Tag: art

call for submissions, Celebrations, garden of neuro, napowrimo, national poetry month, poetry, prompts, short story, workshop, writing

What now?

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld
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First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! If you participated in any way for National Poetry Month, BRAVO to you!

Do you have a stack of poetry to read, edit, scratch your head over? Where do you go from here?

There nothing quite like a critique group to help you sort this out. Do you have such a group? They are out there. Check with other poets to find out where they go. In this area of North Carolina there is an excellent group via Living Poetry. Here’s a link to check it out! https://www.meetup.com/living-poetry/events/305658373/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link

Poets and Writers AKA PW.org has a variety of groups, including online critique groups. You can check them out here: https://groups.pw.org/browse-all-groups

There are others, I have no doubts. Just ask around and I bet you find a group. Anything I have worked on via a critique group has been published and rather quickly.

Poetry Editors can also be helpful. You will have the advantage of 1:1 feedback. It takes a bit of time to find that right match. This is often a paid service unless you work out a mutual feedback relationship.

Meet others in common at Poetry Workshops. Chances are that if you put it out there that you would like a writing partner, you will find someone or a group to work with. I participate in a weekly prompt workshop. In this it’s up to you to be prompt centric or to veer off. I tend to veer off. It’s a PW.org group called The Time is Now. It only last about 30-45 minutes and it helps to interact with others.

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You have polished your work and now is the time to publish. There are multiple journals accepting submissions. Where do you find them? I use Duotrope. because I like the feedback feature in which you can determine if the publisher is a good match. There is also a tracking feature for all your submissions. As one who runs a Facebook group, I share when I find what sound like good matches. I especially focus on paying publications, preferably ones who don’t charge.

Submittable is another option for finding a variety of places to submit.

As an editor for FineLines.org I recommend this journal, which has been around for 35 years, for submissions of poetry, art, essays, short stories, and photography.

There are also several calls for submissions from poets and writers of which I regularly have contact. Here they are:

Feed the Holy

Chewers by Masticadores

Masticadores USA

Latinos USA

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Have you found that National Poetry Month has helped you with all the prompts? Check out the options for regular prompts.

Living Poetry has regular prompts and you can even share your work on their blog.

Metaphor Dice are fun for creating metaphors. You can make a game of these.

Garden of Neuro Institute has frequent poetry prompts and events in their Poetry Group. There are also regular workshops and open mics.

Wordsmith Weekly is a Saturday group in which attendees work with prompts and share.

If you are interested in a special Call for Submissions with a specific theme, you might want to check out this one: https://www.gardenofneuropublishing.com/

I hope this is helpful. There is a lot more information out there, but I thought I would open up the discussion.

Happy Writing!

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If you have a completed manuscript, feel free to submit to ProlificPulse.com We are reviewing submissions for 2026.

Announcements, Celebrations, poetry, Poets & Events

Happy Book Birthday 🎂 Joni Caggiano

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Congratulations to Joni Caggiano! It’s been 1 year since her poetry collection “One Petal at a Time” has been released.

To celebrate we’re having a Kindle .99 sale!

Access the link here: https://amzn.to/4lxHRrs

While you’re there, check out all the beautiful reviews!

Thank You 🎉🎈🎂🎊

Announcements, art, Book Announcements, poetry

Announcing: End of Earth – Kindle Exclusive!

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Poet Nolcha Fox and Artist Mike Armstrong have known each other for over 30 years. It is only natural that this would result in an amazing collaboration. “End of Earth – A Collaboration of Poetry and Painting” is the result. The rich, colorful, expression of art by Armstrong encouraged Fox’s poetic muse to create these thought-provoking poems. Such a collaboration is like no other and, well, you must see this for yourself. It is a little book with a big WOW factor. This would make a lovely gift for art and poetry lovers.

What do others have to say?

End of Earth, a Collaboration of Poetry and Painting, by Nolcha Fox and Mike Armstrong is ekphrastic art at its finest, a seamless coming together of vibrant brushstrokes and memorable lines in poem after poem. From “They circle” we have “Ah, they are money vampires. / They tell me they can hook me up, / no, cook me up in style.” The wit, music, and metaphors that comprise Nolcha Fox’s style are alive and well in End of Earth; it contains some of her best recent work. She is our contemporary Emily Dickinson, but also an original, fulfilling the potential of her poetic self in this new book.

Peter Mladinic, author of House Sitting, and The Homesick Mortician

Without a doubt, Nolcha Fox is the most interesting, inventive writer of poetry on the scene today.

John Yamrus, author of Present Tense

And now, January 25-31 there’s a .99 Kindle Exclusive Deal! https://a.co/d/i1Fpf50

Irony won’t be wasted! As January 25 is National Florida Day, let’s honor Mike Armstrong, the Artist of this team. He is in Sunny Florida!

Announcements, interview

Getting to Know Mike Armstrong

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Recently, Mike Armstrong, the artist for End of Earth, responded to my many interview questions.

– Please tell us a bit about yourself and your journey as an artist. – What inspired you to start creating art? How would you describe your artistic approach, style, and the themes you often explore in your artistic creations?

Long ago, I was born in Beautiful Birmingham Alabama. Fortunately, I received early Art instruction. I threw my first pot in the 3rd grade. It was a mess. I have taught Sculpture since. 

Not being the ‘greatest’ High School student, I was released, by some of my teachers, to go to the Art room where I never made less than an A. 

At the University of Alabama, I majored in Painting/Ceramics. Also studied Art and Art history at Santa Monica College and U.C.L.A. 

I’m right brained and left-handed

Your Poetry and Art Book:

– Congratulations on your latest poetry and art collaboration! Can you give us an overview of what readers can expect from it?

I hope that our readers will explore its depth and lightheartedness. In other words, I hope that they get it.     

Rotate book cover to the left and see something different. NOT to be strange, rotate pages 22 and 24 left-I see you. Be afraid– 

Creative Process:

– Could you walk us through your creative process when creating a new painting? – Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into the right mindset for painting? – How do you know when a painting is “finished?”

The creative process requires both mental and physical energy. I have recently moved my studio from the commercial Brevard Art Guild, where painting and associating with other artists was a plus, to my home studio which is convenient.

My non-representational work starts with adding a shape and a color to a usually blank canvas. Analyze, repeat. Finishing can be problematic-could take a week (record), or never. Yes, I have a lot of unfinished work.

– Many poets infuse their work with personal experiences or social commentary. Are there any recurring themes or messages in your art? – Are there any messages you hope readers take away from your art?

Although I do not aim for realism, I must be influenced by water. I grew up with a creek in my back yard and now live on the ocean. Also, many years of camping in the beautiful mountains of northern California are strongly remembered. 

Named paintings are “Mountains” and “More Mountains.”

I often utilize a straight line, perhaps it represents sea line or–back to earth.

My work is spontaneous and has no intentional outcome. It is both mindless, reactive, and sometimes stressful.

– Who are some artists who have influenced your work? – Are there any other art forms or sources of inspiration that impact your art? – How do you navigate the fine line between drawing inspiration from others’ work and maintaining your own unique voice as an artist?

 I am a fan of Willem De Kooning.

I was very much influenced by High School teacher, Deliska Skinner who guided and tolerated me for 3 hours, 5 days a week. Angelic. 

Alvin Sella often frightened his students into hard work at the University of Alabama. With me, he was kind and gentle. Check him out. 

Santa Monica College provided me with years of world travel and museums. A great Art department. 

While at U.C.L.A., I would have to leave the all-night sessions in the photo lab only because the janitor was coming to work, and I had his parking space. Don’t think that I was supposed to be there– 

Audience and Reception:

– Who do you envision as your target audience for this book? – What do you hope readers will gain or feel after viewing this collaboration? – How do you handle feedback or criticism of your art, both positive and negative?

When being reviewed, I listen for sincerity. It’s great when a viewer sees something that I have not, yet, considered.

– Any final words of encouragement or wisdom for aspiring artists reading this

interview?

For encouragement?? Yes, I’ll take all you can give. Oh yes, practice, practice.

Thank you, Mike Armstrong, for your interesting responses. I feel like I know you a little better.

Have you picked up your copy of End of Earth?

Order yours today!