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Yesterday I signed up to The Stafford Challenge, a year-long program that demands I write a poem per day. Why in the world did I agree to write 365 poems? I know the pressure of writing a poem every day, because I usually participate in Writer's Digest PAD chapbook challenges in April and in November every year. I participated in the 2024 November challenge and even submitted a chapbook for the contest. Those challenges increase my poem count by at least 60 per year, and I've been doing those challenges for several years.
I don't know how the dear Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer writes a poem a day; but, then I remember she's the Queen of Metaphor, and feel justified that I can't possibly compare myself to her. She's utterly brilliant. I couldn't do what she does nor what many other poets do, especially those individuals who participate in spoken word, who raise their hands immediately for poetry readings (live or Zoom), and who go after publishing their poems like a coyote hunts down cats.
But, I did do something for myself in 2023 that changed my perspective on poetry. I agreed to meet with two poets, Michael Minassian and Michael Dwayne Smith, monthly on Zoom to critique each other's poetry. We bring two poems each to the platform, along with a beverage, and proceed to critique, laugh, share stories, and learn from each other. They have helped me to develop confidence in my writing and in my ability to see poetry well enough to be able to add my two cents to these well-grounded poets' works. Plus, they've become very good friends.
Granted, I've already been published in several publications and have two chapbooks under my belt. But I still harbor imposter syndrome when it comes to poetry. I probably should feel like an imposter in content development and in art, but I've won several awards in both categories (including 13 Colorado Press Association awards in 1995), so I feel somewhat accomplished in those arenas.
Publication is its own reward when it comes to poetry, I believe. So, this year I've already been more active in submitting my poetry. I've already received one rejection, and it was a bit curt. That rebuff helped set my shoulders to handle more rejections down the road. I hope, though, that I will have some success. I can't succeed if I don't submit, and rejection is part of the game.
That said, I hope 2025 is my lucky publishing year.
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