tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52537838497376822522024-03-05T02:23:01.597-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA The diary of one girl attending as many literary events as possible in her community. Bella Literatihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880919959447182419noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-20871820480322316832017-01-08T13:00:00.006-05:002021-01-24T13:32:36.572-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - I published my first collection of poetry! <p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the 9th and final blog post in the series of Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA posts. These posts have spanned five years, from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, to 2016, making it more like a D.I.Y. Ph.D. than an MFA program! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In conclusion, here's what I got out of my D.I.Y. MFA; in addition to publishing my first collection of poetry, I met a lot of interesting writers from all different genres. I learned that as much as I enjoy reading fiction, I am not a fiction writer. I learned I can teach people the elements of writing good fiction and copy edit excerpts from short stories and novels for publication for setting, tone, character, plot, and ease of readability. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I learned that poetry heals hurting hearts and brings the community together. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I learned that the best personal essays are sparked by passion. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I learned that marketing writing is greatly different than literary writing. I may never be a national book award-winning author, but damn, I can write some powerful words and invoke emotions. I am a copywriter, creative nonfiction writer, finder, and researcher extraordinaire, and I am more than okay with that. <br /><br />I learned how to hone my reading and writing skills on a much deeper level than I expected. I became less sensitive to feedback about my writing. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In addition to the events referenced in my diary, I also attended as many NH Writers' Project Writers Night Out meetups as possible. As many Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program Poetry Hoots as I could, and as many Beat Nights at the Press Room as I could. </span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Edit*: At the start of this experiment, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b;">I thought I had wanted to pursue a real MFA program and came close to applying for one in the Fall of 2016. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">What happened? Read my poem, “Flashes of Terror,” from <a href="https://senilemonkpress.com/lunation-a-good-fat-anthology-of-114-women-poets/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">Lunation</span></a> to find out. It is a good thing the universe prevented me from taking that route because it wouldn't have been the right fit for me. My dream would be to get a Master's Degree in Copywriting from the Miami Ad School. (*Edit: Added this paragraph on January 23, 2021).</span></i></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">If I were to include a list of thanks to everyone I met over the past 5 years, it would fill an entire entry alone. So I'll just say a heartfelt thank you to each of you; you know who you are. I appreciate you. </span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;"><b>July 2016 </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I took a poetry workshop all month with <a href="http://mattwmiller.com/" target="_blank">Matt Miller</a> and Sara Anderson at the <a href="http://www.thewordbarn.com/" target="_blank">Word Barn</a> in Exeter, NH. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I saw Matt Miller read at Beat Night at the Press Room. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My first book, <a href="https://tamarajcollins.wordpress.com/books/" target="_blank">Metempsychosis: Poems</a>, was published on House of Love and Pizza Press and available for sale in time for my reading at RiverRunBookstore at the end of the month. </p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I organized the <a href="https://riverrunbookstore.tumblr.com/post/148052572460/poetry-tonight-at-7pm-tamara-collins-brenna" target="_blank">RiverRun Bookstore After Hours Poetry Series</a> - featured readers were </span>Brenna Lilly, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23355880-dear-bastards" target="_blank">Meaghan Gagnon</a>, <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/" target="_blank">Tamara J. Collins</a>. </p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>August 2016</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I organized the RiverRun Bookstore After Hours Poetry Series - featured readers were <a href="https://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20121209/ENTERTAIN/212090305" target="_blank">Cyndle Plaiseted Riels</a>, <a href="https://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20151122/NEWS/151129817" target="_blank">Sarah Anderson</a>, and Jenna Baillargeon. </p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>September 2016</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I organized the RiverRun Bookstore After Hours Poetry Series - featured readers </p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">were students from the poetry club at <span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;"><a href="https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/school/phs/english-department">Portsmouth High School</a>. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>October 2016<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">RiverRun Bookstore After Hours Poetry Series - reading this month canceled, we will be back next month! </p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">November 2016</p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I organized the RiverRun Bookstore After Hours Poetry Series - featured readers </p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">were <a href="https://kaylahwheeler.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Kayla Wheeler</a> and <span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;"><a href="https://danhaisletpoet.com/poems/" target="_blank">Daniel Haislet. </a></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>December 2016<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The RiverRun Bookstore After Hours Poetry Series - no reading this month. Happy Holidays!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><b>About this Blog</b></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </span></p></span><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </span></b></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Need someone to help you with copywriting and marketing? Please visit: <a href="https://www.mapkeycreative.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">https://www.mapkeycreative.com/</span></a></span></p></div>Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-40199326463972394362016-07-16T11:01:00.088-04:002021-01-25T08:08:46.383-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - Poetry Galore! <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">March 2016</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;">I went to the book
launch at 3s Artspace for </span><u style="color: #0e0f14;"><a href="https://www.counterpointpress.com/dd-product/the-penny-poet-of-portsmouth/" target="_blank">The Penny Poet of Portsmouth</a></u><span style="color: #0e0f14;"> and saw friends
of Robert Dunn read his poems.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;">I saw our beautiful Poet Laureate, <a href="https://pplp.org/poets-laureate/kate-leigh/">Kate Leigh</a>, do
her Star Island reading at Portsmouth Book and Bar. </span><span style="color: #0e0f14; mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: arial;"></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;"><b>April 2016</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I saw <a href="https://www.monicawood.com/" target="_blank">Monica Wood</a>
read at RiverRun Bookstore. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;"><span style="font-family: arial;">RiverRun Bookstore asked me to organize two poetry
events for <a href="https://poets.org/national-poetry-month" target="_blank">National Poetry Month</a>. The featured readers included <a href="http://foxthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/09/national-poetry-slam-2011-cypher-mark.html" target="_blank">Mark Palos</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9deL15oqy3g" target="_blank">RyanMcLellan</a> at the first one, then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xk4JCkfcMY" target="_blank">Heidi Therrien</a> and Lauren WB Vermette at the
second one. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;">I saw our 8</span><sup style="color: #0e0f14;">th</sup><span style="color: #0e0f14;"> poet, Laureate <a href="http://www.johnmichaelalbert.com/about/" target="_blank">John- Michael Albert,</a> read
from his new book, </span><u style="color: #0e0f14;">Portsmouth and Star Island Poems</u><span style="color: #0e0f14;"> at PPLH. I attended the
<a href="https://newburyportliteraryfestival.org/" target="_blank">Newburyport Literary Festival</a>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;"><b>May 2016</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;">I volunteered at the
<a href="https://www.seacoastoutright.org/" target="_blank">Seacoast Outright</a> coffeehouse at RiverRun Bookstore. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;">I volunteered at the <a href="https://cola.unh.edu/person/shelley-girdner" target="_blank">Shelley Girdner </a>book launch for <u>You Were That White Bird</u> at RiverRun Bookstore.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e0f14;"> I attended the <a href="https://www.3sarts.org/performances/performance/Station-Note-Readings?performanceid=1670" target="_blank">Station NoteReading Series</a> at <a href="https://www.3sarts.org/" target="_blank">3s Artspace </a>and saw </span><span style="color: #16191f;">poets
<a href="https://emiliaphillips.com/" target="_blank">Emilia Phillips</a>, <a href="http://www.treelightbooks.com/duncan-campbell" target="_blank">Duncan D. Campbell</a>, and </span><span><a href="https://burstandbloomrecords.com/artists/guy/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #294387; text-decoration: none;">Guy
Capecelatro III</span></b>. </a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I saw <a href="http://jacksonwarfield.blogspot.com/2008/11/poem-some-poems.html" target="_blank">Jackson Warfield</a> read from his chapbooks at
Lost Coast in Kittery, ME. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was asked to organize and host a monthly young
folks poetry series at <a href="https://riverrunbookstore.com/" target="_blank">RiverRun Bookstore</a> featured readers for May were <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NGFusvm-mk" target="_blank">LaurenElma Frament </a>and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4asAd5VDj44" target="_blank">William James</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Someone nominated me & Mapkey Creative for the <a href="https://www.catapultseacoast.org/10-to-watch" target="_blank">10 to Watch</a> list
by <a href="https://www.seacoastonline.com/" target="_blank">Seacoast Online </a>and Catapult Seacoast. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #0e0f14; font-family: arial;"><b>June 2016 </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I
organized the RiverRun Bookstore After Hours Poetry Series - featured readers
were <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqK_86GgQQY" target="_blank">Christopher Clauss</a> and <a href="http://barnstormjournal.org/tag/mike-joe-riello/" target="_blank">Mike Jo Riello</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times;"><span><font face="arial"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p></font></span></div></span></span></div>
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Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-72953318602644205002016-01-10T06:00:00.063-05:002021-01-25T08:09:05.467-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - Local Authors' Fair at The Portsmouth Public Library and Portsmouth Writers' Salon closes. <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span><span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="color: black; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span><span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>July 2015</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span><span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">Began marketing for the first-ever Local Authors' Fair at The Portsmouth Public Library. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span><span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #10131a; font-family: arial;">Last month was the final month for The Portsmouth Writers' Salon. It was a truly wonderful experience over the past two and a half years. My heart was happy to see all of our writers become published. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span><span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>September 2015</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I worked with Amy Ray and Laura Horwood-Benton </span></span><span style="color: #10131a;">at the first-ever Local Authors' Fair at The Portsmouth Public Library. </span><br /></span>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p></font></span></div></div>
Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-62101546084348467252015-07-19T06:00:00.062-04:002021-01-25T08:07:23.179-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - Charles, Dagan, Michael, and Tammi <div class="separator"><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font><span style="color: #10131a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial">
<span style="color: #10131a;"><br /></span><span style="color: #10131a;"><span style="color: #10131a;"><b>January 2015</b></span></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #10131a;">I wrote a review of </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Poets-Tale-Lady-Wentworth-Illustrated-ebook/dp/B00G6R06IC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The%20Poet%27s%20Tale%3B%20Lady%20Wentworth&qid=1587354091&s=digital-text&sr=1-1" target="_blank">The Poet's Tale, Lady Wentworth</a>,<span style="color: #10131a;"> edited by</span><a href="https://www.tammitruax.com/" target="_blank"> Tammi J. Truax</a><span style="color: #10131a;"> for publication. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><font><span style="color: #10131a; font-family: arial;"><b>April 2015</b></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;">I met with <a href="http://www.ipne.org/blog/3501417" target="_blank">Amy Ray</a> and <a href="https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/profiles/laura-horwood-benton" target="_blank">Laura Horwood-Benton</a> </span><span style="color: #10131a;">to help plan the <a href="https://patch.com/new-hampshire/portsmouth-nh/local-author-fair-held-next-week-portsmouth" target="_blank">Local Authors' Fair</a> at the <a href="https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library" target="_blank">Portsmouth Public Library</a>. </span><br />
<br /><span style="color: #10131a;"><b>May 2015</b></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;">I attended <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LSSat3S/" target="_blank">Long Story Short</a> to see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn7zgzmf0l0" target="_blank">Dagan Migirditch</a> (Portsmouth Writers Salon Member), <a href="http://www.michaelboulerice.com/" target="_blank">Michael Boulerice</a> (author of The Adventures of KungFu Mike and the Magic Sunglasses), and <a href="https://twitter.com/cjmcmahon_nh?lang=en" target="_blank">Charles McMahon</a> (author of Legendary Locals of Portsmouth) perform. </span><br />
<span style="color: #10131a;"><br /><b>June 2015</b><br /></span><span style="color: #10131a;">I was invited to read some poems on <a href="http://witrhome.org/radio.html" target="_blank">Writers in the Round </a>on June 15th. </span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;">
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<font face="arial"><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times;"><span><font face="arial"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To learn more about Portsmouth Writers' Salon, please visit <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5253783849737682252/8424304434064337328#"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">http://portsmouthwriterssalon.blogspot.com/</span></a></p></font></span></div></font></div>
Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-52148452193213155872015-02-28T06:00:00.045-05:002021-01-25T08:06:44.679-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - Rejection Letters<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="arial">Me <span face="helvetica, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">09.10.2014</span></font></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><b>July 2014 </b></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial">I was invited to <span style="color: #10131a;">teach the <a href="http://hamptonlibrary.blogspot.com/2014/10/teen-writers-workshop.html" target="_blank">Teen Writers' Workshop</a> at the <a href="http://hamptonlibrary.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lane Memorial Library</a> in Hampton, NH, which I taught in Fall 2014. </span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><font color="#10131a"><br /></font>
<span style="color: #10131a;"><br /></span><b>August 2014</b></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;">I wrote a <a href="https://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20140829/OPINION/408290376?template=ampart" target="_blank">letter to the editor</a> in support of Keep Portsmouth Loud, which was published.</span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;">I submitted an essay to the <a href="https://www.theparisreview.org/" target="_blank">Paris Review</a> and received an encouraging rejection letter. </span><br />
<br /><b>September 2014</b></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial">I met former City of Portsmouth Mayor <a href="https://twitter.com/marchandsteve?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">Steve Marchand</a> for coffee and discussed <a href="https://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20140829/NEWS/408290396" target="_blank">Keep Portsmouth LOUD</a> and other community ideas.<br />
<br /><b>October 2014</b></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial">I submitted essays and poems to <a href="https://granta.com/" target="_blank">Granta</a>, <a href="https://tinhouse.com/" target="_blank">Tin House</a>, <a href="https://agnionline.bu.edu/" target="_blank">AGNI</a>, <a href="https://www.thesunmagazine.org/" target="_blank">The SUN</a>, and <a href="https://www.realsimple.com/" target="_blank">Real Simple.</a><br />
<br /><b>November 2014</b></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial">I was a featured reader at Beat Poetry Night at the Press Room.<br />
<br /><b>December 2014</b></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font><span style="font-family: arial;">The rejection letters from the essays and poems submitted to <a href="https://granta.com/" target="_blank">Granta</a>, <a href="https://tinhouse.com/" target="_blank">Tin House</a>, <a href="https://agnionline.bu.edu/" target="_blank"> AGNI</a>, <a href="https://www.thesunmagazine.org/" target="_blank">The SUN</a> appeared in my mailbox. </span><br />
<span style="color: #10131a; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;"> </span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="verdana" size="2"><font face="arial" style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></font></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To learn more about Portsmouth Writers' Salon, please visit <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5253783849737682252/8424304434064337328#"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">http://portsmouthwriterssalon.blogspot.com/</span></a></p></font></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>
Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-84243044340643373282014-07-28T23:00:00.108-04:002021-01-25T08:06:21.935-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - Adelle, Brian, Elizabeth, Kate, Jackson, Jason, Leslie, Pat<div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span><b>January 2014</b></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;">I kept the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthWritersSalon/"><span style="color: #2d4486; text-decoration: none;">Portsmouth Writers Salon</span></a> going.</span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;"><br /></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;">I discontinued the Essays Book Group. </span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;"><br /></span></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><font face="arial"><span style="color: #10131a;">I continued volunteering at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Bookstore/Sheafe-Street-Books-114246611989578/" target="_blank">Sheafe Street Books</a>. </span></font></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>February 2014</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="http://jacksonwarfield.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jackson Warfield </a>Read and <a href="https://bcap.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">BCAP</a> perform at the Red Door. </font></span><span style="font-family: arial;">I sat with </span><a href="http://www.johnmichaelalbert.com/about/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">John-Michael Albert</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAMAvyMtYGY" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">John Simon</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I attended </span><a href="http://www.jasonlandry.com/write/tag/essays/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Jason Laundry</a><span style="font-family: arial;">'s photos & essays at NHIA. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>March 2014</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I read my first poem aloud at the <a href="https://pplp.org/" target="_blank">Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program Poetry Hoot</a>. </font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>April 2014</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="http://www.lesliejamison.com/" target="_blank">Leslie Jamison</a> read from <a href="https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/empathy-exams" target="_blank">The Empathy Exams</a> at <a href="https://riverrunbookstore.com/" target="_blank">RiverRun Bookstore</a>. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I attended <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PoetrySocietyofNH/posts/pat-parnell-90th-birthday-celebrationeveryone-interested-is-invited-to-help-me-c/675234389182462/" target="_blank">Pat Parnell</a>'s 90<sup>th</sup> Birthday Party at the <a href="https://www.library.strathamnh.gov/" target="_blank">Wiggin Memorial Library</a>. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I was invited to participate in the <a href="https://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20140418/NEWS/140419696" target="_blank">Portsmouth Love Wall</a> at Prescott Park. </font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>May 2014</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="http://elizabethmccracken.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth McCraken</a> (5/20/14) and <a href="https://katechristensen.net/" target="_blank">Kate Christensen</a> (5/24/14) speak at RiverRun Bookstore. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I attended the Provence Prize reading hosted by Adam Irish at Portsmouth Book and Bar, in which two members of Portsmouth Writers Salon came in first and second place. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="https://adellewaldman.com/" target="_blank">Adelle Waldman </a>read at RiverRun Bookstore. </font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>June 2014</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"> I moved the Portsmouth Writers Salon Meetings to my home. So that we could meet without the distractions and interruptions of being in a public setting. </font></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMH1fiqvDvCBZsbOWPdWu4cSahyphenhyphenV5G1mp2IxtxSSjoxZN5bFxZhz9LbAMGU3td7s56QdyjgQlAQx7xxxVreKs5XHrj3acwMmFB9Z5TQ-tmNTj6GfoauEmwXFzZczaJThKm9j1cCPzdp9j/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><font face="arial"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMH1fiqvDvCBZsbOWPdWu4cSahyphenhyphenV5G1mp2IxtxSSjoxZN5bFxZhz9LbAMGU3td7s56QdyjgQlAQx7xxxVreKs5XHrj3acwMmFB9Z5TQ-tmNTj6GfoauEmwXFzZczaJThKm9j1cCPzdp9j/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" width="320" /></font></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="arial">Kate Christensen at RiverRun Bookstore</font></td></tr>
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<font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To learn more about Portsmouth Writers' Salon, please visit <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5253783849737682252/8424304434064337328#"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">http://portsmouthwriterssalon.blogspot.com/</span></a></p></font></span></div></div>
Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-29220637751665212422014-01-28T06:33:00.046-05:002021-01-25T08:06:03.045-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - Nicholsan and Paul <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="arial">Nicholson Baker at RiverRun Bookstore</font></td></tr>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>July 2013</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I started volunteering at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Bookstore/Sheafe-Street-Books-114246611989578/" target="_blank">Sheafe Street Books</a> on the weekends.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also started running an Essays Book Group that meets at <a href="http://www.bookandbar.com/" target="_blank">Portsmouth Book and Bar </a>on the first Tuesday of the month. The Essays Book Group is open to all, and if you email me at TamaraJCollins (at) gmail (dot) com, I'll send you the list of who we are reading, what we are discussing, and when we are meeting. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>August 2013</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I started working with <a href="https://tdevelyn.com/author/thomasdevelyn/" target="_blank">Tom D'Evelyn</a>, editor & writing coach. I wasn't seeking a writing coach, but he approached me about it, and I agreed to give it a go. </font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>September 2013</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="https://blpress.org/authors/paul-harding/" target="_blank">Paul Harding</a> speak at <a href="https://riverrunbookstore.com/" target="_blank">RiverRun Bookstore</a>.</font></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>October 2013</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><font>I attended the </font></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.newenglandbooks.org/" target="_blank">NEIBA conference</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">in Providence, RI.</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>November 2013</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="http://nicholsonbaker.com/" target="_blank">Nicholson Baker </a>speak at RiverRun Bookstore. </font></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>December 2013</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I was asked by <a href="https://larryclow.com/about/" target="_blank">Larry Clow</a> from The Wire to provide some holiday book giving recommendations. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I was asked by Toby Hatchett from the Portsmouth Herald to provide some holiday book giving suggestions. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To learn more about Portsmouth Writers' Salon, please visit <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5253783849737682252/8424304434064337328#"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">http://portsmouthwriterssalon.blogspot.com/</span></a></p></font></span></div></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="arial">Paul Harding at RiverRun Bookstore</font></td></tr>
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Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-52587344883384730772013-06-23T17:58:00.054-04:002021-01-25T08:05:43.913-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - Alan, Andre, Charles, Erika, Gloria, and Myfanwy<font face="arial"><span><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
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<span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>January 2013</b></span></span></font></div><div><font face="arial"><span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://twitter.com/portswriters" target="_blank">The Portsmouth Writers Salon</a> began meeting twice a month at <a href="http://www.bookandbar.com/" target="_blank">Book and Bar</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>February 2013</b></span></font></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://twitter.com/portswriters" target="_blank">The Portsmouth Writers Salon</a> canceled all meetings due to snowstorms. </span></div>
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<div style="min-height: 19px;"><span><font><span style="font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>March 2013</b></span></font></span></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><span><font face="arial"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I was told about The Poetry Collective at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sheafe-Street-Books-114246611989578/" target="_blank">Sheafe Street Books </a>and started attending Tom D'Evelyn's fantastic poetry seminars. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></font></span></div>
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<div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>April 2013</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I saw </span><a href="http://www.gloriasteinem.com/" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Gloria Steinem</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> speak about equality at the South Church. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I also attended the </span><a href="https://newburyportliteraryfestival.org/" style="letter-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Newburyport Literary Festival</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> with my friend Tanya, where we met </span><a href="https://andredubus.com/" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Andre Dubus III</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">, </span><a href="https://myfanwycollins.com/" style="letter-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Myfanwy Collins</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">, and </span><a href="https://cmsw.mit.edu/alan-lightman/" style="letter-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Alan Lightman</a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. </span></span></div>
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<div><span><font><span style="font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>May 2013</b></span></font></span></div><div><span><font face="arial"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I saw </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/charles-simic" target="_blank">Charles Simic</a> read at the South Church. </span></font></span></div>
<div style="min-height: 19px;"><b style="font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></b></div><div style="min-height: 19px;"><b style="font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 0px;">June 2013</b></div><div><div><font><span style="font-family: arial; letter-spacing: 0px;">I met <a href="http://www.erikarobuck.com/" target="_blank">Erika Robuck</a> at RiverRun Bookstore. </span></font></div><div><font face="arial"><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span> <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I feel lucky to live in a town that has three independent bookstores. Each uniquely different. I try to support them all as well as our local library. I hope you do as well. </span></font></div><div><font face="arial"><br /></font></div><div><font face="arial">
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<div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To learn more about Portsmouth Writers' Salon, please visit <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5253783849737682252/8424304434064337328#"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">http://portsmouthwriterssalon.blogspot.com/</span></a></p></font></span></div></div>
Bella Literatihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880919959447182419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5253783849737682252.post-45552467619492591622012-12-12T18:00:00.092-05:002021-01-25T08:05:21.676-05:00Diary of a D.I.Y. MFA - introducing Portsmouth Writers' Salon<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Inspired by <a href="https://diymfa.com/" target="_blank">DIY MFA</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Portable-MFA-Creative-Writing/dp/1582973504/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/135-4779143-2854755?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1582973504&pd_rd_r=08eb262c-124f-4058-bd7e-4229cb1a5fec&pd_rd_w=CxEmn&pd_rd_wg=4Cii1&pf_rd_p=f325d01c-4658-4593-be83-3e12ca663f0e&pf_rd_r=HV9R0DGD89AE4W56EGTR&psc=1&refRID=HV9R0DGD89AE4W56EGTR" target="_blank">The Portable MFA in Creative Writing</a>, I decided to <span style="text-align: center;">create my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months over the years spread out over multiple blog posts. I'd love to take an MFA in Copywriting and Social Media. If such a thing existed, do they exist? I've never heard of any. I've heard of Master's Degrees in Popular Culture, but that's not the same. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">What's an MFA, and why this experiment? An <span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b;">MFA in Creative Writing focuses on the art and practice of writing for those interested in publishing their own original works or in pursuing a teaching career. The purpose of this experiment is to see if I want to change careers from copywriting into teaching on the high school or college level and if I want to go after an actual MFA. So come along for the ride, here we go, no seatbelts to fasten here, hang on! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>January 2012 </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">My last month as a copywriter for Windmill Hill Consulting. I have loved working with this incredible boutique marketing agency. I wish I had the courage to move to St. Louis by myself to continue working with them, but the Seacoast feels like home. Hence, sadly, I resume full-time freelance life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: arial;">April 2012</b></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I moved! I lived in my cozy yet sunny little basement studio apartment for three years, without a bathtub, two miles from downtown Portsmouth, NH. Now I live in a 900 square foot one-bedroom apartment half a mile from Market Square in downtown Portsmouth, NH. </span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="https://alicehoffman.com/" target="_blank">Alice Hoffman</a> speak at RiverRun Bookstore. Her novel <u><a href="https://alicehoffman.com/books/the-dovekeepers/" target="_blank">DoveKeepers</a> </u>had just come out in paperback, And I signed up for all of the <a href="https://www.proportsmouth.org/SeacoastSeries.cfm" target="_blank">Seacoast Road Race Series</a>. I was looking forward to earning jacket number two.</font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b><br /></b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b><br /></b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>May 2012</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"> I saw my friend, <a href="https://www.timhorvath.com/" target="_blank">Tim Horvath</a>, read from his recently published collection of Short Stories "<a href="https://www.timhorvath.com/books/">Understories</a>" at <a href="https://riverrunbookstore.com/" target="_blank">River Run Bookstore</a>. A bunch of us went for drinks after, at the Coat of Arms British Pub, it was a great night, and it was nice to catch up with <a href="https://www.hannahlarrabee.com/" target="_blank">Hannah Larabee</a>, Tim Horvath, W.B., and <a href="https://www.tammitruax.com/" target="_blank">Tammi Truax</a>. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>June 2012</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"> I saw <a href="https://www.thejoandidion.com/" target="_blank">Joan Didion</a> speak at the <a href="https://www.themusichall.org/" target="_blank">Portsmouth Music Hal</a>l. Her most recent work, <u>Blue Nights,</u> was the reason for the tour. She was wonderful. She was on the main stage and was interviewed by Terry Gross. When asked what the difference between 'Year of Magical Thinking' and 'Blue Nights' was" Didion answered, "In the Year of Magical Thinking, the character experiences something, comes out of it, and survives it, whereas in Blue Nights, the character experiences something, comes out of it. You don't know if she will survive it. Her daughter's death had a profound effect on her, and her honesty and rawness could be felt by the audience in a way like nothing I'd ever felt before.</font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>August 2012 </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I saw <a href="http://www.joshuacohen.org/" target="_blank">Joshua Cohen</a> read from his collection of short stories entitled "4 NEW MESSAGES" at River Run Bookstore. And then I went out for drinks at the Coat of Arms British Pub afterward with Tim Horvath, Joshua Cohen, Kevin Blahut, and a few folks whom I didn't get to speak with or their names.</font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>September 2012 </b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"> I was invited to join the Board of the Seacoast Writers Association. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>November 2012</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://amandachatel.com/" target="_blank">Amanda Chatel</a>, a brilliant writer, and friend who divides her time between New Hampshire, Paris, and New York, paid us a visit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">The Board of the <a href="https://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20120426/ENTERTAIN/204260309" target="_blank">Seacoast Writers' Association</a> decided to dissolve. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I attended the World of Poetry Beat Night Gala at the Pressroom.</font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>December 2012</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial">I founded the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthWritersSalon/" target="_blank">Portsmouth Writers' Salon</a>, which will hold its first meeting on January 13, 2013, at <a href="http://www.bookandbar.com/" target="_blank">Portsmouth Book and Bar</a>. </font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><br /></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="arial"><b>About this Blog</b></font></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><font face="verdana" size="2"><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Since graduating from college, I have been a full-time freelance writer. I've created my own D.I.Y. MFA program by attending as many literary events as possible in my community. My goal is to attend a diverse array of events and to keep an open mind and an open heart. </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>This blogger account is where I log my literary events attended over the past six months. </b></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out my author and freelance writing page. Please visit: <a href="https://www.tamarajcollins.com/"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">tamarajcollins.com</span></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">To learn more about Portsmouth Writers' Salon, please visit <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5253783849737682252/8424304434064337328#"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">http://portsmouthwriterssalon.blogspot.com/</span></a></p></font></span></div>Tamara J. Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00846977240010749513noreply@blogger.com0