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Laura’s e-letter for educators

[Good News] “Winter Window”

I’m excited to have a poem in Cricket Magazine.It’s one I wrote a number of years ago, back when we had old double-paned windows with bad seals. Every winter, the hot air from the house would meet the cold air outside and, between the two panes, condense into moisture, freeze into frost particles, and make the most beautiful designs. We finally bit the bullet and replaced all our windows 2 years ago. I don’t miss the draughtiness of the old windows, but I do miss the feather-fine paintings by Jack Frost! Here’s the poem.

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p style=“text-align: left;”>It was great to get my contributor copies–I want to keep submitting poems to magazines in 2013, but it’s hard staying on top of that. So it’s motivating to hold the results in my hands!

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90 Responses

  3. Beautiful, Laura! Love “soft white shivers.” So how long did it take from acceptance to publication? My goal this year is also to submit to magazines, but the time span seems painful!

    By the way, the cover is gorgeous. Is that Alison Jay?

    1. This was actually super fast for a magazine. I submitted six poems 12/23/11. Got an acceptance email for two of them in Feb. One appeared earlier in the year, paired with an article about Rachel Carson that had been scheduled long before I submitted my poems (it was the 50th anniversary of her seminal work Silent Spring): http://laurasalas.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/poetry-friday-rachel-carson-reborn-at-sea/. And then this one appeared in the issue that came out in early December, I think. Probably the Jan/Feb issue, though the cover doesn’t have that on it. I’ve already filed away my contributor copies and am too lazy right now to go down to the basement:>) I’m not sure who the cover artist is, but isn’t that absolutely stunning? I’ll check when I head down later today.

      But I’ve had other poems to the Cricket group take at least a couple of years to publish, and one I sold to Highlights a couple of years ago might not ever publish–who knows?

        1. I was going to say the same thing–I love “soft white shivers”! I’ll be repeating those two lines in my head all day for sure! The magazine’s cover is spectacular.
          Congratulations, Laura!

  4. Beautiful, Laura! Love “soft white shivers.” So how long did it take from acceptance to publication? My goal this year is also to submit to magazines, but the time span seems painful!

    By the way, the cover is gorgeous. Is that Alison Jay?

    1. This was actually super fast for a magazine. I submitted six poems 12/23/11. Got an acceptance email for two of them in Feb. One appeared earlier in the year, paired with an article about Rachel Carson that had been scheduled long before I submitted my poems (it was the 50th anniversary of her seminal work Silent Spring): http://laurasalas.wordpress.com/2012/08/31/poetry-friday-rachel-carson-reborn-at-sea/. And then this one appeared in the issue that came out in early December, I think. Probably the Jan/Feb issue, though the cover doesn’t have that on it. I’ve already filed away my contributor copies and am too lazy right now to go down to the basement:>) I’m not sure who the cover artist is, but isn’t that absolutely stunning? I’ll check when I head down later today.

      But I’ve had other poems to the Cricket group take at least a couple of years to publish, and one I sold to Highlights a couple of years ago might not ever publish–who knows?

        1. I was going to say the same thing–I love “soft white shivers”! I’ll be repeating those two lines in my head all day for sure! The magazine’s cover is spectacular.
          Congratulations, Laura!

  7. Oh! I love it!!! A perfectly poetic image! Like Ren?e, I, too, would like to get some poem publications under my belt. Thanks for sharing a bit of your publication experience.

  8. Oh! I love it!!! A perfectly poetic image! Like Ren?e, I, too, would like to get some poem publications under my belt. Thanks for sharing a bit of your publication experience.

  9. Just lovely Laura. Perfection! What a thrill to have your beautiful poem reach so many young readers.

    1. Thank you, Cathy. It has been really exciting to have two poems in CRICKET this past year. It feels so…legitimate, somehow:>)

  10. Just lovely Laura. Perfection! What a thrill to have your beautiful poem reach so many young readers.

    1. Thank you, Cathy. It has been really exciting to have two poems in CRICKET this past year. It feels so…legitimate, somehow:>)

  11. I really like your poem! I am going to use this with my students. It will be a good one to add to my winter-time poems. Great example for them of how to take something from their lives and make it even more beautiful!! It is accessible, yet has everything I try to get them to think about for their own poems. Glad you captured your enjoyment of those frosty paintings!! And congratulations for having it in Cricket where my students can see it!!!! Good luck to Renee and Penny.

    1. Thanks, Janet! That’s one of the things I share in my school visits is how I often take things directly from my own life to write about. I love knowing you’re going to share this with your kids–thanks!

  12. I really like your poem! I am going to use this with my students. It will be a good one to add to my winter-time poems. Great example for them of how to take something from their lives and make it even more beautiful!! It is accessible, yet has everything I try to get them to think about for their own poems. Glad you captured your enjoyment of those frosty paintings!! And congratulations for having it in Cricket where my students can see it!!!! Good luck to Renee and Penny.

    1. Thanks, Janet! That’s one of the things I share in my school visits is how I often take things directly from my own life to write about. I love knowing you’re going to share this with your kids–thanks!

  13. Beautiful! I so admire your talent. Though Barbara Esbensen often encouraged me to write poetry, I think I lack the patience for it. I could sooner write a novel than craft a
    stanza.

    1. Ooh, I love poetry BECA– USE of my impatience. I draft fast, revise fast…I might spend a long time on a poem over a period of time, but I usually only spend about 5–10 minutes at a time on any poem. And if it stinks, I can ditch it without too much time invested–unlike a novel. You should definitely give it a try:>)

      Hearing Barbara speak at the MNSCBWI conference (you were RA then, right?) was the first thing that got me started thinking about poetry. So…that conference changed my life. Thank you.

  14. Beautiful! I so admire your talent. Though Barbara Esbensen often encouraged me to write poetry, I think I lack the patience for it. I could sooner write a novel than craft a
    stanza.

    1. Ooh, I love poetry BECA– USE of my impatience. I draft fast, revise fast…I might spend a long time on a poem over a period of time, but I usually only spend about 5–10 minutes at a time on any poem. And if it stinks, I can ditch it without too much time invested–unlike a novel. You should definitely give it a try:>)

      Hearing Barbara speak at the MNSCBWI conference (you were RA then, right?) was the first thing that got me started thinking about poetry. So…that conference changed my life. Thank you.

  21. Ahhh! Laura
    I am so enamored of Cricket Magazine. And you made it with enough patience, simplicity and grace!
    Last week I found one of my verses in someone else’s poem, extracted from a comment I posted.
    I privately consider that verse as having been published.There will be many more born from our collaboration.
    Sharing your glory,
    Jeanne Poland

    1. Thanks, Jeanne–and, wait, what? Someonse used your verse in his or her poem that appeared somewhere? With your permission–or without? Was it a collaborative effort? I’m hoping this was a good thing–can you share details?

  22. Ahhh! Laura
    I am so enamored of Cricket Magazine. And you made it with enough patience, simplicity and grace!
    Last week I found one of my verses in someone else’s poem, extracted from a comment I posted.
    I privately consider that verse as having been published.There will be many more born from our collaboration.
    Sharing your glory,
    Jeanne Poland

    1. Thanks, Jeanne–and, wait, what? Someonse used your verse in his or her poem that appeared somewhere? With your permission–or without? Was it a collaborative effort? I’m hoping this was a good thing–can you share details?

  23. Love the rhythm of this, Laura. Congratulations. I don’t take Cricket now, but did for a long while when I was in the classroom. It’s great for students, & I know many out there will love your poem.

    1. Thanks, Linda! I didn’t actually know CRICKET was used much in classrooms. But now a couple of you have mentioned it, and that makes me extra excited!

  24. Love the rhythm of this, Laura. Congratulations. I don’t take Cricket now, but did for a long while when I was in the classroom. It’s great for students, & I know many out there will love your poem.

    1. Thanks, Linda! I didn’t actually know CRICKET was used much in classrooms. But now a couple of you have mentioned it, and that makes me extra excited!

      1. I shared your post with my writing group. I hope it will encourage some of them to try out the children’s magazine market, so thank you again for sharing your success! 🙂

      1. I shared your post with my writing group. I hope it will encourage some of them to try out the children’s magazine market, so thank you again for sharing your success! 🙂

  29. Hooray for you and your commitment to keep sending out your work–this is lovely! Thanks for the reminder to use what we’re given. Slow down and pay attention has to become my motto again!

    1. Thanks, JoAnn. My confession: I am mostly so unobservant. I would be a horrible witness, for instance, because I wouldn’t remember anything. So it’s a treat when I feel myself *really* looking at something, taking it in. I need to do that more, too!

  30. Hooray for you and your commitment to keep sending out your work–this is lovely! Thanks for the reminder to use what we’re given. Slow down and pay attention has to become my motto again!

    1. Thanks, JoAnn. My confession: I am mostly so unobservant. I would be a horrible witness, for instance, because I wouldn’t remember anything. So it’s a treat when I feel myself *really* looking at something, taking it in. I need to do that more, too!

  35. Oooo! Congratulations. Cricket Magazine is the reason I choose to illustrate and write for children. Lovely poem: like a jewel in a lovely setting.

  36. Oooo! Congratulations. Cricket Magazine is the reason I choose to illustrate and write for children. Lovely poem: like a jewel in a lovely setting.

  37. Congratulations — I hold such a soft spot in my heart for the elegant and graceful CRICKET I read as a child. I like that some things don’t change.

    1. Cool! I never saw any children’s magazine other than HIGHLIGHTS until I was an adult. Oh, and the little newsie things (were those Scholastic?) we got at school. Yep, CRICKET has that classic feel to it, doesn’t it. Thanks!

  38. Congratulations — I hold such a soft spot in my heart for the elegant and graceful CRICKET I read as a child. I like that some things don’t change.

    1. Cool! I never saw any children’s magazine other than HIGHLIGHTS until I was an adult. Oh, and the little newsie things (were those Scholastic?) we got at school. Yep, CRICKET has that classic feel to it, doesn’t it. Thanks!

  39. Love your poem! Cricket ranks way up there as far as I’m concerned- on my wish list for publication some day.

  40. Love your poem! Cricket ranks way up there as far as I’m concerned- on my wish list for publication some day.

  41. This is such an enchanting poem, Laura. I will now always imagine that those feathers want to come inside, creep inside. Many congratulations. What a keeper and what a perfect poem to help children see how ideas are everywhere…even windows! xo, a.

  42. This is such an enchanting poem, Laura. I will now always imagine that those feathers want to come inside, creep inside. Many congratulations. What a keeper and what a perfect poem to help children see how ideas are everywhere…even windows! xo, a.

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