19. Writing and parenting simultaneously w/ Sara Burnett

For parents, the responsibility for our kids plus the rest of life’s challenges can be overwhelming. But the people we were before don’t completely disappear. So how do you nurture these different parts of yourself and fulfill the responsibilities of parenthood?

Joining today’s show is Sara Burnett, an author, former English teacher, and mom of two little ones. After a traumatic event, she discovered that writing poetry helped her process her emotions. This encouraged her to make writing a focus in her life—even through motherhood.

Sara challenged her assumptions about parenting and writing and implemented habits that supported letting these two identities exist simultaneously. By attending writing-related events, she found a supportive community and gained the confidence to push past rejection letters and finally publish her book of poems.

Get valuable advice on learning to believe in yourself and tips on submitting your work in this episode. Plus, you’ll hear two special readings from Sara’s new poetry book, Seed Celestial.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Sara’s writing journey
• How she fell into poetry to process trauma
• Learning to write as a parent
• Defining a close reading
• Sara’s first poem reading
• Advice on sharing or submitting your poetry
• Embracing the spirit of rejection
• Finding community at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference
• Erin’s experience attending the Dodge Poetry Festival
• Inspiring quotes from female writers who are also moms
• What Sara is working on now
• Books she loves and books she reads to her kids
• Sara’s second poem reading

About Sara:

Sara Burnett is the author of Seed Celestial, winner of the 2021 Autumn House Press Poetry Prize. She has published in Barrow Street, Copper Nickel, Matter, PANK, and elsewhere. In addition to writing poetry and essays, she also writes picture books.

Sara also worked as a public high school English teacher. She holds an MFA from the University of Maryland and an MA in English Literature from the University of Vermont. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two kids, ages 5 and 2.

Get her book:

• Seed Celestial: https://amazon.com/Celestial-Autumn-House-Poetry-Prize/dp/163768052X/

Connect with Sara:

• Website: https://www.sararburnett.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sara.burnett.52
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sararburnett 

Books discussed during the show:

• Stephanie Burt
• Natasha Trethewey
• Mark Doty
• Naomi Shihab Nye
• Emily Dickinson
• Shell Silverstein
• The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mind-Baby Problem by Julie Phillips
• Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery
• Tess of the d'Urbervilles: A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented by Thomas Hardy
• The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Douglas Carlton Abrams and Jane Goodall
• There Are Still Woods by Hila Ratzabi
• Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
• Take Five and The Magic Moment by Nial

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