Gail is an incredible poet and teacher. Here’s her profile: Gail Thomas has published six books, most recently Trail of Roots and Leaving Paradise. Her poems have been widely published in journals and anthologies. Among her awards are the Charlotte Mew Prize from Headmistress Press for Odd Mercy, the Narrative Poetry Prize from Naugatuck River Review, the Massachusetts Center for the Book’s “Must Read” for Waving Back, the Quartet Journal’s Editor’s Choice Prize, and Seven Kitchen Press’s chapbook award. She has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony and Ucross, and several poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She teaches poetry with Pioneer Valley Writers’ Workshops, visits schools and libraries with her therapy dog, and works with immigrant and refugee communities in Western Massachusetts. 

I will have the pleasure of reading with Gail Thomas, as well as Christine Jones, and Eric Hyett at this workshop called “Now As Mother: In the Presence of Loved Ones With Alzheimer’s” at 11:30 am at the 2023 Massachusetts Poetry Festival.

According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and it’s estimated that over six million Americans struggle with dementia as a result. To be in the presence of someone with Alzheimer’s is a lesson in appreciating the very present moment because both the past and future are unattainable to those individuals inflicted. As caregivers, we try to hold this space. As poets, we turn to language to help undertand and accept. In this group reading, followed by a Q&A, we’ll read our poetry and discuss our own experiences caring for a loved with Alzheimer’s disease.

Come and join us in Salem, Massachusetts at 11:30 am on Saturday, May 6. https://masspoetryfest2023.sched.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=admins&utm_campaign=global-password_reset-A&utm_content=header-link

Many writers are also meditators. Some even write about the relationship between writing and mediation. I am a meditator and a writer. I meditate in the morning and write in the morning. I also practice yoga. To me, these are all intertwined.

The U.S. alone has an estimated 36 million yoga practitioners. It has adapted to local socio-political and cultural norms world over so much so that it can hardly be called an Indian custom. Yoga originated in India. The system of yoga has physical, mental, and emotional dimensions in addition to spiritual underpinnings. But yoga is not a religion. It has no dogma. But the practice for me is essential to my writing and brings me to a place where I can write truth.

Meditation helps improve focus. Something essential for the good writer. I began meditating years ago with a meditation method popular at that time, Transcendental Meditation. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed this mantric method of meditation in the 50’s in India, and it spread widely throughout the world. For me, it was a good place to learn the technique, but my meditation practice evolved when I combined meditation with yoga, especially Kundalini. Kundalini is a spiritual energy or life force located at the base of the spine, conceptualized as a coiled serpent. It didn’t matter which type of meditation I was using, as long as it focused my mind and enabled me to write from that place.

Meditation provides a safe space to be. Meditation slows the world down to make room for creative thought and exploration. It’s an ideal practice for the writer or artist.

Have you had experiences with writing and meditation?

I will be blogging on Thursdays. Follow me at http://www.EileenPKennedy.com.

Journal writing is a good exercise for writers. Journaling can spark new ideas, or just jog your memory to remember something later you wanted to write about.

Journaling can also help you overcome writer’s block. If you’ve been intensely working on a particular project and get stuck, journaling is another way to channel your writing. I sometimes use my blog as a journal, or I journal on my iPhone, which is always handy when paper and pen are not.

In addition to being a good starting point for a writer, journaling has other benefits.

“Journaling can be a great pressure releasing valve when we feel overwhelmed or simply have a lot going on internally,” says Amy Hoyt, PhD, founder of Mending Trauma. 

A 2018 research study suggests that writing about your deepest thoughts and feelings may contribute to:

• fewer stress-related doctor visits
• lower blood pressure
• improved mood
• greater well-being

Journaling can make you more self-aware. You can see where your strengths and weaknesses lie by keeping track of your writing. You’ll be able to identify how well you respond to criticism. Also, it will make you aware of your own process. Do you write better in solitude or under group pressure? Do certain words or phrases come harder to you than others? Become aware of your work habits to improve your skills and discover new ones.

Some people like to use a paper and pencil journal. In that case, the size of your journal matters. If it’s too big, you probably won’t take it everywhere. And you need to have it with you for that unexpected thought or idea. Choose a medium-sized journal that will give you room to write what you want, but not too big to fit comfortably in your bag or backpack.Your journal should be with you all day and every day, so choose one with a sturdy cover that will last.

Try journaling in any notebook you have around, and if you think it works for you, then invest in a good journal that has all the characteristics described.

I’ll be blogging on Thursdays about the writing process or about upcoming readings or books, so follow me here.