News
I’ll be on Rattle Magazine’s Rattlecast this Sunday night
Tune in Sunday night, June 8th, 7pm Central for the weekly Rattlecast where I’ll be talking poetry and reading a few poems. Catch it live or watch later at: https://www.youtube.com/live/-dhiv84_hE4
June 28 Workshop (and a podcast interview)
I’m featured on Advocacy Is Medicine, the most recent Nebraska Alliance for Physician Advocacy podcast, talking about what I’ve been up to lately. Also, I’m leading a writing workshop for them on June 28th, it’s open to the public (registration required) so please join us!
To register, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl_quSkpqbrq1P-xyzODZHK_XXI-KRWNWt2aOOw199y50hPA/viewform
And for the podcast, you can listen in here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matt-mason-ne-state-poet-and-physician-writing/id1726854857
Poem of the Day at Rattle
My poem “I Owe You a Poem” is today’s poem of the day on Rattle.com (and you can still see it (and hear it, if you like) at: https://rattle.com/i-owe-you-a-poem-by-matt-mason/ ). It’s for my mom and, really, for everyone, so thanks, Rattle, for publishing it.
My May and June Schedule, catch an in-person or online event
I have a few things coming up, including a number of online events open to all!
5/2, 6-8pm I’m one of the “friends” for the Toddfather And Friends reading at Pageturners Lounge (5004 Dodge, Omaha).
5/4, 7-8:30pm, I run an online writing workshop based on The Great British Baking Show for Button Poetry. It’s about being fearless with first drafts and, yes, there will be someone declared Star Writer at the end. $25. For more information and to register, go to: https://buttonpoetry.com/product/button-university-matt-mason-workshop/
5/19, I’ll be featured as the Rattle Poem of the Day at https://rattle.com/
5/31, at the Loess Hills Seminar, I lead a writing workshop titled “Writing Down the Outdoors.” Info will be up soon at https://www.loesshillsprairieseminar.com/
6/8, I’m featured on Rattle’s online Rattlecast, 7pm. All the info is up at https://rattle.com/page/rattlecast/ and you can also watch afterward at that same site.
6/14, 10-11:30, lead online writing workshop for NE Poetry Society called Playlist: Turning Songs Into Poetry. To register and find more information, go to: https://www.nepoetrysociety.org/event-details/playlist-turning-songs-into-poetry
6/27, 4pm, I lead a program aimed at teens at the Broken Bow Library Program.
In addition, I’ll be running writing workshops for physician groups as well as visiting a few schools and communities for events.
March and April Event Schedule!
As we get into celebrating April, also known as “National Poetry Month,” I have a lot going on. It all starts next week at the annual conference for the Association of Writers & Writing Programs in LA before heading around Nebraska to Wymore, Kearney, York, Holdrege and more:
Friday, March 28, 6-9pm: I read at Literary Lights: Rooftop Party With Red Hen Press and The Good Life Review (an AWP Conference off-site event) at Top of the Hub, 700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA. I’m one of many readers for this event at a swanky rooftop venue.
Saturday, March 29, 9-10:15am: I’m on a panel at the AWP Conference titled An Early Spark: Writing Poems With Young People in Room 410, Level Two of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The panel is about engaging young writers from grades K-8 and also features Kai Coggin, Meg Leonard, Catherine Pierce and C.T. Salazar.
Online Event!
Friday, April 4, 6-7:30pm (Central): I feature at a Zoom reading for the Maryland Writers Association’s First Friday reading. See more at: https://marylandwriters.org/First_Fridays
Saturday, April 5, 1pm: I read at the Wymore Public Library (116 W F St, Wymore, NE 68466).
Thursday, April 10th, Noon and 7pm: I lead a noon Writing Workshop and do a 7pm reading at the Kearney Public Library (2020 1st Ave, Kearney NE 68847). You can register for the workshop at:
https://kearney.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=156134
and find information on the reading at:
https://kearney.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=156135
Sunday, April 13th, 2-5pm: A reading, discussion and workshop at the York University Prayer Chapel (900 Mayhew Ave, York NE 68467).
Tuesday, April 15, 6-7:30pm: I give a talk as part of the Iron Horse Poetry Showcase at the Nebraska Prairie Museum (2713 Burlington St, Holdrege NE 68949). I discuss how poetry took a turn for the difficult about 110 years ago and how it’s coming back as a relevant and important form of storytelling and connection. See details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/4145675918989694/
I’ll also be presenting for the Metro Omaha Medical Association, Papillion Middle School, Liberty Middle School, La Vista Middle School, Lewis and Clark Middle School, and more.
My Guest Column on Poetry is Up
My guest column in Missouri Poet Laureate David L. Harrison’s column Poetry From Daily Life has been published by the Springfield News-Leader and will be in other newspapers this week. It’s about wanting to see poetry more recognized as an entertaining form of Art and, in my opinion, I do a tremendous job of not taking any cheap shots at Ezra Pound. You can read it at: https://www.news-leader.com/story/entertainment/2024/12/15/poetry-from-daily-life-a-poem-does-not-have-to-be-something-you-study/76930047007/
Newspapers and TV Segment on my Reaching All 93 Counties
As I finished my State Poet project to bring at least one poetry project to every county in Nebraska, I got some good coverage in the Lincoln Journal Star (reprinted in the Omaha World-Herald) and also KMTV so far. KMTV’s segment does a great job with photos from deep in my term.
Here’s that TV segment:
And here’s the original story in the Lincoln Journal Star: https://journalstar.com/news/local/state-poet-completes-trek-to-bring-poetry-to-every-nebraska-county/article_6d614df6-8a4e-11ef-8c28-2717b0243888.html
The reprint in the World-Herald is available at: https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/state-poet-caps-nebraska-journey/article_5ff61ea5-17dd-57b8-bd82-78a2dcdd63f9.html
October: a Good Month to Finally Reach my 93rd County!
So, in my term as Nebraska State Poet, my goal has been to bring at least one poetry event to every county in the state. That got dicey during the lockdowns, but I’ve been catching up and, today, have 2 counties I haven’t been to but both are scheduled. The final one will be Hitchcock County, October 12th, come join me! (And if you can’t make it to that one, I have a few other good readings you can hit)
10/4, Friday 7-9pm, I read at Postscript (1434 Silver St, Ashland) for The Good Life Review at an event to introduce and celebrate Nebraska based presses and publications. Snacks, beverages, and readings!
10/6, Sunday, I read on the Porch Fest poetry stage (3511 Webster, Omaha). There’s poetry 12-6, so stop by any time, I’m up at 5pm. https://www.facebook.com/PorchfestOMA/
10/10, Thursday at 6pm, I speak at the CUMULATE Public Art Reveal at the UNK Calvin T. Ryan Library (UNK campus, Kearney). This is a permanent art exhibition by Leslie Iwai which I helped curate Nebraska poetry elements for. https://www.facebook.com/events/8095784337206337
10/12, Saturday at 1pm, I present in Hitchcock county, my 93rd Nebraska county as State Poet, come celebrate and join the reading in the TCDC Community Bldg (401 E 1st St, Trenton). This event is sponsored by the Trenton, Culbertson, Stratton and Palisade Libraries and Humanities Nebraska. https://www.facebook.com/events/1065165835332322/
10/13, Sunday at 2pm, I read with Aliyah American Horse at the Purple Dragon Paper Company (512 N Main St, Fremont). The local brewery is going to rename a couple of their brews for the day and there’ll also be a food truck, so come enjoy.
10/25, Friday at 7pm, I read some Halloween poems at the Table Rock Opera House (106 Houston St, Table Rock). There will also be opera singers, some Hamlet and more.
Also this month, I lead a couple writing groups with physicians, present at Gordon-Rushville High School, Wheeler Central HS, Summerland HS, Hartington Cedar Catholic, Nebraska Library Association Annual Conference, Hayes Center Public Schools, Lexington High School, in McCook and more.
Coverage in this month’s Omaha Magazine
“As reflected in his works, Matt Mason isn’t one for the vagaries of the self-serious and doctrinaire. Nor is he blasé about expression. Inspiration doesn’t ‘flow’ during his workshops, but settles into a clear pool; ideas aren’t swept away, but visibly ripple from each pen.
“Mason leads the Nebraska Poetry Pen Pal program, an initiative supported by the Academy of American Poets and Humanities Nebraska designed to ‘start conversations between poets from different parts of the state with varied backgrounds.’ His goal is straightforward enough: to organize at least one poetry event in each of Nebraska’s 93 contiguous counties.”
Read more at: omahamagazine.com/magazine/iamb-iamb-iamb-mat-mason-and-the-lyrical-heart-of-nebraska-poetry/
Back to School
In addition to going out to new Nebraska counties, I’m always looking to return to places… like this photo where I went back for the first time to my old grade school in Omaha!
I’m also traveling as we finish National Poetry Month, with trips to Elwood, Hayes Center and Bartlett (all first-time visits as State Poet) and a return trip to home-away-from-home McCook, where there’s a public event Thursday, April 25th at 6pm at Pour Farm, 416 Norris Ave.
Wherever you are, I hope to see you soon!