What is a poem made of?

In responding to a friend who asked recently, I present my answer to the question, "What is a poem made of?" Poetry is language defined by compression, saying more with less. It is language meant to be read out loud, slowly. Language in a poem plays with sound. Poetic fluency…

My Favorite Books and a Few Rambling Thoughts about Reading and Writing

Last night, I met with Lakeland University's Lit Lounge book club. They had read my novel A Hollow Bone for their September meeting. Beyond talking about the novel, there were questions for me about the writing process itself, and at one point, as inevitably happens for any writer, someone asked…

My Hal Prize Arrives in the Mail

Who would have thought a little poem about picking currants could mean so much? In the mail today came my Hal Prize, the tangible prize beyond the honor and the publication: a monetary prize, a week's stay at Write On Door County, and a lovely hand-crafted mug from Clay Bay…

Accomplishment

Last night at 11:30 p.m. I finished A Hollow Bone and emailed it to my local editor who will read it a second time and give me her thoughtful feedback. This is beyond an exciting accomplishment for me. In the 1980s I dabbled with a romance novel. Twenty years later…