~ The Poet's Place Cafe~

Thanks for this, Dave.

My consistent motivation is to express my heart, so that others may be helped when they are experiencing the same things that I am experiencing at some given moment. Today's poem is the processing of grief over the passing of my mother-in-law. ""Mama is Gone.""  The first poem I ever wrote at the age of 13 was the grief over love, that never happened.

STATIC

My Heart - My First Poem Ever  (E) This is the foundation of my career as a poet. Heartbreak emotion needed this release. #2159356 by Jay O'Toole

In school, I was the student who always groaned when the teacher gave a writing assignment, that would cause me deep thought, and require me to put pencil to paper for those arduous five to ten pages of necessary excellence.

However, as an adult, I have come to cherish writing as a dear friend, whom I wish I knew better, describing features in more eloquent, honoring words. My poetry has improved over the years, and The Poet's Place Café has been a place of learning for me. I wish I had the mental tools for writing better prose. I took one course in writing about 30 years ago. I would love to find some courses or mentorship to improve my novel writing, that could transform my books from stories I tell to riveting page-turners, that people beg me to write more of.

Any advice or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Blessings Always.

Jay