Confession Tuesday

Happy Tuesday, everyone. Time to 'fess up! Share your confessions here, and don't forget to check in on the sinners doin' time in The Confessional.

 

True confession: I never thought confessions would be a long-running prompt, for lack of a better word. But I enjoy the chance to be a little more real than I do on most days, and I appreciate all of you who come by to chat. Thank you!

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I'm working a flexible summer schedule at my college, which means my hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Fridays off. So that means I'm up at 5, out of the house by 6:15, home by 6 p.m.—if traffic flows in my favor. Last night, I was so tired I conked out at 9:30 with my clothes still on. Ugh. By the end of the week, I'll appreciate the extra day. But for now, it's draining.

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Because of my summer schedule, I haven't found my writing rhythm. I like writing in the evenings, but I go, go, go with the kids until 8. We did manage to make tacos and roast marshmallows in our backyard, so I can't complain too much.

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Whenever I complain about how I can't find the time to write, I think of poet Lucille Clifton putting together her first book with six young children to raise. Then this little voice inside of me says, "Suck it up. Get to it." And, I do. (Maybe I'm channeling Miss Lucille!)

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Last Saturday at the Salem Arts Festival's open mike, I gave a lousy performance. I only read two poems, yet flubbed lines in both poems. Admittedly, I changed my selection when I arrived based on the crowd—which I think all poets should change their selections to meet the mood of the crowd.

I tend to talk about the good readings I give, but occasionally, I give one I wish I could take back. And while my friend and fellow poets said they hardly noticed, I did. My focus wasn't there. All of this I'll take in and use at my next reading in two weeks, which happens to be at Bryant Park in NYC. *Gulp* I have 20 minutes to read, so you better believe I'll practice before the event.

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The Bryant Park reading is the start of a few magical things happening for me ahead of my book's release in the fall. Reminds me that there is a silver lining in everything.