SBM's Poetically Powered, February, Rewriting your inner voice
Welcome to Poetically Powered Newsletter! I am so grateful for you to want my words in your mailbox.
Last time we went over poetry process and I wanted to touch more into that. When I have a poem come to me it’s like a lightning strike. Basically, like a possession that I can’t shake until I write it down. If I don’t write it down then the poem just evaporates into the ether.
Poetry is a fickle thing. Inspiration is a wanton master. It likes to tell me what to do and if I don’t listen it will just come a gas binding with the atmosphere.
I’ve been told how I talk is how I write. I would text friends and say some crazy shit and they would tell me later you literally write how you talk. When you see me perform, I don’t change into another person or personality. What I try to do is access the point in my life, the moment this happened, and access the emotions I denied.
When I write, I see images, taste things, hear lines repeat and build in my head. Generally an image will form or an image will trigger it. Sometimes a smell or a certain thing will poke inspiration. Lots of times I can’t finish a meal without writing an idea out and then the food is cold.
Movement will trigger poetry. There really isn’t anything that doesn’t inspire it. Sometimes when I’m decompressing and watching a movie someone will say something and I’ll save it later as a ghost line.
I just got finished with my Self-Compassion workshop with Guerilla Poets. I remind myself that self compassion isn't just something that I thought was never attainable. That I'm rewriting the inner monologue in my head. That I'm saying to myself that I deserve kindness as much as anyone else. That this inner voice inside me is getting an overhaul. That it is learning to see things not with a rose colored tint but with the kind of outlook that sees we're all human. And imperfect.
I believe that inspiration is everywhere, it’s just waiting for you to access it.
Some information on my workshops and projects:
Talking about the Mental Highway, I do have a workshop with WAN Academy on June 6th doing just that. Writers, non-writers, poets, people who don’t call themselves poets but are pretty adept at words are all invited. To buy tickets for that is this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wan-academy-tapping-into-your-poetic-mental-highway-w-sarah-bellum-mental-tickets-254927183067?aff=sbm
If you share that link with others, I get a commission for tickets sold, and this does help me out. Also, if you’re a WAN Poetry member, sit easy and know that it’s free.
I am working on two workshops with them on Friday and Saturday for a safe space for survivors workshops. These workshops are called “Surviving Speaks Poetry Part I and Part II.” You can be a non-writer and just come to be in a group. You can write if you want, or write later if it comes to you.
Besides that, you can watch me with the Worldwide Poetry League with WAN Poetry on February 28th at 8 pm CST, and that is virtual.
Catalysts is back! We are doing Tuesdays instead of Thursdays at 6pm CST. Sign up is: https://sarahbellummental.com/poeticworkshops/
And a workshop I’m excited about to offer is an Erotica Workshop, Touch The Poetic Pulse, Friday, February 11th, at 6:30pm CST. Sign up is: https://sarahbellummental.com/touch-poetic-pulse-workshop/
My books are still available if you’d like me to take them home with you. Poetically word-wise, of course. Every bit helps, and I will do nice shit for you to send with your book and goodies.
I got Trigger Warning with Bloodmoon Poetry, an anthology for survivors that I’m published in— “Honey Pot,” which is one-minute slam poetry I competed within Slam Mania III. The proceeds from selling the book go to a survivors’ network so that you will be supporting a good cause with it. I’m planning to buy a copy myself. I also got an anthology with Guerilla Poets coming out soon and another anthology, Good Looks, I’ll be a part of.
The March shop is live! Ah! https://sarahbellummental.com/merch/ I’m so jazzed and also nervous? Here’s the link. I love the poems turned into shirts. We’ll be having more. I offer too—just the beginning. Also, my logo image that Shane Mainer made for me is one of the creators of Guerilla Poets.
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*What I’m Reading: Reading Currently Born In A Second Language, The Body Keeps The Score, and Self-Compassion books.
*What I’m listening to Labor by Son Lux (I use Spotify and have like a lot of random music I like that they offer)
*What I’m getting ready for Re-memorizing stuff for WOWPS 2022 and the Moth’s Story Slam https://themoth.org/
*What I’m writing: Anything that connects me to the past. Currently, a piece on being told I have Imposter Syndrome. Which, yeah, no. But, I will admit I really just thank people so much for being sweet/kind/compassionate to me. It means a fuck ton.
*What’s haunting me: A winter storm waiting for me, how to convey some stories that haunt me, prepping for the Moth Story Slam.
To all those who hear me, thank you. To all those struggling with kindness or self-compassion for yourself, I see you, I am you, but I know you’re magnificent. Be kind always to your mind.