by Lisa Zerkle, VP Programs
Skilled kayakers seek to join the current, become one with the water, enjoy the trees and riverbanks as they glide past. But sometimes joining the current becomes an exercise in frustration as you hit a rock or get thrown off course into an eddy. Poets know writing can offer the same thrills and frustration. There’s nothing quite like writing when it’s going well, but the eddies challenge.
Together with generous support from Friends of Weymouth, the Poetry Society is pleased to welcome poet (and kayaker) Lola Haskins as our featured reader and presenter for the January meeting. A prolific and gifted writer, Ms. Haskins will read some of her recent work in the morning session and lead us in a workshop in the afternoon. She will use examples from her own rough drafts to show us how to best navigate into the current in our poetry. Her tenth book of poetry, The Grace to Leave is forthcoming from Anhinga Books. Her ninth book, Still, the Mountain, won the Silver Medal for Poetry in the 2010 Florida Book Awards. She is the author of a book of poetry advice, Not Feathers Yet: A Beginner’s Guide to the Poetic Life and teaches in the low residency MFA at Pacific Lutheran University.
Haskins excels at collaboration, working with dancers, actors, musicians and visual artists. Some of her collaborations include a performance called “Forty-Four Ambitions for the Piano” and Solutions Beginning with A, a book of fables about women illustrated by Maggie Taylor, among many others. Please join us as we hear Lola Haskins’ poetry in the morning and learn from this multi-talented artist in the afternoon.
For the Right Brain: Creative Strategies for Poets
Later in the afternoon, it’s a switch to the right side of the brain to learn about smart strategies for promoting yourself on the web. In the Creative Strategies for Poets workshop, Kevin Watson, founding editor of Press 53, will discuss the many opportunities writers have to be seen and heard. Social media offers numerous ways to reach your readers, but how much is too much? Watson will discuss how to best use social media to promote yourself and your work.
Kevin Morgan Watson is founder of Press 53 and serves as Editor in Chief with a special focus on Short Stories and Poetry. As a publisher, he has worked with writers ranging from first-time published authors to winners of the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. As a writer, his short stories, poetry, and essays have appeared in numerous publications, including the 2002 TallGrass Writers Guild/Outrider Press anthology Take Two—They’re Small, where his short story “Sunny Side Up” won first prize. Press 53 is an independent publisher of literary fiction, poetry and non-fiction located in Winston-Salem, NC. Their impressive internet presence can be found at www.press53.com and on Facebook.
Coming in March: Sam Ragan Festival
A Sneak Peek
On March 24, 2012, the Sam Ragan Festival continues the celebration of the Poetry Society’s 80th year with readings and workshops from poets Diana Pinckney (Green Daughters) and Katherine Soniat (Swing Girl). During open mic, we’ll honor instrumental NCPS members by reading their poems. And it wouldn’t be the Sam Ragan Festival without music. We hope you’ll join us for the fun!
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