Category Archives: Writing

Why I Support the Mississippi Arts Commission

This week we learned that there is a bill in the Mississippi Senate to close the Mississippi Arts Commission and consolidate it under the Mississippi Development Authority. The Arts Commission director was blind-sided by this news, and obviously there was no planning with the commission that led to the proposal. According to the Clarion Ledger,Continue reading “Why I Support the Mississippi Arts Commission”

20 Reasons to Write or Read a Poem (besides commemorating a life event or making a buck)

This is a follow-up to my last post, “Indeed, Why Poetry?” which was a response to Daniel Halpern’s essay, “A Few Questions for Poetry,” that began with the mother of all questions: “Why poetry?” I don’t mean to start an argument, but I thought I ought to offer a few more answers to that questionContinue reading “20 Reasons to Write or Read a Poem (besides commemorating a life event or making a buck)”

Indeed, Why Poetry?

A Response to Daniel Halpern’s “A Few Questions for Poetry” On Dec. 30, 2016, Halpern published a defense of poetry in the New York Times. As often seems to be the case with these kinds of defenses, he raises some valid points while making a few troubling claims, not the smallest of which is theContinue reading “Indeed, Why Poetry?”

Catch, Knox College Magazine

This week, I had a blast from the past, an email from Knox College asking about the times the undergraduate literary magazine, Catch, had won the CCLM national prize. The acronym is for the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines, which around 1990 changed its name to CLMP —Council of Literary Magazines and Presses. The three coversContinue reading “Catch, Knox College Magazine”

Revision: Taking My Own Advice

If you follow this blog, you may know that I’m publishing a creative writing textbook next year, titled A Writer’s Craft:Multi-Genre Creative Writing. The contract has been signed on both sides of the Atlantic, and this fall I’ve been working on revisions. Since I’ve taught with the notes that became this book for a few years, theContinue reading “Revision: Taking My Own Advice”

Clarion Ledger Review

I am incredibly honored that today’s Clarion Ledger includes a review of Barrier Island Suite, and I’m grateful for the meticulous reading that Lisa McMurtray gives of these poems. I’m also thankful to Steve Yates who organizes these reviews, which is such a great service to writers and readers in Mississippi. I do need to make one small correction —Continue reading “Clarion Ledger Review”

Barrier Island Suite Fall Book Tour

I’ve been updating my Events page with readings and signings I’ll be doing for the next couple of months. It’s starting to look like a book tour for Barrier Island Suite: Upcoming Readings and Signings September 15, 5:00 p.m. — Lemuria Books, Jackson, MS September 16, 5:30-7:00 p.m. — Oddfellows Gallery, Hattiesburg, MS September 17, 11:15 a.m.Continue reading “Barrier Island Suite Fall Book Tour”