December 2021
EDITOR'S NOTE
Dear Villagers,
Thank you for the poems you sent in for this month. Many interesting takes on "Endings" that the community will enjoy. Endings can be a challenge, as people and routines and places we know and love come to a close. I've been aware of some of the difficult endings endured by members of our group over the course of this year. To those who have experienced losses of whatever kind, my heart and my best wishes go out to you. Holidays are not always filled with joy and laughter when there's an empty chair at the table. Please know that it is never wrong to step back from the hustle-bustle while you search for ways to come to terms with what's missing.
I've been giving a lot of thought to the question of what course I would like Verse-Virtual to take. After 2 full years at the helm, I feel that I have moved out of Firestone's shadow enough to put my own stamp on the editorship without leaving behind the founding principles of kindness and support that are so essential to this group. I occasionally get comments that by asking people to refrain from being negative, I am creating the potential for fawning praise. I don't see it that way. This group is not a place where people post poems for workshopping, where critique and sometimes painful feedback is expected. It was created to be, and very much is, a community where sincere praise is given when warranted, support and understanding are given when needed, and being honestly excited for someone else's success is encouraged. That's the sense of this community that I have found to be so different from other groups. Those are the behaviors that I will continue to foster.
We will continue our successful monthly reading / open mic events. The "book parties" that I hosted last year will be repeated again in the first quarter of 2022, maybe beyond, depending on interest. There may be other additions that can be made to Verse-Virtual, and if you have ideas you would like me to consider, please email them to me at "editor@verse-virtual.org".
Submissions for the January 2022 issue will be open from the 1st through the 10th of December. I review the guidelines each month, and update them as needed. They are always accessible on the Verse-Virtul.org website. Please review them before you send me your poems, and take a few minutes to reread the "About" page as well. I wish you all the peace and happiness that you can handle this holiday season, no matter which holiday(s) you celebrate.
Jim
Thank you for the poems you sent in for this month. Many interesting takes on "Endings" that the community will enjoy. Endings can be a challenge, as people and routines and places we know and love come to a close. I've been aware of some of the difficult endings endured by members of our group over the course of this year. To those who have experienced losses of whatever kind, my heart and my best wishes go out to you. Holidays are not always filled with joy and laughter when there's an empty chair at the table. Please know that it is never wrong to step back from the hustle-bustle while you search for ways to come to terms with what's missing.
I've been giving a lot of thought to the question of what course I would like Verse-Virtual to take. After 2 full years at the helm, I feel that I have moved out of Firestone's shadow enough to put my own stamp on the editorship without leaving behind the founding principles of kindness and support that are so essential to this group. I occasionally get comments that by asking people to refrain from being negative, I am creating the potential for fawning praise. I don't see it that way. This group is not a place where people post poems for workshopping, where critique and sometimes painful feedback is expected. It was created to be, and very much is, a community where sincere praise is given when warranted, support and understanding are given when needed, and being honestly excited for someone else's success is encouraged. That's the sense of this community that I have found to be so different from other groups. Those are the behaviors that I will continue to foster.
We will continue our successful monthly reading / open mic events. The "book parties" that I hosted last year will be repeated again in the first quarter of 2022, maybe beyond, depending on interest. There may be other additions that can be made to Verse-Virtual, and if you have ideas you would like me to consider, please email them to me at "editor@verse-virtual.org".
Submissions for the January 2022 issue will be open from the 1st through the 10th of December. I review the guidelines each month, and update them as needed. They are always accessible on the Verse-Virtul.org website. Please review them before you send me your poems, and take a few minutes to reread the "About" page as well. I wish you all the peace and happiness that you can handle this holiday season, no matter which holiday(s) you celebrate.
Jim