This September, I’m participating for the third time in the Tupelo Press’ 30/30 project. Each month, volunteer poets write 30 poems in 30 days. These are posted at this link: https://www.tupelopress.org/the-30-30-project-september-2022/ for you reading enjoyment. Tupelo Press is a nonprofit 501(c)3 literary press and we poets strive for a month of amazing writing and ask you to sponsor us by donating to the press. There’s a convenient “donate” button on the opening screen. This project has given me the opportunity to create in tandem with amazing writers, it’s given me a community of poets, it’s given me the freedom and encouragement to write the nascent versions of some of my best poems. Whether you donate or not, go to the link every day and enjoy what’s offered.
Tupelo Press
Pulling No Punches: A Review of “Some Are Always Hungry”
My review of Some Are Always Hungry, by Jiyhun Yun was published by Tupelo Press in July of this year. A searing poetry collection by a Korean immigrant, who dares to tell the truth through her poems and images. You can find my review at https://www.tupeloquarterly.com/uncategorized/pulling-no-punches-a-review-of-some-are-always-hungry-jiyhun-yun/
Tupelo Press 30/30 Project
Here I go again—for a third time. The 30/30 project for Tupelo Press is a wonderful opportunity to spur your poetry forward and help fund a fabulous press. After your application is accepted, you write a poem a day for a month. There are generally 8-10 participants each month and each day’s poems are available here: https://www.tupelopress.org/the-30-30-project-january-2021/
I’ve participated in the 30/30 project twice before and it has always deepened my work and helped me expand my vision and my writing to new levels. I treasure each opportunity to participate in this program. I’m grateful to Tupelo Press for their innovative thinking in creating this program and accepting me as a participant.
Check out our work at the above link in my post. If you’d like to chip in a few dollars to support the press, pick the name of a poet whose work you like and contribute those dollars to Tupelo in that person’s honor. Both will be delighted. And you have my thanks.
Inspiration, Motivation, and Supporting a Small Press
December 1 and the Tupelo 30/30 project starts for this month. This project has been running for a number of years. The goal for participants is to write 30 poems in 30 days. This is my third time participating in this project and it’s always a thrill. It inspires me, motivates me to generate work, and allows me to support an important small press. Each of us commits to raising funds for the press through donations to support the poems.
The first poems are up at https://www.tupelopress.org/the-3030-project-december-19/ and will be added to daily until the end of the month. Please read and enjoy them. If you’re inspired, please donate (you’ll find a donate button on the page. I’m honored to be a fundraiser for Tupelo Press this month, even more so when I read my fellow writers’ bios (https://www.tupelopress.org/3030-project-contributors/). They’re amazing and I’m happy to journey and write with them this month.
30/30 underway
We began writing poems Oct. 1 and will write one a day through Oct. 30. Our line-up is: Jen Stewart Fueston, Karen Greenbaum-Maya, Chad W. Lutz, Rebecca Macijeski, Shea Montgomery, Francesca Moroney, Ally Schwam, and Aline Soules. That’s 8 poems you can 
read every day at this link: https://www.tupelopress.org/the-3030-project/
So far, so good–for me, at least. I’m writing, although I forgot to send my poem yesterday, and will keep right on going. It’s writing practice with structure. And how much some of us (me?) need structure.
Our goal is to write, of course, but we also want to help Tupelo Press, which has been so good to us all. It’s founder, Jeffrey Levine, is tireless in his efforts to promote poetry. Actually, I expect he gets pretty tired some days because it’s a ton of work, but he never gives up and his press supports the work of women, minorities, and those whom society considers “other” in some way. He helps their voices to be heard. To support these writers and the press, please donate. Even $1 will help. Here’s the donation link to my fundraising page: https://tupelopress.networkforgood.com/projects/58290-aline-soules-s-fundraiser Thanks. Your reward? Click the 3030 project link above and enjoy our creations.