I don’t define myself as a writer and never thought I’d be able to support myself writing poetry. So, I always had a real-sort of half joking here-job, I was fortunate, I loved my job managing group homes for developmentally disabled kids and helped take care of them as they became men. I enjoyed it more than writing and felt it was more important. It also gave me something to write about and from being around people different than me-and not just the residents since I was usually the onlywhite caucasian on staff-I got to appreciate and understand different viewpoints, deepen my empathy. I also think that not having my income dependent on my writing in any way makes it free and pure without any kind of outside influence. I can write what, when, and how I want to write and never worry what anyone says.

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Basically, try not to worry too much about getting published or feel too bad when the rejections roll in. I always look at it as if one person didn’t like my work enough to publish it. I don’t go into why and often I tell myself that there’s a good chance that the editor probably doesn’t write as well as I do. Just re-read it, maybe tinker with it if you feel it needs it and send it somewhere else without thinking, treat it like factory work. So you can move on to write, focus on your new poem(s).

I don’t feel connected to the world of literature, but as an outsider I have this sense that there’s a kind of over sensitivity trying to take over. Disturbing people, making people uncomfortable and examining rough subjects by seeing/showing it from different angles is one of the main reasons I read and write. So, I don’t really appreciate trigger warnings and I have no trouble separating the writer from the work and unless I know the writer fairly well I don’t care what the writer did or does in his life. Anyone should be able to write about anything. 

Either I still have that working class, Friday to Friday, paycheck to paycheck mindset I grew up with (though I never worked physically hard in my life and have a pretty comfortable lifestyle) or I’m just a cheap sucker, but I rarely spend money on writing. Though one time I got a call out of nowhere and was asked to read at The Long Beach Poetry Festival. They didn’t offer any money and I’d get 15-20 minutes to read. I thought damn I could take the subway and do the exact same thing down in the East Village. But after seeing I had enough miles to get a free flight and arranging to stay with a couple of friends and I also found out that 2 of my all time favorite bands, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Rascals on their reunion tour were playing in the area and thinking damn no one ever asked me do something like this before, I said yes. It was a noon to eight o’clock reading and they gave me a great slot. I’d be reading before the main star, Tony Hoagland, and the place was full. I read 6 poems and read the best I ever read and I could tell I just kicked ass. Afterwards, people came up to me, said a bunch of good stuff and that they followed my work for years-that was a shock-and I sold all forty of my books and broke even.