secrets from my next book

a glimpse into the inner workings

My third full-length poetry collection is well underway and I wanted to give you all an update! I’ve been writing poems for this book for the past 18 months or so. But also kind of my entire life. My writing style during this time has changed immensely [when comparing to my first two books] and as a result, I think this book is going to feel much different than my first two.. in a way that deeply excites me!!

All of my endeavours into the realm of writing poetry are culminating in a fierce and feral way for this collection. It’s like this book has long talons and is wearing combat boots. Which is to say I think this book will be my best one yet.. but doesn’t every writer feel that way about their current project? Maybe? I’d like to think so, as we are always writing to the best of our ability, which ideally only keeps improving.

“A word after a word after a word is power.”

- Margaret Atwood

Regardless, I am the proud owner of this Google Doc titled “Manuscript <3” where I’ve typed up all of my poems that I believe are good enough for the book. There are currently 143 of them.. but I plan to spend the next couple of weeks being cutthroat in the elimination process. Though cutthroat is one of the last words I would ever use to describe myself. This part will be painful but necessary.

I’ll be weaving themes and connecting the dots between each poem-story, which will hopefully reveal which poems ultimately don’t belong. This is not easy!! They are all my children! Help!

Manuscript <3 will not be the title of this book