Tag Archives: slam poetry

Writing Wednesday: A Few New Things…

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So it’s been a while, and I figured I’d update on some of the writing-oriented stuff that’s been going on in my life. I mean, there’s nothing much else of interest going on, so why not?

…Okay, that’s not entirely true. I’ve got cool friends, a cool boyfriend, and I just traveled down to the Bay Area for the first time ever – wherein I went to Oakland, San Francisco, and San Luis Obispo. I’m also moving out of my house and in with Stephen and his roommates at the start of July, which will be wonderful.

But still, it feels like a weekly grind of work and nothing much else. It feels like I haven’t been writing much as of late, but when I wrote up the blog below, well, I guess I haven’t been totally lazy.

San Fran is beautiful, but those hills are killer.

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Writing Wednesday: The start of another 30/30.

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One day I’ll figure out what to use this blog for.

Using this blog was easy for the first year. There was a purpose: a catalog for my excursions. I had pictures, information, stories, y’know.

I keep slipping away from this blog, but it still lingers in the back of my mind; a persistent itch. It no longer befits a diary of my adventures, as I’m currently not on any adventures, but I want it to be used for something. On the one hand, I feel like life’s at a standstill; so utterly dull, filled with nothing but work, television, and sleep. On the other hand, I feel like my writing’s growing stronger everyday, I’m in love and it’s absurdly wonderful, and I’m making so many amazing friends. It’s a strange period of my life.

Despite feeling like everything’s at a standstill, I have done things since my last entry, especially in the poetry department. I traveled to Olympia and Spokane where I took second and first place (respectively) at their slams. I took first place, and a cash prize, at a Valentine’s Day slam that happened here in Portland. I went to Albuquerque for the Women of the World Poetry Slam, where I didn’t compete but still had an eye opening experience and a huge journey of self discovery as to my goals as a poet (I meant to write a longer entry about my time there, in fact, so maybe that’ll be a thing…). Most recently, Stephen and I traveled to Boise for my first ever co-feature, where I was paid to do poetry at the Boise Final Grand Slam.

So, on all those notes, I figured I’d share some poetry. Cause why not? I’m participating in the 30/30 this month, wherein you write a poem a day for the entire month of April. I figured I’d share the poems I’m most proud of thus far.

Hopefully I’ll have some idea where to take this blog soon. For now, I hope you enjoy my poetry.

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Stephen and I watching some great poetry at WOWPS in Albuquerque.

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Writing Wednesday: Voicemail Poetry

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So this’ll be a short post, as it’s not so much “blogging” as it is shameless self promotion which, btw, I am queen at.

I’ve been doing slam poetry for four years now. Around this exact time when I was twenty, I was fumbling through writing my first two ever pieces: ‘Just a Drunk Kiss’ and ‘Where the Fraggles Roam.’ Heck, you can even watch me performing for the first time ever in front of a live audience here and here. Anyone who’s seen me perform as of late can vouch that I have, thankfully, come a long way.

Starting out doing slam, I participated in open mics and talent shows when I could. It wasn’t until 2013 that I participated in the Ashland Poetry Slam – taking first and second place each time I competed. Then New Zealand happened and I didn’t touch poetry for an entire year. Oh sure, I might’ve dabbled a poem or two while there, but traveling, wrangling livestock, hitchhiking, drinking with people from all over the world, and constant searching for free WiFi took up the majority of my time. Anyway, now I’m at the Portland Poetry Slam, which is awesome and I’ve met a ton of cool people and I’m writing a lot again and yay for the way life works out!

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My “still in shock that I won a slam” face.

Okay, enough of the boring history of my adult poetry life. To the self promotion!

A poem of mine was featured on Voicemail Poems yesterday. It’s a poem that I’m sure most people from the PDX Poetry Slam are getting a little sick of hearing, but it’s one I’m very proud of. It’s called “i will not beg for scraps” that I wrote for the final competition to get into IWPS last August. (Fair warning: there’s some profanity in the piece.)

If you can’t listen to it for whatever reason, the text can be read here. Anyway, I’m just happy that it got chosen to be featured and am pleased that so many people have been telling me good things. I feel like I have a lot of good things coming my way poetry-wise this year, so if this is how I kick off 2015 then bring on the other eleven months.

That… is literally all I have to say as of right now. But I’ve got a sure to be excellent entry I’m gonna write on Monday about the amazing weekend I have coming up… Stay tuned!

JGask out.

PS. Make sure to check out  more of Voicemail Poems collection over on their Tumblr and Soundcloud!

Mundane Monday: Life Back in the States.

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Hey there readers! What’s up? What’s happening? What’s cracking? Enjoying the lovely weather we’ve been having?

So, I’ve officially been home in the States for a month and 3.5 weeks now. On the one hand, it feels like I never left the USA; on the other, when I close my eyes, I can still see New Zealand, so crisp and clearly in my mind. It feels like it’s been eons, but also like I’ve only just left. A contradiction, to be sure, but I’m sure you all understand that feeling I’m trying to describe.

It’s been… rough. Okay, rough may be a harsh word, but readjusting back to States life has certainly been difficult. There’s a lot you have to get used to when you’re no longer living out of a backpack and trekking to a new place every few days. As I’ve said, I’m happy to be home, but my wanderlust has not simmered. I’m aching to get back out into the world.

All right. Enough small talk. What have I been up to lately?

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Fan Girl Friday: Genie, I’m Gonna Miss You.

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williams1

Celebrity deaths don’t normally hit very close to home for me. Don’t get me wrong, when a beloved celebrity passes on I take time to reflect on their work, on their life, and on life in general. It’s always sad … Continue reading →