Meeting up with an Award-Winning Poet *nervous*

So tomorrow next week (February 16) at noon-o-clock EST time, I will be attending a lunch and workshop led by Craig Blais.

Craig Blais is an award winning poet, he has received his phD at Florida State University and he's published in a number of anthologies. He was short listed for the Philip Levine Prize in poetry, the National poetry Series, and won the 2010 Walt Whitman Award. Right now, he's got a manuscript that recently won the 2012 Felix Pollak prize in poetry, as well as a collection of poems that will be published by Spring 2013.

Today, I'm actually meeting up I will be meeting up with him shortly for a reading that he is doing. As a reporter, I will have the opportunity to ask him a few questions. So, if any of you have any specific writing-related or poetry-related questions, I'll be sure to ask him tomorrow next week.

So far...
- How many poems does he write in a day/month?
- How has he gotten into writing?
- How does his PhD influence his writing?
~ courtesy of Rosey Unicorn - thanks

- How do you overcome writer's block?
- Has poetry declined at all with the growing trend and interest in novels and other mediums? How to cope with that...?
- What is the best poem you have written?
- What is the best poem you have ever read?
- Rhyme or free-verse?
~ Thanks a lot Murtuza!

Wow, that's cool! I wish I could have that opportunity. Last year some poet came in and apparently he's well known in our state.

When you get the answers, can you share them?

That's so cool, Audy! Here's a few questions that I might throw - 1. How do you overcome writer's block - the most common enemy of any writer? 2. Even though poetry is widely known and appreciated throughout the world as an art-form in words even today, has it taken a back-seat in recent times because of the ever popular demand and interest in novels? (yea... This is a crazy long question. Sorry, and I hope it makes sense ) 3. The most difficult critique you have ever received? 4. The best poem you think you have written and the best poem you've read so far? 5. Rhyme vs. free-verse? I hope this helps! And I'm looking forward to knowing how he answers these questions (provided, you have the time to ask them, lol). Anyway, best of luck, Audy! ^.^

I know how you feel! I met author Shelley Pearsall when I was in eighth grade. She wrote Trouble Don't Last and All of the Above, two award winning books that I have read and loved. That was nerve-wracking too. Good luck! - love, Sunny

Look at that, guys. So I showed up at the meeting point today - and then looking back at my e-mail realized that in bold letters was the date: Feb 16. Not Feb 9.

Silly me. So I guess, more time to collect questions? Yes. Let's go with that.

But thanks to everyone who has responded so far! I know that was done last minute, so luckily it has all worked out in our favor. I will most definitely share as much as I can/ am allowed.

Ooh, Ooh! I've got some!

1) What/Who inspires him to write?
2) Does he need to have a specific place and conditions to be able to write? If so, what are they?
3) Where does he draw his inspiration from?

That's all!

1. Have you ever considered writing a verse novel?
2. Could you explain what the genre is about?