As a poet I have a short attention span,unless the topic really interests me and provokes an emotional reaction I just move on, this is mostly bad since I have a zillion unfinished projects. I call this;-

Dog After Cars Syndrome (DACS)

Maybe it's just me, each new idea whizzes past and you run after it until you are out of breath (cash, creativity), you sit there dejected for minutes, hours, days, months, years and eventually another shiny new car comes along and away you go. One day you look up and you're 20, 30, 40, 50.

Who said "...if you do what you always did you'll get what you always got..." ?

This is simply a tool that allows you to figure out the components of an objective, it can start as a master and then each task splits into multiple trees.

Two critically important things

1. you have to sit down and figure out the components of your success or tasks that when completed will allow you to reach an objective or goal, this goal should be timebound and quantified. Do not bluff yourself !

2. you must concentrate 100% of your energy and resources on 10% of your problem, this will bring a significant improvement to your effectiveness. Do not pretend you are doing something different if you do it the same way as you always do !

''Scattered in bookstores, greyed by dust and time, Unseen, unsought, unopened,

and unsold, My poems will be savored as are rarest wines - When they are old. ''

Alas Tsvetaevas are scarce so organise your work.

1. How do you write, typewriter, longhand, computer

2. Do you do drafts, do you polish important poems

3. Can you recognise the good, the bad and the ugly

4. Is is all electronic

- it needs to be if you are heading towards a book

5. How will your book be organised (thematically, whim, otherwise)

6. Assuming it's electronic is it sorted by date order

- now you can have it in a binder nicely organised by date

this will allow (force) you to move it from draft to semi-finished

when you're dead (and famous) fans will want to pour over every word you wrote,

7. Do you have the material for a hungry Semester

8. Do you know roughly how many poems you have written

9. Is there any guilt when you don't write

10. Start now don't wait until tomorrow

11. Do you have a small circle of friends who read your material

12. Will they fall over when they see a binder by date, theme, otherwise !

The ability to write poetry is a gift or an affliction, with it comes the responsibility to be the best poet you can, sure you be the rock star type poet and party all you like but don't leave a mess for the fans.

if your doorbell rang and there was driver and car waiting with a message that said;-

Visiting poet failed to show, urgent you read in the Blah Blah Hall in 45 minutes time.

Forever in your debt

Professor of This That and The Other

WOULD YOU;-

A. grab your reading folder, your poetry satchel & hit the road

B. close the door speechless full of anger and regret

Your Reading Folder

as it happens I don't have one of these either, must add that to my Tick Tree !

This almost happened to me, I was at a poetry event and only one of two poets showed up. Nice crowd of 30/40 grads, all there of their own free will to enjoy some poetry. Poet A read two poems and left, no discussion, no warm up, great poetry but poor performance. I was sitting there ..speechless full of anger and regret.. unprepared.

Reading Folder Contents

2/3 sentence introduction about you

3/4 sentence background about your poetry

3/4 thematic sections with 3/4 poems in each (so you can choose)

2/3 sentence conclusion and thank you to audience

Take questions if allowed !

Your business cards, email, web address

Artists statement, photo (in case you are asked for them)

You are not a rocket scientist and this is not rocket science but if you are asked and arrive at short notice, perform well and are organised you will be asked back.. and you may even get paid.

yes if you are a poet you are an artist, you draw pictures using words, take a bow poets...

1. don't get caught up in the obscure discussions about Artist Statements

2. write it from your heart, what makes you search for a pen in the middle of the night, what makes you sad, angry, happy.

3. where does the inspiration for a poem come from

4. make a short (30 words) and a long version (60 to 100 words)

5. make it nice, easy to read, informative and factual

6. draw with the words, create a vivid picture for your readers, you are the poet, right ?

7. tell people of your journey and where (you think) are you going

8. was it Gaughin who said colour is the visible skin of god, your A.S. should give a glimpse of your creative flesh, that which is underneath the surface of your writing, it must have emotion !

9. your Artists statement is like your last Will, you'll keep changing it and one day you won't

10. don't agonise, write it all down and then polish it over 3 or 4 weeks, give it to friends, allow a month and no more. When your artists Statement really reflects who you are it becomes a guide, a beacon when things are tough (every 2nd day).

Richard Gere said;-

I know who I am. No one else knows who I am. If I was a giraffe, and someone said I was a snake, I'd think, no, actually I'm a giraffe.

KNOW WHO YOU ARE

With Hubpages, Blogs, RSs feeds, News Stories there are opportunities appearing every day to promote your work. Poems on or comments about major stories and links back all help to increase your visibility.