30 Habits of Highly Effective Poets: Jeannine Atkins on Multi-tasking

It's the last Poetry Friday of National Poetry Month and I am thrilled to be hosting my friend and fellow Poetry Friday blogger, Jeannine Atkins.

Jeannine and I met through Poetry Friday. She is the author of many books, including the historical verse biography, Borrowed Names: Poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J.Walker, Marie Curie and Their Daughters . (My interview with Jeannine about Borrowed Names is here.)

Jeannine has several books for children about important women in science. With her interest in science and nature, her efforts to teach girls about pioneering female scientists, and her excellence in poetry, Jeannine is an expert multi-tasker. Today, she's going to tell us how juggling tasks helps with her writing.

Here's Jeannine.

I’m not a fan of blank paper, so rarely begin there. Much of my writing is inspired by reading or paying close attention. I’m intrigued by small things I see, and pose questions, puttering through books or following threads on the computer, though WEB information often isn’t dusty or buried enough to intrigue me. I write out from the image, describing it, then the setting, and people who come upon it. I look for other concrete things that the first image calls to mind and collect those that collide or snap into place.

I find it helpful to have several projects going at once. I can embrace procrastination by goofing off on one by fiddling with another, and find that after all a poem is sneakily coming together.

Or you can always write a poem about procrastination, as I did here:

Not Today,

Mama says, There’s too much housework.

Please. Do not get sidetracked

by shirts that need pressing.

There will always be fine grime

on the china on the mantel,

corn to husk, cherries to pit, apples to core.

Ignore them. The dream begun under a tree

is sweeter than stories you tell yourself

over dirty dishes.

Life tempts most away from paper and pen,

but gently bring yourself back.

Who can resist gingerbread

with chocolate frosting,

but do you need to bake it now?         

If you must get out pots and pans,

come back and invite your distractions --

cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg -- onto the page.



 from Borrowed Names: Poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J.Walker, Marie Curie and Their Daughters (Henry Holt, 2010), © 2010 Jeannine Atkins. All rights reserved.

Some of my family's other favorite books by Jeannine are:

We especially enjoyed Becoming Little Women
after a visit to the Alcotts' Orchard House.

You'll find links to every post in my "30 Habits of Highly Effective Poets" here.

Today's Poetry Friday host is my dear friend Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference.