tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376275772024-03-07T14:32:03.626-08:00Book of Kells (Kelli Russell Agodon)Notes about writing and living creatively...Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.comBlogger2425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-82279056449638650142022-10-10T11:56:00.007-07:002022-10-10T11:56:48.210-07:00Skagit River Poetry Festival 2022: The Reboot & What I Learned<div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU5IirtPeaUEm9Pe-bRErz8Z_zhXMB59JdwzQvulqqh63Umha2GT5zv6cC0FXeSq6lVa6U8k4KFQkCmOcAbx20e5QjRRN1vPfbnizaLhuz4K4L1ou-yvnBywUIVqY58OWMOoEcjBkfOWxaiGXhIcMVjBblTGnmr-XcbkjLGhYUQb3IZVrBVA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1200" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhU5IirtPeaUEm9Pe-bRErz8Z_zhXMB59JdwzQvulqqh63Umha2GT5zv6cC0FXeSq6lVa6U8k4KFQkCmOcAbx20e5QjRRN1vPfbnizaLhuz4K4L1ou-yvnBywUIVqY58OWMOoEcjBkfOWxaiGXhIcMVjBblTGnmr-XcbkjLGhYUQb3IZVrBVA=w425-h307" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poets: Me (Kelli Russell Agodon, Susan Rich, Marty Silano, Jourdan Keith, Terrance Hayes) (Jane Hirshfield photobomb over Susan's head!) <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Due to the pandemic, the Skagit River Poetry Festival, like so many other things has been on hold. But since Thursday, I have been in a small town in Washington State allowing poets and poetry to reenter my life. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Skagit River Poetry Festival has been called the little sister of the Dodge Festival, or perhaps, I just named it that right now, but that's how I think of it. It begins Thursday night with a "Poet Soiree" where locals and patrons of the arts eat dinner with poets (2 per table). What I found were the women at the table who weren't poets were WAY more interesting than I was--so I really enjoyed getting to know them. After the dinner, there was an opening reading then we're off! </div><div><br />What I realized since basically becoming a lazy (though traveling) Emily Dickinson recluse during the pandemic is that human interaction is tiring.</div><div><br /></div><div>It reminded me that with AWP coming up in Seattle in March, to really take care of ourselves at big events.</div><div><br /></div><div>So here are a few of my takeaways from the festival:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1) I enjoy poets.</b> This seems silly to say, but being around other people who are doing the same art you are, feels good. You arrive with a knowledge of what the other has gone through or is going through. You have an understanding that you're doing something with so much love, and passion, and also knowing that most likely, not a huge amount of people will read what you write, and yet, you still do the thing. It makes me believe that writing poetry is a hopeful act. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2) Small talk is stupid.</b> Maybe this goes back to #1 and why I like poets. In no time did I ever make small talk. And if you find yourself at an event and small talk is happening, ask this question, "What are you working on?" Or "What hobby/art/activity is bringing your joy these days?" I personally will talk about your writing project or poetry for hours. But I cannot talk about the weather or news or politics (unless the weather you are talking about is climate change, then I'm in.) There is nothing more I have to say on any of those topics, nothing I can add or know what to add. Yes, the world is terrible, but tell me what you love.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3) Layering is important</b>. Our days went from 54 degrees to 76 degrees depending on what time of the day it was. There is something to be said for layers you can put on or take off. Key pieces of clothing-- black leather jacket (see Marty Silano for this one!), a blazer (my signature look for this festival) or a jean jacket (mine is currently missing which is not good.) </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_BTEM0uEAqhRXj4Zbe4aweNxrW1NNK72rVu9i6xh8S7Evj7elcvoQ60jH7Nkgr5jzk9XKvY4I7aVhcHmYXrOTHoPQ_ESIbuJrLee_DzJbAfIIUVMrKDwoDBMkAig4g3186gqgQpLFuyRYGtuz5a96WzU2F2CyxnRaXoF27DiOCI-V76oSBg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_BTEM0uEAqhRXj4Zbe4aweNxrW1NNK72rVu9i6xh8S7Evj7elcvoQ60jH7Nkgr5jzk9XKvY4I7aVhcHmYXrOTHoPQ_ESIbuJrLee_DzJbAfIIUVMrKDwoDBMkAig4g3186gqgQpLFuyRYGtuz5a96WzU2F2CyxnRaXoF27DiOCI-V76oSBg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><b>4) People are kinder in person.</b> You know how sometimes on the internet people grow a spine or become obnoxious/awful or say things rudely or in a way they would NEVER in person? It happens less in person, in fact, everyone I met at this festival (with the exception of one older male who led with ego and was way too much up in my business) was just a pleasure to talk to and be with. Always remember, people aren't always being their best selves on the internet, but then tend to step it up in person. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>5) You may need a lot of rest.</b> Because I haven't been doing a lot of socializing, what I found was my social interactions made me have to return to my room to take a nap or close my eyes way more than I have ever needed to. I'm an introvert with extrovert tendencies, but I've never felt so tired from talking--I'm out of practice apparently! I am reminding myself of this because AWP is coming up, and we don't want to get sick or feel rundown. Last night I went to bed at 7:30 pm and woke up at 8 pm. Yep, do the math, that is 12 1/2 hours of sleep. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>6) It's good to see friends</b>. I think I have forgotten a lot about the beforeworld, how we used to gather and enjoy each other. It was a good reminder for me how much my friends mean and matter to me. Especially as someone who can get so much into my own life, family, projects, dailiness, and work, and not reach out to others. I sometimes think if I didn't have Facebook, I'd reach out more because when I see someone living their life and posting photos to Facebook, in a way it can feel as if we've interacted, but we haven't. That was just me pressing a heart on a screen. I can remember that more. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some more photos from the festival. I am looking forward to being an audience member next time! Being a featured poet is fun and an honor, but also a little tiring! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bXviq3cfn4UcuYNNCfKisduQu7CQFcL3CvudwKDT1_U5fvMlMrLQgRaWizOaHMmjaR5wcgl8IjAM3G6cVE0-N9y5sVy4JJUSi9i9iCWZUnvCQdeqpERFFwlDZOWrjZWsCS9CUA_ZFvZ_Q6B2xRuBw-wA-3g9txI10oNBzEFY5Zbgrsxweg/s3474/Facetune_08-10-2022-23-34-50.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2849" data-original-width="3474" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bXviq3cfn4UcuYNNCfKisduQu7CQFcL3CvudwKDT1_U5fvMlMrLQgRaWizOaHMmjaR5wcgl8IjAM3G6cVE0-N9y5sVy4JJUSi9i9iCWZUnvCQdeqpERFFwlDZOWrjZWsCS9CUA_ZFvZ_Q6B2xRuBw-wA-3g9txI10oNBzEFY5Zbgrsxweg/w432-h354/Facetune_08-10-2022-23-34-50.HEIC" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Laura Da', and Jourdan Keith!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK2V7IiNNpuPTR_8sFLr5HbXNorqmtL_P0o_B5xsVBTTsDRx-Gso5KhnmWCf7ne--ODyxDx6scevIYYWLa4uZ7guKavVpjL3LWTX2SSiM9nBtvgKpOo9GC45HbRT-IEMyzdflLrV_7komctuvMqU_tIQiUVclJDy4klAjbtbhWWeheQi4cA/s4032/IMG_5884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK2V7IiNNpuPTR_8sFLr5HbXNorqmtL_P0o_B5xsVBTTsDRx-Gso5KhnmWCf7ne--ODyxDx6scevIYYWLa4uZ7guKavVpjL3LWTX2SSiM9nBtvgKpOo9GC45HbRT-IEMyzdflLrV_7komctuvMqU_tIQiUVclJDy4klAjbtbhWWeheQi4cA/s320/IMG_5884.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marty Silano, Roberto Ascalon, me.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5x7B46Ej6r7tEhPtXNSlSAR-ybnKmaKFQoo1R7YyxzBJJwgSIDn2781_cftO-tD2wFcKQKG-oazKojlvYNNw87YWmwndfwgCVZXdAG9WlAkHzeat54FJZ1Q3cdOK7EmRIxqFRstQ_Awm2PjUdNuX7CC6rub9ENg7QjmhmE6ruzYT5kMog/s1930/Facetune_07-10-2022-20-28-20.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1930" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5x7B46Ej6r7tEhPtXNSlSAR-ybnKmaKFQoo1R7YyxzBJJwgSIDn2781_cftO-tD2wFcKQKG-oazKojlvYNNw87YWmwndfwgCVZXdAG9WlAkHzeat54FJZ1Q3cdOK7EmRIxqFRstQ_Awm2PjUdNuX7CC6rub9ENg7QjmhmE6ruzYT5kMog/w431-h234/Facetune_07-10-2022-20-28-20.HEIC" width="431" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeannine Hall Gailey, Marty Silano, Kathleen Flenniken, Susan Rich.</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading. I hope to be part of #MondayBlogs. Let's see if I can keep this going. Though don't count on it! lol. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>~ Kells </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">________________ </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO_i7mdm6gpPftAH5LKyom_KmU8_41lArips5m8miIbh3dazl27vk4fZjOoaN2k7ts_vnnRqhsff-QLZdXymIQh-G0gCfPlqidg7Y8LQ7wEb1J2GVMzVA5zJzzKa466n7A8foHUGibQT8hLgbmPQd2ktutO47OQE4BRRpKZfwoCe3bkvUQg/s1230/AD%204%20boxes%20new%20Two%20Sylvias%20Weekly%20Muse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO_i7mdm6gpPftAH5LKyom_KmU8_41lArips5m8miIbh3dazl27vk4fZjOoaN2k7ts_vnnRqhsff-QLZdXymIQh-G0gCfPlqidg7Y8LQ7wEb1J2GVMzVA5zJzzKa466n7A8foHUGibQT8hLgbmPQd2ktutO47OQE4BRRpKZfwoCe3bkvUQg/s320/AD%204%20boxes%20new%20Two%20Sylvias%20Weekly%20Muse.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://twosylviaspress.substack.com/p/coming-soon" target="_blank">Introducing Two Sylvias' Press Weekly Muse:</a> A weekly subscription of prompts, places to submit, inspiration, and information to help simplify your writing and submitting practice! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><a href=" www.agodon.com " target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> www.agodon.com </span></a></div><div><a href="http://www.twosylviaspress.com"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
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www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-40427858044180225562022-09-03T11:25:00.000-07:002022-09-03T11:25:24.309-07:00Your Poems Do Matter & Why It's Important To Read Your Poems in Public: A Memoir<div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQIXyByamGI9WY1lxqncHcYp_9rEYGte9C585xAijQCi3pK1fRnagzPauxOFYRh_RtDywCSZts9f4kcZZfAMIHf3i0UH_XRYLzCULwRmD6jEjVNLg-wysDULBF_fhuxSpvEJBROeFDY_w8frHFlkFGmA1cvbhyFWSlEfcMg4oUUij_yG5BA/s3513/IMG-4516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3513" data-original-width="2516" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQIXyByamGI9WY1lxqncHcYp_9rEYGte9C585xAijQCi3pK1fRnagzPauxOFYRh_RtDywCSZts9f4kcZZfAMIHf3i0UH_XRYLzCULwRmD6jEjVNLg-wysDULBF_fhuxSpvEJBROeFDY_w8frHFlkFGmA1cvbhyFWSlEfcMg4oUUij_yG5BA/s320/IMG-4516.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmett Wheatfall, Kelli Russell Agodon, & John Sibley Williams at Birdhouse Books, Vancouver, Washington. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Last night I drove a very long way to give a poetry reading. While I was doing this, the thought crossed my mind, Why am I driving 4-hours to go to a small bookstore to read poetry? I thought, will anyone even be there? Why do I say yes to readings that aren't close to home? I said yes to this reading because I am huge fans of the poets I'm reading with-- <a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/john.sibleywilliams?__cft__[0]=AZWkKMAwsJsNvFt5y7_5K3wIgleX-mABfP0_OesqQYD28yn5hjFxNuAdtAiKmgCGb203IAZ04TvBjr3Jznw91wpvzVpn5O5XxOZZB3aLxItdAR5CdxvUe2SPGQ3bOj2Nq8ys-bo7wpo5f_sOIlqzg_8e&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="rse6dlih" style="display: inline;">John Sibley Williams</span></a> & <a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/emmett.wheatfall?__cft__[0]=AZWkKMAwsJsNvFt5y7_5K3wIgleX-mABfP0_OesqQYD28yn5hjFxNuAdtAiKmgCGb203IAZ04TvBjr3Jznw91wpvzVpn5O5XxOZZB3aLxItdAR5CdxvUe2SPGQ3bOj2Nq8ys-bo7wpo5f_sOIlqzg_8e&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="rse6dlih" style="display: inline;">Emmett Wheatfall</span></a>l. So I reminded myself, if no one shows up, at least you've hear some great poems.</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I arrive to <a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/birdhousebooks/?__cft__[0]=AZWkKMAwsJsNvFt5y7_5K3wIgleX-mABfP0_OesqQYD28yn5hjFxNuAdtAiKmgCGb203IAZ04TvBjr3Jznw91wpvzVpn5O5XxOZZB3aLxItdAR5CdxvUe2SPGQ3bOj2Nq8ys-bo7wpo5f_sOIlqzg_8e&__tn__=kK-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="rse6dlih" style="display: inline;">Birdhouse Books</span></a> which is the coolest bookstore run by the nicest people Sara and Lucas. They have artwork of poets all over the store by poet (and artist) <a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/scott.poole1?__cft__[0]=AZWkKMAwsJsNvFt5y7_5K3wIgleX-mABfP0_OesqQYD28yn5hjFxNuAdtAiKmgCGb203IAZ04TvBjr3Jznw91wpvzVpn5O5XxOZZB3aLxItdAR5CdxvUe2SPGQ3bOj2Nq8ys-bo7wpo5f_sOIlqzg_8e&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="rse6dlih" style="display: inline;">Scott Poole</span></a>. The bookstore was a full-house of engaged audience members and packed.</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We decide to do a "braided" reading or what I call a "living anthology" where one poet reads, the second follows, then the third and so on. It's a great way to create energy in a reading and you can't have a "set" playlist because you end up responding to what one poet read with one of your own poems. Which is what happened. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">John read a poem and talked about his kid, which made me read a poem I wrote to my non-binary kid called "Love Poem Where Nature is Non-Binary & Uses They/Them Pronouns." I was not planning on reading this poem tonight at all—it's not in Dialogues with Rising Tides, so I had to pull it up on my phone from Dropbox.</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">During the reading, I saw one younger human really leaning in and after the reading, they came up to me and said, "You have a non-binary kid, I am a non-binary kid." There are some humans that you run into that you see still move through the world with only love and connection, it's as if all the things that could harm them have bounced off their love force-field. This person was that circle of love.</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We talked for a bit, they shared their new name, and then they said, "I would like to hug you, may I?" As a mom, when a teenager/preteen asks for a hug, the answer is an absolute yes! (Though actually, I don't think I've ever refused a hug to anyone.) I told them what I believed--that we have so much to learn from non-binary & trans humans who *know* who they are and who are brave enough to speak it and claim it. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This beautiful person's mother was there, and she was crying. She said, "We weren't supposed to be here, we dropped in to say hi to the owners then you read your poem and honored my child." We all hugged and I realized immediately that was why I was there--that poem was for them. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This was exactly where I needed to be. Poetry readings have a magic to them that I've forgotten after 2 years of no in-person readings. And to think, when I was leaving the house today, I was thinking--this is a long drive for nothing. </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Understand, we do not know who our poems will touch. Quality over quantity. For me, this was a moment that will always stay with me. Love your humans and support them. This child had a mother who supported their journey and their whole self. And I so appreciate those who honor their non-binary/trans children. I loved how supported this young non-binary human was. I wish all trans/non-binary folx had this love and support--they all should. <span class="fxk3tzhb b2rh1bv3 gh55jysx m8h3af8h ewco64xe kjdc1dyq ms56khn7 bq6c9xl4 eohcrkr5 akh3l2rg" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🏳️🌈" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t57/2/16/1f3f3_200d_1f308.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span><span class="fxk3tzhb b2rh1bv3 gh55jysx m8h3af8h ewco64xe kjdc1dyq ms56khn7 bq6c9xl4 eohcrkr5 akh3l2rg" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🏳️⚧️" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t9f/2/16/1f3f3_200d_26a7.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span> </span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh and <a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/john.sibleywilliams?__cft__[0]=AZWkKMAwsJsNvFt5y7_5K3wIgleX-mABfP0_OesqQYD28yn5hjFxNuAdtAiKmgCGb203IAZ04TvBjr3Jznw91wpvzVpn5O5XxOZZB3aLxItdAR5CdxvUe2SPGQ3bOj2Nq8ys-bo7wpo5f_sOIlqzg_8e&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="rse6dlih" style="display: inline;">John</span></a> & <a class="qi72231t nu7423ey n3hqoq4p r86q59rh b3qcqh3k fq87ekyn bdao358l fsf7x5fv rse6dlih s5oniofx m8h3af8h l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk srn514ro oxkhqvkx rl78xhln nch0832m cr00lzj9 rn8ck1ys s3jn8y49 icdlwmnq cxfqmxzd d1w2l3lo tes86rjd" href="https://www.facebook.com/emmett.wheatfall?__cft__[0]=AZWkKMAwsJsNvFt5y7_5K3wIgleX-mABfP0_OesqQYD28yn5hjFxNuAdtAiKmgCGb203IAZ04TvBjr3Jznw91wpvzVpn5O5XxOZZB3aLxItdAR5CdxvUe2SPGQ3bOj2Nq8ys-bo7wpo5f_sOIlqzg_8e&__tn__=-]K-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0"><span class="rse6dlih" style="display: inline;">Emmett</span></a>, were AMAZING! If you ever get a chance to hear these two in person, please go and see them read. They both lead from the heart, with compassion, love, and kindness and truly write and read the most inspiring poems. This was one of the best poetry readings I have ever been to.</span></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anyway, every once in a while I remember what poetry does, it connects us and it makes us feel seen and/or less alone. I am thankful for being reminded of this and for continuing to learn from others in the world as I stumble through my own journey myself. <span class="fxk3tzhb b2rh1bv3 gh55jysx m8h3af8h ewco64xe kjdc1dyq ms56khn7 bq6c9xl4 eohcrkr5 akh3l2rg" style="display: inline-flex; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="❤" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ted/2/16/2764.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">~ Kells</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">________________ </span></div><div><a href=" www.agodon.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> www.agodon.com </span></a></div><div><a href="http://www.twosylviaspress.com"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>New from Two Sylvias Press: <i>The Weekly Muse</i></b>--a weekly subscription to help you write more poems, make your writing a priority, as well as to help simplify submitting and publish more poems. Weekly prompts, writing exercises, interviews, inspiration, poetry news, Ask the Editors, an online community and more!<br />Click here to enjoy a free<a href="https://twosylviaspress.substack.com/p/two-sylvias-weekly-muse-august-21" target="_blank"> Weekly Muse </a>here!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-61575309949796240782021-05-04T18:46:00.004-07:002021-05-04T18:46:44.821-07:00Reading Calendar For Dialogues with Rising Tides / Kelli Russell Agodon <span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3X0kb6KAw84/YJH47IeFsSI/AAAAAAAAMTw/s0YfxuKFLSM-VrgrtmCdBtlYgWQGmdq-ACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="828" height="356" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3X0kb6KAw84/YJH47IeFsSI/AAAAAAAAMTw/s0YfxuKFLSM-VrgrtmCdBtlYgWQGmdq-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w511-h356/image.png" width="511" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This month I have been dazzled and overjoyed with the love and support from so many about my book, though at times, I have felt like that hand in the life ring on the cover of my book--drowning not waving. Or maybe I'm just looking for a high-five. <br /><br />I haven't been this busy since pre-pandemic and in the busyness was neglectful of sharing that I have some wonderful readings coming up! <br /><br />I would love to invite you to my Copper Canyon Press reading tomorrow night (Wednesday, May 5th at 5 pm PST) <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3116172073272/WN_LX2hzZ2vTSa6ubL8Mw-uPg" target="_blank">Click here to get a link to the reading.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The whole event won't be more than an hour, so do join us to hear all these stunning poets and poems from their new books!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #8d2424; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #8d2424; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #8d2424; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #8d2424; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lNLw7b32Ck/YJH16kHVAFI/AAAAAAAAMTo/saF_T4l-bIQG4Ehd94-Nheze8TMVotLSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/SS21%2BLaunch%2BParty%2BLivestream%2BInsta%2Bsquare%2Bteal%2Bversion2%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="411" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lNLw7b32Ck/YJH16kHVAFI/AAAAAAAAMTo/saF_T4l-bIQG4Ehd94-Nheze8TMVotLSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w411-h411/SS21%2BLaunch%2BParty%2BLivestream%2BInsta%2Bsquare%2Bteal%2Bversion2%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><br /><u style="color: #8d2424; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">UPCOMING READINGS:</u></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #24678d;"><strong style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span>COPPER CANYON RELEASE READING:</span><br /><span>May 5th, 2021 (Wednesday), 5 pm PST: </span></strong></strong><u style="background-color: white; color: #24678d;"><strong><strong style="color: #3f3f3f;">Copper Canyon Press Spring Book Release Zoom Reading</strong></strong></u><strong style="background-color: white; color: #24678d;"><strong style="color: #3f3f3f;">. with Kayleb Ray Candrill, Arthur Sze, Nikki Wallshlaeger, Noah Warren, and me. </strong></strong><strong style="background-color: white; color: #24678d;"><strong style="color: #3f3f3f;"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3116172073272/WN_LX2hzZ2vTSa6ubL8Mw-uPg" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 200ms linear 0s;" target="_blank">Click Here to Sign up for Zoom link.</a><br /><br />May 20: Northwind Reading Series with Susan Landgraf. </strong><br /><br /><strong style="color: #3f3f3f;"><span style="color: #222222;">May 23, 2021 (Sun.): </span></strong></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #24678d;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/685251748906097" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 200ms linear 0s;" target="_blank">Cultivating Voices LIVE Poetry New Books Showcase Reading</a> </strong></span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #24678d;"><span><span style="color: #3f3f3f;"> </span><span style="color: #3c4043;">Kelli Russell Agodon, Diane Seuss, & Risa Denenberg. (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/685251748906097" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 200ms linear 0s;" target="_blank">more info to come</a>)<br /><br />June 2, 2021 (Wed.), 6:30 pm - 8 pm PST: One Page Wednesday Reading Series. <a href="https://literary-arts.org/event/one-page-wednesday-june-2/" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 200ms linear 0s;" target="_blank">Click here for the link to attend.</a></span></span></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #8d2424; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700;"><strong><u>UPCOMING CLASSES:</u></strong></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style="color: #3f3f3f;">September 25, 2021: 10 am - 3 pm PST: Th<a href="https://agodon.com/classes.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 200ms linear 0s;" target="_blank">e Surrealist Starter Kit: Writing New Poems Based on Surrealists Writing Prompts and Play.</a> via ZOOM<br /><br />Note: This class is a fundraiser and ALL proceeds from this class is a fundraiser will be donated to the Skagit River Poetry Foundation. </strong></span></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;">* * * * * * * * * * * * * </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #24678d; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #222222;">Sept. 10-12, 2021: </span><a href="http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/poets-on-the-coast.html" style="color: rgb(36, 103, 141) !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 200ms linear 0s;" target="_blank">Poets on the Coast: A Online Weekend Writing Retreat for Women</a><span style="color: #222222;">, via ZOOM! </span></strong></span></strong></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">~ Kells </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">________________ </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">www.agodon.com </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-62404422145565776252021-02-14T13:36:00.001-08:002021-02-14T13:36:25.607-08:00Happy Valentine's Day, Friends! <div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><img class="tl-email-image" data-cke-saved-src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/fabc5fb40670a8222696061f910ef44a21c27b16/images/5d2f876e-98b3-4958-b885-bb21ab7f82b7.png" data-id="4060874" height="617" src="https://gallery.tinyletterapp.com/fabc5fb40670a8222696061f910ef44a21c27b16/images/5d2f876e-98b3-4958-b885-bb21ab7f82b7.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 20px auto 10px; max-width: 432px; outline: transparent solid 2px; padding: 0px; transition: outline 0.3s linear 0.0001s; vertical-align: middle; width: 432px;" width="432" /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As you know, I have a fondness for typewriters. And while I don't own this beauty, it's an Italian designed typewriter called "Valentine" from Olivetti in 1969. What I love is that they put this in the user guide: </span><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d1d1b; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dear Valentine, this is to tell you that you are my friend as well as my </span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d1d1b; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Valentine</em><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1d1d1b; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, and that I intend to write you lots of letters...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Which brought to mind one of my favorite poems by Agha Shahid Ali, "Stationery."<br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />_________________________________</span></span><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6e562a; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px 0px 1.7em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stationery</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> by Agha Shahid Ali</em></span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6e562a; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px 0px 1.7em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The moon did not become the sun.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />It just fell on the desert<br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />in great sheets, reams<br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />of silver handmade by you.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />The night is your cottage industry now,<br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />the day is your brisk emporium.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />The world is full of paper.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #6e562a; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Write to me.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">_________________________________</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If there is a silver lining to what we've been living through this last year, I hope that's it's given you more time to write more letters, read more, and write more poems. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />Sending you Valentines wishes from a very snowy Pacific Northwest, </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />xo, <br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />Kelli<br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">_________________________________<br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Poetry Stuff:</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You can now preorder<em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a data-cke-saved-href="https://bookshop.org/books/dialogues-with-rising-tides/9781556596155" href="https://bookshop.org/books/dialogues-with-rising-tides/9781556596155" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dialogues with Rising Tides</a> </em>from Copper Canyon Press (available April 2021!) </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Class: <a data-cke-saved-href="http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/" href="http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Surrealists' Toolbox: Generating New Poems from the Subconscious</a>, Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 10 am - 2:30 am PST with Kelli & Susan Rich<br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><a data-cke-saved-href="https://www.twosylviaspress.com/chapbook-prize.html" href="https://www.twosylviaspress.com/chapbook-prize.html" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Two Sylvias Press Chapbook Prize</a> (17 - 24 page of poems) is now open! Judge: Victoria Chang</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" />_____________<br /><br /><div dir="ltr" processed="true">
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<span style="color: #195070; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kelli Russell Agodon</span>
<br /><span style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Poet/Writer/Editor</span>, <span style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Two Sylvias Press </span>
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<a href="mailto:kelli@agodon.com" style="color: #111111; line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">kelli@agodon.com</a>
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<span style="color: #2a7aa9; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Website:</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.agodon.com&source=gmail&ust=1613424914556000&usg=AFQjCNG7VAGO0jXSkfeAlpH4f7ycqyCRbA" href="http://www.agodon.com" style="color: #111111; line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">www.agodon.com </a> </span></div><div processed="true" style="margin-top: 3px;"><span style="line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.twitter.com/kelliagodon" href="http://www.twitter.com/kelliagodon" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="Image result for twitter icon vintage" class="tl-email-image" data-cke-saved-src="https://icons.iconarchive.com/icons/iconstoc/vintage-social/256/twitter-icon.png" height="100" src="https://icons.iconarchive.com/icons/iconstoc/vintage-social/256/twitter-icon.png" style="border: 0px none; 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box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; float: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 20px auto 10px; max-width: 100px; outline: transparent solid 2px; padding: 0px; transition: outline 0.3s linear 0.0001s; vertical-align: middle; width: 100px;" width="100" /></a><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.twosylviaspress.com/" href="http://www.twosylviaspress.com/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(84, 132, 218) !important; display: inline; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="Image result for two sylvias press logo" class="tl-email-image" data-cke-saved-src="https://twosylviaspress.com/uploads/3/4/1/1/34119308/9345960_orig.jpg" height="100" src="https://twosylviaspress.com/uploads/3/4/1/1/34119308/9345960_orig.jpg" style="border: 0px none; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; float: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 20px auto 10px; max-width: 137px; outline: transparent solid 2px; padding: 0px; transition: outline 0.3s linear 0.0001s; vertical-align: middle; width: 137px;" width="137" /></a><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5 !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #555555; line-height: 1.5 !important;" /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>~ Kells <div>________________ </div><div> www.agodon.com
www.twosylviaspress.com</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-42894241446301745172021-02-08T10:30:00.005-08:002021-02-08T10:30:40.154-08:00Thoughts on Putting Together a Poetry Manuscript<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6YFRIRQ_4zk/YCGC2VQRRLI/AAAAAAAAL-I/PvMmDQmOjFYJ7tfCxhq59oGM8vcREYXHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1680/Former_Breaksea_lightvessel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1680" height="324" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6YFRIRQ_4zk/YCGC2VQRRLI/AAAAAAAAL-I/PvMmDQmOjFYJ7tfCxhq59oGM8vcREYXHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w506-h324/Former_Breaksea_lightvessel.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have spent a lot of time the past three days Zooming with Susan Rich as <a href="http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/" target="_blank">we prepare for our class on putting together (and publishing) a poetry manuscript</a>--and let's just say, there is a lot to cover!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In 2016, we started writing a book, <i>Demystifying the Manuscript</i>, where we talk about how to put together a poetry manuscript and I believe the first thing we learned and agreed on is: There is no one way to put together a book. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Putting together a manuscript really requires each poet to go deep inside themselves and determine their own vision for the book. For me, it comes down to--<i>what am I trying to share with the reader and what is the best way to do it?</i><br /><br />Of course, we're going to share different strategies of ordering and organizing from chronological to narrative arcs to about 7 or 8 other different ways one can order their manuscript! As well as tips we've learned around the way--and I'm truly excited to hear from our special guest poets--Diane Seuss and January Gill O'Neil who will be discussing their process! But there are many ways to order...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />My second manuscript, <i>Letters from the Emily Dickinson Room</i>, was alphabetical by title. Because I wanted certain poems to appear earlier in the collection, this constraint of alphabetizing made me have to be more inventive with my titles, which ultimately strengthened my books. (One of these blog posts, I'm going to have to talk about constraints in our work as I feel it's one of the most powerful tools for artists, poets, and writers for inventiveness, imagination, and getting out of our own ways...) <br /><br />But back to this manuscript stuff, my new book (which is currently heading to the printers as I type this!), <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/dialogues-with-rising-tides/9781556596155" target="_blank"><i>Dialogues with Rising Tides</i> </a>is in sections, and it's the most sections I've ever had in a book. Seven! 7 freakin' sections! I would have never thought I'd write a book full of sections, but I realized for this book, for me to weave together the different themes (environmental collapse, suicide, relationships, love/desire, melancholy, anxiety, cruel politics), I needed the reader to have more pauses in the book so they could have space to take it all in. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because the ocean plays such a big role in my book, my section titles are named after lightvessels (also called lightships). These are huge ships that act as floating lighthouses to keep people away from hazards. There's a section called Break Sea (ways the world tries to break us), Black Deep (lots of melancholy themed poems in here), Shambles (poems about America and getting an IUD during 45s inauguration!) My hope was also the poems would be lightvessels for readers--even while they explore some tougher subjects. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For me, at some point in the creating of the book, there is clarity of what I'm trying to do. Sometimes it takes a long time to understand it. My last book came out in 2014. This book went through a lot of outfits and names. And while I think it can be useful to ask others about your manuscript because sometimes we can't see our own blindspots--for example, a poet forgetting that we don't know the backstory and sometimes we need a bit more so we're not lost--I also think we need to trust our greater vision for the book and develop a strong level of taste (by reading and reading and reading) but also of craft--revise, but kill the spark. <br /><br />If I can compare this process it's like blowing glass, getting it just right, but something things break and crash through the floor. Thankfully with poetry, there is less mess to clean up. And our biggest hazards are papercuts...<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wishing you all the best on your own future books, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">~ Kells </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">________________ </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">www.agodon.com </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-69791383577984134572021-01-30T07:08:00.003-08:002021-01-30T10:53:18.684-08:00Feel the Fear and Write It Anyway<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2NP5r7E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15uVlCm-UE0/YBVza8byS-I/AAAAAAAAL8Y/hgbjKe_gPw0D7LhbWv5it7yWD4Yz_q_sACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Cover%2B-%2BDialogues%2Bwith%2BRising%2BTides%2B%2528Agodon%2529.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I haven't done a blog post in a while. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Between the pandemic, my job as an editor at Two Sylvias Press, my next book, and just a world of distractedness, I've been missing from this world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I wanted to talk about risk in our work, in our poems and stories, in what we write.<br /><br />This week I'm finishing up the FINAL edits on my book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2NP5r7E" target="_blank">Dialogues with Rising Tides</a></i>. That's <i>final</i> like--once I send in any final corrections or edits, I will not see the book again until it's published. That final. Like, "Oh I see I forgot to thank my mother and I've misspelled the word 'cemetery' thirteen times" final. Done. No more changes. We're through here.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That is scary enough, though as a human, I've learned I'm okay with an occasional typo.<br /><br />(Fun fact: if you look on the spine of my book, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/3pzJ1VZ" target="_blank">Letters from the Emily Dickinson Room</a></i>, you will see that the second "i" is missing from "Dickinson"--I kid you not. We thought it got corrected, but obviously, that was missed before the printing.) But here's the thing I learned from that--mistakes happen and in the end, don't matter too much. I've learned, they actually aren't that big of a deal, I mean, that book ended up a winning Foreword Indies Book of the Year in Poetry and was a Finalist for the Washington Book Award, all while having a big mistake on the cover. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But over the last two years, as I've been getting ready for this book to come out, I have woken up in the middle of the night anxious about my poem--not the craft of them, that I have worked on endlessly, but that some deal with some very personal topics. As I received my final edits this week, I found myself waking up at 3 am with a "what have I done?" feeling. Along with the gratitude and thankfulness of this book, I've been hit with the classic--<i>Omg, people are actually going to read this! </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Talking with other women poets, I realize many have also had this fear or concern as their books and poems come out into the world. It comes down to risk, we need to write what scares us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I took a class with Brenda Hillman and after we shared a poem, she would ask us, "What did you risk?" Some people would say, "I'm writing in a new form" or "I risked sentimentality" but some would say, "I'm writing about something that makes me feel shameful" or "I'm writing about a topic I have been afraid to share." Every time we risk or write about the things we are afraid to or think we shouldn't, we open doors for other poets to do the same thing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In a world of filters and photoshop, it can be hard to be real and vulnerable. Sometimes we want to put on a lot of concealer and cover what we consider are our flaws. I want to consider that word "flaw"--maybe what we consider our "flaws" are us just being human. Maybe when we are able to say "this happened to me" or "this was very hard to write about and equally hard to publish," we are finding ways for others to feel less alone in the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ultimately, we cannot control how people respond to our writing. We open ourselves up, we try our best, and we hope it's well-received. And while we never will know how anything will be received, what we can know that as poets, writers, and artists--every time we stretch ourselves in work, every time we write, we are opening up doors for others to enter. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By not skimming the surface, but going deeper, you may find yourself doing your best work. We should be trying things in our work that make us feel uncomfortable--in voice, in form, in style, in content, in __________ (fill in the blank)...there are so many ways to write what scares us. To risk something in our work. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So this post is just as much for you as it is for me--a reminder that we are not alone in the anxiety that sometimes comes with publishing a book and as William Faulkner said, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">You cannot swim for new horizons until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” And coincidently, my cover is of life ring so I like to think that while we may feel we are going under, reach out a little bit to see there is security around you--maybe in the form of friends or supportive writers, maybe in knowing that in the end, we have to write the poems we have to write. And we can do that. </span></span></p><p><br /></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">~ Kells</span></span><div><span style="color: #181818; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #181818; font-family: helvetica;">P.S. If you want to read for yourself, you can preorder <i><a href="https://www.coppercanyonpress.org/books/dialogues-with-rising-tides-by-kelli-russell-agodon/" target="_blank">Dialogues with Rising Tides</a></i> here. Thanks for all your support! <br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">________________ </span><div><a href=" www.agodon.com " target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> www.agodon.com </span></a></div><div><a href="http://www.twosylviaspress.com"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span></a></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-51042546452259874882020-03-30T19:27:00.001-07:002020-03-30T19:27:24.507-07:00What Day is It? The Working from Home Edition<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is a Monday.<br /><br />On most Mondays, I'm at the Two Sylvias Press office working, since Friday, March 13th, I have been working from home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The first thing I noticed is how both long and short the days are. Long in that, without a commute, running errands, or even choosing an outfit or putting on makeup, there are definitely more hours in the day. However, with everyone home, "the house" becomes its own project of cleaning up and dishes.<br /><br />The first two weeks both felt as if I got a lot done and nothing done. My biggest problem was I couldn't remember what I did. Did I write? Did I do Two Sylvias work? Did I do laundry? Did I sit on the couch and scroll through Facebook? Did I play Words with Friends and bingewatch Love is Blind (possibly...)?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I've started a few things to help me understand where my time is going and to remember what I did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1) The Daily Log:</b> I now keep a book next to me, a daily log where it has four columns, Morning/Afternoon/Evening/Other Things. I just write what I did during the day, just enough so I can see where I spent my time. Other Things are good things (or things) I want to remember:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Here's today's log:<br /><br />MORNING:<br />Talked to Annette (the other editor at Two Sylvias)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sent Erica her finished cover</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sent an invoice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose winners for the April Poetry Prompts Giveaway</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finished the Facebook banner for #NaPoWriMo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Called my mum</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AFTERNOON:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meditated (20 minutes) / Napped 30 minutes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did 2 poetry submissions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Responded to emails</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wasted time on Twitter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Logged submissions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worked a collaborative poem (RB)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">EVENING: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watched The Rape of Europa (documentary) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Played Words with Friends</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did a blog post (finally!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Worked on a collaborative poem (MS)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />OTHER THINGS: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend shared my poem with his creative writing students (DR)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The artist who chose my poem send me what she painted based on it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked for AirBnBs to create my own retreat</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing big, but just reminders so I can look back on my day and feel as if it wasn't just lost in the abyss--right now, I feel my calendar is sinking into the abyss. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2) <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gmail-time-tracker/mepdpgggpkipnekeklcocigfcpneepoa" target="_blank">Gmail Time Tracker: </a> </b>I realized I am someone who can spend way too much time on email. I keep Gmail up and constantly check it. Why? Because I feel it's the one area that can knock me down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To get a better idea how much time I was using, I added the Google extension Gmail Time Tracker into my Chrome browser to keep track of how much time I use. Yikes. Sometimes I spend 30 minutes on one email. Yikes (I do love to write letters to friends) but seeing the timer tell me how much time I've used really shows me what a time sink email can be. (When you are writing an email, a little timer in the upper right of your Gmail tells you how long you've been working on the same email.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />If you work with clients, you can download a spreadsheet to see how much time you spent with whom. For me, I just wanted to wrap my head around how much time I'm using. And it's more than it should be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some things to know--the timer is free to add to your Chrome, but if you use more than 10 hours, a little sign pops up telling you it's $4.99 a month (or full disclosure here: you can write a blog post to to get unlimited usage). So for my Capricorn mind, seeing the amount of time I've been spending helps me sign off gmail and manage things better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3) Take It Easy On Myself and Other Housemate (aka Family): </b>The final thing I'm doing is making a point to give everyone a pass. Are there huge house projects that would be nice to have done--uh-huh. Are they getting done? No. Is that okay? Yes.<br /><br />I realize, we're in uncertain times, we don't know how long we're going to be here and humans can be annoying. I remind myself of my privilege (and how lucky I am) to be able to do my job from home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, it takes longer and twice I've had to drive into the office for things I didn't realize I'd need, but I didn't lose my job or am on the frontlines of this. I have a couple stresses but I keep the perspective of --I am not a doctor, a firefighter, an EMT, a store cashier, a delivery drive, a postal carrier, or any of the essential jobs that are still being done. Also, after watching all these WWII shows, I also remind myself that I am in my house with food, water, heat, electricity. I am not watching my city bombed, I am not blacking out my windows at night. I am an editor and poet who is mildly inconvenienced and because I know it's worth the life and health of others, I stay put. Because I know that I can be useful by staying home, trying to remain positive, and helping my elderly neighbors and mum.<br /><br />So I do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm trying to have gratitude for all I do have and not jump too far into the future with "what if this happens?" or "how long will I be here" or any doomsday scenario. I will live when they come up. I'm working on "be here now" and "one day at a time." It isn't always easy. Last night I cried over something dumb, a friend said, "I don't think you were just crying over not getting a writing residency, I think you were shedding tears for this situation." I'd like to think/hope given that I've never cried over not getting a writing residency, that's kind of old hat for me.<br /><br />So we do our best to get by.<br /><br />And maybe if I'm lucky, I'll discover something about myself during this time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for checking in.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Kells </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com / www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-13457848323342127572019-11-10T05:52:00.001-08:002019-11-10T05:52:07.975-08:00Writing Residency: Day 1 - Social Media Detox<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YHLwhYk-RBA/XcgRZ4rP9lI/AAAAAAAAKn8/4xMb6xRK23onf3yL9PR7hjo8PRTwYAwBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1685.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YHLwhYk-RBA/XcgRZ4rP9lI/AAAAAAAAKn8/4xMb6xRK23onf3yL9PR7hjo8PRTwYAwBACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_1685.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">My writing area--yes, I have literally been here for 24 hours, though it looks as if I live here. I get comfortable very quickly ("comfortable" is actually a kind word for "messy")</span></td></tr>
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<b>Situation: 10-day writing residency</b><br />
<br />
Where: Pacific Northwest about 40 minutes away from my house.<br />
Why: To revise and work on manuscript that I must turn into Copper Canyon in June 2020<br />
<br />
<br />
_____________________________<br />
<br />
I am currently at a 10-day writing residency and have promised myself that for 7 of those days, I would completely stay off of social media and any website that connects me to the outside world (like the news).<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I found myself scrolling Instagram for no reason, just habit. Just--oh, there's my phone, let me pick it up, open and app and scroll. No thought, just action.<br /><br />Today I woke up and wanted to check Twitter. But I didn't.<br />
<br />
I realize, I do feel a loss. My brain wants it trending stories. It wants to see who is saying what.<br />
<br />
But there's this other gain, since I have NOTHING to check, I have so much time. Today I thought--what do I need to do? Write a poem? Revise a poem? Organize my work? Submit? Write letters to friends? Go back to bed?<br /><br />I realize how much of my time ends up on social media, even if I'm not there all day, I realize how much I pick up my phone to check, I don't keep notifications on, so I open the app several times a day--that adds up.<br />
<br />
I guess I didn't notice until I'm sitting her after being up for 5 minutes saying, "Okay, what do I do now?" <br /><br />So when I decided, "I'll write a blog to gather my thoughts." I realize my last blog post is from June. When I have Twitter or Facebook, what I would have normally (well, in the days pre-social media 2001-2009ish) I would have written in a blog or a journal. But I had nothing to blog, all my stories and thoughts went out as soundbites on Twitter or Instagram or Facebook.<br />
<br />
I remember hearing Terrance Hayes say he's not on Twitter because he was concerned he'd tweet out great lines for a poem instead of using them *in* a poem.<br />
<br />
Now that I have no place to do that, a blog feels like a good way to document the time (and the weird thing is, whether anyone reads this or not). I realize how much of my writing is me just wanting to get thoughts out of my head, on paper, so I can look at them, size them up.<br />
<br />
But I do miss Twitter.<br />
<br />
Oh and I had one social media dream--I dreamed Ronda (the poet/photographer) I'm staying with and I were in a huge earthquake and we thought--let's go onto Facebook to make ourself "safe."<br /><br />I'm not sure what that says, I've never had a social media dream before, but have dreamed of people I only know through social media, which is another story...<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>So the first day rundown:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Friday</b>: Short day--Arrived in the afternoon and settled in, unpacked food and clothing. Didn't bring a ton of clothes, but brought a ton of books-- I should count them. (wrote one poem in the evening Martha Silano, who is staying here with me. Organized ALL my stuff--baskets of writing exercises, bins of papers I bought, notebooks, etc. Finished up Two Sylvias work that still needed to be done. And cleaned my inbox of emails.<br />
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<b>Saturday</b>: First full-day. Woke at 5. Wrote a poem. I didn't sleep well, as I somehow turned my nap into a temperature of hell. Way too hot. Tried to nap(s) all day, succeed at 4-5 pm. Did a 40 minute guided meditation (well, two 20-minute ones together) in the morning. Wrote and revised, Submitted to one journal. Began organizing my submission spreadsheet which is a mess. 1 phone call (talked and walked for 50 minutes), 1 in-person 5-minute visit from husband who drove here (not *too* far from where I live) to bring the several things I forgot (last year, I forgot *my suitcase*--yes, this is how I roll--without essentials apparently). I wrote several texts, found myself scrolling instagram, peeked on Twitter, told myself my "settling in time" is over last night and you are now officially offline, baby.<br /><br /><b>Poems written: 5</b><br />
<br />
* * *<br />
<br /><b>Facebook:</b> Deactivated and I don't miss it.<br />
<b>Twitter:</b> Not deactivated, but I haven't checked it and do miss it.<br />
<b>Instagram</b>: Don't miss it, but again, yesterday weirdly found myself scrolling through it. Am taking the app off my phone.<br />
<b>Snapchat:</b> *Never* use it, only check it rarely to see what young, hip family members are up to (answer not much) --however, because I *wasn't* on social media I decided to check it. Found photo filters and this happened--<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEOOAagzU-k/XcgU3okWwrI/AAAAAAAAKoI/xiIc9L-UUjQuNhcKwjWtUkaCJi2qwqx5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEOOAagzU-k/XcgU3okWwrI/AAAAAAAAKoI/xiIc9L-UUjQuNhcKwjWtUkaCJi2qwqx5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1687.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half of me online, half of me here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Snapchat is now deleted from my phone. (Though it's funny I checked as I never do, but I think that was the loss I was feeling--now that I have this extra time, what can I do??? --Apparently, my first answer was: Waste it! Which is now being taken care of by app deletion. I have no willpower.)<br />
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<b>Email: </b>The other funny thing is I checked email this morning and not ONE email. So for the first time, in a long time, I just got to work!<br />
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<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Also, I think I have my blog set up that this post will end up on Twitter (HI FRIENDS!!!) and maybe in some of your email boxes if you're subscribed. Hey you. I'm here and I miss you. But doing okay, better than okay...and productive.<br />
<br />
Love from the haunted cabin,<br />
<br />
<br />
~ Kells<br />
________________<br />
www.agodon.com
www.twosylviaspress.com<div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-53826837101358064212019-06-17T21:17:00.000-07:002019-06-17T21:17:09.193-07:00Women Poets: Poets on the Coast: A Weekend Retreat for Women is almost full (and Scholarship Opportunity) <br />
<img alt="Image result for poets on the coast" src="https://skagitriverpoetry.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMG_7889.jpg" />I<br />
<br />
I've been busy with life, but I want to stop to share two things--<br />
<br />
1) We only have 2 spaces left for Poets on the Coast (in La Conner, WA from Sept 8-10th) --This is an incredible weekend for women poets (you can register here: <a href="http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/register.html">http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/register.html</a>)<br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
2) We are offering a full fellowship for 1 poet (and a partial fellowship) for an additional women poet-- if this is something you want to do, but the cost seems to limit you, please consider applying for our fellowship here: <a href="http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/fellowship.html">http://poetsonthecoast.weebly.com/fellowship.html</a><br /><br />This will be our 9th year of Poets on the Coast.<br />
<br />
We are a strong community of women created to support each other in our artistic pursuits. This weekend is a time to help us reconnect with our poetry and our writing lives. We strive to create an atmosphere of joy, inspiration, and friendship.<br />
<br />This year, we are thrilled to announce our guest faculty is Lena Khalaf Tuffaha: <a href="https://www.lenakhalaftuffaha.com/">https://www.lenakhalaftuffaha.com/</a><br />
<img alt="Picture" src="https://www.lenakhalaftuffaha.com/uploads/4/8/6/6/48663441/published/lena-2014.jpg?1493180493" /><br />
<br />
We hope you can join us!<br />
<br />
~ Kells<br />
________________<br />
www.agodon.com<br />
www.twosylviaspress.com<div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-51784977332062424552019-04-29T05:14:00.003-07:002019-04-29T05:14:41.657-07:00Making the Most of Insomnia...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're reading this, it must be some time between 3 -5 am and I am up listening to Vampire Weekend's new song "Harmony Hill" on repeat. <br /><br />I've written 2 poems and answered a few emails. I haven't spoken to anyone in 36 hours, and this is the gift of the writing residency. I wonder--what if I didn't talk to people for days in real life, would I have more to write? It seems the less I talk, the more I have to say when I write.<br /><br />I know it would be almost impossible to achieve this at home, but it encourages me on my next retreat to see how long I could go without speaking.<br /><br />Solitude, when chosen, is a gift. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Solitude, when forced upon someone, is a punishment. <br />Solitude, when not wanted, is loneliness in disguise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I keep thinking that I'm going to have to title this blog post and that weirdly tires me. Or maybe I'm tired because I'm typing this at 4:45 am. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've started using my insomnia for good. If you ever get an email from me, check the date stamp, many times it's written when the city is sleeping. I've decided because most nights I can't sleep from 2-4 or 3-5, I will use this time to do all the things I hate to do in the daylight, like answer emails.<br /><br />When I was in my 20s, I used to clean my house from 11 pm - 1 am in the morning, I'd be cranky and achy and just wanting to sleep--and yet, I'm up folding clothes, scrubbing the sink. I'd fall into to bed so tired and the next day I'd wake up and it would be as if elves cleaned the house while I slept. Like when I wake up in a few hours, I'll have 2 new poems and a clear inbox. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes you just have to make the most of the time you have. Insomnia becomes productivity. Productivity becomes a Vampire. Vampire Weekend singing<i> I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die, </i>until you crawl back into bed...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kells</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-22392189974076982932019-04-28T04:50:00.000-07:002019-04-28T04:50:02.528-07:00Catching Up and Undoing the Art of Self-Sabotage<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZQ9HBfP0-o/XMWJMOX5-WI/AAAAAAAAKVo/tljS9srlN7461IP95qyw7AWCCAmgTXbPACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vZQ9HBfP0-o/XMWJMOX5-WI/AAAAAAAAKVo/tljS9srlN7461IP95qyw7AWCCAmgTXbPACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_6007.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcoming Committee at my Writer's Residency</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I promised 2 posts a month on this blog and I have honestly *just* been squeaking by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the personal update (which I admit has been lacking from this blog), I came home from one residency in February (one, I was planning on documenting here, but haven't yet) then headed for Seattle the next day as one of Martha Silano's opening readers for her book launch (<a href="https://amzn.to/2XRt4Ml" target="_blank">GRAVITY ASSIST</a>!) at the fabulous poetry-only bookstore, Open Books to get a call from my husband that he was hurt and headed to the ER.<br /><br />Some of you may know, my husband's a Seattle Firefighter, and during a drill he took a bad fall down a flight of stairs and ended up with a quad tendon rupture requiring surgery. Since that time, there has been a series of other things that have been going on in my life and people have said t<i>here has been a lot energy</i> around me--but here's the thing about energy: energy is just energy until you put judgment on it. So I'm trying not to. And there have been some really magical moments--I mean magical, that I hope to share soon. But yes, there has been so much these last couple months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very smart woman said to me recently, "<b>Life is just happening, don't take it personally.</b>" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it's been 2 months of a knockabout life and this is a long introduction to say: It's 3 am and I'm back at another writing residency disconnecting from social media and using this first day to catch up on everything I'd let slide over the last couple of months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have only been here a day and I'm already reminded about how much better life can be with huge moments of solitude. I haven't had many lately. I mean, I am working full-time at Two Sylvias Press and also the driver for my family since my husband can't drive due to his giant brace on his leg. And there has been so much going on, I just haven't been able to find time, or haven't had the energy to make time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, what I've seen is that in a time of stress, I (and maybe this is you too) reach for the easiest thing--social media, napping, TV/movies (guess who watched the whole series of <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/you" target="_blank">Netflix's YOU</a>--um, note: I started watching because I thought it was a happy show about a bookstore owner, I had no idea it was a psychological thriller--though the same thing happened to me with<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_simple_favor" target="_blank"> the film, A Simple Favor</a> which I thought was just about a mommy blogger, similar to <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/julie_and_julia" target="_blank">Julie & Julia</a>), playing video games (or specifically "one video game." Something you may not know about me, I absolutely love the <a href="https://amzn.to/2IKaOkR" target="_blank">old Wii game Splatoo</a><a href="https://amzn.to/2IKaOkR" target="_blank">n</a> and still have on our TV), or just simply wasting time on the internet (aka looking at houses on the California coast you can't afford, shopping for things you don't need, doing "research" on anything from a couch to a new coffee pot). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized the more I stressed I became the more: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) I slept (I literally came home every day after work and slept from 4-5 or 5-6, had dinner, then went to sleep again around 10 pm)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) let things slide (many times email, always laundry, several To Do list things)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) found a lot more moments to waste time--which at first didn't make sense to me, but I think my brain was just so overwhelmed and I was so tired, these little moments of bubblegum for the brain helped me through or maybe, I just needed to distract myself for a while. Sometimes I just stared out the window (nothing creepy to see here neighbors...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But on the other side of those bad habits (note: napping is not a bad habit, I truly believe in the importance of sleep!) I need to acknowledge, there were a lot of things <b>I did not let fall through</b>. There were a ton of things I finished and did complete.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a reason for this. <b>One of the things I see really make things worse for my fellow poets (and many time these are women) is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/02/08/the-nine-ways-women-self-sabotage/#58e081c320fc" target="_blank">self-sabotage</a></b>. It's really something I try my best to avoid. And to be clear, this is in full regards to my art. I know I'm a skillful self-sabotager in other places of my life--mostly in regards to worry, irrational fears, and also putting my needs second to my family's (something I am actively trying to work on this year).<br /><br /><b>What but does "self-sabotage" really mean for me in regards to my art and how do I avoid it?</b> It means, if my life is falling down around me, I will still put poetry, writing, and art first. If I made a commitment to a group of friends that I am going to submit my work once a week--I do. If I signed up to be in a group where I said, "Yes, I promise to show up and write a poem each day"--I do. If a magazine writes to me with the proof of my poems and says they need the contract back in 3 days and they need my poems proofed--done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, my house may look like a ransacked mess. I may be pulling my clothes from laundry baskets or more so, the actual dryer. We may be having appetizers for dinner or I'm eating canned chili I found in the pantry. I may be driving and be so tired I have to pull over and sleep in a parking lot for 30 minutes before I get home. I may have a list of things I need to do, appointments I need to make, but when it comes to my writing life, I will be the worker bee as I love the honey, the sweetness poetry can grant me even in the toughest of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I know for me, my writing is my place of flow. It's why I've been writing a poem-a-day since March (and only missed one day--Easter). It's where I can disappear from the world, or better, take my over-the-top, this-is-terrible life and turn it into art--I actually wrote a poem last month called "My Husband Falls Down a Flight of Stairs and Lives, and I Cut My Hair." Because all of this is fodder for our art. And sometimes the stress life is giving me actually makes my work better because it offers a tension in my poems--note: I am not asking for more stress and do not believe in creating drama or struggle for the sake of writing, I mean, if nothing was going on, I'd still be writing. BUT if life is going to be kooky, it's going to end up in my poems...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I want to talk more about the self-sabotaging part of us, which can come up at any times, not just the times of stress and busyness, but all times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>There's a lot of undoing to self-sabotage.</b> Most of it's being honest (sometimes harshly honest) with yourself if you see patterns emerging-- Do you always drop the ball an hour before the deadline? Do you let yourself off the hook with a "you wouldn't have won/been chosen/been published excuse after doing so? Do you not submit somewhere because you feel as if you're not "good enough?" Do you procrastinate then either don't do it or do it poorly? Do you make large generalizations about the literary world that validate your excuse not to try?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If any of these sound familiar to you, you may not be a member of your self-sabotage club, you may be the president.<br /><br />For me, my realization of self-sabotage came when I realized I'd finish a poem, but then blow past deadlines to submit it. There's a book of places by Washington State poets edited by our poet laureate at the time, Tod Marshall, called <a href="https://amzn.to/2XQSbz0" target="_blank">WA 129</a>. It has 129 poems from Washington State poets. But am I in it? Nope. Did I have a writing date with Martha Silano and write the poem? Absolutely. Did I take a moment to submit the poem? Nope. Are all of my friends in this book? Pretty much. Am I? Not one little word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was kind of an eyeopener. But I think it's good to check in with ourselves and our strengths and weaknesses as poets. I love to write, but for a long time, I wasn't so good at the submitting-your-work part. So I made myself accountable. Am I perfect? Absolutely not. But am I seeing my art/writing as an opportunity to step it up and be more responsible to myself? Yeah, and that's kind of the first step. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yeah, that's where I been. Getting by and weirdly, strangely, writing and working through it. So it's late now, the sun will be rising and I'll be headed back to bed. I spent more time on this than I thought (I was in flow!) but I guess I have had a lot on my mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />And note: because I promised 2 posts a month here, you can expect another in the next two days. Worker bees get things done. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading and hope you're finishing #NaPoWriMo on a high note!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Cheers to a happy and good news May! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Kells</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-78177332159140114082019-03-26T05:25:00.000-07:002019-03-26T05:25:00.220-07:00#AWP19: Need a break? My Favorite Things in Portland<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OdXuUEY6NCo/XJoVW6HRYII/AAAAAAAAJ2w/tvwFQP4qdJkNfqFp8wLBVZz8t3ng9wSAwCLcBGAs/s1600/2017-8-21-why-is-portland-weird_keep-portland-weird_stumped-in-stumptown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OdXuUEY6NCo/XJoVW6HRYII/AAAAAAAAJ2w/tvwFQP4qdJkNfqFp8wLBVZz8t3ng9wSAwCLcBGAs/s640/2017-8-21-why-is-portland-weird_keep-portland-weird_stumped-in-stumptown.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: You can see this sign from the Old Town VooDoo Donuts and it's located at: 3rd Street between Burnside and Ankeny, if you're looking to do your own photoshoot. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you need a break from AWP and just want a few places to visit, here are a few of my favorite things in Portland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: And if you're happy to walk, you can start at <b>WildFang</b> then head to <b>the Trifecta </b>to the <b>Poet Introvert</b> (if you do this, I'd suggest skipping Sizzle Pie and eating at the Teahouse), then end at <b>VooDoo Donuts</b> for Dessert all in order as they are all pretty much </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1aoOqnOQr_M/XJoN-fP5m2I/AAAAAAAAJ2k/Td9uYZgd4BkyR8Z2rIiczXz1zka1IBuRACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot%2B2019-03-26%2B04.31.53.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1498" height="248" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1aoOqnOQr_M/XJoN-fP5m2I/AAAAAAAAJ2k/Td9uYZgd4BkyR8Z2rIiczXz1zka1IBuRACLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot%2B2019-03-26%2B04.31.53.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Trifecta (I Read, I Wore, I Ate):</span></b><br /><a href="https://www.powells.com/locations/powells-city-of-books" target="_blank">Powell's Books</a> (biggest indie bookstore --yes, you must go here, the poetry section will blow your mind alone)</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 1005 w. burnside st., Portland</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.buffaloexchange.com/location/downtown-portland/" target="_blank">Buffalo Exchange</a> (across the street, cool consignment shop for men and women)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b> 1036 W. Burnside St., </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.sizzlepie.com/menus" target="_blank">Sizzle Pie</a>: Delicious pizza and salad and great for vegans/vegetarians</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> 926 W Burnside </b><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to do this? Go to Powell's until you're *just* about hungry. Then cross the street to Buffalo Exchange to pick up a cool vintage sweater, shirt, or hat. Once you're done, head over to Sizzle Pie for lunch (Pro tip: if it's sunny and they are busy, there is outside street seating all down the street (it may not look like their seating as it's a bit down, but it is.) </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Poet Introvert (I Need Me/Quiet Time):</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://lansugarden.org/about-the-garden" target="_blank">Lan Su Chinese Garden</a>: In the middle of this wild and weird city is one of the most beautiful secrets, this garden. This feels like a private, yet interactive, meditation room. Take all your anxiety and distress and watch it fade away here. This is probably my very favorite place in the city.<br /><br />And if you visit here, <a href="https://lansugarden.org/about-the-garden/teahouse" target="_blank">you MUST eat at the Teahouse</a>. Another incredible experience, the <a href="https://lansugarden.org/content/CI_assets/Teahouse_Menu_2018.pdf" target="_blank">menu </a>is a poem on its own. I have eaten most everything on this menu and have never been disappointed. This place is often overlooked, but it is truly one of Portland's gems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pro Tip: Order the mooncake, no matter what.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Address: 239 NW Everett St, Portland,</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Sweet Tooth (I'm Hungry & I'm a Tourist):</span></b><br /><br /><a href="https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/" target="_blank">VooDoo Donuts:</a> You will hear that they are overrated especially from the locals, but this is the stop you make just before you leave so you can have donuts and feel as if you left nothing in Portland overlooked. <br /><b>22 SW 3rd Avenue</b><br /><br />ProTip: BRING CASH, they do not take cards. <br /><br />Also, if you want shorter lines and a place to sit, hope a Lyft or Uber to: Voodoo DoughnutDavis – 1501 NE Davis Street, Portland-- across the bridge. Same donuts, less touristy location, shorter lines, places to sit, and a giant pink VooDoo mural outside in the parking lot to pose by.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Retail Therapy (Bring Your Inner Feminist to Your Outer Wardrobe):</b></span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.wildfang.com/?utm_source=Google%20Maps&utm_medium=Organic&utm_campaign=Fort%20Wildfang%20/%20Website%20Button&utm_content=2019%20link" target="_blank">Wildfang Clothing Store:</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put this last (or first depending if you want to go to all of these places) because it's a feminist clothing store and if you're not into cool clothing, this may not be your place. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have numerous items from here and I love them, their style, their mission, and supporting this store. Yes, things cost more because when you actually produce good clothes that do not hurt others, you sometimes pay a bit more. And they do a lot of good in the world, this is from their About Me page:<br /><br /><i>In 2013, we set out to create a home for badass womxn everywhere. It started with the “radical” belief that a womxn has the right to wear whatever the hell she wants and be whoever the hell she wants.<br /><br />And speaking of rights, in 2018 alone, we raised over $400k for charities that support reproductive, immigrant, and women’s/human rig</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think they are incredible, and I've already got several dozen Seattle friends addicted to their stuff (and I know it's working because I got a <a href="https://www.wildfang.com/the-carrie-fisher-candle122869.html" target="_blank">Carrie Fisher candle</a> for my birthday!)<br /><br />1230 SE Grand Ave, Portland</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ProTip: When in doubt, get the <a href="https://www.wildfang.com/tops/tees-tanks.html" target="_blank">WILD FEMINIST t-shirt.</a> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Final thoughts on Portland:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Portland is one of my favorite cities. It usually warmer than Seattle (though always have layers on and a warm jacket) and if you're looking for material to write about, it's all around you. <a href="http://www.oregon.com/recreation/portlands-old-town" target="_blank">Old Town Portland </a>is probably my favorite part of the city and gritty and fun, it's relatively safe but be aware and keep your face out of your iPhone, and there is always a lot going on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The NW has a huge homeless problem that we are trying to make better, but you will see it firsthand. If you have never been here, you may be shocked. If you live here, you may have huge opinions about it. But it's something I just want to share here so you realize--</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yes, we see it, we know it's an issue, but neither Portland or Seattle has really created any solution to what is happening and the rising cost of living in the Northwest isn't making anything better. But if I gave you this info without acknowledging it, I wouldn't feel right because it is a huge part of our cities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find whenever I'm in Portland and especially in Old Town, someone interacts with me--all the interactions have ended up okay, but there have been some odd moments (Note: not all the interactions have been homeless/drug user related, there is just an energy to this city I can't describe, but it usually shows itself by feeling as if you're in one big impromptu improv event.)<br /><br />An example of what I'm talking about is once I was standing at a crosswalk and a man jumps out of nowhere, puts a cup of "water" ?? (I hope) over the head of a friend I was with and then directly in front of my face and yells, "You are hypnotized!" before deciding we were not hypnotized and wandering away. While these moments make me laugh afterward, the "that was weird" part of the trip, they remind me to tell you to keep your eyes open and do travel with a buddy, especially if you're a woman.<br /><br />Again, I have been to Portland numerous times without incident, but every. single. time. It's something. Someone wants to dance with me on a sidewalk, someone is yelling something my direction from across the street, someone is shouting "let me hold your kneecap" out a car window, someone is blowing bubbles at everyone who passes by, someone has decided to ask random people their favorite type of shoe. It's both inspiring and tiring. It's "I'll use this in a poem" and "I think we're done here." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you're from a small town or a city where people keep to themselves, this may feel different and maybe a bit uncomfortable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But there is also someone willing to help you, offer ideas of where to eat, and point you in the right direction. The people of Portland have always come through for me. And it's why I keep coming back.<br /><br />Ultimately, be safe. Have fun. Make good choices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Kells </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-21181348806778067592019-03-17T07:00:00.000-07:002019-03-17T09:27:53.177-07:00AWP 2019: Tips from an Introvert #AWP2019 #AWPTips <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4heFBF8N-HI/XI3mbhr6QSI/AAAAAAAAJ14/5vWGCZlY09ci0q8caG19xjNcAMhaQGGigCLcBGAs/s1600/10004068_10203348339688146_371745061_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="720" height="369" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4heFBF8N-HI/XI3mbhr6QSI/AAAAAAAAJ14/5vWGCZlY09ci0q8caG19xjNcAMhaQGGigCLcBGAs/s640/10004068_10203348339688146_371745061_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone once told me I am an introvert with extrovert tendencies. Read: I need alone time, but I am friendly.<br /><br />AWP has a way of playing a number on people like me. We love meeting other poets, but we get tired and overwhelmed easily. Sometimes we may overhug people in awkward moments (been there, done that.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a visual of my energy. This is why AWP can get overwhelming...<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As someone who has a love/hate relationship with AWP, let me share a few of my secrets as someone who has been attending on and off since 2004.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1) Know your limits and be honest about them</b>: For me, this is saying, "I can't make any definite plans, but if you find yourself free, text me." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What this means is, I don't know what I'm going to feel until the moment, so while I love you and want to spend time with you, I may make 1 or 2 definite dates, but mostly, I will need to play the entire conference by ear. Sometimes I just need to rest (read: hide) in my hotel room. Sometimes I actually want to go out. But I don't know until that very exact moment it's happening.<br /><br />Text me and ask, "Hey, you free? Want to meet me at X" and I will be there or I will be in my hotel room resting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2) Decide on a few things to do (or not) but leave room for the magic</b>.<br /><br />There was one AWP, I went to a panel for the entire day. Sometimes, I'd find myself in a panel I hated and I'd think, "well, I'm stuck here." Note: You are never stuck anywhere. If you aren't sure you want to be somewhere--sit in the back near a door. Have a second option to attend if your first doesn't work out. <br /><br />But also, don't make plans. !</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know, who would say that? But some of my best moments happened just because I wasn't sitting in a room listening, but I was wandering around the bookfair. All of sudden, there is the poet of my dreams and s/he/they are signing books. Heart stops. My moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Had I been sitting in a panel that was average, I would have missed it. So let synchronicity happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3) Speaking of the bookfair-- The bookfair has become SO LARGE, you actually need to spend A LOT of time there... AND it's worth it.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Here's why--while sitting in on a panel, may feel like "wow, I am learning important things," walking around a bookfair actually connects you with people and publishers and poets and presses. You will make connections, you will learn about the presses you want to publish you, and you will meet the editors behind the scenes.<br /><br />This is SO important as a poet or writer. You will have the opportunity to hold the books they publish, look at the covers, read the words and decide if this is a press you'd want to have publish your work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So take the time. Buy books. Support presses and poets. Look at the books and educate yourself in what kind work presses publish. Ask questions. Present your best self. Be professional. Learn about all the presses and what they do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4) Trust your instincts.</b> You will meet poets that you immediate like and you will meet writers who make you feel bad about yourself. Know the difference. There will be times when poets say weird things or hug you one too many times--understand, that is our awkwardness in full-force and it's not meant to be weird, it's just people who aren't used to large events trying to appear "normal"--these people are okay. But know, there are people who don't want the best for you, who make you feel ugly and small--stay away from them. In fact, run away, and know that's their stuff and not yours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>5) JOMO!: It's okay to hang out in your room by yourself or to hang with your roommate or a friend or two.</b> JOMO means "the joy of missing out"--it's okay *not* to be at every reading or event. It's okay to say at 8 pm, "Well, it's my bedtime."<br /><br />Several times, I've walked away from "elite" parties, from the who's-who's in poetry to order room service in my room with a few good friends. Yes, I missed out meeting Miss Fancypants and I missed out on meeting the man with the good hair who could publish my book. Who cares.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of us just don't network. It's okay. You don't have to. You don't have to dance with gross people to get a book contract and you don't have to blow smoke up the ass of someone you don't like. You can actually attend AWP, hang with your friends, buy a few books, learn about a few presses, and be okay.<br /><br />One of my favorite memories is celebrating a friend's birthday in our hotel room. They comped us champagne, I learned Cobb Salad is my favorite "go-to" food and we ate dessert in 2 queen sized beds. My fedora ended up in the window on the champagne bottle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So know, if you skip "the party of the year" as my friend used to say in high school--it's okay. You missed nothing. Because you don't have to be everywhere and with everyone. Sometimes it's just better to kick back and "miss out." And sometimes, that's really where the joy is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>6) You may question what you are doing as a poet/writer, feel out of place, feel inadequate, feel as if no one likes you, etc--all of that is normal and most of that is in your head.</b><br /><br />AWP is a lot to take in. If you are a sensitive type like me, you may feel like "what am I doing here?" and "I really do not fit in." First--you do. And second, "we are here because we are writers and we love books and creating."<br /><br />Once when I was at AWP DC, all my Seattle friends were out and on dates, so I found myself completely alone in a DC hotel bar. I was like the sad dog who wandered around but couldn't find her pack so she sat at the bar alone (wait, dogs don't do that...) I felt awkward and alone. This was really before FB or any time where I could do a bizarre post--Hey, I'm alone at the south end of the bar, I'll buy you a drink if you cure my loneliness..." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone I knew saw me and said, "Hey come sit with us." I did and immediately spilled my wine like a big loser, but she laughed and cleaned it up. No one made me leave for being a klutz. I sat and talked about nametags and listened to stories. I felt not alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I guess I include this to say--you may find yourself alone, but you are not alone.<br /><br />AND if you see someone who is alone, invite them in.<br /><br />Also (pro-tip here): have a list of phone numbers of friends to call/text who may find themselves in similar positions. Say "text me if you're falling apart" or "text me if you need a friend."<br /><br />Sometimes, even not being there in person is enough, just getting notes from someone that says, "hey, I love you" or "You've got this" or "Maybe an early bedtime?" ;-) Even if you're alone, but you're connecting with someone--even on your phone, you feel less alone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />And that matters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />So there we are. My tips.<br /><br />Also, eat well and drink water. Be kind and polite. Do not misdirect your anger/uncomfortableness/fear onto anyone else. Talk to people, but don't take up their whole day. Have meaningful moments. Do AWP the way that is best for you. Take care of yourself and if that means reading your room alone, that is absolutely fine.<br /><br />And mostly, DO NOT look at others' nametags when you're talking to someone because it feels if you don't want to be there and you're looking for someone better.<br /><br />So as they Stephen Still says, "love the one you're with."<br /><br />Happy AWP, friends. Be kind, be supportive, and get your rest! It will all be okay.<br /><br />P.S. If you are from a state that does not have legal marijuana and you decide to partake, do *not* eat the whole cookie. Only a small piece of <b>any </b>edibles at first. They can be pretty strong... Otherwise, have fun, friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">xo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~ Kells </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com
www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-17065745987889980082019-02-18T07:16:00.000-08:002019-02-18T07:40:26.532-08:00In Answer to "Will I Review/Share Your Book on my Blog" -- Book Reviews/Blog Features <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<br /><br />I started getting this question a lot since I've restarted my blog:<br />"<b>Will you feature/share my book on your blog?"<br /><br />My most honest answer is--I don't know. I can give you a definite maybe.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love to read and discover new books, new poets, new writers, but I can't guarantee if you send me something it will end up on my blog. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I may try to do an every-so-often "Mail Call" where I photograph books and post them here. I'm trying to figure out the best way to share poets without losing my time/mind in doing so. Share books but keep it simple, needs to be my motto here! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>But if you want to send me your book, you can. If you want to add me to your review copy list, please do.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Presses or poets are welcome to send me review copies anytime to this address:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kelli Agodon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PO Box 1524<br />Kingston, WA 98346</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't guarantee anything, but if you want to send it my way, feel free.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will be thinking more about this! Thanks for your interest and understanding. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~ Kells</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-29486955920379519662019-02-17T17:12:00.000-08:002019-02-17T17:12:03.972-08:00What I Reading & Watching...Recommendations!<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to snow and me also being home sick, I've read and watched a lot more than normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few of my favorite finds--</span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2Xa9IT6" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beth Ann Fennelly's HEATING & COOLING: 52 Micro-Memoirs</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love books I can just sit down with and finish --or-- read a couple little of these vignettes a day. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Beth Ann is funny, poignant, and seems like someone you just want to hang out with. (Note: I did meet her at AWP one year and she was just wonderful--that kindness and graciousness comes through in her writing.) She has always been one of my favorite poets, so this was just a treat to read. I love how she looks at life and brings it onto the page. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2X53yE5" target="_blank">SYCAMORE by Kathy Fagan</a><br /><br />Now to be honest, this was a reread for me, I read <i>Sycamore</i> a few months after it came out (it came out from Milkweed Press, March 2017), but I haven't put it back on the shelf yet and every once in a while, I open it up and read it from front to back. Kathy Fagan makes me want to live in her poems. Kathy is also poignant yet funny. She is smart with sound, wordplay, and yet, her craft and narrative and style always keeps you grounded and enjoying the moment.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Movies/Documentaries/TV:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Image result for the big sick is based on a true story" 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" /></span><br />
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<b><a href="https://amzn.to/2X53Ud" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Big Sick (free streaming on Amazon Prime)</span></a></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could probably watch anything Kumail Nanjiani is in. But this film, based on his real life was just a great way to spend the evening. And even though it's called The Big Sick, it's not depressing and sad, actually thoughtful and charming is how I'd describe it.<br /><br />The movie is based on how a true-life experience that happened between him and his wife, <span style="background-color: white;">Emily</span><span style="background-color: white;"> V. Gordon, who did get sick</span> in real life. (By the way, I saw an interview with Kumail and Emily, and she is absolutely adorable --<a href="https://www.cbs.com/shows/cbs-sunday-morning/video/cm0PL_isWgZfwvbqwvxkOJGnlkVKVlgl/the-real-life-love-story-of-the-big-sick-/" target="_blank">here they are on CBS Sunday Morning</a> (which is another favorite show of mine)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Image result for bill murray stories" 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" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now, my favorite documentary is <a href="https://www.netflix.com/watch/81031650?source=35&fbclid=IwAR2zuvnJH10J5RqkdTVmc6AUiXFDiQl_HHkgrP63bK1xjBrm3PkMXBLAyuY" target="_blank">BILL MURRAY STORIES: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man.</a> It's based on all the "urban legends" of Bill Murray stories--crashing a wedding, showing up at party, etc. etc.<br /><br />If you like Bill Murray or just want to think about living you life in a more playful, whimsical manner, you'll enjoy this. Currently, my favorite movie I've seen this year. And it's free and streaming on Netflix.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Image result for grace and frankie" 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" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grace & Frankie: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin crack me up. I've watched all 5 seasons and Season 6 coming in 2020. We need more shows featuring older women living their lives. I adore these two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Image result for you netflix" height="180" src="https://cdn.flickeringmyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/you-poster-600x338.jpg" width="320" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YOU: also streaming on Netflix, a Netflix original. Freakin' creepy, but I'm still watching. I started watching because I thought it was about a bookstore owner. It is! But dang, he's dark and not just poet-dark, but watch-your-back dark. His love interest is a writer, so I appreciate the literary aspect of this. Only on Episode 4, we'll see if I make it through the whole series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Kells
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxr9e_FeO0KTGy03Qq8jOSKyCIO6z91-kwRTGLN3mzqZlHE9gy_t0ZQyKR54p0X6tUIk1dFq3AtLsucrvc-ISlmkmy5rl30edy45z8D6f0wugfNQ7rQG47sc50ahBeVubVx8YVQ/s1600/IMG_4110.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxr9e_FeO0KTGy03Qq8jOSKyCIO6z91-kwRTGLN3mzqZlHE9gy_t0ZQyKR54p0X6tUIk1dFq3AtLsucrvc-ISlmkmy5rl30edy45z8D6f0wugfNQ7rQG47sc50ahBeVubVx8YVQ/s400/IMG_4110.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So... after calling Cliff Mass our local (and probably best) meteorologist, "Cliff Mass Hysteria" because everyone in the Northwest was freaking out about the upcoming snowstorm, I realize, I underestimated the amount of snow we would get and how long many of us would be stuck in our homes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seattle is easy to make fun of because of how we react to the snow (I mean, I've been making fun of us all week), but I saw this visual on Twitter (I wish I knew who made it) and it kind of explains why snow shuts down the region--<br /><br /><img height="398" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzLjEj6U0AAA_HZ.jpg" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have a ton of hills and microclimates. We aren't prepared for any of this. I haven't gotten mail since last Friday. There have been no deliveries in my neighborhood of any kind--FedEx, Amazon, UPS. My Blue Apron order is stuck in Oregon. And I'm working from home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, if I were a normal person, all this lack of connection and the ability to leave my house may wear me down. But I am not your normal person, I am a poet, so for me, this snowstorm meant I was just given empty days to work on my poems and manuscript.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To me, this week has felt like a writing retreat. Since Friday I have woken up and read or revised my manuscript. I have lived in lounge pants and thermal shirts. I have napped when I wanted and snacked my way through the day. I took a few walks but mostly, moved around the house thinking about titles for my manuscript, making notes in journals, and sitting down with my printed copy of my manuscript and making notes through it.<br /><br />Today and yesterday, because we pretty much knew we weren't going to make it to work, I did Two Sylvias tasks, such as design a book cover and write some prompts for our April NaPoWriMo event. I ate chili and for dessert had dark chocolate chips and peanut butter on a spoon--ah yes, my glamorous life.<br /><br />But here's the thing, how often does the world grant us time?<br /><br />I'm sorry Seattle, it's going to snow hard and you are all going to have stop what you're doing and stay home. You just can't leave the house, most of us can't. So enjoy. Read. Write. Do all the things you say you never have enough time to do. Go for a walk, it's gorgeous out. Play a board game. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Make popcorn and watch a movie on the couch. Nap. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know if I had to be somewhere--catch a flight, had a family member in the hospital, etc--this would be a different story. But my life is basically portable right now. We planned to work from home if there was snow, we are. I have enough food to last me another week--I mean, right before the snow started I stopped by my mum's and she gave me 12 cans of tuna fish, I kind of feel set for anything.<br /><br />And while my emergency preparation skills leave much to be desired (I was the one who bought pistachios, potatoes, and swiss cheese for the big snow event and not much else--though Friday morning after seeing a few snowflakes and thinking--um, I may be screwed-- I did drive up and buy 25 logs for our woodstove "just in case"), I realize, I am actually quite happy at home working on poems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And my auto insurance deductible isn't worth me trying to drive somewhere right now. So I'm settled in with my stash of pistachios and yesterday we found those gold chocolate coins someone had put in my stocking in December in the pantry and I thought--it's a late Christmas miracle!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So yeah, that's my update. I'm still here. I'm writing and waiting for this to pass. But otherwise, happy and revising. Otherwise, waiting for the world to melt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">xo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~ Kells </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-89733948622658526862019-02-06T07:31:00.001-08:002019-02-06T07:34:34.081-08:00Love Letter Contest: Winner Receives a Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso Love Ring (No Fee & Deadline April 30, 2019)<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />I get a ton of press releases, announcements, and emails about new books, but every once in a while, one stands out.<br /><br />This one stands out for a few reasons--the first is a "Win a Tiffany & Co. ring" got my attention. <br />The second is there is no fee to enter.<br />Third, the authors connected the contest with their new book (which came out yesterday)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fourth, all I had to do was cut and paste!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I was posting this to share an opportunity, I also realize the smart marketing behind this and appreciate that as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, authors thinking outside the box and you can win a Tiffany ring if you write the best letter, a win/win.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #c0392b;"><span style="font-size: 26px;"><strong><br /><br /><br />IS YOUR LOVE LETTER SWOON-WORTHY ENOUGH TO WIN A <u>TIFFANY RING</u>?</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 22px;"><span style="color: #7f8c8d;"><em>New York Times Best-Selling Authors Share Tips to Win</em></span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 22px;"><span style="color: #7f8c8d;"><em>The 2019 Love Letter Contest</em></span></span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">In the era of online dating, Cupid's age-old trappings like hand-written love notes have fallen by the wayside. But this timeless display of affection will never go out of style. Given the rarity, a love letter could be just what you need to win over that crush, rekindle the romance, or even show your squad-love for Galentine's Day. When was the last time you told someone you loved how you really felt? Where do you even begin?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Luckily, <em>expert writers </em>Dalma Heyn and Richard Marek have your back. </span></span></td><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><img align="right" alt="Love letter 2.jpg" class="CToWUd a6T" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjp4BqoDdh2d9BsnxlVAaIL8F3LuLDpJ3BoAjoHSjeF0Zi5HQwE_Mc45QDyRHzSm4DR0TuEmnKPbKYZTnazZ6fCO9Ukx7hPBCLDrhNiEYaOOvbEPUTZkcV2wE7WxDVs9bOYpo3jCDLpXlDUXmnnNFhS8h9GVOHAsrQgO4HWqel8quCx4kJgA4RSZiZ7S8iANdvSZ3Gy8rD2caDi86YwQDgz4dxOkg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="335" /></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #7f8c8d;"><em><strong>This husband and wife team of New York Times best-selling authors are sharing insight and advice to communicating love in the digital age. </strong></em></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Whether it's platonic or romantic, Heyn and Marek will show your audience secrets to crafting the perfect love letter, the three things every lover note must have, and the complexity of communicating love in the age of Tinder. They also have examples of hilarious "worst ever" letters that encourage the audience to respond with their own "worst evers."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #c0392b;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>ABOUT THE 2019 LOVE LETTER CONTEST:</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">To celebrate the release on Feb 5 of their new book, <em>How to Fall in Love,</em> Heyn and Marek are on a nationwide search to find the perfect love letter. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The 2019 Love Letter Contest runs until April 30, it is totally free to enter, and the winner will be announced on May 15. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>The winner will receive:</strong></span><br />
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">A rose-gold Tiffany Paloma Picasso Love Ring (valued at $500).</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">A framed, gorgeously hand-written copy of their letter.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Your winning letter shared (if the winner chooses) with our entire social network.</span></li>
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Participating is easy. All you need to do is:<br />
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Bare your soul in writing (okay, that part might not be all that easy).</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Send your love letter to us at <a href="mailto:thestoryplant@thestoryplant.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">thestoryplant@thestoryplant.<wbr></wbr>com</a>.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">That's it! (You might, of course, want to share the love letter with the person you were writing it to, but that's entirely up to you.)</li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">To see the complete set of contest rules, click <strong><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn%3DIx6O9V0QEvgdesCrrLBOc0aNfLL5JBWeZ0ZxMOUx4PGVULK6JEIts0XI26wNN-2FK9EE8fn3-2F56C4o3OqN2RdQZPyUGnNch-2BY-2FE3keJNfoSLRtsi-2Fkf7AXeWdke6d-2BQEFzlXCl3Oax-2FTUxdd512XuQprXd-2FqyG8MO9fNae-2BZ2Ds2ZKNv24NTb0H5Ec1D6xGJxkkrHrNGcTa-2FbWd0ecNOsR-2FoFxdlt2SesvxtD0NMke4QnLNDaZp8hdAA1ebO6CA2uX_FxR6poVugsvETlsfyvCAYS3EeYR7-2BucMotw4BbTEK7oDMX5Ip3rE5ZQXM9YohyawnWRZF1z-2BDu-2FWRgriY6V75qCGtKT30FqTCr4hp1bUvukYVVwPVGDqrMtHK6Ywi0R5ZEXocY7u3-2BrDTPxzUOSDyWMUHfTH17cxSli-2FMgRuYNb-2Fm39xsJSczBWcQs1pWaiM9lrrKr72yjIVqRelwGpaeRRwO7tKooHATH9LZ3zazfa7EXQKSZWSV5-2Bwuqem0Jru-2BmsflKp2V6ObjZSMtwO6ebJUu25BM2Bv4HZSWrtQgr6Fqu2ZRL1vP1Xi5a-2BC0Umq&source=gmail&ust=1549551987403000&usg=AFQjCNGHLLQUom4pTJrJZaoOvk2b2hCXsQ" href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=Ix6O9V0QEvgdesCrrLBOc0aNfLL5JBWeZ0ZxMOUx4PGVULK6JEIts0XI26wNN-2FK9EE8fn3-2F56C4o3OqN2RdQZPyUGnNch-2BY-2FE3keJNfoSLRtsi-2Fkf7AXeWdke6d-2BQEFzlXCl3Oax-2FTUxdd512XuQprXd-2FqyG8MO9fNae-2BZ2Ds2ZKNv24NTb0H5Ec1D6xGJxkkrHrNGcTa-2FbWd0ecNOsR-2FoFxdlt2SesvxtD0NMke4QnLNDaZp8hdAA1ebO6CA2uX_FxR6poVugsvETlsfyvCAYS3EeYR7-2BucMotw4BbTEK7oDMX5Ip3rE5ZQXM9YohyawnWRZF1z-2BDu-2FWRgriY6V75qCGtKT30FqTCr4hp1bUvukYVVwPVGDqrMtHK6Ywi0R5ZEXocY7u3-2BrDTPxzUOSDyWMUHfTH17cxSli-2FMgRuYNb-2Fm39xsJSczBWcQs1pWaiM9lrrKr72yjIVqRelwGpaeRRwO7tKooHATH9LZ3zazfa7EXQKSZWSV5-2Bwuqem0Jru-2BmsflKp2V6ObjZSMtwO6ebJUu25BM2Bv4HZSWrtQgr6Fqu2ZRL1vP1Xi5a-2BC0Umq" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #7f8c8d;">HERE</span></a><span style="color: #7f8c8d;">.</span></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #c0392b;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>ABOUT AUTHORS DALMA HEYN & RICHARD MAREK:</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Headshot Heyn and Marek photo.jpeg" class="CToWUd a6T" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhryqn5JRpHwmGwIkAi8hSvoNn0O-BjX6sJLsgVpPnklENLmdHFD8vbK4dLfdaLwxEbE0-f2iewt4-5mrolzbEk8VifGqBgMgaMcgjtpCEdbbRxB0XH_WEjJrHuwAafjT_P1kvHqXx2b812gkDdTCcQDVXjotdoZzHxiJjVpLJfLLRyFEnu2p2lOIo93Cp-AB7jaB_8pzd3at9UE-9jFgg44qGBHvg=s0-d-e1-ft" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="350" /></span></td><td style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: top;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Husband and wife team Dalma Heyn and Richard Marek are the authors of <em>How to Fall in Love</em>. Heyn is the author of the <em>New York Times </em>best-seller<em> The Erotic Silence of the American Wife, Marriage Shock </em>and <em>Drama Kings.</em> Her books, published in 35 countries, have been best-sellers both here and abroad. Richard Marek is one of the most accomplished book editors and publishers of his generation, working with writers James Baldwin, Thomas Harris, and Robert Ludlum, among many others. He is the author of <em>Works of Genius </em>and has ghostwritten a number of best-sellers.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td colspan="2" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: #c0392b;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>ABOUT THE BOOK, <em>HOW TO FALL IN LOVE</em>:</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Releasing February 5 from The Story Plant, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn%3DIx6O9V0QEvgdesCrrLBOc0aNfLL5JBWeZ0ZxMOUx4PGVULK6JEIts0XI26wNN-2FK9EE8fn3-2F56C4o3OqN2RdQZPyUGnNch-2BY-2FE3keJNfoSLRtsi-2Fkf7AXeWdke6d-2BQEFzlXCl3Oax-2FTUxdd512XuQprXd-2FqyG8MO9fNae-2BZ2Ds2ZKNv24NTb0H5Ec1D6xGJxkkrHrNGcTa-2FbWd0ecNOsR-2FmT4-2Fuw30sy-2BUU37L4OrImICfduUCoA3U3bergQGY-2F0n_FxR6poVugsvETlsfyvCAYS3EeYR7-2BucMotw4BbTEK7oDMX5Ip3rE5ZQXM9YohyawnWRZF1z-2BDu-2FWRgriY6V75qCGtKT30FqTCr4hp1bUvukYVVwPVGDqrMtHK6Ywi0R5ZEXocY7u3-2BrDTPxzUOSDyfbt4nDTDfljZQkr5di3AyMJ9yNTMxTIWz78Eoth-2BOofpRqDihnVX1Ef8C3SV9QUhRcHhRV8-2BUaAQYGvVOKSciP6FV6iAfz-2FYyGiNhSsG239ivRPqJ90J-2BkFs2I3ZoOnQCCgDZMyFZ5Ffp34hiQgomjmt7umEvHL4YazdmYFnyqe&source=gmail&ust=1549551987404000&usg=AFQjCNHjO0K6RLzeQPjxMJznccSSxxjoeg" href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=Ix6O9V0QEvgdesCrrLBOc0aNfLL5JBWeZ0ZxMOUx4PGVULK6JEIts0XI26wNN-2FK9EE8fn3-2F56C4o3OqN2RdQZPyUGnNch-2BY-2FE3keJNfoSLRtsi-2Fkf7AXeWdke6d-2BQEFzlXCl3Oax-2FTUxdd512XuQprXd-2FqyG8MO9fNae-2BZ2Ds2ZKNv24NTb0H5Ec1D6xGJxkkrHrNGcTa-2FbWd0ecNOsR-2FmT4-2Fuw30sy-2BUU37L4OrImICfduUCoA3U3bergQGY-2F0n_FxR6poVugsvETlsfyvCAYS3EeYR7-2BucMotw4BbTEK7oDMX5Ip3rE5ZQXM9YohyawnWRZF1z-2BDu-2FWRgriY6V75qCGtKT30FqTCr4hp1bUvukYVVwPVGDqrMtHK6Ywi0R5ZEXocY7u3-2BrDTPxzUOSDyfbt4nDTDfljZQkr5di3AyMJ9yNTMxTIWz78Eoth-2BOofpRqDihnVX1Ef8C3SV9QUhRcHhRV8-2BUaAQYGvVOKSciP6FV6iAfz-2FYyGiNhSsG239ivRPqJ90J-2BkFs2I3ZoOnQCCgDZMyFZ5Ffp34hiQgomjmt7umEvHL4YazdmYFnyqe" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #7f8c8d;"><em>How to Fall in Love </em></span></a>is a provocative love story for the digital age. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The story opens when Cupid, the once-revered god of love, learns the heavens are downsizing and he will be let go. In the age of Tinder and online dating, his job is deemed expendable. Cupid manages to buy a little bit of time by asking for one more chance to show that he can orchestrate a love for the ages . . . but the clock is ticking. <em>Will Cupid be able to prove his worth before it's too late? </em></span></span></td></tr>
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~ Kells<br />
________________<br />
www.agodon.com<br />
www.twosylviaspress.com</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-21955171681646469452019-01-22T19:04:00.000-08:002019-01-22T19:04:09.710-08:00During the Super Blood Wolf Moon Lunar Eclipse, I Find Myself in a Poem<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I watched the lunar eclipse on Sunday and it always amazes me how much lunar events get my adrenalin flowing. I was actually trying to watch an episode of Friends from College, but once the lunar eclipse it was immediately forgotten and all lights were turned out.<br /><br />I was taking photos of the moon through my telescope with my iPhone. We brought the telescope outside and the moment I looked up, a shooting star. It was one of those moments where everything feels perfectly choreographed for my bliss. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the moon turned red, so many more stars appears and everything had that crisp look which is hard to explain but the night sky felt as if someone had used the "sharpen" tool in Photoshop, making sure each pinprick of light was detailed and perfectly placed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the eclipse went on, I thought--I should be writing. I have this weird superstition about monumental moments--New Year's Eve, lunar eclipse, birthdays, solstice, Day of the Dead, etc--that I should be writing on these days because it's a nod to the universe that yes, this is my passion and if you see me writing on these days, it means it's what I should be doing with my life (and hey universe, if you see this, send me some good luck and inspiration too). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realize this doesn't really make any sense, but it's a strange belief I've carried since I was younger. On New Year's, let me start the year by reading a poem or writing one, on my birthday, let me be laughing so it carries on through the year. <br /><br />But during the lunar eclipse, I realized that even though I wasn't physically writing a poem, I was experience one. I was in the middle of a poem looking out. Insert shooting star. Insert the moment you hear your neighbors laugh because they are out on their patio with a drink watching as well. Insert telescope zooming on a crater. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I now want to write the poem to create the feeling I had on Sunday. I want to be lost in a poem and not know it's a poem. Maybe that's life. Maybe it's when we're mindful. Maybe this is something I need to think about more when the reader is reading my poem, is she lost in the poem and looking out, shooting star filled, or is she just lost? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who knows if we are the poet or our life is the poem? Who cares to find out?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To future lunar events, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">xo<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~ Kells
________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
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www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-85993261345635821772019-01-20T18:36:00.002-08:002019-01-20T18:36:32.221-08:00From the Time Machine: Notes from a Talk with Poet Mary Oliver (April 2008)<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the recent death of Mary Oliver, here's a blog post I did in 2008 about a small lecture I attended with Mary Oliver at Pacific Lutheran University...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">NOTES FROM THE TALK AND READING WITH MARY OLIVER AT PLU - EARTH DAY 2008</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, my notes from the Mary Oliver talk and reading on April 22nd, 2008 at Pacific Lutheran University.<br /><br />The Talk-- Mary Oliver & The Writer's Story--<br /><br />First, Mary Oliver's talk was fantastic. It wasn't really advertised to the public and so there were only 40 of us in the room. Mostly students, some alumni, some professors, but there were more empty chairs than not.<br /><br />If you remember, only a few months ago the Mary Oliver in Seattle was sold out and people were asking if they could come dressed as a tree and stand in back. Oh, if only these people had Google alert or were on the Mary Oliver mailing list because, well, they missed out...again.<br /><br />The talk was an audience participation Q&A. It started out with crickets (no one wanting to talk and the pressure of the first question), but once it started rolling, questions were asked for about an hour and Mary thoughtfully answered them.<br /><br />Here are what notes I have from the talk--<br /><br />First question "How did you come into writing poetry?"<br /><br />The answer was that her life wasn't perfect and "I needed another world than what I was living in...the world of nature, the world of poetry...and I cherished the top that I could do something myself."<br /><br />She said it was her 3rd book where she felt she had finally achiever her own voice.<br /><br />The problem with poets? "They think of it as a profession instead of a calling...it takes a long time to get a voice."<br /><br />How she feels about changing the facts in poems or writing things that aren't true--<br /><br />"Since gender didn't matter, I changed "sister" to "brother" in one of my poems and I don't have a brother, but the imaginary fiction served the poem."<br /><br />Her said, "Your own story really isn't so important." (What's important is the story of the poem.)<br /><br />Other quotes--<br /><br />"Poetry is politics, too."<br /><br />"There is a connection with holiness because when you are alone with nature, you're with something greater than yourself."<br /><br />"There's a part of us that is beyond the material."<br /><br />*<br /><br />She is awake every morning. She said, "I missed one day this year of sunrise--I want to see the sun come up."<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />I asked her about what her writing schedule was and if she wrote every day.<br /><br />She said, "I believe very much in discipline." She also believes in the scheduling of writing and keeping a notebook. She says as poets we must be "attentive to everything in this world." "The more attentive we are, the more alive we are."<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />When someone asked "Why should we read or write poetry since it's not read by many?"<br /><br />Mary Oliver replied, "Why breathe, why laugh, why love?"<br /><br />"There is something in us poems give comfort, healing to. They give a way to praise. It is an enrichment to one's life and perhaps [by reading and writing poetry] we'll get kinder."<br /><br />"I try to write poems that give comfort. I try to write very accessible so more people can understand them, feel it as their own experience."<br /><br />"Poetry has an absolute intellectual & spiritual effect on people."<br /><br />To the question "Why write poems?" -- "What else are we going to do?"<br /><br />* *<br /><br />When asked how to be a better poet she said, "read it [your poem] as if you haven't written it. Read the poem as if you haven't seen it before."<br /><br />* *<br /><br />To what is your revision process--<br /><br />"I write quicker and cleaner now than I ever did, but I still throw things out. . .I go through 40 drafts of a poem."<br /><br />She said she uses a computer last because "A computer makes it look too good before it is done."<br /><br />She said, "Know your process." And "I kill adjectives and commas--I want it to work faster. Adjectives are egotistical, they want to be noticed. Study what you've done to see if it works or not."<br /><br />* *<br /><br />When asked about who she reads she said that "Whitman was the finest poet this country's had." Also reads Keats, Shelley, Blake, Yeats, Robert Bly, Neruda, Galway Kinnell, and others.<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />Question: What is your definition of a great poem?<br /><br />Her answer "One that has endured."<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />On her book "Thirst" she said, "I was trying to voice my won quest for the feeling and the wanting."<br /><br />She said, "I think there are many divine sense that we get things from."<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />Question: As a poet, what's your biggest regret?<br /><br />Answer "I don't' have any." She said she is very happy with her life as a poet and living with her art. She said, "Art is an essential hallway into a spiritual life."<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />Question: What did you have to give up?<br /><br />Mary Oliver: "I never looked or thought I'd get material things. I had a $100 car I used to stop by hitting a brick wall...it was a wonderful life."<br /><br />(BTW, that wasn't said sarcastically, she loved her life as a young poet.)<br /><br />* * *<br /><br />Many many more people came for the reading which filled their theatre. We had tickets for the "overflow" room, where we watched her live on a giant screen (no fooling-- we referred to it "smell-o-vision"). She answered questions after the reading to the audience, but they were more likely to be short answers and nothing as thoughtful as she gave to the students.<br /><br />While the reading was lovely, I found her talk absolutely incredible and inspiring to me as writer. I left feeling full and satisfied (and it wasn't just from the delicious Italian restaurant we ate at or the Tiramisu). A fantastic night and I was thankful to have my three wonderful friends there to share it with me.<br /><br />A joyous ride home in the rain and the question to all,<br /><br />"Tell me, what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />~ Kells </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
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www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-24999124992461175392019-01-19T18:27:00.001-08:002019-01-19T18:27:59.866-08:00What I'm Reading... @MichelleObama @JenniferWeiner & Sylvia Plath Letters<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MEMOIR:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Michelle-Obama/dp/1524763136/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547948392&sr=1-1&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=e76ac31dba1cda16297d5b3657582402&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1524763136&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: initial;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1524763136" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2sAR6O8" target="_blank">BECOMING by Michelle Obama</a>: Susan Rich gave me the hardcover of this book last week and I started reading it 2 days ago and I'm already on Chapter 8 where she has just met Barack at her law firm and they are starting to have lunches together--I cannot put this book down.<br /><br />Michelle writes in smart, straightforward way where stories (and images) reconnect in other chapters and topics that usually bore me (such as childhood) do not. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example, there is this one scene where Michelle is in kindergarten and has read the names of colors on cards in front of her class and messes up on the word "white" and does not receive a gold star to wear on her shirt. She returns to class the next day and asks her teacher for a redo--her teacher says "No, we're moving on..." but Michelle holds her ground and advocates for herself until she gets the teacher to agree for a redo. (I'll let you read to see if she gets her star or not...)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel I am learning so much about *who* Michelle Obama is and also receiving this incredible story of strength as well as the history of Chicago's South Side (something as a Seattle native, I knew little about). As we move through the years, the story keeps getting stronger.<br /><br />I would also recommend getting this book in both print (for the photos) but there is also an audio version read by Michelle herself--so no matter HOW you read this book, read this book. It's truly inspiring. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Heart-Adventures-Life-Writing/dp/1476723400/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=jennifer+weiner&qid=1547948060&sr=8-4&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=76de698e03de30946314c804db96cf7e&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1476723400&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1476723400" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2sCgraA" target="_blank">HUNGRY HEART</a> by Jennifer Weiner -- In between my moments with Michelle Obama, I have just started this book Jennifer Weiner book and already finding myself reaching for it when I have down time. Jennifer is a funny, easy-to-read writer who is self-deprecating and authentic in sharing her ups and downs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I like about this book is that so far, each chapter acts (while moving along Jennifer's life chronologically as a memoir) felt like an individual essay (something I noticed in Michelle Obama's book too) so you can read one section and get that feeling of completeness (something I love which is why I also read short story collections and other essay collections). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Sylvia-Plath-Vol-1956-1963/dp/006274058X/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Letters+sylvia+Plath&qid=1547949649&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=03052d1070fb792a5c7df506ddeadbd7&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=006274058X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=006274058X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2T53nG7" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE LETTERS OF SYLVIA PLATH, Volume 2:</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, you should know, I actually love reading other poets letters. Many many years ago, I read <a href="https://amzn.to/2DolUb9" target="_blank">Elizabeth Bishop & Robert Lowell'</a>s and <a href="https://amzn.to/2FPHF58" target="_blank">Zelda & F. Scott Fitzgerald's letters</a> (note: there is are many more Zelda letters than F. Scott given that Zelda didn't bother to keep many of his letters--a fact I find rather funny and it worked for me because I have always been a little more interested in Zelda anyway). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I love? How Sylvia sometimes signs her letters "Sivvy," and how as I read her letters I get a better since of her voice. I love her boring details such as "I'd love vitamins! I'm convinced everything the British sell is without nourishment whatsoever" and "The Rice's sent us the strangest Christmas card!...an ominous rhyme with all sorts of mixed metaphors. Well, no doubt they have good intentions."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, this is my favorite parts of reading letters--the details of all of it. Plath's words bring me into her world--which was SO Ted focus--(note: this is a LONG book, so I'm still just dabbling through it), but Ted this is and Ted got a poem here and ... it's a reminder how so much of Plath's life was catering to Ted. Even one letter her has her telling her inlaws she made Ted eggs before sending him off.<br /><br />I see the struggle as well as the joy in her writing and</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I can get lost in this different time very easily.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Kells
________________</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-83124611857770945812019-01-01T09:46:00.000-08:002019-01-01T09:46:00.507-08:00New Year's Resolutions 2019: The Poet Edition <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="Image result for new year's photo andy warhol" src="https://dakiniland.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/halston-bianca-jagger-jack-haley-jr-his-wife-liza-minnelli-and-andy-warhol-at-a-new-years-eve-party-at-studio-54-in-1978-650x435.jpg?w=650" /><br /><br />While I always consider "resolutions" more as "guidelines," here's what I'm thinking about 2019.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">I know 2018 was a tough year for many, so may 2019 fill us with more poetry, joy, love, success, and peace--or whatever you are looking for these days.<br /><br />Happy 2019, friends!<br />________________________<br /><b><br />New Year's Resolutions 2019</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /><br />1) Read more longer content, less shorter content (and keep a list throughout the year of what I've read! </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">(Basically less Facebook, more book-books).</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />2) Write more postcards and thank you notes.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />3) The 3 Ps: Keep my poems and projects a priority. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />4) Share generously.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />5) Support other poets and artists. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />6) Do some sort of public art project focused on poetry.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />7) Travel more. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />8) Realize that US news headlines are dollar signs; they want my clicks--do not engage.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />9) Say yes to experiences I feel would add to my life as an writer and artist. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> Say no to things and people that don't.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />10) Keep the best people around me.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><i>I don’t really want to become normal, average, standard. I want merely to gain in strength, in the courage to live out my life more fully, enjoy more, experience more. </i></span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">I want to develop even more original and more unconventional traits. ~ </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Anais Nin</span></span><br />
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~ Kells</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> ________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> www.agodon.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-40502086466061772442018-12-31T09:20:00.000-08:002018-12-31T09:20:08.485-08:00Thoughts before 2019: Am I the Kisser, the Kissee, or the Onlooker?<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgu3ivk4skLzAmTlS3j92vxOLfhrbZPnSgt3k4FMLTfCbdYbrjRVWH9SJkyFkCo09gJwx2sRK-nLIe3W62iP3KxN48CE4P8KqFPKdCzhTuSow7jQYwnrPOwC2zUpM1lGjLl64RsohaLDui_M_XRdUeOxBktns_cOU-w086HEGlaYaioHM_T18zCs2KGLLnA7w=s0-d" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was reading one of my old New Year's Resolutions posts from 2013 and I realized not much has changed.<br /><br />Here's what I wrote:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"I confess I lost a decade somewhere. I was writing poetry, or raising a daughter, or writing a book, cleaning the house, editing, or mountain biking and I somehow misplaced about ten years.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />In certain ways, ten years feels as if it were such a long time ago. When I think that my first book which came out in 2004, I can hardly remember it.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />But I'm also realizing my best poet friends have been my friends for over a decade now. I've lived in the same house for 17 years. Things I thought were choices (such as my daily breakfast of coffee and raisin bran) are actually habits. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />Which makes me consider my life, and my life passing: <i>Am I living deliberately or what I think are choices are actually habits? Am I paying attention to what matters to me? </i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />Or more visually, like the photo above-- <i>Am I being kissed or am I the onlooker?"</i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br />~</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2019: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, reading post the one thing that stands out to me besides that I now having muesli everyday instead of Raisin Bran, is that I wrote, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />"Am I being kissed or am I the onlooker?"<br /><br />My concern with that question is that -- if I'm being kissed, then it means I'm waiting for someone/something to do something so I can be engaged in the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I don't want to be part of the "pick me" generation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I think the biggest change this year is I'm stepping up. Things have changed since that last post 6 years ago-- I am no longer in that same house and my daughter is at college. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If anything holds me back this year, I no longer have the excuse of parenting or not enough time. So, yeah, accountability, it's the nametag I'm wearing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, looking again at the photo-- maybe I'm none of the those people (the kisser, the kissee, or the onlooker), maybe I'm the full glass of champagne, sparkly and bubbly, and just being the best I can as the world does its thing...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i><br /></i></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" />_______________________</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />~ Kells
________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-72561606675532365012018-12-29T13:19:00.003-08:002018-12-29T13:19:54.549-08:00Who's In? Setting up the Poetry Blogging Network for 2019!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB5FchrK_BRlrLOqqEJX0wSITckOHQ_5sOMFhnCU8MqkAM7iVof3ew8DdWIb6M3x3PhTjI2Vj69oQDsSP8_NyjYDZedeWRe22fEZ3lPfpEO-l-VNueDbyrkKPaIyVtckm41ds6g/s1600/BLOG+BADGE+2019+Poetry+Blogging+Network.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB5FchrK_BRlrLOqqEJX0wSITckOHQ_5sOMFhnCU8MqkAM7iVof3ew8DdWIb6M3x3PhTjI2Vj69oQDsSP8_NyjYDZedeWRe22fEZ3lPfpEO-l-VNueDbyrkKPaIyVtckm41ds6g/s640/BLOG+BADGE+2019+Poetry+Blogging+Network.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Poets ~</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For 2019, we're getting the band back together again, but this time with a little more organization.<br /><br />Dave Bonta reached out to me to create a badge for the POETRY BLOGGING NETWORK, a group of poets who are dedicated to blogging about their poetry lives, the ups and down of being a writer in the world, along with what they are reading and writing.<br /><br />I am committed to blogging at least 2x a month (with my accountability buddy, Susan Rich, to keep me honest.)<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you want to be part of this blogger network of poets?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's what you do--<br /><br />1) Put the above image on your blog somewhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) Leave a comment on this post with <b>your name, blog name and link to your blog</b> and I'll start a list <a href="https://ofkells.blogspot.com/p/poetry-blogging-network-list-of-poetry.html" target="_blank">here</a> (and you are welcome to cut and past or link this list as well to your blog or blogroll). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's it!<br /><br /> I will add people through Valentine's Day, 2019! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~ Kells </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.agodon.com/" target="_blank"> www.agodon.com</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.twosylviaspress.com/">www.twosylviaspress.com</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-61236512090258785442018-11-17T16:30:00.003-08:002018-11-17T16:30:43.510-08:00Mini Book Review: Rewilding by January Gill O'Neil & At Home Poetry Writing Retreat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hNyDZonRoHA/W_Ct6fuMF0I/AAAAAAAAJpw/eXkiuHrxTIcMUv7cluv-P-TzL-4VSrcGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Photo%2Bon%2B11-14-18%2Bat%2B3.40%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hNyDZonRoHA/W_Ct6fuMF0I/AAAAAAAAJpw/eXkiuHrxTIcMUv7cluv-P-TzL-4VSrcGgCLcBGAs/s400/Photo%2Bon%2B11-14-18%2Bat%2B3.40%2BPM.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>At Home Poetry Retreat:</b><br />On Wednesday, my friend Ronda Broach came over to write poems with me. She got her at 3ish, we put out snacks and started writing poems (from openings of lines, from prompts, from word lists, etc.). By midnight, we had written about 14 poems. She spent the night and the next morning, we woke up and wrote a few more poems. When all was said and done, I had about 17 new drafts. I know, it's a bit of a poetry marathon, but it's kind of my favorite way to write poems. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while we were writing, Ronda said, "Oh, I have a new favorite book to show you..." and I said, "Me too!" Then we both pulled out <a href="https://amzn.to/2zfCRSJ" target="_blank">January Gill O'Neil's new book REWILDING </a>(just out from CavanKerry Press).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Mini Review:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Januay is one of my very favorite poets writing today. I have every one of her books and have been a fan of her work since the wayback days--I actually met her through the blog community.<br /><br />Her poems always get my attention, but this book is really some of the best poetry I've read. It's immediate. It smart, strong, it breaks your heart while you are falling in love with this. For me, these poems remind me what is means to be alive--they deal with loss (from divorce to death), fear, beauty, love of family, love of life, and how absolutely complicated this world is and life can be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />They are not afraid to deal with any topic or subject, and this book is award-winning--in fact, if this book doesn't win some award, there is something really wrong in the world because I am one of the pickiest poetry readers around, and this book hits me hard and in all the right ways, and I know how strong it is.<br /><br />I am not going to say too much about the narrative that runs through this book because the poems are so good, I do not not want to spoil the magic I felt reading them one at a time, in order, in yes, one sitting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />But if you haven't picked it up, please do. You will not be disappointed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://cavankerrypress.org/product/rewilding/" target="_blank">By directly from the press here: Rewilding by January Gill O'Neil </a>(it's about the same price as the Amazon copy and the money goes directly to the press)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or by from <a href="https://amzn.to/2zfCRSJ" target="_blank">Amazon here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~ Kells</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ________________ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
www.facebook.com/agodon
www.twitter.com/kelliagodon</div>Kelli Russell Agodon - Book of Kellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798460634708905783noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37627577.post-4364009123790057962018-08-11T11:16:00.000-07:002018-08-11T11:18:18.807-07:00Summer Reads (Novels: Part 1) #SummerReads <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IsMvx14kd1o/WnHSYIL3PEI/AAAAAAAAJSY/5dOyhgUoty0KNsoskrwjxt_rCdI6DtCaACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/243baf4f27b794c8bcd59773050a60ff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IsMvx14kd1o/WnHSYIL3PEI/AAAAAAAAJSY/5dOyhgUoty0KNsoskrwjxt_rCdI6DtCaACPcBGAYYCw/s320/243baf4f27b794c8bcd59773050a60ff.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have read more novels this summer than I have in a long time... how have I done it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Basically, just disconnecting, looking at a book instead of my phone. I always keep a book with me, while for a long time is was a book of poems, now it's novels (though I do tend to always have a book of poems with me, this time I'm reaching for novels.) It's amazing how quickly you can read if you (wait for it...) remember to actually read (and not scroll Facebook or Twitter or Instagram..)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) You will note that some of these books are older books and not new releases-- why?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, sometimes I get my books from other places--used bookstores, our neighborhood Little Free Library box on my street, I have even gotten one at the Dollar Store.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) I also like to add what I look for in a summer book and what I like. The answer--something to get lost in, an "easy" read without the seriousness of things I need to worry about in real life (like our government, climate change, healthcare, etc.) In the summer, I just want to sit and get involved in the lives of imaginary people. I am not looking to have my mindblown or have to seriously ponder and consider syntax, sentence structure--I just want to enjoy myself. I save more serious books for fall and winter. Summer is about grabbing a book, sitting outside, and reading for the pleasure of getting lost in imaginary worlds. That is what I'm looking for. If I can get lost (and I am picky, I have sent a few of my books this summer to the Little Free Library hoping they find a reader who loves them), I stop reading and give it away.<br /><br />So below are all books I have finished and read in their entirety. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, here's what I'm reading and what I plan to read (yes, I buy preemptively buy books so I have one ready to read when I finish, otherwise, I will not finish a book if I don't have another waiting in the wings.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>What I've Read:</u></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Think-Ill-Say-Stories/dp/0399592865/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1534008849&sr=8-1&keywords=you+think+it+i%27ll+say+it&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=d7b8560b8af653d432578fc0087ae377&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0399592865&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0399592865" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2vzWenG" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">YOU THINK IT, I'LL SAY IT by Curtis Sittenfeld:</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Geez, did I love this book by Curtis Sittenfeld. The stories are edgy, smart, intriguing, and they are all short stories, so I loved being able to sit outside read a full story and feel fulfilled. Her voice is engaging and her style/narrator is easy to follow but not simple. She's a complex storyteller who ket my mind actively engaged, which isn't easy to do because I'm an editor, so I'm super picky about what I read. Anyway, this is tops of my summer reads. Love it completely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Teeth-Novel-Julia-Fierro/dp/1250068401/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534009170&sr=1-1&keywords=cutting+teeth&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=7f343632a026e4a9482419416e4b56a1&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1250068401&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1250068401" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2P0495P" target="_blank">CUTTING TEETH by Julia Fierro</a>:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was one of those "older" books (2015) I picked up because I recognized the author's name as someone I follow on Twitter and I remember liking her a lot. What originally pulled me in was one of the characters was anxious with OCD and freaking out about a possible terrorist attack that she read on a parenting board so she took her playgroup to her parents guesthouse instead of admitting to them she was worried and getting them out of the city. So what you end up with is her playgroup (which is mostly moms and one dad) on a weekend together. As a parent (now with a grown child), it brought me to that time in my life when everything seemed more important than it is. Julia weaves a good story and if you're a parent, you will definitely see yourself in at least one character, if not more. It also maybe make you feel good about your own parenting. ;-) Extra special bonus--my family was freaked out by the Raggedy Ann dolls on the cover, so no one touched my book and I always knew where it was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vacationers-Novel-Emma-Straub/dp/1594633886/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534009635&sr=1-1&keywords=the+vacationers+emma+straub&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=acb743c5ff74c198544f341ebda9fe64&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1594633886&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1594633886" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2MgopBG" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE VACATIONERS by Emma Straub:</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The biggest complaint I read about this book is that it's another story about a family going on vacation (in this case, to the Mediterranean) and have to deal with each other.</span> Now, I don't know about you, but these are favorite beach reads for me--flawed characters having to deal with each others' flaws. For me, I found the book something I wanted to pick up and get lost in. I like books where there are human issues, where we have to explore the complexity of humans and relationships. I think Emma did this well and she has enough characters and different plots happening that I was always engaged and interested in how each plot line would end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Next up on my reading list:</u></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Fires-Everywhere-Celeste-Ng/dp/0735224293/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534009832&sr=1-1&keywords=celeste+ng&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=02dab1cf75fdc384e4b95067e695760a&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0735224293&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0735224293" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2vBJ2hZ" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE by Celeste Ng:</span></a></span><br />
(Have heard good things about this one...)<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Rich-Asians-Trilogy/dp/0345803787/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0345803787&pd_rd_r=0e42729f-9d8f-11e8-a62b-79eb5ed99a3b&pd_rd_w=ah7Oz&pd_rd_wg=IrKW5&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=1475879231140687736&pf_rd_r=05NK0959T71NKZ96F79Y&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=05NK0959T71NKZ96F79Y&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=89dc44d23d28bf0fb2dcea4e955b32ad&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0345803787&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0345803787" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2MfGEXQ" target="_blank">CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan</a> (I cannot wait to read this one I have been hearing excellent reviews on it and it will be a movie too, I think?!!) </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Less-Winner-Pulitzer-Prize-Novel/dp/031631613X/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534010279&sr=1-1&keywords=less+by+andrew+sean+greer&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=a066a39a75f7c5d1f4d60fd89f998743&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=031631613X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=031631613X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2OtFqpf" target="_blank">LESS by Andrew Sean Greer</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(And this one just one the Pulitzer, I hear!)</span>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Oliphant-Completely-Fine-Novel/dp/0735220697/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534010561&sr=1-1&keywords=emily+oliphant+is+fine&linkCode=li3&tag=kyes-20&linkId=9eb894519412d51c0a58f525e51ea301&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0735220697&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kyes-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kyes-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0735220697" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </span><br />
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2MkqfBr" target="_blank">Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Started this. I know it will be good, but struggling through the opening and have had to go back to reread some parts I seemed to have skimmed over--that said, it has some very engaging scenes... I believe I will finish this, but am putting it down more than I thought I would. But when it's engaging, it's quite engaging. And I always give a book I've been recommended some time to stick because I know how persnickety I can be as a reader and for the most part, am enjoying this... Will give a full review once I've finished it!)</span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">~ Kells</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> www.agodon.com</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.twosylviaspress.com</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Kelli Russell Agodon
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