We dream of creating many things but it's another thing to actually plan, schedule, and execute them in the real world.

 

For instance, I've often thought it would be wonderful to write a poem every day, like William Stafford. I started this practice many times, and kept it up for three, five, maybe even ten days. But no one was noticing. And there were so many other things to do. By contrast, if I posted a lovely pic on Instagram, I could get instant likes: voila! So this long-term, practical, daily effort dwindled.

My poetry fell to the tiniest white space at the bottom of my priority list.

It's crucial that you and I wake up and realize, no one is going to come knocking on our door and ask for the novel, memoir, poem, or short story that we know we need to write.

No one is even going to notice whether or not you wrote today.

If, eventually, a teacher, mentor, or friend asks about your writing, just give them any excuse on hand and that will silence them. But will it silence your dream?

This year is still new. Are you doing anything real and different— so that you can accomplish your fondest dreams?

I feel lucky that I connected with Tupelo Press as one of their poets for the 30/30 Project, and met their challenge: I wrote a poem a day in February! I needed an accountability partner, and they needed the support. (Beyond that, many of you supported this "marathon" with your donations and cheers from the sidelines. I thank you with all my heart!)

 

Set aside half an hour with a notebook or candle or glass of wine or cat in your lap or guitar music or prayer or the ocean surf and think about what you really would love to see happen in your writing life. Ask yourself what real-world steps it will take to get there.

Take step one.

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A practical and exciting toolkit for publishing short writing (flash fiction, short stories, poems, and nonfiction). Not a writing class. Back by popular demand, but be forewarned: Clark College needs registrants or they will cancel. It won't come back until 2023.