I'll Be Your Reader Continues...

Get a reader: the state poet laureate!

The first month of "I'll Be Your Reader" was fun: thanks to everyone who sent their poems. So let's continue for a few more months!

The first poem to arrive in my email box on Thursdays will become my morning reading material, enjoyed with coffee. The writer must be a current resident of New Hampshire, but poets of all ages and backgrounds can send work.

I promise that you will have my full attention. I'll read the poem (up to 100 lines) and send you an email by day's end. I won't offer feedback or criticism: just a note that I have read and enjoyed your piece. (It can be immensely refreshing to know that someone has read your writing with appreciation, in a judgement-free zone.)

Details:

1. Cut and paste into the body of the email or send as a PDF attachment (if line breaks and page formatting need to be preserved). Send to Balconyofwords@gmail.com

    2. Provide your full name and town of residency. You can include your age, if you want.

Mindful Writing & Poetry Presentation at Amherst Public Library: April 8, 2020

Mindful Experience of Poetry Writing

This 90-minute interactive presentation focuses on using mindful writing techniques to write poems. We’ll begin with an overview of the basic concepts of mindful writing, including impermanence, preconceptions about writing ability, inner voice, and audience proximity. With a more mindful approach to the writing moment, every moment can become a prolific moment. We’ll discuss how we can reduce writing worry that come from future- or past-oriented mindless thinking. We’ll practice a mindful writing technique: steering and stocking our internal talk with metaphors and similes for writing. Participants will leave the session with a new poem started. 
I'll be giving this talk at the Amherst Public Library (April 8, 2020, 7-8:30 pm).

NH Poetry Out Loud Championships

New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud State Championships

Friday, March 13, 5pm

Snow date: Monday, March 16, 5pm. 
New Hampshire State House

Park St., Concord, NH 
Twelve High School Champions from across New Hampshire will compete to earn the title of Poetry Out Loud State Champion. Nearly 10,000 NH students participated in school level compeitions where they deepened their relationship and understanding of the vast literary tradition of poetry. Students select from a curated anthology of poems and present recitations demonstrating their depth of understanding, public speaking, and confidence.Join us at the New Hampshire State House for an incredibly inspiring evening as we celebrate the 15^th year of the program. Attendance is free and open to the public.