I'm Back 'Cause I Missed You (and Poetry)

Your survey responses, a poem about our cat + a new perk for paid subscribers

Hello to faithful readers and those who are new—welcome! By way of (re)introduction I’d like to say that although I said in January I’d be taking a break from weekly Substack writing, I changed my mind. Again. Why? Because I miss you! And I miss sharing poems and Bright Ideas. Read on to hear more.

Thyme the cat on our deck, June 2023. (It is February, friends. There is nothing green in my Seattleland yard right now.)

Mesmerized (watching my grandson’s cat)

Tabby in the sunlight stares

while I fix my eyes, watching him

watch, alert to any stirring that would

ensure life is present–a flutter, a whisker, a

whisper, anything to reveal even one breath 

of sure thing in spite of what he sees.

I wait, too, listening and looking for

the day’s subtle unfolding at the edge of morning,
sunshine the only sure thing on the horizon.

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Each day, after our adopted cat Thyme-y crunches through his morning kitty kibble, he meows to be let out so he can assume his watch from the upstairs deck. He looks quite regal-calm, observant, still-and surveys the yard and garden, alert for any movement—mostly of wings. We have a lot of birds in our Seattle backyard. His quiet stance is a nudge to remind me of how I might wait for a message too, maybe not on the wings of a bird but underneath, where the Holy Spirit speaks.

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Speaking of speaking …Your Questionnaire Responses

Thank you to everyone who took time to answer my January questionnaire! Your feedback and comments provided two discoveries:

1. My idea to craft a video workshop was a no-go. Friends, although 70% of you had an interest in hearing more about such an endeavor, I do not have the bandwidth for such an undertaking. However, I do have another idea for virtual connecting—you’ll hear more about that in a bit.

2. Gleaning your survey responses also revealed a wide array of Poets You Read, including many fellow Substack poets—Kimberly Phinney, Tanner Olson, Rachel Welcher, Anna Friedrich (and me!) Thank you for introducing me to new poets, particularly Rosemerry Trommer and Sheila Petre.

   Here are the Top Ten Poets you mentioned:

   1. Emily Dickinson

   2. Gerard Manley Hopkins

   3. Malcolm Guite

   4. Mary Oliver

   5. Naomi Shihab Nye

   6. Robert Frost

   7. Rosemerry Trommer

   8. T. S Eliot

   9. Tanner Olson

   10. Wendell Berry

And this is my favorite ‘extra’ note, “I am not an avid reader… though I have a pretty good stack of collections that I am perusing in order to find poets who resonate with me.”

Resonating. Isn’t that what all good poetry does?

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So, Now that I’m back, what can you expect?

Writing regularly on any platform—whether my author website as I used to or here on Substack—requires sustainability in order to continue. I am learning to balance my desire for sharing what I love—poetry—connecting with readers—You!—and the boundaries of my life—what’s actually doable—the sustainable part.

Here’s what I landed on, a plan that involves a work in progress I’ve alluded to before. This project is a combination of poetry and devotional reading that will combine three things:

• 52 Poems from my previous two books—Hearts on Pilgrimage: Poems & Prayers and Mining the Bright Birds: Poems of Longing for Home

• Some background on the writing of each poem

• Reflective questions/prompts for your response

This will be a weekly journal-ish volume to accompany readers during their moments of quiet to sit and listen to God, to read, reflect and respond to what they hear.

The working title is “Poems as Prayers—52 Reflections for Response” and I am collating poems and questions as we speak.

My book brainstorm has been shared with a couple of acquisitions editors for possible publishing or I may end up self-publishing it as my first two books were. To that end, I thought it’d be encouraging (and doable) to share with you each week the poems and prompts I’m putting together, inviting your connection and response here on Substack. The community that gathers around the Comments on Poetry & Made Things is the best part of writing online, so if you are not already a Subscriber, please be sure to sign up now so you won’t miss a post.

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This next bit is something I’ve spent some time pondering and am more convinced than ever that quality work, especially when it offers free and valuable content, merits financial support.

Becoming a Paid Subscriber

Substack aficionado Sarah Fay (Writers at Work) describes one model of offering paid subscriptions as “the NPR model.” This is like the public station you provide a monthly gift to for jazz or classical music; your money goes simply towards support of music you love. It’s not a transactional process where your money provides you with the purchase (although you may get a coffee mug).

I am fond of the NPR model as well when it comes to writing and am adopting that for Poetry & Made Things. All of my posts are FREE for everyone, there is nothing behind a paywall. These freebies include downloads of poetry writing how-to’s, links to a Top Ten Tips sheet for maximizing your Substack, and a 12 month checklist to hone in on your self-publishing process.

I even created a free Poet Scribe notebook for copying and memorizing 12 classical poems (great if you’re homeschooling kiddos!) You’ll find those freebies on the Poetry & Writing Resources tab and on The Random Writer tab. There is nothing behind a paywall.

If you find value in what I have to share and choose to become a paid supporter, your monthly (or annual) commitment is an ‘atta girl!’ that keeps me going. And when you become a paid subscriber for only $5.00 a month, financially supporting work you find meaningful also makes you a patron, someone who advocates for creatives and encourages them as well.

What does your support go towards? I’m so glad you asked. $5/month (or $50/year) helps cover costs for things like my author website- www.jodyleecollins.com—a Zoom account and of course, keeping up the supply of my favorite pencils (Blackwing Pearls) as well as coffee. I do live near Seattle, after all.

(The Subscribe button is at the bottom of this post by the way and in the top right corner of your newsletter.)

A Paid Subscriber Perk—A Monthly Video Meet Up

As an added layer of ‘thank you’ for everyone who is a paid supporter I will be offering exclusive access once a month for a “Thinking Poetically” Zoom call to discuss the past month’s poetry posts, or share what you’ve been reading, and if you would like to, read a favorite poem or two aloud.

These Zoom meetings will be 1 hour long on a weekday morning and will be recorded. Replays will be available (still fine tuning that). In addition to discussing the monthly poems and reflection questions, there’ll be a chance to share your written responses (TOTALLY optional) or your poem if you wrote one in response. Also totally optional. Or maybe you have some writing questions to brainstorm. I’m not sure. I’ll craft the content and direction based on who signs up and will adjust accordingly.

If you’re interested in these get-togethers and don’t want to become a paid subscriber, there will be a stand alone fee of $10 to sign up for each Zoom meeting. (See what I did there?)

If you’d like access to these monthly small group gatherings and are interested in providing a monthly ‘atta girl’ for my writing, there’s a button for that. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Can’t commit to monthly support? You can always buy me a coffee… Just click on the button below!

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I’ve thought of this next bit as the awkward transition between Worship and Announcements on Sunday morning at church.

An Editor & Consultant Offering

Since 2017, along with my own weekly writing and publishing three books, I’ve worked with over 20 different writers in all genres as an Editor & Consultant. This role is one I relish a great deal and offers me the chance to pass on what I’ve learned in the 12+ years I’ve been writing online, as well as what I’ve learned as an indie and small press published author.

I have edited thousands of words, coached people on everything from poetry to picture books and helped guide writers through marketing their books and messages via Substack. My favorite thing to do? Consulting with authors on their Self-Publishing projects. It is so rewarding to help people find wings for their words.

Got a project in mind? Something you’re working through? Simply need a listening ear to gain some clarity? I would love to brainstorm with you on your project. Here’s why you can confidently choose to work with me—simply click HERE to read what others have said.

Our call includes a Substack/writing assessment ahead of time, four ‘Bedrock’ Clarifying questions to guide our conversation—

• What is your project challenge? CONTEXT

• For whom are you writing? AUDIENCE

• What is your goal for your writing? FOCUS

• What is your passion? CORE MESSAGE

And AFTER our meeting

• A recording of our conversation

• A Written plan with 7-10 actionable steps

• A Follow up email

• 7 days of Voxer or email access

Interested? SIMPLY CLICK THIS LINK to set up a Clarity Call today—30-min $99, 60-min. $149. I look forward to helping clarify your writing goals!

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Well, that was a lot, yes?

I so appreciate you reading to the end and want to thank you for the payment of the the most priceless thing you can offer—your time and attention via your email address. Inboxes get crowded, I appreciate you making space in yours for my words.

Stay tuned next week for the first installment of “Poems as Prayers: 52 Readings & Reflections.”

~Jody

P.S. If you are a fellow writer, have a look at the new section on my Substack called “The Random Writer” with tips and freebies and downloads on everything from Substack to 12 Steps to Self-Publishing. Check it out! HERE’S THE LINK