Poets! Do at Least One "Poetry Thing" Every Day

As poets, we probably know it's important to write every day. But even while understanding such a wise guideline, if you're like me, you probably don't write every single day. Whether it's because of work, commuting, childcare, domestic duties, or keeping up with friends and extended family, the time you need to sit down without distractions to write may be limited. Sometimes I don't even feel like writing. I'd rather work on artwork, read or catch up on the latest on Netflix. Or perhaps take a much needed nap.

So I made this new rule for myself. If, on a certain day, I don't work on a poem, I vow to at least accomplish one "poetry thing" that day.  Wait. What is a "poetry thing?" In my estimation, it could be one of the following:

~ Read poetry from a poetry collection or magazine

~ Submit poetry to a publisher

~ Attend a poetry reading, live or virtual

~ Edit an old poem

~ Promote your latest published poem or poetry collection on social media

~ Promote your fellow poets' latest published poem or poetry collection on social media

~ Give a reading at a live or virtual open mic

~ Attend a virtual poetry event

~ Attend an online poetry workshop

~ Do research and/or write ideas/notes for a new poem

~ Comb your personal journal for ideas for new poems

~ Go to the library to check out the new poetry collections

~ Follow a writing prompt from an outside source or a book to start a new poem

~ Select poems you've written that might make up a new poetry chapbook or full collection

~ Or just write a new poem 

Why do any or all of these "Poetry Things?" If you call yourself a poet, you need to live a poet's life! And life is lived every day! Can you name another "poetry thing" that doesn't appear on the list above? Please share. I'd like to hear from you. With so many options, there's no reason not to do at least one "poetry thing" every day! 

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Poets! Do at Least One "Poetry Thing" Every Day

What is a poetry chapbook?

Chapbooks were originally small, inexpensive books sold from street carts by merry olde English peddlers called chapmen. From the 1500s through part of the 1800s, these little books, on a variety of topics, were so cheap that once their owners read them, the pages were often used as “bum fodder” (toilet paper).  

Today, modern chapbooks have risen in status (most certainly from bum fodder), and are a popular method for publishing poetry. Running only 40 pages or fewer, chapbooks are shorter in length than a perfect bound full poetry collection, and are usually saddle stitched with staples along a folded spine.

Many new poets who may not have written enough poems for a full collection might get more immediate exposure through a chapbook. Also, poets who write a series of poems that connect with one another, or are all on the same or loosely related theme may opt to get a chapbook published.

There are dozens of poetry chapbook contests each year offered by small press or university publishers. Many presses may opt to publish at least part of their output as chapbooks rather than full collections due to tight budgets or, conversely, to be able to publish more poets! Contests are often the vehicle toward chapbook publication in order for all entrants to help contribute toward the manuscript that will ultimately be chosen. This custom is very common and totally acceptable. Chapbook contests also offer presses a way to scope out new or original talent they may not have been exposed to through the full collection submissions they receive.  

Poets may also prefer to publish a chapbook themselves. With the use of page design programs, clip art, stock photos and speedy printers, a short run of chapbooks doesn’t cost much and can serve as a “calling card” for poets who seek featured readings at local venues, and finally have a way of sharing (and selling) a printed selection of poems with friends, family and fellow poets who’ve been asking, “Where can I find more of your poems?”

Read more about chapbooks and how to create your own step-by-step in my nonfiction book Frugal Poet's Guide to Life: How to Live a Poetic Life, Even If You Aren't a Poet. ◦

What is a poetry chapbook?

Let wabi-sabi take a brushstroke to your frugal poet life

Second in a series

What does wabi-sabi have to do with being a frugal poet? Wabi-sabi, though quintessentially Japanese, can be applied to any culture’s poetry and is, in fact, an integral part of the poetic nature at large, whether we realize it or not. Published writing is usually rewritten, edited and polished writing, set in symmetrical fonts and printed in uniform order and quality.

Poetry, in its early creation, is composed of our raw thoughts or emotions, scribbled down in an unsteady hand on a commuter train or a dimly lit kitchen. Perhaps the pages are occasionally smudged with ink or stained by drops of coffee. Entries may be heartfelt and passionate, but can simultaneously be random, incomplete, unconventional and bold, without needing to please an audience.

I wish more of my poetry writing and creative writing students would take this approach. You need to get dirty digging a foundation before building a lofty structure. The idea is to let creativity unfold naturally, even when flawed. Get the ideas and images down on paper, and leave all the formal tweaking, rewriting and readjusting kept for later.

And while we work to fix part of a piece, we most likely mar another, however slight the blow. The imperfection in nearly any process we undertake only shows how human we are. It is human and perfectly natural not to be perfect! And writing is no exception.  

The process of writing a poem may ultimately add up to a complete picture or an epiphany of revelation. But most often, our trips toward a poetic destination most often start as a modest journey. We follow a foggy pathway with no promise of reaching a clearing. But we have faith.

At its most distilled, wabi-sabi exemplifies a sense of faith -- in yourself and in the promise of what you strive for, whether it’s poetry or any other creative discipline. According to poet Wallace Stevens, “The imperfect is our paradise.” We try, we fail, we pick up again and find new revelation. If you expect creativity to be a perfect journey, it’s a delusion.

As humans, and frugal poets, we must accept our imperfections, though we consistently struggle to be the best we can. One of my favorite quotes acknowledges human frailty in the midst of writing a poem. French critic and poet Paul Valery said, “A poem is never finished, only abandoned.” I can work and rework a poem many times over, but the moment finally arrives when I must let it go, let it be where it is, and allow it to find a landing place (or not) in my sheaf of collected works.
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The above excerpt is from my reference, memoir and creativity guide Frugal Poets' Guide to Life: How to Live a Poetic Life, Even If You Aren't a Poet

In parting, consider this Bible verse:

2 Corinthians 12:9-11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Let wabi-sabi take a brushstroke to your frugal poet life

How the poetry chapbook idea "Drenched" arrived a like a message in a bottle

What is a poetry chapbook and how can a poet put one together? Simply put, a poetry chapbook is a shorter book of poetry, usually 40 or fewer pages, and is often saddle-stitched. It's a great first-effort for a poet, or a type of book to come out "between books." A full poetry collection is usually at least 52 pages and is perfect bound, ie. with a spine.

Earlier this year, I gave the last poetry reading at Billy Corgan's Madame Zuzu's Tea Shop in Highland Park, Illinois. As a theme, I decided to read a handful of poems I had written about tea, coffee, champagne, water, and other liquids and liquid experiences. 

In the process of reeling in the poems I'd read that night, I discovered I had written quite a number of poems not only on potable liquids, but also on waterfalls, sewers, pools, saunas and floods. Even blood. Because I had gone into my computer back-up drive of poems and keyed in search words for various liquid concepts, I found poems I had nearly forgotten about. Before long, I realized I had enough "liquid" poems for a chapbook-length manuscript. It was little like walking onto shore and finding a bottle on the beach filled with poems.

Songwriter and Beatle John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans." This year, I have been busy working on a play, writing a manuscript for another poetry book, and listing other goals on a to-do list, anything but coming out with a chapbook of poems about liquids, which was the farthest thing from my mind.

On a whim, I sent the "liquid" manuscript out to a few poetry publishers using the title "Drenched." Before long, Main Street Rag Publishing Company in Charlotte, North Carolina, contacted me with the news that they had accepted my manuscript Drenched for publication. Several years ago, I had a poem published in the "Main Street Rag" magazine, a literary periodical they regularly issue, in addition to their publishing of books and chapbooks. Not sure if that had helped me. Maybe.

I reached out to several friends and associates to read the manuscript and offer blurbs. Many thanks to Ana Castillo, Mike Puican, Jennifer Dotson, Charlie Rossiter and Raul Nino for writing such splendid words about the poems! Read their blurbs under "Comments."

Reading at Madame Zuzu's
with musicians
Tima Fei & Julian Cumpian

The 40-page perfectbound chapbook Drenched is now published. You can order only at the Main Street Rag page for Drenched.

Read a few poems from the chapbook online now under "Samples."

Thank you friends, family and readers for your support! Look for my upcoming full poetry collection to appear early 2019, Epicurean Ecstasy: More Poems About Food, Drink, Herbs and Spices (The Poetry Box, Portland).

Note to my fellow poets: Take a closer look at all the poems you've written, and perhaps type in key words in your computer to search the poems in your files for recurring themes, like I did. You may have a chapbook manuscript or even a full collection manuscript in your hands that you weren't even aware of.
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How the poetry chapbook idea "Drenched" arrived a like a message in a bottle