Midwest Chapbook Series (& I'm the judge)

Here's the full scoop, from John Gallaher's blog.

The deadline is 7/1. Spread the word!

Klaus is so excited that he wrapped his tail around his feet in joy (above).

~*~

Our Lady of Nothing to Say.

I took a bunch of photos yesterday, but still have only written one poem since 4/15 and I am beginning to worry. I have nothing to say! Why don't I have anything to say? Next week my summer class begins, and I may have even less than nothing to say then. I am drinking some unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar in the hope that it works as a creative tonic. If it works, I will let you know.

This may be a case of not making time to write. I don't normally need to make time to write. Perhaps I should give it a try.

Oh. K.

Very excited for the long weekend coming up. One more week before my summer class whirlwind begins.

Thankful to Verse Daily for featuring three poems from Barn Owl Review 5, by Kate Jenkins, Krystal Languell, and Daniela Olszewska. We start accepting submissions for BOR 6 (SIX! We are all grown up, folks) next Friday, which is June 1st. Submission guidelines here.

I have still only written one poem since 4/15. I am starting to worry, but I haven't had time to worry, so maybe I won't worry.

It's so thrilling that I have several literature courses around the bend. There's nothing I love more than having to set aside time to read.

Hello, summer.

It's not really summer, but we're steadily getting there. I am alternating between feeling lazy (or wanting to be lazy) and feeling ultra motivated. Sheba, above, can completely relate.

I just wrote a new poem, the first one since my NAPOtastrophy around 4/15. I haven't felt especially inspired lately. I'm not jotting things in my moleskine or thinking about poem lines. But hopefully that will happen soon.

Lately poem acceptances have been making me really happy. It's time to revise some poems that have been chilling in the junk drawer for a while.

My summer won't start for a while, as I am teaching a World Lit class from early June through early July. I looked at the stack of books for the class today, and got really excited just to read everything again. July through August: you belong to me.

That's the story in Akron, OH.

Saint Monica reviewed in Rain Taxi.

Thanks so much to the folks at Rain Taxi, especially Roxanne Halpine Ward, for this terrific review of Saint Monica. 

Far from the holy matron described in saints’ books, this Monica is just as confused, angry, and turned on as the rest of us. Biddinger’s tight and vividly detailed narrative poems speak to timeless themes of adolescence, regret, and desire, enlivening a historical figure and religious icon while painting a nuanced portrait of a character who is every bit as imperfect and fallible as everyone else. --Roxanne Halpine Ward