poems

Presale Now Open for "And the Monster Swallows You Whole"

in ,

I am thrilled to announce that the preorders for my upcoming book, "And the Monster Swallows You Whole," are now open. This book has been a labor of love – writing it was what kept me semi-sane during the pandemic - so I am excited to share it with readers. Big thanks to Stillhouse Press and all of the wonderful folks over there who remain strong supporters of my writing!

Overview: “Adrian S. Potter's newest collection nimbly weaves poems, short prose pieces, checklists, film synopses, and diary entries into an arresting portrait of pandemic-era life as a Black American. Honest, funny, and hard-edged, his writings act as concentrated doses of a bracing and necessary tonic in the face of everyday acts of ignorance and indifference—monsters of all shapes and sizes held in check by Potter's clear and brilliant voice.”

Presale Details: The book is set to be released in May 2023, but you can secure your copy today by preordering it on the Stillhouse Press website.

https://www.stillhousepress.org/stillhouse-store/and-the-monster-swallows-you-whole

Thank you for your support, and I cannot wait for you to join me on this journey. If you are a fan of poetry, flash fiction, experimental hybrid literature, and a bit of snarkiness, "And the Monster Swallows You Whole" is a book you will not want to miss. Preorder your copy today and be one of the first to experience this unique book.

Four of my poems published in Rigorous!

in

I couldn’t be more honored to have four new poems published in the latest issue of Rigorous, a journal written and edited by people of color. It is exciting to have my work published alongside such a talented group of writers.

Rigorous is an online journal highlighting the works of authors, artists, critics, and educators of color. They take their name from an accusation commonly leveled at authors of color—that our works are not as rigorous as works created by white authors.

A huge thanks to the staff at Rigorous for seeing my vision and deeming my work worthy of their publication.

http://www.rigorous-mag.com/v6i2/adrian-s-potter.html

My poem “Redemption Arc” was published in Collateral!

in

I couldn’t be more honored to have my newest literary offering “Redemption Arc” published in the latest edition of Collateral, an online literary journal run by people who are directly and indirectly impacted by violent conflict and military service.

It’s exciting to have this poem published. Part tribute to my father, part honest examination of the toxicity families allow to brew - this is one of those poems I had to write for catharsis and personal growth. I appreciated the chance to add a short statement about the creative process and context for writing the poem. Thanks to the editors at Collateral for appreciating my writing and sharing it with the world.

The whole issue is impressive and includes many poets and writers whose work I admire. Check it out if you get a chance.

https://www.collateraljournal.com/poetry/potterredemptionarc

My poem "In Which Love Is a Kind of Falling," published by the Baltimore Review!

in

I am so excited to mention that my prose poem "In Which Love is a Kind of Falling" was published in Fall 2020 in the Baltimore Review, along with a brief artist's statement. Check it out, then take notice of the other works in this stunning issue.

https://baltimorereview.org/index.php/fall_2020/contributor/adrian-s-potter#In%20Which%20Love%20Is%20a%20Kind%20of%20Falling

My poems "Lived Here Our Whole Lives" and "Elegy for Rest Stop Towns" + an interview at Portage!

in

Many thanks to Portage Magazine for publishing my prose poems "Lived Here Our Whole Lives" and "Elegy for Rest Stop Towns" in their 2021 issue. Portage Magazine is an annual review of upper Midwestern writing, art, and culture that's run and edited by undergraduate students at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

So check out this latest issue and read the wonderful variety of work. Also, check out my interview (!) with editor-in-chief Alexa Larson - I had an absolute blast talking about writing, creativity, and life with her.

https://portagemagazine.org/lived-here-our-whole-lives/

https://portagemagazine.org/elegy-for-rest-stop-towns/

https://portagemagazine.org/interview-with-adrian-potter/

3 Poems at Oyster River Pages

in

I'm still playing catch up with updates from when I was all radio silence on this blog.

Many thanks to Oyster River Pages for publishing three of my poems - "Everybody Sings the Blues, Sometimes," "Why I Drop Bombs aka Write Poems," and "Pandemic Postcard" - as part of their Composite Dreams project focused on showcasing Black creatives.

Oyster River Pages is an online journal "interested in publishing voices that speak to what it means to be alive in this world." I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this issue and love that ORP provided a platform for Black voices.

https://www.oysterriverpages.com/poetry42/2020/12/19/everybody-sings-the-blues-sometimes?fbclid=IwAR2BKAKIbX-yvY6jr9cmt46__v0l5wWCOR8ieVl5DTfYp8Lnp6yMv1b2I3o

Finally.

in , ,

Advice on Submitting Your Poems

in
Photo by Frame Harirak on Unsplash

Photo by Frame Harirak on Unsplash

For those who are looking for a little bit of guidance in finding a home for their poems, I have dusted off and reposted an awesome resource. Check out “How To Submit Poems To Literary Journals And Magazines” at Writer’s Relief. Follow these seven steps and you’ll find your work in the limelight in quick fashion.

http://writersrelief.com/2010/01/11/how-to-submit-poems-to-literary-journals-and-magazines/?fbclid=IwAR0dNHqY4hVS6MmrpmWSdFLpDo1sbr00EBYK9J_h8NSgNokW0XwXEYTt0hQ

How To Feel The Funk

in
greyson-joralemon-186357-unsplash.jpg

It’s been a long time, I shouldn’t have left you…but I’m now back on the blogging horse, ready to ride again.

Though I’ve been silent on here, I’ve been showcasing my voice all over the place. I’ll slowly catch everyone up on my latest publications and new projects in the next few weeks on this blog.

First up – I want to announce my new-ish micro-chapbook of six poems called “How to Feel the Funk” published by the Origami Poems Project. So get down, get into the groove, and go get your electronic copy of this micro-chap here.

https://www.origamipoems.com/poets/366-adrian-s-potter

Broken Lines.

in
benny-meier-451994-unsplash(1).jpg

If there is one thing that reflects a poet’s style, it is their usage (or non-usage) of line breaks. It may seem like a small factor, but line breaks can greatly influence the effectiveness and meaning of a poem. Which is why I found this discussion of line breaks over at Frontier Poetry thought-provoking. It discusses the three types of breaks and what goes into crafting a line of poetry. It is an interesting read.

https://www.frontierpoetry.com/2018/04/19/poetry-terms-the-three-lines/

What I Find Fascinating About Poetry

in

When done right, poetry teaches you without forcing you to learn.

A great poem doesn't try to attach a bridle to the reader and lead them through a desert like a cowboy would his horse. A great poem invites a reader to ride alongside the writer, to travel with them, allows a reader to learn from their insight and see their world via metaphor and musicality.

So…what do you find fascinating about poetry?

trust-tru-katsande-501788-unsplash.jpg

National Poetry Month

in ,

April is National Poetry Month, which presents a great opportunity to infuse your poetry writing and reading activities with new energy. In case any of you might be wanting to do that, I present the following sources for poetic inspiration:

National Poetry Month Homepage: https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home

2018 Poetic Asides PAD (Poem-A-Day) Challenge: http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2018-april-pad-challenge-guidelines

30 Days, 30 Poems Challenge: https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2018/03/17/30-days-30-poems-challenge-national-poetry-month/

10 New Poetry Collections to Read During National Poetry Month: https://lithub.com/10-new-poetry-collections-to-read-during-national-poetry-month/

NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month): http://www.napowrimo.net/

30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/issues_in_depth/30PoetryIdeas.html

Poetry Super Highway Prompt-A-Day for National Poetry Month: http://poetrysuperhighway.com/psh/ (check the tab for "special projects" and then "a poetry writing prompt a day" to locate the prompts and other info)

Good luck and positive vibes as you celebrate National Poetry Month!

Triggerfish Critical Review.

in

Triggerfish is an online literary journal dedicated to the “why” of poetry, seeking to understand and illuminate this process, to say that it is possible to make qualitative judgments and distinctions about the substance of poetry.

I’m excited to announce that Issue 19 of Triggerfish includes two of my poems (with audio!) – “Tell Them a Story” and “I Am Hip Hop.” You can check these poems out at the links below. I appreciate the chance to contribute to Triggerfish! It is wonderful to be included amongst the talented writers and artists in this issue.

http://triggerfishcriticalreview.com/adrian-s-potter-tell-them-a-story/

http://triggerfishcriticalreview.com/adrian-s-potter-i-am-hip-hop/

“Nothing” at The Voices Project

in
voicesproject.jpg

The Voices Project is a non-judgmental venue for women, and also men, to express their personal stories and observations through poetry to promote social change. They are dedicated to helping others feel empowered through self-expression. Recently, they published my poem “Nothing” on their website. Big thanks to the editors at The Voices Project for allowing me to contribute.

http://www.thevoicesproject.org/poetry-library/nothing-by-adrian-s-potter