It has been a couple of months since I made the decision to prioritize English and Creative Writing. I am doing well grade-wise, but falling behind a bit; starting all of my classes two weeks late didn’t help. This is a large adjustment. On top of this, I am going through some health problems that I am still sorting out. Hopefully, in due time, all will be good again.

I did make it to 20 poems published before the end of the year. I am very proud of myself. Under 2 years since my first poem was published, and 19 more followed. I have some large scale goals now. Continue publishing individual poems, of course, but I want to get into one of the big magazines, like Poetry or New England Review. I am also looking to get nominated for the Pushcart Prize, but there isn’t much I can do about that except what I am doing now. My second chapbook I expect to get picked up within the year and published soon after getting picked up. My full-length collection is in the works, I do not see that getting completed any time soon. It is difficult to manage all of this with school work as well. I am figuring out a balance and getting accommodations, though. I have come to thoroughly enjoy two of my new professors, Professor Roger Gilbert and Professor Daniel Schwarz. I have had productive conversations with these wonderful people and I hope to continue to do so.

I have also studied a few poets formally now. The poets that I have studied formally include Thomas Hardy, Gerard Hopkins, W. B. Yeats, and A. R. Ammons. At least, these are the poets I have studied the most and enjoyed the most. Some Alice Fulton and Ishion Hutchinson as well. I must say I do prefer the poets of the 19th and 20th centuries. I lean away from contemporary.

I have a great poem in the blueprints; inspired by Ammons’ longer works on his typewriter tape, I want to write a poem over the course of a day, backwards. It will be a fun experiment and be presented in my full-length collection, which has a theme revolving around time.

I would like to graduate and get my degree. I was thinking about MFA versus PhD; I think that I am suited for either, but definitely a PhD. I think I am eager to write a thesis or two.

C. Walker