The heat has been horrid here for the past few weeks, but I determined not to let my mind go limp.
One way I am fighting lethargy is by attending the Community Arts Lecture at the NOCCA Sen. John Breaux Library.
The first meeting was about Getting Published by Julia Johnson, Associate Professor of English at the University of Southern Mississippi and Vol. 13, issue 1&2 editor of the Mississippi Review and a member of the Center for Writers.
First of all, she suggested to start turning in work into journals like the Mississippi Review, enter contests like The Mississippi Review Poetry Series, and follow links like these: 39 Steps, Poet and Writers tools, (and I am mentioning my personal favorite, Mslexia - What's On .) She also said to try to attend AWP conference.
Johnson then showed us a writing technique, based on seeing a work of art. She showed us amazing works by Yves Klein (I now must find books about his works) and read OUT LOUD some of her poems inspired by Klein's paintings and poems by W.H. Auden and Charles Wright.
Since we were running out of time, she encouraged us to do the same.
The universe always works in perfection. I was finally able to borrow a copy of A Convergence of Bird - Original Fiction and Poetry Inspired by the works of Joseph Cornell (Jonathan Safran Foer, editor). There are many color plates in this book, so I can write about Cornell's works, before the book is due. And with the upcoming holiday, I even have time to read the poems out loud!
And when I do that, I will write to Johnson to let her know about this post and of my poems.
If you are in town, please come to these lectures:
Thursday, July 16, 7PM USING COLOR FEARLESSLY-Mary Cooper.
Thursday, August 20, 7PM VISUAL ARTS MARKETING-Gene Meneray
Thursday, September 17, 7PM PROMOTING LOUISIANA MUSIC -Scott Aiges
Please contact, Jennifer Cooper for more information: (504)940-2912 or email jcooper@nocca.com
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