What is the Self+Love=Revolution?

It’s a free, 90-day newsletter!

From March 31, 2012 through June 30, 2012 I’ll embark on a little newsletter project. This one is personal, and I don’t know what will happen. It’s simply a record of my attempt to clarify my spiritual and my physical well-being after the death of my mom, Marla, who passed away in October. In April it will be 6 months since she passed away, and in those six months I have ignored my body and my soul.

These newsletters written daily over the course of 90 days are me at my most reflective; they’re an attempt to remedy the neglect of myself through diet, exercise, self+help, meditation, yoga and SELF+LOVE.

Sign up below:

It’s Not Too Late to Sign Up!

$99

Interested? Type your email below and I’ll send you the sign-up and payment information.

WHAT’S INCLUDED ON THIS PAGE:

• A quick welcome and option to sign up right away
• What is Poem+Revolution and Who’s it for?
• What will Poem+Revolution do for my writing? My life?
• What will I get in the Poem+Revolution?
• How do I prepare for the Poem+Revolution?
• Purchasing Details

A Quick Welcome and Option to Sign Up Right Away

If you’re ready to receive sign-up information, CLICK HERE FOR THE SUBSCRIBER FORM. You’ll get an email from me with payment details.

POEM+REVOLUTION is priced at $49 through March 10th, Midnight PST. After that, the price moves to $69 until March 20th. After March 20th, the price is $99. When you receive your sign-up form, you’ll be asked to click through to PayPal for payment.

The POEM+REVOLUTION is limited to 99 writers. I’ll close the sign-ups as soon as we hit magic 99.

The POEM+REVOLUTION will begin on April 1, 2012 and run through May 1st, 2012.

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING DURING THE POEM+REVOLUTION?

Life is energy, and energy is creativity. And even when individuals pass on, the energy is retained in the work of art, locked in it and awaiting release if only someone will take the time and the care to unlock it. –Marianne Moore

Everywhere I teach, or read my work, or facilitate a writing workshop, someone comes up to me after the event and says something like this:

You know, I’ve always wanted to write poems…

or this

I’ve been writing poems since I was very young, but I’ve never shown them to anyone…

I always nod my head in empathy. I know what they’re talking about. I wrote for years without showing anyone anything, and without telling anyone anything about my writing. Then, when I started writing, I’d seek out writers I could learn something from, and sometimes I would tell them that I wanted to be a writer–or a poet–or a playwright–or . . .

It was always like that: I want to do that too.

But things get in the way, don’t they? It’s difficult to make a space for learning new things, practicing a new art, developing our internal selves. We’re always so busy and we always say “next time.” But “next time” is not a revolution. “Next time” is never put into our planners or notebooks. “Next time” is in some far off land. I’m more interested in now.

In his wonderful book, Why Poetry Matters, Jay Parini says “[These days] There is little time for concentration, or a space wherein the still, small voice of poetry can be heard.”  Now is the time to make space for concentration so that your voice can be heard.

WHAT IS THE POEM+REVOLUTION?

Poem+Revolution is a 5-week guided writing journey through National Poetry Month.  In this 30-day Revolution you will not only write a poem every day through a series of writing challenges, but you’ll build (or refresh) your poem+making skill set so that after April, there will be many more revolutionary days of poem+making. You’ll receive guidance and inspiration through daily manifestos, sample poems, and a daily writing challenge. If you wish, you can share your work with fellow revolutionaries in our online community at Facebook, or on Google+. At the end of April, you’ll celebrate your 30days+30poems success with a guided compilation of your work–the chapbook.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE POEM+REVOLUTION?

• artists, writers, and poets wanting a daily writing revolution, not just a challenge, during April 2012: National Poetry Month
• mindfulness practitioners wanting to develop outward expression of the present moment
• non-poets wanting to learn and practice the art of poem+making in a revolutionary way
• seekers who wish to tap into their innermost hungry voices

WHAT WILL THE POEM+REVOLUTION DO FOR ME?

I believe poem+making can change the world. I believe that metaphor is an essential form of thought. I believe that in order to feed our hungry voices, we need to connect “nature and mind . . . matter and spirit.” I believe that language teaches us about the past, and the present, and the future, if we’re willing to pay close attention. I believe reading poems and making poems is another way of saying “eat life.” I believe poem+making is a way to develop dialogue with the world. I believe poems are a form of revolutionary thought. Making a poem is like making a bomb. Making a poem is like making a prayer. Making a poem is a revolutionary action.

WHAT WILL I GET IN THE POEM+REVOLUTION?

• Instruction in the art of the poet’s notebook
• 5 evolutions on the foundational concepts of writing and poem+making given to you in week 1, followed by twice-weekly manifestos and concepts to keep you going
• 30 evolutions of poem+making prompts designed to help you practice and develop your foundational skills, delivered twice weekly after week 1.
• 1 evolution about the art of the chapbook, and instructions for making your chapbook
• Interaction with poem revolutionaries via our Facebook Page, Poem+Revolution
• The free poem+revision guide for your next evolution, delivered May 7, 2012 to your inbox.

And a quick note: If this evolution resonates with you, I am excited and hope you’ll come aboard for the journey. If it doesn’t resonate, or if it doesn’t feel like something for you, maybe we’ll meet again in another evolution.

For my part, offering this opportunity will fill my need for connection with writers and artists, for engaging dialogue about the art of writing and poem+making, and will allow me to share my experience. For your part, I hope this evolution facilitates engaged daily writing that will lead you onward in a life of learning and experiencing through the daily action of writing.

Interested? Type your email below. I’ll send you information about payment.

Kirsten Ogden is a writer, teacher, and revolutionary. She believes writing can change the world–in fact, it already has. Continue the revolution with her via evolution+emails, and Google+. Please Email her at kirstenogden(at)Gmail(dot)com if you have any questions.