“And so the poet, too, needs a poem, to remind herself of the unpublished work, life waking to its first pulse, body rising toward inklings of light, the heart stirring itself open, already knowing it will break.”
from “unpublished work”
Since June 2005, I have kept a short-form writing practice I call “10-line Tuesday.” The practice is simple: I compose and send out via email an original 10-line poem each week, and subscribers receive my work in their inboxes. To date, I have written nearly 1,000 of these poems.
To sign up to receive a poem in your inbox every Tuesday, go here.
I also offer a column on Substack (for paid subscribers) that offers a behind-the-scenes look at this practice. In the column, I give readers a intimate look at what happens when I sit down to write, as well as exploring the utility and impact of creativity and creative expression elsewhere. To sign up, go here.
Some information about reprinting or using my work: My poetry and writing is my life’s work and as such it is my intellectual property. These are my words, unique to me, and for that reason using them for your own purposes without my permission constitutes copyright infringement. Please know that it’s important—and it is the law—to always ask permission from an artist to use their work.
I share my “10-Line Tuesday” poems each week with my mailing list for free (you can subscribe here), and often on social media, and archive them here, which makes this next piece even more crucial.
If you would like to share a poem of mine with a class or a group, in a promotional mailing, on a blog post, on a bar of chocolate, etc., please first request my permission in writing (giving me details about how and where the poem is to be used) at hello@mayastein.com. In most cases, I’m glad to give you permission; in some cases, depending on use and distribution (for example, a reprint in a publication or book, or any for-profit activity), I will ask for a reprint fee.
I’m so grateful you are moved by my writing. If you are looking for a way to honor my practice, you can always buy me a virtual cup of coffee by clicking the button below.
