Hello, hello,
Would you believe it, Poetry Pals has now been in existence for three months?!
We are a quarter of the way through our year of reading and writing more poetry together (or attempting to). I thought it would be a great opportunity to do a second Introductions Post. I thought it would be fun. Scroll down to the divide to join in…
Or if you’re interested, here are a few reflections 12 weeks in:
I’m not on my own writing poetry anymore (stops and reads that sentence again out loud with a massive grin). Hopefully some of you feel the same? Don’t get me wrong I wasn’t entirely alone before, but I didn’t feel I had a place to come hang out regularly. And now I do. THANK YOU so much. And if you have only just found us, hurray, come on in, it’s lovely here (this post shares more about how it all works).
The poetry I’ve written has moved in new directions. I’m on track (ish) with my #Yearof100Poems, so that’s all good, but what I’m more interested in is how my poetry writing is evolving. I’ve written a pantoum for the first time. I’ve gotten more playful. I know the term, ‘ars poetica.’ Oooh it’s been gorgeous.
I’ve loved how the guest posts have been so good and so varied. I kept the brief fairly open hoping that this might be the case and they have more than delivered. Do you agree? I adore how one week we are treated to a story behind why a poem came into existence and the next a deeper dive into a specific form. I’m currently setting up guest posts for the next quarter of the year.
I have LOVED writing on here and growing this project together. Admittedly there’s a bit of imposter syndrome brewing in the background, but that was always going to be the case. It’s what got in the way of me starting it in the first place and stopped me sharing any poetry for years before that. The important thing is that I’m keeping it in check. Actually, your support does a lot of that. So thank you again. You never make me feel like I’m a completely foolish novice (even though I know some of you are massively knowledgeable on the poetry front). I feel like we all arrive as beginners with nothing but enthusiasm and encouragement for each other. What a thing that is.
I want to reassure you that there is absolutely no obligation to turn up every Friday or share your words or use every prompt or read every post. Of course, I love it when you do play along, but there are too many other things that we are made to feel guilty about (particularly as women) and I never want this space (or poetry generally) to be one of them.
There are tabs at the top of the page which organise the posts so you can always return to any missed should you want to (I want to do a bit more organising of the content at some point). Weekly poetry prompts here - for the Sunday Pen Pal letters. Community is where you’ll find all previous Friday Round Ups - where we share any poetry we’ve written.
We ALL have other stuff going on in our lives. I said in a previous post, ‘this community will wait for you,’ and I stand by that entirely. Please do not feel like you need to apologise if you turn up once a month with a brief, “been too busy to write.” Lurk away happily and never feel like you need to comment if that’s not your thing. Dabble, pop in and out, play along quietly, share one week because you have a corker of a poem you can’t wait to get into the world, share every week because you enjoy the accountability (this has really helped me tbf).
There will never be any judgement, pressure or expectations around here. Come as you are.
If there is one (slightly awkward) thing that has been on my mind, it’s the time this all takes me to produce. I’ve got history with doing work I feel passionate about for barely any income because I feel so strongly about its purpose. I genuinely do think it’s worth paying for. I hope you do too.
I now realise I started way too low with my £3.70 monthly cost. So, from the end of the week I’m putting that figure up to £6 a month (this will not change for current subscribers, it will only impact new subscribers/upgrades from free).
I won’t make the change until Sunday (14th April) so for anyone who has been around a while and is considering becoming a paid subscriber I wanted to let you know and give you the opportunity to take advantage of that price. And for anyone who does subscribe, I cannot tell you how grateful I am. Honestly, without you I might now be having to reign this whole project in. You give me hope that making a living as a writer is possible (one day perhaps even without all the supplementary work, fingers crossed). I think this whole thing we’re building is worth something, I really do.
(I’m also very aware that finances are tight for some people so the weekly Sunday posts will always go to everyone without paywalls.)
And on to the Introductions….
We did this back in January but since then we’ve had plenty of new people wander over. And in the real world if I walk into a party and feel remotely like everyone already knows each other then I get all angsty (and probably walk back out). Plus, I want to get to know you all better. If that’s ok?
So, here’s the next hello prompt:
Say hi and tell us one thing about the place that you are writing/reading from. Could be the specific place (your home, favourite place to curl up with a book etc.) or your town, country, whatever you like.
And if you have time (and inclination) the last poem you read (because aren’t we forever greedy for good poetry).
Nelly x
Hey lovely people 👋🏻 Is this where you want us to introduce ourselves Nelly? Otherwise, I can be the person who arrives at the party, thinking it’s fancy dress but it’s not 🫣
I’m Jane- I live on the South Island of New Zealand. Most of my writing is done on a fold out desk I bought in a state of excitement at a second hand shop that I merrily lug around following the sun (within the area of my office or garden!) I can position outside, near the window- wherever I want. I think it might be the best thing I’ve ever bought.
Poetry- literally just downloaded an Emily Dickinson audible collection of poems because there were so many haven’t heard but have been reading the paragraph poems of Naomi Shihab Nye in Mint Snowball.
Thanks for all your work! I recognise how much it takes and I appreciate it ❤️
Hello fellow poets and therefore fabulous humans!!
I am Lisa and I live in Liverpool, UK and I have just moved back to my favourite writing spot (after mostly writing at the dining table or my bed and slowly becoming less and less inspired) on the sofa in my conversatory, I am currently sitting here surrounded my my notebooks, laptop, poetry books and my favourite pens in all the world - the bic multicoloured biro!! I am of course, as is standard for me lately, covered in a blanket, which is making me feel very cosy indeed, I usually have a mug of tea on the go, but I have somehow neglected it so am making do with water because I am too comfy to move and make one (I also have ME/CFS and so am making the excuse that I am pacing myself and not over exerting, however, in this case - on a fairly well day - it is because I am too lazy!!)
The last poem I read was 'A Day is Not Lost' by Donna Ashworth and it reminds me that even in the days when 'nothing much happens' I can embrace and take joy from being alive (even on the days I don't feel well).
I do enjoy being part of this little community and am growing each week in my confidence and poetry writing, so thank you Nelly! x