WRITING WITHOUT APOLOGY
If one apologizes for their writing - they are excusing who they are. I will not do that.
Welcome to Poetica for July. The year is nearly half over. God, it has gone fast for me. Does it seem that way to you? There has been kind of a lull that has sunk me in the middle of the year, and I want to believe that I can get beyond that and finish out the last half of the year rising like a phoenix above the it all.
Let me tell you a llittle about this year so far. In February, Kansas City hosted the AWP annual conference. The Association of Writers and Writers Programs. I did a reading at the event and hit the gazillion boths in the book fair talking with publishers, editors of lit journals, and other authors. AWP can be kind of overwhelming for first timers, I’ve been to a half dozen, and it still can be a bit of a drain by the end of the conference.
Most recently I have had a new poem published by Hellbender Magazine, a publication of the West Virginia University - English Graduate Program. You can find my poem on page 158 in the publication located here
.
What I’ve been reading—
Currently I am reading n new poetry release by Marianne Mersereau. It’s title is “In The Grip Of Grace” published by Finishing Line Press. I will review it when finished - summer classes have been taking a lot of my time.
Most recently I have read “Educated” bt Tara Westover. It’s a fascinating memoir and I canot recomend it highly enough. Tara grows up in a very disfunctionl family. She is not allowed to attend school period. Then at 17 she attends school for the first time. She enrolls in college. Tara’s memoir reveals her efforts at an education she was denied. You will learn the level of disfunction within her family, and you will discover the surprising truth that explains so much about the life her and the rest of her family endured, and why. This was a book highly recomended by Barak Obama among many others.
I have been reading more non poetry this year, but Poetry really is my first love. I have have come to like reading memoirs as well as essays and biographies, and found myself even reading more novels. I used to read 90% poetry and I am trying to expand my literary experances.
The beautiful feeling after writing a poem is on the whole better even than after sex, and that's saying a lot. - Anne Sexton
NO APOLOGY — This is my maxim for the month of July as it comes to writing. In order to write the kind of work that should satisfy me - I believe I must write material that makes me a bit uneasy. That moves away from the tendency to play it safe. To not put myself in an uncomfortable spot. If I can’t do that, then I fear I will fail at creating work that wants to be read by readers. I have to say when all is said and done, there it is. You may like it, you may not. I am not writing to be liked, I am writing to be read and to stretch the minds and thoughts of others by the words on the page. My work should not always be seen as autobiographical - though I have been known to write confessional poetry, It is however important in my writing to be true to the thoughts, the images, the questions, the visions, that come within me. Some will be based on personal experience. Some will be based on observation from a distance. Above all, this has to be my voice.
If I want to write from a safe place - I will let myself down, and no doubt my readers as well.
Thank you for reading -
I am available to read for groups
You can see more of my work at michaelwells.ink
You may share with newsletter with another friend who enjoys poetry and reading
Great post! Amen, brother, no apologies! Thank you so much for reading my book and offering to write a review! I really appreciate that... and congratulations on your recent publication!