Deb, Deb Scott first starting writing poetry while in the throes of angst-ridden pubescence. A long, long separation ensued until a professor recently reminded her of its power and beauty, first with Pablo Neruda and his “Ode to the Dictionary.” Her poetry has been published in MReview 2006 & 2007 and qarrtsiluni. She likes best to write poetry of place, sometimes about childhood days in Arizona’s mountain-deserts or often her home in the Pacific Northwest. She’s Read Write Poem’s manager and hopes this place encourages everyone who visits or participates – novice to expert – to read and write poetry. With wild and enthusiastic abandon.
Blythe, thisisonlytemporary.wordpress.com
Blythe, like many others, first fell for poetry while in her teens (”The Sun Rising” by Donne was the first poem to fully capture her attention), but she didn’t write much until recently. When she was looking for a new creative outlet in 2006 (and hoping that poetry would be part of the answer), she stumbled upon another website that jump-started her poetry engine. Since then, she has drafted a few dozen poems and feels proud to claim one as “complete.” She hopes to serve as an encouragement to anyone feeling timid about sharing their poetry. She works in retail (and loves it) and lives with a handful of pets. Blythe will be sharing prompts and assisting in site administration.
Carolee, polkadotwitch.wordpress.com
Carolee (a.k.a. The Polka-Dot Witch) is a painter, mixed media artist and poet. She blogs about the creative process - sharing free writes, draft poems, exercises and ramblings - in a life crowded with children and cluttered by moods. Her poetry has been published online at qarrtsiluni and Literary Mama and in print through local publications and the Winter 2008 issue of Ballard Street Poetry Journal. Carolee, one of our columnists, will be sharing prompts and doing ‘poll’ dances (pieces elaborating one of our ‘read write polls’).
Christine, mariacristina.wordpress.com
Christine Swint first began writing poetry when she was 10, sneaking her poems into the desk drawer of her fifth grade teacher, Mr. Wheeler. Since then, she has written poetry in Spanish and English. She is also a high school Spanish teacher taking a lengthy siesta from the classroom to spend more time writing poetry, stories and essays. When she’s not writing, she’s mothering two teenage sons, walking her two dogs, or being a wife to her dear husband. Christine will be sharing prompts and a monthly writing exercises called Get The Lead Out.
January, poetmom.blogspot.com
January was named January by her dad and was born on February 14th - on time! When she is not sleeping or blogging, she’s a wife and mother of two. Her poetry has appeared in Literary Mama, Field, Callaloo, Seattle Review, Stuff Magazine, canwehaveourballback.com, Poetry Thursday, and Cave Canem anthologies II and IV, among others. She is a fellow with Cave Canem poets, and co-hosts the NEWS literary readings series in Arlington, MA. Her first poetry collection, Underlife, will be published by CavanKerry Press in October 2009. January is a columnist for Read Write Poem.
Jessica, 9to5poet.com
Jessica Fox-Wilson came to poetry in the 11th grade, when she first heard Langston Hughes’ poem, “Theme for English B.” Since then, she dedicated her life to reading, writing and studying poetry. Her highlights include earning an MFA, regular articles about literature published in Uptown Neighborhood News and Poetic Monthly, the founding of an online literary journal, Asphalt Sky, and writing her blog, 9 to 5 Poet . Her lowlights include four years of working retail to support her poetry writing, three boxes of half-finished journals buried in her garage, an addiction to buying good pens, and living without cable TV. Jessica will be sharing a book discussion the first Thursday of every month.
Jillypoet, jillypoet.blogspot.com
Jill’s poetry appears in Literary Mama, Blueline, Damselfly Press and Starting Rumors: America’s Next Generation of Writers. Gathering poems for submission, dusting off the cat hair and Goldfish crumbs, Jill has discovered a common thread that, as a working, writing, mothering woman, surprised and delighted her: Motherhood has inspired her to be more creative. She is more open to flights of fancy, more open to running after wild trains of thought and hopping on board. The frantic, non-stop chatter pace has driven her to write more - not less, and to become a woman who writes in the moment - be the moment a stolen half hour or a one-handed drive to the grocery store. Jill will be sharing prompts.
Juliet, craftygreenpoet.blogspot.com
Juliet Wilson (also known as Crafty Green Poet) is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has loved poetry since reading Thomas Hardy in English Literature classes at school. Two years living in Malawi started her writing, and she has kept at it ever since. Her poems and reviews have been widely published online and in UK-based small press journals. She edits the online poetry journal Bolts of Silk. She reads a lot - not just poetry, but short stories, novels and nonfiction. She is also inspired by nature, music, art and films. Juliet will be sharing prompts.
Ren, www.sidesteppingreal.blogspot.com
At fourteen Ren Powell read Helen Hayes’ admission of having misinterpreted: “And the Word was God”. Feeling a kinship with Hayes - an awe of the power of words - Ren swapped her teen-angst poems for playwrighting. To feed herself, she worked with baboons, baked and taught. Translation led her back to poetry. Some of her own poetry has been translated into six languages. Ren helped establish the International Cities of Refuge Network, and is currently the editor of Babel Fruit and PoetryPoems.org. She is working on her Creative Writing doctorate: a haibun collection with a long, pretentious title. Ren will be suggesting prompts that look at human rights and international literature.
Tom, Tom began writing poetry in high school in an attempt to impress some girl. It never worked out with the girl, but after reading Pablo Neruda, the poetry stuck. In between work and poetry (both full-time endeavors) he’s attempting to finish his degree in English so he can go off in search of a Ph.D. — because he likes the way “Dr. Tom” sounds. Tom will be sharing prompts and talking about a different poetry form each month.
Dana, mygorgeoussomewhere.org
Dana Guthrie Martin is creator of Read Write Poem and continues to act as a consultant and occasional columnist. She was also co-leader and co-founder of the Poetry Thursday site. Her work has appeared, or is forthcoming, in Blood Orange Review, Blossombones, Boxcar Poetry Review, Canopic Jar, Fence, Juked and qarrtsiluni. She lives and writes in the Seattle area, where she shares her home with her husband and her pet hamster.
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