Dear Poet-A Gift for the New Year

Something New for Paid Subscribers!

I first began writing here because I fell in love with the shape and shade of the font. I stayed because I found that writing Blue Atlas - Substack as opposed to Blue Atlas- my book of poems from Red Hen Press, 2024, was enjoyable. For two years I’ve been writing about the 20th century poets who have meant the most to me: Elizabeth Bishop, Lucille Clifton, Seamus Heaney, Denise Levetov, Mary Oliver, Linda Pastan, W.S. Merwin, Adrienne Rich (no relation) Derek Walcott—-and the list goes on.

These poets were my gateway drugs into the world where I now (sometimes) get to live. It’s been a pleasure to tell stories of living across from Seamus Heaney on Bow Street or meeting Linda Pastan when I was a high school Freshman and she visited Brookline High School, or when a friend and I crashed a Harvard Review party where W.S. Merwin was the guest of honor. One of the advantages of getting older is having collected more life experiences to share. I’ve shared many of the best stories with you.

Now as Blue Atlas (the blog) enters the toddler age, Year 3, I want to build on what I’ve been doing here. What else can I offer you? What other obsessions do I have that might be of interest? I’m working on a few ideas that are both poetry and poetry adjacent. More information on this coming soon…

For today, I want to focus on those of you who are Blue Atlas Paid Subscribers. I want to send you all my deep gratitude and at least 1001 thank yous for believing in this project. Paid subscribers make me feel that I’m writing for an audience who connects with my words — and what writer doesn’t want that?

Olga Korneeva, Belgian Artist

Perhaps you also have a penchant for blue or harbor a secret wish to be a painter? I’ve tried to think what I can offer that would seem a gift, something useful. Something that would be enjoyable.

In the 25 years since I published my first collection, The Cartographer’s Tongue: Poems of the World (White Pine Press) the literary landscape has changed immeasurably. In the year 2000, I could easily count on my hands (maybe just one hand) the publishers in the United States that published poetry. Now there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of small presses that are bringing new and established poets out on nearly a daily basis. If you want to publish your book of poems and are willing to work hard to do it, I’ve no doubt you will succeed. Poetry publishers need new poets; they need you.

So here’s my idea: in 25 years in this industry I’ve published nine books with more than half a dozen book publishers—and I’ve learned what to lean towards and what to lean away from. I’ve also co-founded a reading series (two reading series) co-edited two book anthologies (with another one I’m doing solo on the way) and co-founded and now direct Poets on the Coast: A Writing Retreat for Women in the alchemical town of La Conner, WA. I’ve taught classes in all sorts of settings: art museums, colleges and universities, coffee shops, four different continents, and even on a houseboat! To shorthand this: I have a good deal of experience on creating a writer’s life and I am willing to share.

So here are my two new offerings. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to offer an advice column like “Dear Abby” which I read daily all throughout high school. I know “Dear Blue Atlas” will be a little different but it matches my skill set more easily. I will do at least one posting a month answering questions you may have about the writing life. It can be about anything at all; if you are wondering about this issue, chances are you are not alone.

Finally, if you are a paying contributor, you will be able to ask me advice on one 15 minute phone call per year about how to publish your book, organize a reading series, start a writing retreat, organize a reading tour or teach in unusual places. Please know that I have no answer to “How to Get Rich and Famous as a Poet,” but I do know a thing or two about the importance of kindness and persistence.

I’m really looking forward to answering your questions and continuing to bring you article-ettes on 20th century poets, artists, and a few birdbrains. As always, I’m honored that you are here.