Comments on: Unsettled – Moving, and Deciding When Poetry is Worth the Pain

By: Noura

Noura — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 03:11:24 +0000

After organizing monlhty poetry readings for the past three years, I have been happy to find that there are plenty of good female poets to go around. On another note, my name often makes editors assume that I am a woman, so I get a lot of acceptance/rejection letters addressed to Ms. or Mrs. (admittedly, way more in the rejection category). Now, I can console myself that it might not have been a reflection of the quality of my writing…I was probably just getting shut out of the old boys network, along with some of you!

By: Jeannine Gailey

Jeannine Gailey — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 21:16:28 +0000

In reply to Eloise Ritter. Thanks Eloise!

By: Jeannine Gailey

Jeannine Gailey — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 21:16:13 +0000

In reply to Sarah. Yes, Sarah. I think you're right! It's reassessment time again for me, I guess.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 20:50:31 +0000

I was moved by this post Jeannine. The sentence that was key for me is this one: ‘It’s impractical, it’s often unrewarding, but it is something I’m passionate about and, just like visual art, makes me happy to be around.” I’ve been writing poetry for several decades now- sometimes all out, more often in between the crises, adventures, distractions, suffering and enthusiasms that constitute a life. When I come to terms with the fact that I can’t control the world’s relationship to my art, I can only control my relationship to the creative process, then I find some peace. Of course, I have to revisit and relearn this basic wisdom every once in awhile, but when I was younger I grappled with it nearly every day, so I guess that’s progress!

By: Eloise Ritter

Eloise Ritter — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 14:18:55 +0000

Thank you for sharing your soul searching comments on your beautifully written blog. We all go through this process of re-evaluating the path we are on periodically…I know that I have. Sometimes I am lost as to what is next…so I stand still figuratively till My feelings are directive and not spinning.
I am thinking of you and praying for you to find the perfect home that will nourish your creativity in whatever direction it takes you.
Love you! Eloise

By: Jeannine Gailey

Jeannine Gailey — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 15:26:59 +0000

In reply to Heidi Stahl. Not wrong at all! I think all poets must struggle with this at least a little bit, right?

By: Jeannine Gailey

Jeannine Gailey — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 15:26:09 +0000

In reply to Lana Highfill. Thanks Lana. That is encouraging!

By: Lana Highfill

Lana Highfill — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 13:51:10 +0000

I consider myself a new writer and yours are the poems that I love now, and will remember, years from now, when school is a distant memory. So, for what it’s worth, I hope that you feel encouraged to keep writing, as I want nothing more than to keep reading.

By: Heidi Stahl

Heidi Stahl — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 01:54:08 +0000

Like Jan, I appreciate your honesty, the sharing of your process. And I appreciate the dialogue in the comments. It’s helpful to see people wrestling with these choices, and also touching back down into the reading and writing that feeds you so fundamentally. Makes me realize that my worries are not unique, and I’m not “wrong” to be engaged in this particular struggle.

By: Jan Priddy

Jan Priddy — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 01:29:52 +0000

In reply to Jeannine Gailey. Interesting that you say every 20 years or so. Now that I reflect on it, that's pretty much how it has happened for me. Choosing art degree (3 of them), then ten years later children, then twenty after that teaching English which led me to writing, and now twenty-five years later I am at a choosing again.