Looking Back from the End of National Poetry Month 

April 26, 2021 | By: Gloria Muñoz

When National Poetry Month rolls around each year, I am never quite ready for it. Yes, it’s a beautiful time, but this month can sometimes feel like a sprint from one event to the next. This year, April has been particularly hectic. My book Danzirly / Dawn’s Early  launched and I am still buzzing from all the planning, events, and conversations. Going into this month, I tried to maintain the mindset of life happening all at once. 

I’m thankful for all the fantastic events I was able to attend online. I got to see phenomenal writers including Danez Smith, Donika Kelly, JD Scott, and Ada Limón. I’m grateful for the warm welcome my book received. I’m thankful to be able to celebrate poetry for an entire blessed month. But, friends, I am tired.

That said, the best piece of advice I can offer to debut writers is to pace yourself. Stop and relish in the beauty of your community supporting you. It’s okay to not say “yes” to everything. In fact, I recommend you learn to streamline and say “no” from time to time. Try to prioritize your mental and physical health when you can. I know this is all easier said than done. But know that your book will extend far beyond one month. 

I’m winding down this month with an event I’ve been looking forward to for weeks. It’s a feel-good poetry celebration with some of my favorite writers and humans at a beloved local bookstore. Join me, JD Scott, Melissa Carroll, Yuki Jackson, and Eleanor Eichenbaum as we celebrate and close out National Poetry Month with Tombolo Books at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 29th.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-lape7EEwIYqaSmqNUq1aBD9aaNbOCNgUPAs3OUtRzw5XoA/viewform