Nolcha Fox : part five

How does a poem begin?

I read poetry all the time. All the time. If I find a phrase that really strikes me, I write it in a notebook of prompts. When I’m running low on ideas, I check my notebook for inspiration.

I bookmark websites with poetry prompts (the April NaPoWriMo sites are the best!). If the prompts in my notebook don’t excite me, I’ll go to the poetry prompt websites.

One of the international group of writers I belong to has a generative writing session every other week, where we write to three prompts. Most of my poems that come out of those sessions have been published.

If all else fails, I use the Dave Birss creativity exercises. I’ve found them to be very helpful. I especially recommend:

• This ‘N’ That

• Story Dice

• Writing Ideas

Nolcha Fox : part four

How does your work first enter the world? Do you have a social group or writers group that you work ideas and poems with?

When I first started writing poetry, I sent drafts to a few close family and friends for approval (they’re all still talking to me, which is quite amazing). 

As I gained confidence and publication credentials, I joined Open Arts Forum, a forum of artists and writers, to get feedback from a more experienced community. I often run poems by them (especially the ones that I think I should bury six feet under), to determine if they’re publication-worthy.

When I’m happy with a poem after I write it, I’ll often submit without running it by anybody.

I also belong to two international group of writers through Twitter:

• One group is composed of people who write all sorts of stuff (short stories, poetry, romance, etc.) Every other week, we have an open-mic session, where we each read three works.

• The other group is composed of poets only. It’s a casual open-mic setup where we read 3-6 poems each.

Nolcha Fox : part three

How do you know when a poem is finished?

I typically finish a poem within 5-10 minutes. If it makes me laugh when I’m done, it’s finished. 

I post it to Open Arts Forum If I read it and think, “what have I done?” The forum community isn’t as hard on me as I am – so far, they’re liked every questionable poem I’ve posted.

I probably rewrite about 7% of my poems because I think they have potential and I can resuscitate them. I’ve written only a couple of poems that turned out to be real clunkers and need to be taken off life support.

Nolcha Fox : part two

How did you first engage with poetry?

I fell in love with poetry as a child, reading Alice in Wonderland and the Dr. Suess books. While the rhymes were engaging, what settled into my bones was the rhythm, the pulse, the heartbeat, the drumming that made me want to dance. Most of my poetry has a very rhythmic feel.

Those books also taught me to love the outlandish, the improbable, the unexpected. My poems reflect that, much to the dismay of my husband, who is still waiting for me to write conventional poetry.

Nolcha Fox : part one

Nolcha Fox has written all her life, starting with poop and crayons on the walls. Her poems have been published in Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Alien Buddha Zine, The Red Lemon Review, Gone Lawn, Dark Entries, Duck Head Journal, Medusa’s Kitchen and others. Her chapbook, My Father’s Ghost Hates Cats, is available on Amazon.

Website: https://nolchafox2.wixsite.com/blog

What are you working on?

This morning, I finished two poems for a Bigfoot anthology (an editor who just accepted two of my more outrageous poems ask me to submit to the anthology). I could probably write about anything, even dust bunnies under the couch. Now I’m working on a third cup of coffee.