Not Writing a Novel

Anxiety Icicles and "Jaws"

Some words about my fear. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/anxiety

The Clam Ideas on creation

The creative process. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/the-clam

Steps Not Getting Lost in the Mist

Taking It Step by Step. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/steps

Hirsute Shaven Apostle

Tale of a beard. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/hirsute

Reading and Class My Dead Aunt's poetry reading

Giving a reading, going to a personal essay class sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/reading-an...

Rice Paddies Grill Loss of a Restaurant

Loss of a favorite restaurant. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/rice-paddi...

Imagery Is a Tug of War Too little, too much, just right?

Adding the right amount of imagery. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/imagery-is...

At the Desk Staying There and Writing

Creating art, surviving the desk. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/at-the-desk

Quiet Wisdom J.D. Smith's Elegant Verse

J.D. Smith web site: www.jdsmithwriter.com/index.htm

$40 Pop-Up: Persona Poems - The Writer's Center This Persona Poem Pop-Up will help writers get started on making their own persona poems. Part of the class will be lecture/discussion of what makes a good persona poem and what to avoid. The class wi...

Hi everyone, I’m teaching a Pop-Up class on persona poems through The Writer’s Center on July 29th at 7 p.m. If you’re interested in adding another element to your writing, this is the class for you. Follow the link for more details (the class is through Zoom).

The Perfect Poem? Writing Imperfectly

The true enemy of good poems. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/the-perfec...

At the Micro Level Small Changes

Micro-editing poems. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/at-the-mic...

Humble in the Face of the Muse Pulling the Cart

Humility is key. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/humble-in-...

Questions About Fear A very old poem.

A poem from 2005 or 2006. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/questions-...

A Friendship Part II: Fort Meade Trip

A Friendship Sequel: sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/a-friendsh...

William Tell Prose Poem

Missing the apple. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/william-tell

I submitted to Poetry Magazine again. Will this be like the 17 other submissions over the last 13+ years, rejected? I always try to have optimism. But not irrational hope, I hope.

For an Hour How I Grieved

Grieving. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/for-an-hour

A Friendship First Installment: College

A brief narrative of a college friendship sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/a-friendship

Two A Few Sentences

Underworld. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/two

The Maze An Alternative

Finding a new way. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/the-maze

We Are Storms A Short Prose Poem

Why not be a storm? sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/we-are-sto...

Following Your Sound Where the Music Is

Ways to be more musical in poetry. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/following-...

Can a First Draft Work? Poem as Atlantis

Is a first draft that works a miracle? sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/can-a-firs...

A Matter of Taste Seasoning Our Voices

Make your poetic voice tasty! sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/a-matter-o...

Mushy Peas Expand Your Writing

Eating peas, looking at poetry you're adverse to. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/mushy-peas

Modes of Poetry Storytellers and Experimenters

I try to define some ways of writing poetry. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/modes-of-p...

Recalling the Magic Poets have power and ingenuity

Magic and poetry. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/recalling-...

Finding Your Music Your own instrument

Listening to yourself become poetry. sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/finding-yo...

Dealing with Rejection Rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!

Dealing with rejection of submissions to journals sketchofanastronaut.substack.com/p/dealing-wi...