Hi Mimi,

Unsolicited advice and observations, and worth all you are paying to get them.

You wrote a piece called Sleeping Fragments in August and it was wonderful writing. Strong images, a unique voice, a Raymond Carver simplicity which is hard to do. Most over write thinking they are writing but just pretending to write in some strange style they copied somewhere. Your writing reminds me of Jane Kenyon (her book is really good) or Diane DiPrima or Denise Levertro. My suggestion, and I apologize if I overstep, is to write and explore your voice and not worry about themes or followers. If you read Jane's book she writes about life and how she experiences it at that moment. That is what I found in your work. The beginning of a strong voice that is yours alone. Look some of these writer up on Poetry Foundation, it is free and lets you explore the greats. Billy Collins says if you want to find your own voice you need to read everyday the ones that inspire you. Just write what you feel, write the hurt, write the love, write about the damn dog, but just write and maybe explore who you want to be as a writer. T