a few of my favorite things

I wouldn't say all of them make me a better writer, but they certainly make being a writer more fun.  My top 5 tools are as follows:

 1. The moleskine notebook.   I personally prefer the unlined softcover sketchbook pocket edition.  I've filled about 10 of the since I started writing seriously, and I like being able to start a new one every few months.  I have purchased them at Barnes and Noble in the past but I just saw a display this past week at Target, so they may be avaiable, in a limited selection, at Target. 

2. And to write in it, of course, the pilot G2 black gel pen.  I don't know why you would want to use any other pen, really... they last forever... or I should say they last longer than I have ever been able to hang on to one. And they always write.  Always.  I've never picked up on that didn't write. 


3. docs.google.com.   Again, I'm not sure what's not to like here.  I can create documents from any computer, save them, and then edit them again from any computer.  I can share them, email them, download them, upload them.  I could go on, but I won't.  I am still waiting for a compelling reason to not use googledocs. 

4. Poetry Magazine.  This is where it happens, as far as I can tell.  This journal, to which I admittedly have never subscribed but which I read regularly, is pretty much the ultimate place where poetry is published.  I regularly day dream about needing to buy extra copies of the next edition so that my family and friends can read something I've written that was published here.  Maybe one day.

5. The Public Library.  Meanwhile, I'll keep reading Poetry and the authors who have been published therein at the public library.  We live about 5 blocks from the Richland Public Library, which is a great one, but there are a few other good ones around.  In Kansas City Sarah and I used to visit different public libraries for fun on Saturdays, but lately we just swing by ours to pay our fines and look at what's new. 

Englewood Review of Books

If you read books, you need to follow this site.  They have some fantastic reviews, often of books you might not find out about other places.  I have the honor of reviewing a book for them, which should be finished soon, so look for my name.  But mostly, just subscribe.  Or at least follow the online reviews.  Seriously.

Re-Re-Starting. Again.

I hate it when I find a link to a blog I think is going to be interesting only to find a the latest post is from two years ago and says "I know I haven't been blogging much later but I'm going to start now.  I swear."

Sadly, I'm that guy. 

I've got a few new projects I'm working on right now, none of which are this blog, and one of which is a child, which is due in July.  So, needless to say  I want to be writing more, and we'll see how that goes. 

One of the most exciting thing I have going on is reviewing a new book. And when I say "new" I mean I got it in the mail from the publisher before the publishing date.  It's pretty good so far, and the review will be at the Englewood Review of Books soon-ish.