Just received news that my sonnet Party Frock has been accepted by 14 by 14, which is very pleasing since I wrote it 'to order' because of the publication's theme issues - and I don't normally write to specified subjects.

Perhaps you should write to specified subjects more often. Do I have to wait for itto come out or can I see 'Party Frock' somewhere else? Congratulations anyway.

Chris--I have found, surprisingly, that some of my best poems comes when I write them for a given topic, assigned topic, etc. My poems "Two Davids," which will appear sometime in First Things was written for a contest with prescribed topics, and I could give more examples like this one. Freedom, yes, is vital in writing poems, but sometimes a topic narrows us down and gives us focus.

dwl

Congrats, Chris; I also like to try purpose-built poems--and sometimes it works, as yours did! Kudos.

John must wait for 14 by 14 to come out to see Party Frock, as the publication is very clear that submissions must not have been published elswhere, including personal websites.

Actually when I come to think of it, my very first success (1991) was a sonnet written 'to order' for a themed BBC Radio 4 competition - mostly written in my head in the bath, I recall - but nonetheless what normally gets a poem going for me is a line, half line or phrase that somehow enters my head and which is the grit that irritates until it grows to be a pearl (perfectly formed or misshapen, as the case may be). When faced with 'writing to order' I still need that first piece of grit to come unannounced; I can work hard at the rest, but I can't find the grit by force of will.

Congratulations!

I know that purists deplore it, but I tend to think that writing to order can be just as effective as finding time/peace/space to simply "be inspired". Sometimes more than. Look at Shelley and Ozymandias.

J

Congratulations, Chris. I've been wondering about 14by14 which I'd expected to be out by October 14th. Do you know when the next issue is publishing?

Anne

Anne, I don't know when 14 by 14 will be out, but I can tell you for certain that it is filled with fine poems and worth waiting for. I do know that Peter was scheduled to "move house", as the Aussies say, on the 14th. Having moved a few households in my time, I suspect the delay is related to the move...an event that many of us have come to rank in the top five on the stress scale.

Pat

Thanks, Pat -

No stress additives, just wondering if the crew was all right. I recently sent you a message on Facebook inquiring about 14by14 == I've been trying to get word of its status. We have not moved in 14 years - and it was a major pain in the rear when we last did (locally). BTW, Pat - I sure do appreciate your art, and I think your illustration with Paul Stevens' Rock-A-Bye poem in the last issue is gorgeous.

Anne

Thanks, Anne....I knew you liked lavender. : )