Like a toddler being tossed into the shallow end of the pool for his first swim, I was tossed into the shallow end of the poetry pool four years ago, when I joined my first online poetry group on Facebook. One group led to another, and before I knew it, I had joined a half-dozen … More My Take on “The Poetry Biz”
A LOVELY PLACE, A FIGHTING PLACE, A CHARMER: THE BALTIMORE ANTHOLOGY I am excited to announce that for the first time ever, I will be a “contributor” to this forthcoming book (June 2022), edited by Gary M. Almeter and Rafael Alvarez. How fitting that this book is about all things Baltimore—my hometown, and the source … More New Publication Announcement
Publishing & Editing Sessions The three Sessions covered distinct aspects of the publishing and editing process: finding an agent, submitting work to literary magazines, and revising your writing. The approaches to these topics were also very different but enlightening. Shedding Light on the Agent Hunt – Elle E. Ire & Jose Iriarte Married authors Elle … More 25th Annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference – Part II
On Saturday, March 5, 2022, I had the honor and pleasure of attending this annual writers’ conference for the first time. In fact, it was the first writers conference I’ve ever attended. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers Association (ESWA), the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference (BTO) brings together writers spanning the Delmarva region, at … More 25th Annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference – Part I
December 26, 2021 (Spoiler Alert: It has only taken me 5 and a half weeks to put this post together!) Though I have not been posting on the blog much, this year, that’s what I’ve been doing—keeping my nose to the grindstone, aka working hard continuously. On a lot of things, many of which are … More Keep Your Nose to the Grindstone
Many of my writer friends are “academic” writers: teachers and students of writing at high schools, colleges, and universities. Others are professionals in newspaper and television writing. I am not. I simply write to live and live to write. Writing has always been my primary and most effective means of communication. In college, I did … More The Writing Process
This post begins a new section of the blog, devoted to reflections and tips on writing.I’ve been a writer for as long as I’ve been able to form words on paper. In school, I loved nothing more than the smell of fresh paper and the feel of a writing instrument. From freshly sharpened wooden pencils … More The Writer’s Life
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