Thursday, June 24, 2010

A Bend in the Landscape


There is something 
delicious in disappearing
listening to the wind
leaves scrape dry
against frosted earth
sun descends behind
cloud cover
fingertips chilled
crows caw
a dose of cold air.

A walk, thin veil of rain
unravels thoughts 
onto naked branches
crackle gravel road
grey clouds race 
waves of swaying trees
bend the landscape.


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2010 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Misdirection and Chili


A breeze comes in
the earth damp 
from last night’s rain
meet the blank page
in a procrastinating way.
Asian ladybugs skitter
against the window pane.
Sky full of puffy clouds
while tea brews 
a love story falls 
between the cracks
of the wooden floor.
Fishing line and wormy 
baits are needed to lure 
the words out.  
Pretend tenderness. 
There is strain, hem
and haw, spirals and
circles to loosen up
misdirection and chili,
watch birds,
wring words from 
hungry hands paint 
a stark land bright 
like the scent of pine 
trees on a cat’s fur coat.  


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2010 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Working on Goals


It's June 22nd and I hit the ground running when I got back to NYC on June 2nd.  I've been going to play readings and poetry readings, doing some of my own readings and promoting my new book.  I've also reconnected with my writing group and have been diligently working on new written pieces (both poetry and playwriting).  As well as reconnecting with family and friends.  Needless to say it's been a very busy time!!  

I was also accepted into NYFA's Entrepreneur's Boot Camp workshop which meets every Saturday from 10am to 4pm.  We have been asked to work on a business plan for our creative life.  This is not an easy task, especially since my creative work extends to theater and visual arts.  However, I thought for now I would narrow my focus and work on the creative writing, poetry portion.  

One of the NYFA members wrote up his own business plan.  Seeing P write out his own version inspired me to get cracking.  I've been writing out goals for awhile but I find myself getting antsy and have always managed to find something else to do instead.  I sat down and wrote this working draft.  I kept in mind that this is just a draft, it's a living document that I can continue to build upon.  In fact, it's just one aspect of my creative life.  I'll do the same for playwriting and visual arts.   Anyway, this is my first rough draft.  

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Briefly describe your goal for your business as an artist.
Work creatively every day. Create a schedule so that it happens.
Cultivate an audience for my writing.  As a poet, I can reach out to the poetry community and their many venues to book some readings.  There may be opportunities to promote and sell the book I just self-published.  Visit independent bookstores and book some readings to promote my book.  This falls under short-term goals. 
Work on building my website.  Create an online CV and Visual Arts portfolio of completed projects as well as works in progress. Plus link up books, blog, fiscal sponsorship onto site.  This falls under short-term goals.
Cultivate donors for these multiple projects.  I would like to raise money for these projects.  I’m receiving fiscal sponsorship through Fractured Atlas so I would like to cultivate more donations.  This falls under long-term goals.

Proposed timeline
This is a 6-month deadline.  By the end of the year, I should have a working website, booked some readings and created new work. 

********************************************************************************
It's a start.   I'll have more time to continue to refine these goals as I process all the information NYFA is throwing our way. I'm excited about pinning some of them down.  I've been consciously working on them for the past year but I think now they finally seem to be gelling.  Perhaps it needed a year of incubation in order to get to this place to start figuring out what next with the creative work.  Serendipity is a lovely thing.  



All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2010 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.