The Write Queen Blog - The Write Queen

Bucket List Of Things To Do Before I Move Away For Two Years

4/27/2014

Hello there!

There are many things I want to do in this life. I've been thinking about some of them for a while before I decided to uproot my life. Now that I'm on my way to leaving, there are a few things I want to do before I leave my family and friends because chances are, I'm not going to just bump into you while walking down the street in Chicago.

Of course I'll make new friends while I'm there and if I can do something with them, that would be great! But nothing beats family and friends who are here right now. So hopefully when all my loved ones hear what I wanna do, they will actually oblige me (And on the cheap because I am trying to save whatever money I have.)!

A make over - not because I think I need one, but because I want to show off my true style. Maybe I'll document it here.
A photo shoot or two - because I take a lot of selfies and as an artist, I should have some shots done.
Go to the Transit Museum - I love the History of the NYC Transit System. I never been and I would like to just once (what if it closes when I'm gone?! - the time is now!)
Go to museums in general. I like them, I love art and history. I am a nerd. Come be nerdy with me. Oh and I've never been to the Hall of Science even though I can walk there from my house!
Go to Poet's House and more institutions of poetry organizations. I have to feed the addiction in many ways.
Go to new bookstores. Just one or two that I haven't been to.
Go to a few arts events to network with my EAT Media team - we would be a smashing hit if we were all together!
Hit up a couple of open mics.
Go out for dinner and drinks with old friends.
Go out for dinner and drinks with my COUSINS! (And if they visit my website, hopefully they will say something about this before I do - yes I am checking you guys!)
Go on a couple of after work cruises. I like the water and had so much fun on the couple I went on two summers ago.
Act like a hardcore tourist in my hometown - just for maybe half a day because I am a New York and I don't have time for all of that.
Do things with my parents. I don't know what, but something. They may be driving me crazy now, but they are my parents.
JUST DO DIFFERENT THINGS! - There's so much to do and not do. Let's just get crazy.

This list is kind of lame, but these things would make me happy. I know my life is going to change so much in Chicago so I would like to carry some memories from home with me.

Down to get crazy with me? Let me know!

17/30 - Poems From Workshops

4/25/2014

Hello my lovely readers,

I realized that I have take a few workshops in the past year, but I haven't shared my poems.

I'll be sharing some throughout the rest of this journey, on top of lines from the bone pile (which you'll have to wait for a few posts before I get to that).

So without further ado, some poetry!:

Alone

11:45 p.m.
glow of television
outlines
cup of rice pudding
rice
congealed in cinnamon,
milk -

no name brand

representing
thousands of
Latinas and
lips,
looking for
satisfaction
late night calls
for,

stretching
toes on the side
of bed
no one sleeps
in,

TV falling into a
buzz as I scrape
last lumps
sticking
to the bottom of
cup.

16/30 - Creating Poetry Through iPhone Apps: Part 2 - Heyku

4/24/2014

Hey Haiku Lovers,

If you like haiku and being on your phone, you can do both with the Heyku app. With Heyku, you can write each line according to a prompt the app gives or write in your own. Then you get to share it as a lovely little note with the Heyku community and on your social networks. Take a look at some of the screenshots below to get a feel of the app.

You can visit the Heyku website and download the app for free for the iPhone from there.

15/30 - Creating Poetry Through iPhone Apps: Part 1 - Cognitive Constructs

4/24/2014

Sometimes the poem and the brain need assistance in meeting. Something to jog the memory of a line waiting in the bone pile of the tongue.

Cognitive Constructs is an app for the iPhone that does just that. You click on words and form phrases. This app includes the ability to type in your own words so if you are jolted by what you create with what is given, you can add on to it with whatever comes to mind.

I use this app as a tool for creating poetry. Check out these screenshots with an example of what you can create.

To download the app, you can go here: iTunes.

I recently made an e-book of the same name of some of my creations. You can download a copy at Payhip or visit The Write Queen Store.

14/30 - Poems That Feed Your Soul - Part 2

4/19/2014

From A Wedding In Hell by Charles Simic.

12/30 - Poems That Feed Your Soul - Part 1

4/19/2014

Sometimes you meet a poem that renders you senseless because that's exactly how you feel. Experienced this in Barnes and Noble the other night. This poem is by Louise Labe.

This is to someone who just doesn't know...

Guess There's No Going Back After...

4/18/2014

..you have made a schedule! Last night I received an e-mail from Columbia College, telling me that I can start registering for classes.

Here are the final results:

Accounting for Decision Making
Behavioral Economics
Marketing Principles
Talent Agency: Practicum

The first three are required so I had no choice about that, but the elective matches up to the gist of what I am trying to do with EAT Media. I am excited! My classes are in the evening, Monday through Wednesday so we'll see how everything else works out.

It's starting! Whoopie!! Now to pay for school...

Till next time,

#theycalledherbravenewgirl

Why Not Your MFA? You've Always Been About Poetry

4/17/2014

Good Morning!

Those who are close to me know that pursing my Master's in Arts Management is beneficial to my company and ideas. But I have tons of people who have been asking me, why not your MFA?

There are many reasons. First of all, there are many poets who don't go after it. They workshop instead, taking the expense of learning to craft poetry one smaller expense at a time. Second, I am thinking about my future and the future of others. One day I may stop being the artist and just be a supporter. I want to have a solid background for that.

Also, no one knows me! I get a degree in Creative Writing/Poetry and then what? No one pays attention enough for me to become a teacher, workshop facilitator, to talk on panels, or to be picked up and published somewhere big. I'm a little fish because I don't go for the norms in the poetry community. I'm shy and awkward and it takes someone special to see who I really am as a poet. I'm not in this to be known to anyone. I just truly love poetry. I'm not saying this to measure my ability or anything. I just know that if I am known for my poetry, let me do it my way, before there were schools and degrees.

Not to say that I don't want the MFA. While I probably wouldn't do what half of MFA candidates do with their degrees, I am curious about the courses. Luckily I am going to the same school I would have gotten my MFA from. Hopefully I make a friend or two with a poet when I "accidently" wander to their building and can get an inside scoop. I can always go into more debt and get an MFA after my MAM. And I will always write and read about the craft.

But I have bigger fish to fry. Like arts management and self-publishing my first two books.- which you can always donate towards on GoFundMe ;).

So there's your answer or at least one version of it - my rationale always changes.

Till next time,

#theycalledherbravenewgirl

13/30 - Memory Bank

4/16/2014

He begged her
to
keep it
on
paper
because
cuts heal.

The memory
of
the spine
of
her hands
won't.

11/30 - Haiku

4/14/2014

Her shaky hands

handcuffed in ransom notes

holds on to bridges.