People don't want to hear what I have to say.  Shoot, I sometimes don't want to hear what I have to say.  So, I can't blame anyone.  But, I still think I am gonna write a response to the same question that I get on the daily and place it on my desktop so that whenever anyone sends me the same question or a variation of it, I can copy and paste my answer.

Wow.  I just read that back and that sounded like I was some kind of arrogant superstar.  Arrogant maybe...superstar...not hardly.  Not yet, at least.  Oh, best believe that I am gonna be one.  That I am sure of.  Anyhoo, I get the same question a million ways every single day.

HOW CAN I BECOME A DEF POET?

or

HOW CAN I BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN POETRY?

I want to answer them in a way that they would like to hear.  I want to say.  Step number one do this...then step number two...do this...then finally step number three...do this and BAM you will become a def poet...and BAM you will be successful.  I want to make them happy.  I like making people happy.  That is part of my problem in life is that I am always trying to make folks happy.  So much to the extent that it has made me unhappy a lot of times.  But that is another story.  On these particular situations, I can't just give the happy answer.  One reason, cause I don't know the happy answer that way.  I know another happy answer, but it is not the happy answer that is popular.  But it is definitely GOOD NEWS.

When those first poets got on DEF POETRY we were all awe struck.  We were all so surprised.  None of us had any idea how this show was gonna turn out.  We weren't writing to get on TV.  We were writing because it healed us and other people.  I didn't write to become a famous poet.  I wrote cause it kept me from going insane and running into a bank and shooting everyone and ending up on DATELINE.  I wrote cause it kept me from being lonely at night.  I had company when I was with my pen and paper.  Oh, don't get it twisted,  I wanted to be famous.  But not for writing.  I wanted to be...and I still want to be famous for my acting...oh yes, one day soon.  So, when people ask me what did I do to get to where I got...the answer is nothing.  I didn't do anything...GOD just placed me there.

How many people know that we can think we are doing what GOD wants us to do and then turn around and something completely different will fall into our laps that other folks have been working years to accomplish?  That is what happened to me.  And I will venture out to say a lot of the poets on that first season.  GOD placed us there.  So, the only answer I can say to you is to keep writing.  Be honest with yourself.  Pray.  Worship.  Ask GOD is this what HE wants you to do.  And if the answer is yes, by golly, HE will place you there.  I am a living witness.  

There are no steps.  Poetry is not big enough on TV like acting or nothing where I can tell you to get an agent, your headshot, a manager and take some acting classes...no, there is not too many avenues for poetry like that.  So, really all you can do is perform everywhere, write constantly, trust GOD and believe what HE says.  And everything will be all to the good.

Yea, I need to write that answer down and copy and paste that mug.  I think I will do that now.  Or maybe I can just send people to my blog.  Here is the link...and here is the answer. 

Halleluyah.

But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.       

Keep it Natural.