Recently, I told myself that I need to focus on my own projects, instead of involving others in my projects or trying to be “like others.” I want to write authentically for myself first. This means focusing on nature and the small things in life that many walk past. I like to notice “the little things.”

It was somewhat of an epiphany I had two weeks ago, when I realized I am trying to write like others or fit in some kind of invisible mold with my writing.

Therefore, I promised myself that I would work on “me.”

This produced a relaxation of sorts. The only person I was competing against was myself. Thus, I’ve continued to write articles on Medium because I enjoy it and I feel part of the community there. I ordered three books on writing poetry and am reading them – I’ll write about these books when I’m done. The first is quite dry, and is turning me off to an idea I had for a compilation.

I submitted to several online magazines and an adult anthology that wanted submissions on the theme of place. Place-based teaching is something that is close to my heart and that I practiced when I taught my Evergreen Garden Club students (2003-2017).

Dirigible Balloon accepted one of my poems, entitled Hexagonal Harvest Nonet. It is my fourth poem to be posted to the Dirigible Balloon website. You can visit my poem here. Unfortunately, my old bio got posted, not my new one, after I finished Picture Perfect Poetry. Despite that, I am pleased to be included.

Jone Rush MacCulloch reminded some of us (with her big heart) that the window was closing last weekend on submissions for the Dirigible Balloon. I know she, along with Moe Phillips, Theresa Gaughan, Shirley Thacker, and Mona Voelkel, has had poems recently accepted, too. I see other familiar names from working with Josie DeFalco, Linda Middleton, and Janice Scully while creating our Picture Perfect Poetry Anthology (2024). I am sure there are more that I’d recognize, but I’m pleased to be in such nice company. Congratulations to all, named and unnamed!

Another thing I’ve done to delve into my own work is to reach out to the textbook editors about the chapter I wrote last year. I hadn’t heard anything since August, when they wrote to say they were having difficulty with peer reviewers.

One of the stipulations of having your chapter considered was that you needed to complete a peer review on someone else’s chapter. I do so, along with all the other requirements, and I met the designated timeline. It was sad to hear that others did not. I think people are overcommitted.

Anyway, I was happy to hear the work is still progressing, but it did stall for a time. I know I’ll have editing to do on my 12,000-word chapter on teaching with awe, so I’m trying to clear the decks so I have time to focus on that when I need to. Writing the chapter is really the culmination of my life’s work, so it’s important to me to have it included.

Lastly, I bought a course on writing picture books. I have several ideas and one draft done, but I think I’d benefit from more guidance. It’s a course I can watch on my own and absorb the material I feel I need, including writing a pitch. I haven’t started it yet.

The one thing I haven’t done is work on my novel. I need to do that. I’m not sure why I haven’t. Fear of failure? Fear of success? It’s one of the two.

In the midst of all this, I’m participating in the 100 Day Project Challenge. You’ll eventually be able to see some of my creations further down my home page on this blog. I hope you check it out. Thanks.

I spent several hours today reading poems to find one that spoke to me on creativity. I read some by Percy Shelly, Walt Whitman, and T. H. Lawrence.

Although nice, none of them were right, and some took a lot of extrapolation for me to read the piece as speaking about creativity.

Later today, after taking a break, I took another look and found three Annette Wynne poems. This children’s poet is new to me, but wow – do I love her work!

It is the poem A peom moon Paper Moon that I’ll share today:

A Paper Moon

by Annette Wynne

A paper moon, I’ll hang it high
Up in a dark blue paper sky;
Some pretty silvery stars I’ll make—
All for the little lone moon’s sake;
My bed shall be the evening grass,
Where only fairy people pass;
Where no one sees
But the breeze
That hurries lightly through the trees;
The sky I’ll hang above my head,
When I’m undressed to go to bed;
And so, a gypsy child I’ll play
That has no real home to stay.

Shared from: DiscoverPoetry.com Wynne’s poems are in the public domain.

The poem “A Paper Moon” can be found on page 161 of Wynne’s poetry collection, For Days and Days, published in 1919. Her entire digitized poetry collection is found here.

Annette Wynne was an American Poet, 1889-1952. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, and became a teacher. She also lived in Alaska for a time.

My poetry month project will be to work my way through her book and find inspiration in her words.

Have a great week,

treat yourself well,

and create!

Our Poetry Friday host this week is children’s poet and author, Tanita S. Davis. Thanks for hosting, Tanita!