99% poetry

There is a site for poetry called "99 Poems for 99 percent." The link is http://99poemsfor99percent.blogspot.com

This is a blog that speaks to the issues of the majority. Dean Rader, an English professor at the University of San Francisco, is the curator.

I would recommend that you log into this web page to see how relevant poetry is to Americans today.

And there still may be time to submit your voice to the outcry.

Today's "Get Fuzzy" Comic Strip

http://www.gocomics.com/getfuzzy

October 30's contribution by Darby Conley is appropriate for writers and the times.

Hope you don't take it seriously, though it does give pause.

Poetry has its place in the world today. The fear factor needs to be balanced by the beauty of words and by creating a respite for us all with the images that lift our spirits. Poets are there too to provide the echo of the turbulence.

What are your thoughts about this?

Cupertino Poet Laureate: "First Words" and David Denny

Today marked the event,"First Words,' conducted by the Cupertino Poet Laureate, David Denny. He read some of his inspired poetry and was joined by six other local poets during the program.

Dave Denny is a teacher of poetry, literature, and creative writing at De Anza College. He holds the distinction of being chosen as the first Poet Laureate of Cupertino. The motto for his term as Poet Laureate is "Celebrate Creativity."

The other poets who presented their works were Jennifer Swanton Brown, Jack Hasling, Karl Kadie, Ron Miller, Ann Muto, and Laura Oliver. The audience at the outdoor Civic Center Plaza in Cupertino was delighted at the diversity of poetry presented.

I am honored to share that I am invited to participate as a reader of my poetry next time. For more information, please see www.cupertino.org/poet laureate

National Writing Project: Why I Write October 20

This has been copied from http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/events/566?x-t=sites_eos.view

Events

NWP Radio: Why I Write

OCTOBER 20, 2011

One way we're celebrating the National Day on Writing is by talking with writers about writing.

Join us for a conversation with Katherine Schulten , editor of theNew York Times Learning Network and a New York City Writing Project fellow; New York Times education reporter Fernanda Santos ; Dana Goodyear , Figment co-founder and staff writer for the New Yorker; and novelist and Writing Project teacherAshley Hope Perez .

Details

• When: Thursday, October 20, 2011, 7 p.m. EST / 4 p.m. PST
• Where: NWP Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Questions

For more information, contact Tanya Baker at tbaker@nwp.org.

Poetry Foundation

There is a website that is a must-see for poets. It is www.poetryfoundation.org

I learned about it through American Public Media. Garrison Keillor does a spot there called "Writers Almanac," in which he reads a poem aloud every morning.

You can sign up for biweekly messages from poetryfoundation.org online.

To review the Writers Almanac offerings, see http://writersalmanacgather.com/

Poem about September 11 for 10th anniversary

This poem of mine was published in the September issue of "Writers Talk," the newsletter of South Bay Writers.

September 11.2001

by Susan Paluzzi

Are your loved ones O.K.?

On this gruesome day

That's the question we ask

As we face the task

Of clearing the debris

That could herald World War III.

The echoes resound

As the buildings tumble to the ground

Have you seen this person around?

Have you seen my daughter, my brother, my wife?

Or have we lost another life?

People hurtled from windows in terror

The images are imprinted forever.

Center for Writing Excellence & Newsletter & Contest

The Center for Writing Excellence is seeking contributions to the free newsletter, "Excellent Writing." Contributors are encouraged to include their bio and contact information.

There are guidelines at http://janiewrites.com/newsletter/writers-guidelines/

The newsletter is released the first Monday of each month. Subscribers are allowed a free classified ad.

A contest with the deadline to enroll of September 30, 2o11 is also being held. Entrants get five days to write 700-1000 words based on a prompt. See: http://janiewrites.com/writing-contests/a-fiction-in-five-rules/ for more information. There is a nominal entry fee.

The C4WE also offers classes, as well as webcasts, for a very reasonable price.

National Writing Project Is In Danger of Being Cut

The National Writing Project is a non-profit organization and the mission statement is " The National Writing Project focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of our nation's educators on sustained efforts to improve writing and learning for all learners."

To save this nationwide network of teachers go to http://www.causes.com/causes/591544-save-the-national-writing-project It is at risk due to the budget crisis.

The National Writing Project Newsletter e-voice is part of the National Writing Project, which is

dedicated to "improving writing and learning in the nation's schools."

The website is www.nwp.org

Santa Clara County 2nd Poet Laureate Sally Ashton

Sally Ashton, 2nd Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County, began her 2 year stint on April 1, 2011.
She is an excellent, encouraging poetry teacher, attended San Jose State University, and edits the DMQ Review, which is an online journal. She possesses an MFA, which she earned through Bennington. She also received the honor of an Artist Fellowship in Poetry from the Arts Council Silicon Valley.

Ashton has won numerous awards for her fine poetry and been nominated for Pushcart Prizes. She founded and directed the California Poets Festival. She supports the SJSU student group Poets and Writers Coalition. She has been published and this summer led a poetry workshop in Portugal.

Ashton has performed notable readings including with Nils Peterson, the first Santa Clara Poet Laureate, and been part of the Poetry Center San Jose for years.

Her project as Poet Laureate has been a call for the public to choose favorite poems. Readings of these favorite poems, as well as others, will begin on September 18 at 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble on Stevens Creek Blvd. in San Jose.

Look Into Project Written About in July "Poets & Writers"

A painter named Eric Fischl created a national art project which involves poets. It is a show that is to go around the nation and not only includes creations of poets, but also filmmakers, musicians, playwrights, and visual artists.

The title of the work is "America:Now and Here" and it addresses what the contributors would like to focus on in the present as a way of diffusing the toxic situation of our society today.

The poets contacted created a "renga" which starts with a three-line stanza which includes seventeen syllables. The poet who began the renga passed it on to the next poet, who, in turn, wrote a couplet of seven-syllable lines, according to Alex Dimitrov, who wrote the article in "Poets and Writers." The three-line stanza and couplet continued as the piece was offered to one chosen poet after another. The result in this case was the work entitled " Crossing State Lines," which is on exhibit within the total project of "America:Now and Here."

The entire traveling show will be visiting different cities in the United States starting Fall 2012 for two years. Each host city is able to make their own unique contribution to "America:Now and Here" which will be presented at that particular site. To get involved or learn where the project will be available for viewing, see www.americanowandhere.org

Kay Ryan

Kay Ryan who was the nation's poet laureate from 2008-2010 received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in April 2011.

Ryan was born in California in 1945.

The work that earned her the Pulitzer is "The Best Of It."

I met her and heard her speak a few years ago. She is very personable and gave the impression at the time that she takes herself lightly by the comments she made.

I believe she even allowed me to pose with her for a photo!

MEMOIR IN THE FALL

After a hiatus, I am resuming my blog. I signed up for a Memoir class with instructor Ann Thompson during the spring and was only able to attend a few sessions. However, she did inspire me to write.

I have given my memoir more thought and effort. What came to mind was to gather old notes from throughout the years, including journals, and then proceed. So that is what I have been doing.

I am only part way through but noticing that I had more done from the past that I am able to use than I had thought. The book is taking shape in my mind, as well as in consolidation online.

Ann Thompson will be teaching the Memoir class again in the fall at the Campbell Community Center around Labor Day. If you Google the City of Campbell, CA. you will obtain the information.

I intend to stay with this mode of blogging for now and do not plan to have the separate blog for my book at this time. I will continue to inform you about writing and related topics. Stay tuned...

Another Memoir Resource

An associate of mine mentioned "Story Circle" when I told her I was planning to write a memoir.

I Googled it and came up with "Story Circle Network" at www.storycircle.org, which is described
as a network for women with stories to tell.

A conference is advertised for Memoir Writing on the site. It is "Stories From The Heart VI" Women's Memoir Conference. It is to be held in Austin, Texas on April 13-15, 2012.

The explanation about Story Circle Network on the site is as follows:
"The Story Circle Network is a national not-for-profit membership organization made up of women who want to document their lives and explore their personal stories through journaling, memoir, autobiography, personal essays, poetry, drama and mixed-media."
You may subscribe to a free e-mail newsletter on the site. Online classes are also offered.

Blogging Coach

I learned through a question of Dan Poynter, a workshop presenter, (Google CWC South Bay Chapter, Jan. 15, 2011) that an associate of mine coaches clients about the best way to blog a book.

Nina Amir, the blogging coach, also has products on her website at a good price which address this topic. Her website is www.copywrightcommunications.com

Her contact info and credentials are listed there. Nina Amir earned a journalism degree.

She also has many years of experience.

I look forward to the possibility of working with her!

Memoir Info

I am still reading Betty Auchard's recent memoir, and learned from the front pages already that she took more than one class in writing memoirs. So, I signed up for one too.

Betty Auchard's book, "The Home for the Friendless," is a series of vignettes about her childhood memories. It is poignant and often funny. She divides the book into sections, which makes it more cohesive and readable. The fact that the stories are brief makes it easy to follow. I hope I may do as well.

She will be leading a memoir writing workshop at the Wild Mind Writer's Retreat which is being held from April 16-17, 2011. For mor information, see www.wildmindwriterpresents.vpweb.com

To see more about Betty Auchard, visit www.bettyauchard.com

Memoir Resource

As you know, my plan is to begin a memoir. I decided to do some footwork first.

I am considering joining a writer's group to keep me on track. That way I will be obligated to have written 5 pages a week to share and get feedback.

I also intend to read another memoir by my associate at the California Writers Club, Betty Auchard. I will let you know about that in a future entry. At the very least, I know it will be a good read. The title is "Home for the Friendless."

The resource I find to be most helpful so far is Linda Joy Myers. She is the President of the National Association of Memoir Writers. Her blog is www.memoriesandmemoirs.com

Her website is lindajoymyersphd.com Check them out. There is a lot of worthwhile guidance there.