For the past 10 months I have been living and writing in Oslo, Norway, I have been supported with a place to write by Litteraturhuset in the Skriveloft. My decision to make such a move was predicated on a desire that I had to write. Not just write when I could find time but to make writing my main focus and to pour my energy into it. And I needed to move away from the familiarity of home. I wanted, needed and longed for anonymity. I wanted, and still do, to be free to explore myself as a creative thinker, observing from afar what I knew while taking the opportunity to observe the new things that I have been experiencing. To make my own choices of what influence and process my work would be affected by is most important.

Because I had moved to an entirely new continent, as an immigrant, and not to a neighboring state or city in my own country, things were not so smooth. But I will save my immigration story for another post.

People have asked how I was able to do this, just take the time to write and in a new country. My only answer is that I decided to invest in myself, my dreams for my life and to begin creating the world that I wanted to live in. Toni Morrison said that she started writing the stories that she wanted to read. My twist on that, is that I started living the life that I wanted to live in order to write what I want to read. So here I am nearly a year from the beginning of the journey with no regrets, although many rejections.

The rejections have not been surprising, nor have they been disappointing, although they do suck. I made a point of submitting to poetry journals, magazines and contest in order to have 100 rejections by the end of the year. For me this goal was a way to ensure that I was writing. And I have been writing but I am nowhere near the goal. But the goal is not submissions alone. The goal was to write.

During my submission process I was unable to post my poetry or prose because the work would be considered published even if it is on my website. Because my other goal has been to prepare for publishing one year later. I had thought that the novel I have been working on would be the first work that I would publish. However, instead it was poetry that fueled my writing process this past year.

I am happy to announce that I will be publishing my first collection of poems, Influence of Place in 2019. I will post updates on the process as it moves along. And will let you know when you can preorder or where to buy your copy. In the mean time, I will be editing and finishing up writing in the closing few weeks for the collection. In the meantime I would like to share a poem with you here.

“The Process”

Write a poem like

it just jumps onto

pages out of air

What is accomplished if

there is no action

time makes it possible

Don't waste the moments

not many people have

the opportunities to do

A process left to

discovering the truths faults

the language beauty unfolds

Walk don't walk

just write something

you need to work

Each breath is a word

sometimes a whole book

about a butterfly opening

Sleep brings something new

disruptive flow a break

in between long gazes

Walking through the park

overheard meaningless silly conversation

actually turn into words

Finding place on pages

is not like setting

dinner tables with placards

Input impedes the output

sorting through the trash

finding gems takes time

Artistic photographers aren't told

they take time to

think test make images

Producing something to feel

accomplished at the end

it's not needle work

Stitching together is not

weaving language into thought

keyboard taps aren't joy

Think write edit think

write doubt question edit

each blink is writing