It has been quite the busy week for Yours Truly…
I got back home last Thursday night from the Highlights Foundation writer’s workshop I had attended in Pennsylvania; the following day I began revising a couple of manuscripts before sending them back out again in search of a home; I’ve since sent out 4 picture book submissions and one poetry anthology proposal; I finally created an Instagram account (so let’s follow each other!); yesterday I participated in #PBPitch on Twitter; and all week long I’ve been struggling with putting together a math-related poem for a new upcoming anthology.
Oh, and taking care of my two kids, which of course is a job in and of itself.
Two kids, that is, who both started taking karate lessons this week.
Oy.
So today, I’m sharing a short little ditty that I wrote while at the aforementioned Highlights workshop, which focused on children’s poetry. The workshop leaders, Rebecca Kai Dottlich and Georgia Heard, discussed a variety of topics – poetic form, voice, rhythm, etc. – and offered several writing prompts to help attendees practice not only writing, but thinking and observing, which is crucial to the writing process.
One of those writing prompts involved Popsicle sticks, which Rebecca passed out to us and suggested writing a poem using whatever phrase was written on the stick. My phrase had an ellipses at the end, which led me to think the obvious response would include the phrase somewhere in the middle or end of the poem; I, however, always on the lookout for the non-obvious angle, decided to use the phrase as the very first line (and title, too, for that matter):
This was a quick, 10-minute exercise, so I couldn’t spend a lot of time on it. But once I had it written, I rather liked its brevity; plus, starting with “and” and making liberal use of ellipses tends to give it a stream-of-consciousness feel, almost as if they are separate, punchy little thoughts that tie together (similar to the way we process thought, actually).
For more poetry, please head over to A Journey Through the Pages, where Kay McGriff is holding down the Poetry Friday roundup with a “sunrise conversation” and all of today’s poetry links!
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Ordering personalized signed copies online? Oh, yes, you can!
You can purchase personalized signed copies of Flashlight Night, (Boyds Mills Press, 2017), Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books, 2018), and nearly ALL of the books or anthologies I’ve been part of!
Just click the cover of whichever book you want and send the good folks at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH a note requesting the signature and to whom I should make it out to. (alternatively, you can log onto my website and do the same thing) They’ll contact me, I’ll stop by and sign it for you, and then they’ll ship it. Try doing that with those big online booksellers! (Plus, you’ll be helping to support local book-selling – and wouldn’t that make you feel good?)
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Thank you to everyone for your support!
- NY Public Library’s “100 Best Book for Kids 2017” AND “Staff Pick!”
- KIRKUS Starred review!
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Books!
- “Best Reads of 2017,” Unleashing Readers
- Amazon “Best Books of the Month,” Sept. 2017
- Positive reviews from Horn Book, School Library Connection, Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, and Shelf-Awareness
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.- “Rollicking rhyme!” – Booklist
- “A wild romp!” – Parenting NH Magazine
- “Cute…intriguing…4 out of 5 stars” – Tulsa Book Review
- “Rhythmic…funny and informative” – Unleashing Readers
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“All the way to September” & then things do change, don’t they? At least for a young person, back in school, crowds of others. . . Your brief poem sparks my imagination, Matt. Well done!
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Thank you, Linda. I had one of those, myself…although it ended WAY before September!
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I like your poem, too, Matt, and love the idea. It would be a great poetry or story prompt for teachers to use. Best wishes on that math poem. The topic itself would stymie me! 🙂 Not a numbers person, Jane
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Thanks, Jane. I’m thinking of doing several more popsicle prompts – asking folks to write down a word or two on a stick, and then I’ll write something short to go with it. As for my math poem, I think I’ve finally completed it – although I’m letting it sit for a day or so before I decide whether or not to send it off.
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Whew…that is a busy week. I enjoyed your brief poem–just like those brief fireworks of a summer romance.
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Thank you, Kay!
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I love seeing people’s end-of-summer poems today. It sounds like your poetry workshop was wonderful!
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They always are, Laura! Highlights knows how to do it right.
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Love the popsicle prompt idea! Once again, I regret not attending the workshop. I missed out on so much fun!!
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You were definitely missed, Michelle. Next year, perhaps?
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Well, no one can ever call you a slacker — what a busy week! You must be brilliant at multi-tasking. (In the photo, are you standing on something, or are you just that much taller than everyone else?)
Fun poem — those short burst-y lines are like brief summer sparks flying — a little flicker of romance burning out.
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Thank you, Jama! Yes, I was on a small stone, as I was behind everyone and you wouldn’t have even seen me. (and if you zoom in enough, you can read what is written on my “poetry stones”!)
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I like the brevity of your poem, Matt, which lets the reader fill in the details from his/her own summer romances! Good luck with your multiple projects.
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Thanks, Buffy! Yes, less is often more, when it comes to poetry.
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I envy your time at Highlights as well as your bravery in getting your work out into the world. Love that popsicle poem idea and your quick poem that says so much.
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Thanks, Margaret – you need to get out to PA one of these days for their workshops!
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Matt, I often dream about going to that Highlights’ poetry workshop. The popsicle prompt is a clever poetry prompt which you used to your advantage as a poem starter. Well done! You created a short romantic poem from a popsicle starter.
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One never knows from where inspiration might spring! Thanks, Carol – you definitely need to attend of their workshops, as they are the most inspiring workshops I’ve ever attended.
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That’s quite a big story in a few words! I liked your thoughts on the ellipses and starting with “and.” They go along with the distraction and the way time moves so quickly when involved in such fireworks.
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Thank you, Karen!
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You are so wonderfully busy! My favorite part right after the popsicle stick poem is that you got some submissions moving. Hooray! So glad to hear you got a jolt of energy from Highlights. Can you imagine if Highlights hosted a Poetry Friday retreat (which was really like what you just went to) but, I mean a retreat of more of us regulars? Oh, my goodness that would be such a blast.
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Oh yes, having a Poetry Friday get-together there would be a blast!
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One question, Matt—do you ever sleep??? Clearly you’re an expert multi-tasker! Love the popsicle stick exercise and your terrific 10 min response. (Also love your poem on the padlet!)
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Thanks so much, Michelle! I just try to squeeze in as much as I can into each day…sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. 😉
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Matt, I think your decision to begin the poem with that prompt was inspired! I’m also inspired by your creative energy! Wow! What a week!
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Thanks, Molly – it has, indeed, been quite a week!
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Your last week, sounded like mine–and I’ve another one coming up almost as busy. Love the popsicle poem–short, sweet in so many ways–and I like the dreamy quality all those ellipses offer. Good luck with all going on Matt.
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