Thursday, January 24, 2008

Random notes from the deep freeze

It's that time of year again. Who's hosting the "we're not going to AWP" blog party this year?

Yeah, I wish I could be there, believe me. But it doesn't seem like the best use of a month's salary, you know? If you're going, have a blast, and report back!

It's Chicago next year, right? At least I can drive there instead of having to fly. And maybe if I start saving up now, I can afford a hotel. I'm gonna do my best to make it.

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Tsonga!

Ana!


Yes, I'm still watching way too much Australian Open tennis. One of the Tennis Channel's commentators said of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's stunning performance, "Are you kidding me?! ... This guy has a turbo jet in his Adidas shorts!" Uh... might be a little crowded in there, huh?

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So I have a poet friend who, like me, has a natural inclination towards more of a lyric form. But, she's interested in learning more about writing narrative poetry. I've given her a couple of recommendations, but if y'all will lay some more on me, I'll pass them along to her. Poets, books, or individual poems -- whatever you'd give to someone who wanted to understand the art of narrative poetry in general.

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It's ten degrees again tonight, with a predicted low of 5. I'm done with the cold and dark, okay? Done with it. I'm ready for springtime now.

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Here's a great idea for writing a poem (and here as well), based on the news story about the poet Saw Wai. Try your hand, if you can.

8 comments:

Peter said...

Weren't the Ivanovic and Tsonga matches amazing! I have been wathcing too much Australian Open too. But I can't help it.

Unknown said...

I'll wave to you from NYC and admit that the only way I am able to afford it is JetBlue and having friends I can stay with!!!

Sara said...

Anne, I'm the opposite of you and your friend: I naturally write narrative poetry but always want to do something less linear, more lyric. Leilani Hall's Swimming the Witch is a good cross-over book that helped me see how to tell stories without being so "first this happened, then this." It might work in the other direction, too.

Jessie Carty said...

I was teetering about going to AWP but realized I couldn't plan on it so I am skipping this year. I am going to go next year though!...but my sister lives near Chicago so I can stay with her and take the train in, that's really the only way I can pull it off!

Kate Evans said...

No AWP for me in February until they hold it in Honolulu!

Pamela Johnson Parker said...

I will host the Not Going to AWP party, because only am I not going, I may be substituting for teachers who are...

Free virtual margaritas and martinis for all non-attendees.

Collin Kelley said...

Yay, let's go to Pamela's. Anne, I'll be going in 2009 to Chicago. Perhaps Finishing Line Press will have us at their table and set up a reading. Should we start harassing them now? lol

Anne Haines said...

Peter: Did you stay up for the men's final? I did, even though it was 3:30 am my time! Yikes. It was worth it though.

PWADJ: Yeah, having friends to stay with makes it easier! The hotel cost was the straw that broke this camel's back. Next year!

Sara: Thank you! I'll check it out. Sounds intriguing.

Jessie: See you there!

Kate: Ha! Wouldn't that be a blast? Not that I could afford to get there, and then I'd just end up on the beach all day instead of AWP-ing. ;)

Pamela: Save me a margarita!

Collin: Sounds like a plan! :D