Advice from the Editor’s Desk

This is the time of year I love — no, I’m not talking about preparations for Thanksgiving and Christmas or even about finals week. I’m talking about the time each year when I get to sit down, as I did this weekend, and put together the pages for Poetry South. As always, there has beenContinue reading “Advice from the Editor’s Desk”

Note to Self: Start a Book Club

This morning, I had a thought. And despite my title, it wasn’t about starting a typical book club. As the first day of classes looms and work on syllabi is delayed by work on finding classrooms for face-to-face classes where they can be socially distanced and other unusual tasks that have occupied the summer andContinue reading “Note to Self: Start a Book Club”

My Poetry on Vimeo

Back in 2016, I had the good fortune to be part of the Mississippi Book Festival. I’m hoping to repeat that when my next book comes out (are you listening publishers?), but I noticed recently that the Book Festival put the panels on Vimeo. I knew this at the time, and I’m sure I evenContinue reading “My Poetry on Vimeo”

Word Processors for Poets

Today’s my birthday, so my gift to you is a recommendation of free software. Poets get a bum rap for never having money (it’s true!), but that’s not why I’m recommending two free word processors today. And it’s not because poets are so anti-establishment we have to fight against Microsoft’s domination with alternatives to MSContinue reading “Word Processors for Poets”

Why I Bailed on a Book Deal

[Note: I have removed the name of the press on request. I originally took down the post, but am restoring it because the information may still be helpful to those considering book contracts, esp. from publishers who claim to be traditional publishers but operate more like a hybrid press. The press claims they have changedContinue reading “Why I Bailed on a Book Deal”

Poetry as Creative Nonfiction

This past weekend, I had a wonderful opportunity to read poems as the keynote speaker at the Mississippi Philological Association annual conference held at Mississippi Valley State University. For those who are unfamiliar with this fine organization, it is a group of English and Languages faculty and students (graduates and undergraduates) from Mississippi, Alabama, andContinue reading “Poetry as Creative Nonfiction”