| Author | Message | ||
| ~M~
Board Administrator Username: mjm Post Number: 33755 Registered: 11-1998 |
. Dear Membership – As you may or may not know, steve and I just recently took on another job, as columnists for an ezine called Writing the Life Poetic, written by Sage Cohen, a celebrated and award-winning poet and author who lives here in Portland. She’s got a new book that’s just been released, and I’d like take a few moments to introduce both the book and Sage to you. She is a really delightful woman! Sage is a Jersey girl gone west. After living in San Francisco for a decade (with a two year detour to NYC in the middle), she moved to Portland in 2003 in pursuit of greater spaciousness, a worm compost bin, and the freedom to cut a cat door into the side of the house, with no one to tell her it's not allowed. She received her BA in Comparative Literature at Brown University and MA in English, Creative Writing from New York University. Her poetry, essays, fiction, and articles have been published in many print and online magazines, journals and anthologies. Sage has taught creative writing at universities, hospitals, writing conferences, and also online. She publishes the Writing the Life Poetic blog and ezine, and also serves as managing editor and columnist for The Writer Mama zine. Other monthly columns include: Writers on the Rise and Get Known Groove. In addition, she hosts the Barnes & Noble Reading Series in Portland, and is the author of a book of poetry called Like the Heart, the World, published in 2007. Sage’s newest book, Writing the Life Poetic, has recently been released by Writer’s Digest books and will be available for shipping in just a couple of weeks. Sage was generous enough to share a pre-release copy with me and I’ve been enjoying her fresh approach to this instructional manual for how to write and read poetry. About the book, she says, “we’ll be taking poetry off of its academic pedestal and into our lives where it belongs. In these pages you’ll find everything you need to start writing, reading, and appreciating poetry in a new way – whatever way pleases and inspires you most. Designed to be a creative companion for poets of all levels, Writing the Life Poetic will help you cultivate your craft, be receptive to the poetry around you, practice writing poetry, and find daily delight in all things poetic.” Whether you’re new to poetry writing or you’ve been practicing this craft for decades, I think you will find something in Sage’s new book to inspire and motivate you. The book includes prompts and exercises, sample poems and accessible information on many aspects of our craft. Sage’s voice is a friendly and welcoming one, and reading the book is like sitting one-on-one with a very wise and generous teacher. Writing the Life Poetic by Sage Cohen is available in the WPF BookShop under “Admin’s Featured Five-Star Book Picks." Love, M (Administrator) __________________________________________________________________ Writing the Life Poetic by Sage Cohen __________________________________________________________________ BOOK DESCRIPTION Excerpt from Back Cover: “Poetry is just the evidence of life,” says Leonard Cohen. “If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” You don’t need an advanced degree to reap the rewards of a rich poetic life – writing poetry is within the reach of everyone. Poet Sage Cohen invites you to slow down to the rhythms of your creative process and savor poetry by: -- Offering explorations of the poetic life and craft -- Inspiring a feeling of play instead of laborious study -- Weaving together lessons in content, form, and process to provide a fun and engaging experience -- Inviting you to add poetry to your creative repertoire Writing the Life Poetic is the inspirational companion you’ve been looking for to help you build confidence in your poetic voice. It takes poetry from its academic pedestal and puts it back into the hands of the people. EDITORIAL REVIEWS Excerpt from Amazon.com “No one needs an advanced degree in creative writing to reap the rewards of poetry. This invitation to creatives from all backgrounds puts poetry back into the hands of the people--not because they are aspiring to become the poet laureate of the United States--but because poetry is one of the great pleasures in life. Writing the Life Poetic helps anyone build skills and confidence in their poetic voice. While key craft issues are addressed, the approach is casual and friendly, rather than formal and academic.” TABLE OF CONTENTS Why Read and Write Poetry? What Makes a Poem a Poem? Start Where You are: Diving Deep Into the Ordinary Show vs. Tell: The Art of the Image Excavate Your Mind Mine: Free Writing Poetic Pheromones: Attracting Your True Subjects Thirteen Ways of Looking Talk Your Walk: Word Choice Living the Life Poetic Do What You Know: Translate Another Creative Process to Poetry Come to Your Senses Writing Titles Forgive and Forget: Letting Go of What’s Holding Back Your Writing Truth, Lies, and Personal Space Point of View: The Power of Pronouns Family Fodder Seeing Your Self in Your World From Dysfunction to Duende Figurative Images: Metaphor Mirrors and Simile Semblances Follow the Golden Thread Finders Keepers: Found Poems Fears and Failures The Faces of the Stranger Sound: Writing Out Loud Learn a Foreign Language (Or Create Your Own) Small Stones Imitation is the Highest Form of Discovery The Starving Artist Has Left the Building: On Poetry and Prosperity Making Music: Rhyme, Rhythm, and Repetition Redefining “Real Work” Read the Poetry You Love Grow Your Own Writing Group Work the White Space: Shaping Poems With Line Stanzas: The Body of a Poem Cultivate a Writing Ritual Cultivate a Writing Antiritual But What Does It Mean: When Poems Don’t Make Sense Mad Libs The Art of Revision Convenience Kills Let Your Dreams Lead You Poetry as Tonglen Practice I’m So Adjective, I Verb Nouns: On Word Choice On Becoming Real Expose Yourself to the Art Create a System for Your Poetry Practice Spending More Than You Save Writing Poem From Titles Create a Dream Team Do What You Love; The Community Will Follow Memorization: Becoming One With a Poem Who’s Talking to Whom? Lectio Divina: The Ancient Art of Reading and Listening Mixing Media: The World as Your Canvas The Art of “All Day” Be Slow Art Imitates Art Writing the Zeitgeist Tell Someone Else’s Story The Alchemy of Doing Nothing Writing Voice Saving Acorns: Keeping Track of Your Great Ideas Taking Shape: Experimenting with Poetic Forms Trust Your Instincts Be Anonymous Finding the Right Home for Your Poetry How to Submit Poems for Publication Blogging as Beginner’s Practice Blogging to Build an Audience Darlings: Repurposing the Slush Pile Lists as Triggers Rejection Happens National Poetry Month From Facts to Truths To Thine Own Self Be True Allow Fallow Time Just Do It Keeping Your Wilderness Alive How to Run a Reading Series Flap Your Wings! . | ||
| Fred Longworth
Senior Member Username: sandiegopoet Post Number: 5839 Registered: 05-2006 |
Sage's Home Page YOUR FOOTNOTE ADVERTISEMENT HERE. Call 1-555-555-5555 and ask for Fred. 10% discount if you mention Wild Poetry Forum. |
