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Friday, October 7, 2022

october inklings challenge and introducing...WHAT IS A FRIEND?

 Happy first Friday of October, poetry friends, and welcome to the virtual book birthday party of WHAT IS A FRIEND?, the next title in Pomelo Books's series of what might be called apprentice anthologies. Featuring the work of both well-known and emerging poets now writing for kids, this anthology (like THINGS WE EAT, THINGS WE DO and THINGS WE FEEL) is a collaboration. These books have grown out of the publishing workshops led by editors Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell with poets learning the ins and outs of building an anthology from scratch.  WHAT IS A FRIEND? is for an older audience, ages 8 and up, and is not alphabetical but ranges through a wide interpretation of friendship. As if that's not enough goodness, 100% of the profits from this book will be donated to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund (IBBY.org). I'm delighted to be a part of it!  Get your copy here! 

 Participating poets selected from a collection of photos sourced through Canva and wrote to friendship themes of their choice.  I love writing to an image, especially the challenge of making sure that the poem speaks to the image, if the two are presented side by side--but can also stand alone if presented without the image. I actually had this theme in mind and searched the available photos to find one that would lend itself to "Myself," and although I submitted two other poems for two other photos, this was the one that Janet selected.

 

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And now, onto the monthly challenge for the Inklings critique group!  Do you do the daily Wordle puzzle?  It's mind-blowing how fast that became a habit for so many people!  Set by the devious but also very supportive Mary Lee, we are writing Wordy 30 Poems. A Wordy 30 is a poem using exactly 30 letters. Each line should have the same number of letters. Each line should use one word. You might have 6 lines with 5 letters in each line (like Wordle), or 5 x 6, 3 x 10, 10 x 3, 15 x 2, 2 x 15, 30 x 1, or (most unlikely) 1 x 30. She suggested that we "Have…fun???"

I did, but I can't say I spent a ton of time on this one.  Let me know if it shows! In fact, I think that's the title--"Does it show?"

 

 

Check out the Wordy 30s of the rest of the gang here...

Catherine at Reading to the Core
Mary Lee Hahn @ A(nother) Year of Reading 
Molly Hogan @ Nix the Comfort Zone 
Linda Mitchell @ A Word Edgewise 
Margaret Simon @ Reflections on the Teche

And thanks to our host this week, Sarah Grace Tuttle, who's brilliantly and valiantly unveiling the mysteries of writing in meter...and now I must Engage My Network!  

If you know a college applicant who needs essay coaching and could work well on Zoom, please mention me! College essay coaching is one of the 4 items on my menu as the principal at WHISPERshout Writing Workshop, along with creative writing coaching for ages 4-8, early literacy tutoring, and small-group integrated arts enrichment classes. Most of those are best done in person, but essay coaching could work remotely. Here's my new website (not yet optimized for phone viewing). 


 

14 comments:

  1. "Myself" is wonderful, Heidi. Well done!

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  2. "Fault lines" made me chuckle! I love "Myself". It's always good to know you have you! I learned that early. Hoping kids are still learning it today.

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  3. "Myself" is an excellent poem for building self-esteem! Great job, Heidi!

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  4. Heidi, congratulations on having a poem published in Things We Feel, an excellent title for children to understand their emotions and feelings. "Myself" fits in nicely since he affirms that a child can be peaceful along. Best wishes as you start a second chapter with WHISPERshout. I tried another definito today.

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  5. Heidi, your "Myself" poem is wonderful! I've really been enjoying the collective celebration for this book, and can't wait to read it. Your Wordy 30 is a lot of fun as well! For me, it perfectly calls to mind the "gulp!" feeling of looking at a quick draft that needs to be polished. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  6. Heidi, congratulations and I love your Myself poem because it is so important for children to realize that they can be their own friend! Great voice in this poem and an excellent addition to What Is a Friend? I'm excited to get the book in my hands and read everyone's poems. I got a kick out of your Wordy 30 poem. Have fun with the students in your writer workshop.

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  7. Devious? You give me too much credit! Whatever faults there might be in your quick draft are covered up by the clever use of the Wordle grid for your poem! And you already know how much I love "Myself." (Hmm...double meaning there...both are true!!!)

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  8. These are awesome, Heidi. I love "Myself," and that poem is such an important one for kids to absorb. Love "the pavilion of my mind." Sigh. And your Wordy Thirty is indeed fun! Very clever--extra love those last two lines!

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  9. Well done, Heidi! I love that you used the grid to enclose your poem. "Myself" is so affirming and wonderful. I can't wait to share it with my middle school friends! Congratulations!

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  10. Beautiful! Does it Show is a funny title. Love your poem for 'Myself.' I'm so going to share this with students!

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  11. Dearest Heidi, 1.) Loved your poem in the book the first time I bumped into it. Thank you! 2.) Wordle is addictive, and Mary Lee's inspired prompt sounds addictive, too..."fault lines" - ha! and 3.) HURRAH and best wishes for your new creative endeavors offering to share your wordsmithing gifts with others, helping them discover theirs. Oh, and Happy Fall!

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  12. Congratulations on "Myself" ! What an important poem to have in an anthology about friendship for a young audience! I'm also impressed with your quickly drafted Wordy 30. "Fault lines" is perfect.

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  13. Delighted to be joining the WHAT IS A FRIEND? poets (mine is "Imagine")! Congrats to you!

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  14. I love "Myself"! What would we do without us? :) Love your Wordy Wordle too. :)

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Thanks for joining in the wild rumpus!