What does it truly mean to sustain a literary life in 2026? Join us for a conversation with award-winning author Tara Betts as she breaks down the realities of building a writing life beyond traditional academic paths, exploring how poets can navigate between caree expectations and the vital, intuitive nature of the craft. Whether you are struggling to balance your political voice with your artistic work or looking for a sustainable path to publication, this episode provides the roadmap you need to stay authentic in an increasingly digital world.

Tara Betts is a poet, educator, and author of Refuse to Disappear and Break the Habit, widely recognized for her mentorship and community-engaged pedagogy across the Chicago-Milwaukee region and beyond. You can explore her work at tarabetts.net or find her latest publications through Wordworks Books and Trio House Press.

To elevate your writing, Tara emphasizes moving beyond a single medium: experiment with screenwriting, fiction, and non-fiction to gain broader perspective and keep a physical journal—not a digital one—to document daily observations. By diversifying your creative output and documenting real-world experiences, you build a unique creative reservoir that resonates more deeply with readers, a strategy that helped Tara pay her rent selling copies of her early self-published chapbooks, like Can I Hang?

❓❓❓ Tara talks about broadening a literary canon with poetry for everyone—not just the ivory tower. Who are the poets in your canon? What is it about their work that resonates with you?

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✍️ Elevate your writing career! Lock in your spot at the mid(we)st Lit Fest & network with established poets, sharpen your craft in expert-led sessions, and immerse yourself in the vibrant mid(we)st literary community: www.thepoetrymovement.org/midwest-lit-fest

👀 Check out our affiliate links below timestamps & show notes 👇

⏰ TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 – Intro: The Mission of the Poetry Movement

00:14:36 – Reading: "Summer Hunger" & the Art of Spare Imagery

00:23:30 – Political Poetry: Addressing Structural Violence with Tenderness

00:27:16 – Writing Process: Intuition, Rhythm, and the "Sonic" Experience

00:35:14 – Publishing Realities: The "Careerist" vs. The "Hobbyist"

00:42:03 – Pedagogy, Classrooms, and Relational Education

01:13:00 – Advice for Aspiring Writers & Closing Thoughts

🔍 TRANSPARENCY & DISCLOSURE

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase or sign up through these links, our nonprofit may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend resources we genuinely value. Your support through these links helps fund our mission and allows us to continue producing this podcast. Thank you!

🔗 LINKS TO BOOKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO

Tara Betts, Refuse to Disappear: https://wordworksbooks.org/product/refuse-to-disappear/

Tara Betts, Break the Habit: https://www.amazon.com/Break-Habit-Tara-Betts/dp/0996586431/

Diamond Ford, The Book of Alice: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Book-of-Alice/Diamond-Forde/9781668078402

Reginald Shephard, Orpheus in the Bronx: https://www.amazon.com/Orpheus-Bronx-Identity-Politics-Freedom/dp/0472099981

Kankakee Public Library: https://www.lions-online.org/

Langston Hughes Review: https://www.psupress.org/journals/jnls_LHR.html

• • Get published and earn $5/poem in our Free Email Mag: https://thepoetrymovement.org/paper-knives

💸 Grow mid(we)st poetry: https://givebutter.com/support-paper-knives-interviews

🤝 Tell Us What You’re up to!

Web: https://thepoetrymovement.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.poetry.movement

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Poetry-Movement-61563800433322/

Bridging the gap between personal trauma and the written page can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Racine-based poet Debra Hall shares her regimented writing routine, as well as how she's processed trauma. She is the author of the debut chapbook, What the Current Cannot Swallow (2026), and currently serves as the president of the Kenosha-Racine Poet Laureate committee. Hall is an advocate for the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and serves as the chair of the Kenosha-Racine Poets Laureate committee.

In this interview, she describes her rigorous writing practice. She discusses how her poetry has served as as a therapeutic tool, applying metaphors to navigate grief and trauma as she developed the emotional resilience. This conversation offers a look at how metaphors can help us navigate challenging emotional landscapes.

She mentioned a book that she couldn't remember the name of: The Crafty Poet: A Portable Workshop by Diane Lockward. We've linked it below in the Resources section.

Debra shared her '7-minute meditation + two part free-write routine. Do you structure your writing routine? to describe your current writing practice (or the one you wish you had), what would it be? Let us know below!

Support the Channel

💸 Keep Paper Knives & the Poetry Movement going with a donation: https://givebutter.com/support-paper-knives-interviews

👀 Check out our affiliate links below timestamps & show notes 👇

⏰ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Guest Background & What the Current Cannot Swallow

01:21 – Reading: "The Orange Weight of Wings"

06:02 – The 7-Minute Meditation & 10-Minute Cold Prompt Routine

09:51 – Editing & Submissions: Advice for Emerging Writers

25:45 – Metaphor as a Cognitive Tool & Influences (Nick Flynn)

31:50 – Regional Leadership: The Kenosha-Racine Poet Laureate Committee

43:50 – Writing as a Tool for Grief & The "Callus Metaphor"

🔍 Transparency & Disclosure

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase or sign up through these links, our nonprofit may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend resources we genuinely value, or which our guests have referenced. Your support through these links helps fund our mission and allows us to continue producing this podcast. Thank you!

🔗 Links to Books & Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Debra’s website: https://www.poetdebra.com

What the Current Cannot Swallow by Debra Hall (Debut Chapbook): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G4HQJ5CH?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

The Crafty Poet: A Portable Workshop by Diane Lockward: https://www.terrapinbooks.com/the-crafty-poet-a-portable-workshop.html

Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff: https://www.amazon.com/Metaphors-We-Live-George-Lakoff/dp/0226468011

Eros the Bittersweet by Anne Carson: https://www.amazon.com/Eros-Bittersweet-Essay-Princeton-Classics/dp/0691250626

Kenosha-Racine Poets Laureate: https://krpoets.weebly.com/about.html

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets: https://www.wfop.org/

Shake Rag Alley (Mineral Point, WI): https://shakeragalley.org/

This conversation with former Madison Poet Laureate Angie Trudell Vasquez explores the unique creative landscape of the Midwest. Considering the power of land stewardship in eco-poetics, this episode uncovers how regional identity shapes art and why writers must prioritize connecting with humanity over chasing external acclaim, encouraging all of us to take a creative role in our community.

Angela talks about the practical realities of a literary life and how to balance demanding professional obligations with a disciplined, edited writing practice. She shares her insights on the vital importance of "literary citizenship" in showing up for other writers, and she offers advice on staying vulnerable and allowing your work to "fail" in public as part of the creative process. She talks about how to develop a long-term relationship with your writing. 

🙋Let us know: Angie shared how attending open mics was key to building her creative network. What local event, group, or venue in your area has helped you feel part of your poetic community?

• • Join Our Email List: https://thepoetrymovement.org/paper-knives

💸Support / Donate: https://givebutter.com/support-paper-knives-interviews 

⏰ Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro: Career Highlights & Poetic Background
• 06:29 – "What in That?": Poem Reading & Inspiration
• 12:02 – From Organic to Disciplined: Evolving Your Writing Practice
• 18:08 – The Midwest Identity: Eco-Poetics & Land Stewardship
• 32:40 – Literary Citizenship: The Essential Power of Open Mics
• 39:40 – Persistence: Balancing Career, Family, and Craft
• 52:00 – Closing Advice & "The Land Speaks" Reading

🔗 Links & resources

Web: https://thepoetrymovement.org 

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@paper_knives_poetry 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.poetry.movement 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Poetry-Movement-61563800433322/ 

📣 Mentioned in this episode: 

Angela’s Website: https://angietrudellvasquez.com/about/ 

Books by Angela Trudell Vasquez: In Light, Always Light, My People Redux  

Venues/Organizations: ArtLitLab (Madison, WI), Woodland Pattern (Milwaukee, WI), The Poetry Foundation (Chicago, IL), Printers Row Book Fair (Chicago, IL), Macondo Writers Workshop (Founded by Sandra Cisneros), Art Night Books (Independent press founded by Vasquez)

Influences & Mentors: Caroline Forche, Stanley Kunitz, Allen Ginsberg, Joy Harjo, Sherwin Bitsui, Ada Limon.