10-Line Tuesday

8.23.22

on a Zoom call with my mother

I imagine what she’s making for dinner—an impromptu curry from the abundance
of squash and carrots in the fridge, or—due to the rain—a chicken pot pie
whose crust she will recreate out of leftover tortilla chips, pulverized in a Cuisinart
with an assemblage of flavored crackers. As we swap news about our week, I picture
the tiny ceramic vessel where a half stick of butter has been softening all morning,
and somewhere at the perimeter, a basket shouldering a rusk of bread and two avocados.
On the windowsill, I suspect a juice glass is blooming with a few sprigs of rosemary,
and to its right, a small vase of chives from the garden. After all these years, I have
memorized the wave of my mother’s hair, the lines of her knuckles, her grey-green eyes,
but most of all, the exuberant splay of her kitchen in the final weeks of summer.

To listen to the poem, go here

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COMING THIS SEPTEMBER…

LISTENING FOR REVISION: A 4-week course devoted to editing and refining your writing

Much of my writing practice involves tuning into what any given piece is wanting to say, and shaping and sharpening the writing to meet that call. But how do I know what is and isn’t working? How do I push forward into a piece of writing whose call is eluding me? What are ways that I can become a better listener to what my own writing is try to tell me?

“Listening for Revision” is for writers interested in moving their work toward completion. Each week, I will begin by sharing a piece of unedited writing of my own and will walk through my process of revising and shaping that piece, as well as offering ideas, methods, and practices for “tuning in.”

In a roundtable format, each participant will be then invited to share an excerpt of in-process work, reflecting on any challenges or questions they are having. We will have a loose, informal conversation around all of our shared reflections, and then dive back into this work and practice revising it. Participants can bring new material to each session, or continue working on one piece throughout all 4 sessions. There are 3 four-week sessions available. Each gathering is 90 minutes and limited to 8 participants. Cost is $159.

Dates
Mondays, September 12-October 3; 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, September 14-October 5: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Thursdays, September 15-October 6; 3:00-4:30 p.m.

I want to join!

ALSO IN SEPTEMBER…

Tri Writing: A 21-day practice, 3 lines at a time
Dates: September 7-27, 2022
Cost: $21-59 (sliding scale)
Self-paced, on Ruzuku.com.

Mystery Ingredients: A Writing Adventure for the Creatively Curious
Dates: September 19-October 14, 2022
Cost: $129
Self-paced, on Ruzuku.com.

Payment plans available for all classes. Just ask.

For more about me and my work, go here.
For a backlog of "10-line Tuesday" poems, go here.
Want to work with me one-on-one? Learn more here.

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