Completely Bare: Uncensored Poetry

30/30 Project (February): Overview and Day #1

Creating art is an iterative process.

Each stage of creation pushes the art form more deeply, inspiring a transformation akin to the chrysalis of a butterfly emerging from the protection of the cocoon.

As a reader, it can be easy to forget that many drafts have haunted the final work in your hands. Regardless of what some may say, no one writes glorious art on the first attempt.

Many hours are spent thinking, researching and imagining before a word is written. And then, even with the help of tools such as Grammarly or AI writers, at least one draft is considered, reviewed, edited and, more often than not, toyed with. Should the work be written differently, are additional ideas needed, or are existing concepts deleted? Even when it is decided to publish the work, many writers remain uncertain whether the piece is “good enough” to publish.

So, publishing unedited first drafts of a poem daily for a month sounds like torture.

And yet, this is precisely what I am doing!

This activity is primarily being pursued for a good cause: promoting awareness of poetry, making the reading and writing of poetry more accessible, and raising funds to support emerging poets.

However, I also wanted to challenge myself with something outside my comfort zone.

Selected as an Ambassador Poet for Tupelo Press, I, along with other Poet Ambassadors, are taking part in their 30/30 program. I have been allocated the month of February 2024.

Now, if you worry about being “good enough” and compare yourself to others, as I all too often do, then this is hell!

However, I have decided to lean into the discomfort.

The rewards will vastly outweigh the pain of letting go of perfectionism, vulnerably opening myself up to new experiences and embracing every experience as an opportunity to share, learn and grow.

And that’s why I have chosen to publish these daily drafts on Medium: to rip away the veil of mystery surrounding the craft of poetry.

No one gets it right the first time or even the second time.

It is a process of continuing to refine, rework and review. Hundreds or thousands of clunky sentences have been written for every beautifully crafted phrase.

Equally, as writers, we must never assume to determine meaning for the reader. The alchemy of the written word and the reader’s art of reading create meaning and art. And readers can find insight and inspiration from an unedited draft as easily as a finished product.

So please read along following the Sub Heading: 30/30 February 2024 Tupelo Press. I will aim to publish all poems through Illumination; however, if, for some reason, that doesn’t happen, I will self-publish to keep the process ticking along.

As I noted earlier, the 30/30 Project is about raising awareness, making writing accessible and supporting emerging writers, some of which require funds.

Consequently, I am seeking donations for Tupelo Press. I appreciate every cent donated and want to ensure you receive lots of value from your generosity. Every donor will receive a weekly newsletter overviewing my work for the week. I will share my thoughts about my inspiration, writing process and various styles I am trialling. Go to my donation page here to learn more about the donation process.

To kick things off, Day #1 was something I crafted a little while ago.

https://readmedium.com/lost-3d7be1631161