Hello Write Queeners,

I am so excited to tell you that my latest passion, my literary journal Typoetic.us has finally released its first issue!

The concept of the site was in the works for a while, but in late 2013/early 2014, I connected with my editors and we got to work!

I learned a lot through putting together this journal about teamwork, organization, passion, and the ability to keep on going. The submissions were wonderful and my team even more so! I don't even know what to say about this experience except that I can't wait to put out the next issue! So poets, submit, submit, submit!

Thank you to everyone involved! Take a look below:

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.

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.

Hello Poets and Readers!

In my last post, I talked about a couple of reminders you should repeat to yourself while doing the 30/30 challenge. Now that you have that down pact, you might be wondering how you can keep up the momentum. Well don't worry because I have a few tips!

1. Keep it short! - I know that after writing a few longer pieces, the thought of writing another one tires my soul. That's when I switch gears and look into short forms such as haiku, tanka, lunes, the six-word poem, writing a poem via Twitter and more. Keep it simple, make it fun, or use this opportunity to play around with language under limited constraints. Remember that you don't have to stick to the topics that traditionally go with these forms. Be daring and write about what's true to you.

2. Prompt It! - There are so many prompts out there for poets. I love when I find one that immediately starts a fire in me. Here are a few places that I go to for prompts and some new discoveries:

3. It's All About Form! - Trying different poetry forms are a challenge and is extremely fun (if you are into certain forms of mental torture...I kid, kind of). Some of us are creatures of habit and write about the same themes over and over again, so using different forms of poetry can either force us into another topic (some forms are known for certain themes) or makes it seem like we are changing things up.  Here's a couple of starting points for looking into forms: Poets.org and PoetryFoundation.org

4. There's an App for that! - Not the most popular, but poetry apps for your phone or tablet do exist. You won't be creating your most epic poems through apps, but they are fun and can jump start some ideas for more poems. Check out a post from a couple of years ago about a few recommended apps. Look out for a more recent list of poetry apps later on in the month.

5. Reading is Fundamental! - Pick up a poetry book and read! Sometimes the words of others will spark ideas of your own. Take it a step further. Take a random line from a poem in the book and use it as your first line, building from there.

Bonus: Here's a post I wrote last year about Mondegreen, when you misinterpret a phrase as a result of near-homophony, in a way that gives it a new meaning - using it as a tool to write a poem.

Hope these tips help you lovely poets out there. Share some results with me in the comments!

Till next time, 

The Write Queen

Hello Write Queeners and Poetry Lovers,

Whether you are an avid reader or a writer obsessed with their craft, it seems as though you can never find enough books of poetry. I know that nearly every two weeks, I'm buying another poetry book. How does one support such a bad habit? Barely, but I do in a couple of ways.

In another post, I will talk about bookstores and events that I've been to that have great poetry selections. Right now, I want to tell you about how I support my habit electronically. 

That's right, e-books of poetry. They are not as easy to find like many fiction and non-fiction works, but it's not impossible. You may be able to find them with sites or apps you already use.

1. Amazon: If you are an Amazon Prime user and have a Kindle, you are very lucky. A perk of being a Prime member is being able to borrow and read books for free. Finding poetry e-books that fall under Prime is not easy, but it is possible. If you don't have a Prime membership, there is a wonderful and growing collection of poetry e-books as mainstream publishers and small presses start to see the value of e-books even for poetry. They are usually cheaper than their physical counterparts. 
2. Wattpad: Wattpad is one of the largest communities for writers and readers to come together. You can put out your latest work in parts, letting readers rate and comment on your writing as you go. They have an impressive amount of poetry books in the making.
3. Oyster: This one is one of my new favorites. For $9.95 a month, you have access to hundreds of books. Think about how much you spend on buying a few poetry books in a month. Now think about if you only spent ten bucks a month and have access to poetry, novels, memoirs and more! It's been called the NetFlix of Books. I adore this service and the fact that they acknowledge National Poetry Month with a section of books. If you want to try it out, Oprah has teamed up with Oyster for people to sign up for a two month free trial. Just click the link!
4. NetGalley: For the professional reader who reviews and recommends books, publishers on NetGalley request or invite you to read digital (some physical too) advanced copies. The catch here is that you have to have a blog, be an educator, a reviewer, journalist, etc. in order to receive books. Their poetry section is small, but there are interesting reads. If you have a Kindle, you can have it delivered straight to your device. Or you can download a PDF copy.
5. EBooks.com: Which device do you have? A Kindle, an iPad, a Nook? At Ebooks.com, it doesn't matter because they sell e-books for most devices. They have a wonderful collection of the latest contemporary poetry e-books and more.
6. Free-Ebooks.net: Free books galore with user submitted books. Good way to study the work of other poets.
7. BookRix: BookRix is another self-publishing book site community. BookRix promises to help you self-publish your work and distribute it to all the major book sellers. It is also a community where you can either read from the site or download books to read on the go. With over 200 pages of books, there is a lot to explore.
8. PoetrySoup: PoetrySoup is a poetry community instead of a book site. And all they really do is categorize the links to Poetry books on Project Gutenburg. But hey, if you are looking for classic poetry by category, PoetrySoup saves you the trouble. Plus you can join the community and read their users poetry. It's a win-win for everyone.
   

There is a growing amount of places where you can find poetry e-books. Know any? Leave your recommendations in the comments!

Till next time, 

Christina

Hello everyone!

Events, events, and more events! There's so much happening during the month of April. There's poetry everywhere you turn! I thought it would be swell to have a calendar of poetry-related events to collaborate and share with the community and beyond.

I have created a calendar that anyone can add events to. You can even add an event right now while reading this post! Just click on the day of your event and a pop-up to add event details will come up. You can view events for the day, week, month, as a list, and more. 

As of right now, adding pictures is a little wonky. You have to have the image url in order to add a picture. Your best bet is to take a few minutes and type up the details. If you want to promote a flyer, contact me via the contact tab or on one of my social networks and I'll be happy to share the flyer for your event in this post - I am sure this post will be modified many times.

If you choose to send me event details via social networks, please give me a little time to update the calendar. Priority will go for events coming up within the next couple of days. 

Please share this post so poets, event curators/hosts, and the community can share and go to events that promise to make your hearts sing. Supporting each other is the only way we can keep the arts thriving.

Sharing and contributing this information is free. A little free promo never hurt anyone. 

However, if you would like to work with me for online promotion, photography services, etc. for your event or other reasons on a professional level, please contact me via eatmedia.org.

Till next time loves, 

Christina

If you haven't heard of this amazing poet named Thomas Fucaloro, then you have been missing out on a lot. 

Just his voice is enough to rattle your bones, but his words...phew! I've seen him perform a few times in the past couple of months and each time, I've learned a little more about this man who roars raw energy into any room he performs in.

He's a busy bee, coming out with his second book from Three Rooms Press, It Starts from the Belly and Blooms: Poems earlier this year and doing awesome projects such as the video below. 

Directed by Advocate of Wordz, Thomas tells us about his love for used books and why one day you should give away his collection of used poetry books for the sake continuing a book's journey from the hands of one lover to another.

Now that you've seen the video...wasn't that amazing? 

It's wonderful to see a poem come to life not only through performance, but through film. 

Now I have to check out Thomas' book. Will we be back with a Write Recommendation?

I think so ;)

Bravo Thomas and Advocate of Wordz!

Hello Write Queeners!

Sometimes we run into the things we need to hear the most when we least expect it.

This evening, I went to a happy hour for the younger crowd of my corporate job. I knew almost no one from the group and quietly observed and listened for most of the evening. As the group got smaller, I did get to hear some pretty awesome stories about how some of them got to the current point of their career, but when it was my turn, I was definitely the odd one out: a writer from a struggling Latino household who has had to sacrifice so much for survival and is barely able to pursue her dreams as she should, working in the insurance industry because they were hiring - not because she planned on being there like most of the people that surrounded her at the moment.

While I made new acquaintances, I felt lonelier than I did before I went. Everyone parted ways and before I knew it, I was at home (one of my homes - I switch between my parents depending on who needs me around at the moment while I make some decisions). I went on Facebook like the good ol' social media junkie that I am when I noticed a link that my friend Annette shared.

It was the link to the online premiere of a short film called Stereotypically Me. I trust Annette's Facebook shares so I decided to check it.

"Stereotypically Me" is a film written, directed, and produced by Linda Nieves Powell. According to the event page, which was brought to audiences by Sofrito Media Group: Lydia, a struggling screenwriter, is pressured to get rid of her stereotypical muse Marisol in order to become a more successful writer. Marisol, a sassy, urban Latina, refuses to change. Lydia must decide whether to embrace her duality or kill the muse. Go ahead and check it out before you read the rest of what I have to say.

In this almost ten minute film, Linda shows the world what every writer of any cultural background goes through.

As I fine tune myself as a writer, I find myself contemplating the same sacrifices or break ups. This is something that I relate to not only through ethnic culture, but through genre, age, sex, and medium.

We write about what we know, but "successful writers" must go beyond that and write about things that make others feel comfortable in order to get their foot in the door. We have to decompose and detach what is natural to us, even if the story is not true to ourselves to maybe achieve greater success.

I have received many rejections. If only they were as blunt as the one in the film because I am constantly wondering what I need to change in order to be successful. Do I move away from what I typically write poems about? Do I change my writing style to match more closely with well-known poets? Do I change my niche for blogging or even my medium for art? Do I disassociate myself from experiences we don't see on paper often? What do I cut out? Who should I be?

I am still trying to figure out what to embrace and what to change or if I should change anything at all. Do I get rid of all of my Marisols or do I let my Lydia and Marisol fight the good fight together so I can become a successful writer on my terms and leave the rat race (and avoid disheartening happy hours)?

I have a lot to think about.

Sigh...you know something is good when it creates a dialogue not only with yourself but with the community at large. Share this video, share your thoughts. Let's tell the world our stories because one day the color of the world will be US!

Definitely a Write Recommendation!

The event page will be up for the next 90 days here.

On a cozy, snowy Saturday afternoon, I had the privilege of gathering with some of the very special women who make up the building legacy of Digging Deep, Facing Self. In between getting to know each other and writing poems together, we came together to let the world know why the experience of taking the Digging Deep, Facing Self course with Caits Meissner is magical.

For me, it was about finding a community of women and writers. It was also a push to consistently write, despite circumstances. If you need more convincing about why you should take this course, just watch the video.

If you don't know who Aja Monet is, here is a great introduction to who this Brooklyn poet is.

An amazing poet and musician, she is universal, yet always personal in every project she touches. Glitch, with Sleepin Giant, is visually appealing, in addition to being thoughtful, real, and smooth.

I also wanted to add this additional gem from her SoundCloud that I am obsessed with. Completely blew me away and made me want to throw my pens and notebooks out the window. Absolutely amazing and tells a story that anyone in this kind of love can relate to word to word. Plus her word play twists your mind into knots and then makes you explode.

Make sure to connect with her on Facebook and Twitter to see updates on her latest projects.