From 6 am until 11 pm on Monday, Marcy 28, Bakersfield poet Julie Jordan Scott devoted her day to doing something rarely attempted. Following inspiration from poet Bernadette Mayer's Midwinter Afternoon, Julie is going to write a book length poem, Upper La Cresta Sojourn in one day. She will be writing throughout her neighborhood and inviting people worldwide to join her through offering words, phrases and social networking support.
Later today she will update this blog post to reflect some of her insights into this experience and ofcourse, the launch of the book-length poem written on this historic day.
3/28 in the Moment Update: It is 8:13 pm and I have been either writing or on my way to more writing all day. I don't have an exact word or page count because I have been writing both on the computer and long hand. I won't have an exact word count for a week or so, since I want to put the whole project down for a few days before I pick it up for edits.
What I have learned is... single-minded devotion is exhilarating and exhausting. Right now I feel like a marathoner who has hit her wall. I am thinking of making a pot of coffee for the warmth (I am writing on the porch) and the energetic pick-me-up.
I have captured some great photos along the way as well and a video you may watch below. Normally I process through prose as I go, so it is quite a challenge to keep cranking out poetry while my "usual way of doing it" tugs on my hands and pencil.... and that is a part of this.
Taking on this challenge is NOT business as usual! I wouldn't expect it to be.
I may not update until tomorrow morning. Just wanted to let you all know what is up for now and THANK YOU for participating via prompting, encouragement, cheers, texts, etc. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!
Snapped while sitting on bench, writing. Samuel and Hank.
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From earlier today:
Julie's adventure has taken her to the San Miguel Commemorative Grove where she wrote and wrote and clicked and made a "tunnel" video. Many metaphors and words yet to be written, but here is a video clip (which was made as if you were walking the tunnel with her).
It may sound crazy yet here is why the timing is perfect: March is the end of Women's History Month. In writing Upper La Cresta Sojourn in just one day, Julie will be simultaneously making history as well as being living history. On March 28, 2011 people may elect to watch history happen as Julie writes her book length poem in locations in and around the Upper La Cresta area of Bakersfield where she lives. Her book length poem will be, as Mayer's Midwinter Day was described by Alice Notley, an "epic poem about a daily routine".
While this book length poem will focus on "One Woman's LIfe" and "This Woman's World View" the intention is to illustrate the connection all women share in their daily routines, their hopes and dreams and their uniquely feminine perspective. Throughout the day there will be driving children to school, getting the family fed, dealing with whatever issues arise and ofcourse there will be intense periods of writing and creativity, which is not necessarily ordinary for most women.
For Julie, intense periods of writing are a way of life. For many moms who are writers, writing intensely is a necessity that becomes a practical way of approaching a writing career and successfully living a creative lifestyle.
The end of March is also a warm up for National Poetry Month, where Julie will join others across both the US and the world in writing a poem a day. This is a thought that might seem daunting or daring to some, for those who have written a poem a day in April for years, it is exciting and exhilarating.
Over and above all, though, Julie Jordan Scott hopes to inspire others to give poetry a chance. To fall in love with words, to delight in putting words on a page and reading the words someone else has written. Writing locations will include Green Frog Market and the Panorama Bluffs where there will be opportunities for collaboration. Julie will have a "word and image in box" for people to contribute prompts or phrases to be woven into the poem's text. Watch for updates as they unfold right here at JulieJordanScott.com.
"This is my chance to write a love letter to my neighborhood, my people, my children and the world community. I have a profound love for collaboration, for the collective creative spirit, and for giving voice to the voiceless. My hope, prayer and intention that the poem and experience I create on March 28, 2011 will not only be memorable but it will also change lives."
To read two Warm Up Poems written on Friday, March 25 - Visit Washing Dishes with my Foremothers or Write Walk/Walk Write on the Bluffs.
You may follow Julie Jordan Scott's progress via social networking as she sends Twitter updates every hour as well as accepting twitter prompts and contributions for her poem globally on March 28. You may check out her current writing location via Foursquare.com to witness the book length poem as it is being written. You may also share writing prompts or encouragement by posting here, on this blog - from now and up until 11:59 pm on Monday, March 28.
Please be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime poetry event, Upper La Cresta Sojourn.
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