject line will be deleted unread.
Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but not preferred. If your work is accepted elsewhere please inform us immediately.
No multiple submissions please.
We aim to respond to all submissions within 5 days of receipt (usually much less).
Please wait a minimum of six months between submissions.
If your work is accepted at THRUSH, you agree to grant us First North American Serial Rights, all archival rights, plus the rights to reprint in any future anthologies. Upon publication all rights revert back to the author. You agree that if your poem/s subsequently appears elsewhere (in print or online), you will give due credit to THRUSH.
Our taste is eclectic. We want poems that move us, a strong sense of imagery, emotion, with interesting and surprising use of language, words that resonate. We want fresh. We want voice. We want craft.
Established and new poets are encouraged to submit. Please no long poems. We prefer a poem that will fit on one page. We are not interested in inspirational poetry or philosophical musings.
Submissions that ignore these guidelines (or parts of these guidelines) will likely be declined immediately.
We nominate for most major prizes. See our Awards page.
Our guidelines are subject to change. We suggest reviewing them prior to submitting.
Submissions and other correspondence should be sent to: editorthrushpoetryjournal@gmail.com