Chat scheduled for Oct. 23rd, 7:00 p.m.
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You can re-read some of his work on our class wiki
*Reminder! This is an academic discussion. Present yourselves well.
October 23, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Hi. My name is Kailyn. I was wondering how many poems have you ever written that have been published? And When was your first poem published. Well I hope to hear back. Thanks.
October 24, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Hello, Kailyn. To answer your question, I have had nine poems published on their own in journals and magazines, and my book of poems contains 44 poems total.
The first poem that was published was called “Chorizo’s Father,” which was published in 2005 by the Blue Mesa Review.
Thanks for your questions!
October 24, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Hello! My name is Caroline. Although I don’t like poetry too much, I found your poems very interesting. I have acouple questions for you. Have you always wanted to be a poet? Or did you decide to be one later in life? I was also wondering if their is a symbolic meaning to the title of your book?And were you told these stories, or did you make them completely up? My final question is what kind of advice would you give to someone that wanted to become a poet? Thank you!I enjoyed reading your poems!
October 24, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Hi, my name is Paige. I really wish I could come to the live chat tonight but I am busy. I really liked your poems, especially the one about the dogs who breathed fire. I was wondering where you got the inspiration for most of your poems. Were they stories that you were told? I was also wondering why you write your poems in paragraph like sections, is this called something specific, or is it just the way you write? Sorry I can’t be here later.
October 24, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Hello, my name is Elizabeth. I am very exited to get to talk a little to you. I love to write myself and was wondering if you might be able to give some information on the process. Thank you!
October 24, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Hey! I’m here early, but I have a few questions to start us off. First of all, I’d like to say welcome to Mr. Morales. My name is Hannah. I am very interested in your poetry. I really like it because it is so descriptive! My first question is where or how do you get inspired to write your poetry? What happens if you cannot think about anything to write about? How many times do you have to edit your poems before they are good enough? Thank you for joining us and I will be back on later. Thanks!! Hannah
October 24, 2007 at 6:50 pm
why are most of your poems about your father
October 24, 2007 at 6:52 pm
why are most of your stories about something scary
October 24, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Good evening. My name is Juan J. Morales, and I am a poet and a professor at Colorado State University-Pueblo. I teach Creative Writing and live in Pueblo.
I would like to thank you and your teacher, Mrs. Gutierrez, for inviting me to chat with you tonight.
Here’s a little more information about myself. I grew up in Colorado Springs and got my MFA in creative writing from the University of New Mexico. My first book of poems, Friday and the Year That Followed, was published in 2006 and features poems about my family as well as some historical poems and creepy stories that have ghosts, witches, and other things of the night.
I have already received some great questions, and I’m looking forward to answering more. Please don’t hesitate to send me any questions.
October 24, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Thank you for the kind introduction and words, Hannah. To answer your questions, I try to write about things that interest me and connect to my life. For example, a lot of poems I have written were based on stories my told me ever since I was a child. When I started writing poetry and stories, I knew I wanted to preserve these stories, so they would not be forgotten. When I start thinking about the stories and events that may not be told, it makes me want to write them down.
In times that I do not know what to write about, I try and just free write about anything that comes to mind. Sometimes I even write down dreams and hope these ideas will lead to new ideas. Other times I don’t know what to write, I just start reading writers that I love and admire. For me, reading always helps me get new ideas.
Once I start working on a poem, I spend a lot of time revising and editing it. Some times I work on one poem for months and rewrite it up to twelve times. It seems like a lot, but I want the poems to be as strong as they can. Thanks for the great questions, Hannah!
October 24, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Hi, I’m Mani I was just wondering, are your poems about treu storys?
October 24, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Hi Juan, I guess they’re a little anxious. As you may have noticed some students who are not able to get online at seven have left a few questions. We can begin whenever you are ready.
October 24, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Hi my name is Eric I was wondering what your parents did for a job
October 24, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Hi. I realize I’m a little bit early. I’m Taylor O but people call me T.O. My questions are why did you decided to take up writing, how do you come up with all of you work, what inspires you to write?
T.O.
October 24, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Sam,
I like to write poems about both of my parents because they are great people who lived really interesting lives. I also want my poems to show people how proud of them I am.
I also like to write about scary things because they are fun to me, and I have always enjoyed mysterious things.
Thanks Sam!
October 24, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Somme of your poems make me feel depresed, was that the objective?
October 24, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Hi Mani,
Some of the poems are based on true stories, and some of them are just products of my imagination.
October 24, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Hi this is Declan. When we read your poetry in English class you could really picture what was happening in your mind because of the great descriptions.
October 24, 2007 at 7:00 pm
hi my name is laurel A and i was just wonder when you found that you like poetry and when you wrote your first poem ..was it any good
October 24, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Hey I am Jared and i was just wondering. What fuels your inspiration for your poems and how often do you write them?
October 24, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Eric,
My mother had many jobs over the years, and my dad was a sergeant major and served for thirty-two years.
October 24, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Hi TO,
I have always enjoyed writing, but I never took it seriously until I was in college. I was inspired to write because I love telling stories and preserving stories. Thank you!
October 24, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Hello Mr. Morales! your poems are really interesting. I have a few questions about them. Why are they all so sad? did you just write these poems when you came up wth the ideas, or are they somewhat true?
October 24, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Out of however many poems you write how many do you like?
October 24, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Hi Juan, my name is Kevin A. I was wondering around what age did you start writing poems, and were poems your favorite kind of writing when you were a kid, if not, what was?
October 24, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Hi I’m Ryan M., I was wondering how long it took you to write these poems, I think the way you worded some of the paragraphs was interesting. Thanks.
October 24, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Hi, my name is Taylor A. I read in your other responses to people that you like to write about your parents because they had interesting lives. Did they inspire you in any way?
October 24, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Mani,
I do not write poems to depress people, but sometimes sadness touches life. I want the poems to also show hope.
October 24, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Hello I’m Rachel. About how old were you when you started writing poems? How long does it take to write one poem? Is it hard to find an idea for a poem?
October 24, 2007 at 7:04 pm
In other words, what kind of writing did you do in your childhood?
October 24, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Hi it’s me again. I was wondering if you ever write stories or do you find your poems as stories themselves? Also how long have you been writing for an audience?
October 24, 2007 at 7:04 pm
did you allway like writing as a young child
October 24, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Laurel,
My first poem that I wrote was about my father’s flip flops. He had the same pair for thirty years. I thought it was a funny story to write about.
October 24, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Did anything else but sadness and your father inspire you in any of your other poems?
October 24, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Hi Mr. Morales.
My name is gabe and i was just wondering, why do you always refer to your father?
October 24, 2007 at 7:05 pm
wow thirty years that a long time
October 24, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Hi my name is Tay and i really like your poems but i have a few questions. First of all in the poem about the grandfather and the dog chasing him, was that a dream? Also in the poem about the father with the sickness, did you have a certain sickness in mind? I really enjouyed your poems but which ones did you base on real things? which ones were from your imagination? How did you think of these poems? what one is your favorite? also how long did it take you to become so successful with poems?
October 24, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Jared,
I try to write a little bit every day even when I’m really busy. I always try to start a poem or work on making other poems stronger. It’s important to always practice and write as much as you can, but you have to make sure you enjoy it too.
October 24, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Did you start out with poems or did you just write in any style.
October 24, 2007 at 7:06 pm
so what inspires you the most
October 24, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Is it tough to write a poem? If it is why?
October 24, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Good evening everyone! Hello Mr. Morales, my name is Kurstyn. What inspired you to become a writer? I was also wondering how you come up with such powerful words that convey such strong emotions and reactions. Thank you for talking with us.
October 24, 2007 at 7:07 pm
do you do anything in your free time that inspires you to write these poems?
October 24, 2007 at 7:07 pm
i wa swondering are you really close with your father? because it seems like the poems you have written are about your father.
October 24, 2007 at 7:08 pm
What kind of things can you teach people in a poetry class? How do you instruct them?
October 24, 2007 at 7:08 pm
It’s very hard for me to write sometimes because I think my writing is very tacky. Is it the same for you.
October 24, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Is there any thing special that your father stands for?
October 24, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Giseleine,
I picked only four poems out of many, and with Halloween around the corner, I thought these ones would be something different to read. I hope they did not make you too sad. Other poems I write talk about other things too.
October 24, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Hi Juan, my name is Marissa. My questions are, when you fist started poetry, was it any good ? and how old were you when you first started poetry ?
October 24, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Ok, so i’m guessing you’re quite passionate about your work.
October 24, 2007 at 7:09 pm
What is a jibaro(I hope I spelled it right)?
October 24, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Delcan,
I like most of the poems I write, and if I don’t, I keep working on them until I do. If I don’t like the poems, there’s a very good chance the readers will dislike them too.
October 24, 2007 at 7:09 pm
They didn’t make me too sad, they were just really thought provoking, and they made me think of one of the stories I wrote once.
October 24, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Is it hard to find a job for writing?
October 24, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Where do you plan to have writing take you further in your life and your career?
October 24, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Hi!
October 24, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Ok thank you. I know we liked the poems of yours we read in class and by the way thanks for talking with us.
October 24, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Why do you like scary things? It’s cool the way that you write the stories but I found it odd that you used scary things about your family.
October 24, 2007 at 7:11 pm
A gentle reminder–be sure to scroll back up occasionally after refreshing. Read answers to questions you didn’t see before so that we are not all asking him the same questions.
October 24, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Guys, slow down he can only go so fast.
October 24, 2007 at 7:11 pm
What did you want to be when you were younger?
October 24, 2007 at 7:11 pm
have you ever been in a situation where it made you think of an idea, or one of your poems?
October 24, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Kevin,
When I was a kid, I used to write some stories, but I did not know I would be a writer. I used to just write fun stories about my friends, dragons, frogs, the neighborhood I grew up in, and other stuff like that.
When I was in high school, I was also in a band, which was a lot of fun. We used to write a lot of songs, and it taught me a lot about rhythm, lyrics, and just how to say things in an interesting way. Even then, I had no idea I was going to be a writer.
October 24, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Do you ever force you self to write
October 24, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Hello Juan, my name is Becca. I love your poems, and they remind me of several of my own. I enjoy writing poetry a lot, but I am mostly a songwriter. What is a good way to get started and kicking off?
October 24, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Have you always thought of yourself of a writer?
October 24, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Why were all your stories about men?
October 24, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Ok, interesting and thanks for chatting with us.
October 24, 2007 at 7:13 pm
do you ever find your slf getting stuck on something to write about
October 24, 2007 at 7:13 pm
What was your favorite subject?
October 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Ryan,
Some poems took me a few days to write, and some poems took me months to write. But it’s a long process because I always try to make them better by reading them over and over. I revise a lot.
October 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm
I noticed many of your poems were about your Dad. Is that an inspiring topic for you?
October 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm
When did you know you wanted to be a poet
October 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm
so who much time would you say goes in to ech of your poems
October 24, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Taylor A,
My parents inspired me to work hard and to always be proud of my heritage. Plus, they are great storytellers, so they inspired me to always share stories and to be the person I am.
October 24, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Do you plan to publish another book of poetry?
October 24, 2007 at 7:15 pm
how long does it take you to write one poem, on average? what is your favorite poem you have written? Why?
October 24, 2007 at 7:15 pm
if you had to pick a different topic for a poem what would you pick?
October 24, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Oh, ok thanks.
October 24, 2007 at 7:16 pm
How old were you when you wanted to do poetry?
October 24, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Kick off, sorry typo
October 24, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Juan, I really like the question Kevin asked about being an instructor of poetry. Can you talk a little about what it’s like to try and help other writers?
October 24, 2007 at 7:16 pm
in the poem about the grandfather and the dog chasing him, was that a dream?I really enjouyed your poems but which ones did you base on real things? which ones were from your imagination? How did you think of these poems? what one is your favorite? also how long did it take you to become so successful with poems?
October 24, 2007 at 7:17 pm
do in your one poem a bout your dad being sick, did that realy happen?
October 24, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Guys, take it easy. You’re going too fast and expecting soon answers and he has a lot of people to talk to so calm down
October 24, 2007 at 7:17 pm
To everyone who has asked me when I started writing, I used to write for fun in school, and then I decided I wanted to be a writer when I was in college.
October 24, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I am a dancer and I have a crazy dance teacher and sometimes she will dream and think of cheoreagraphy in her sleep and then gets out of bed and writes it down and tapes her self doing this new cheoreagraphy. Do you ever wake up while you are sleeping, and think of new peom and then write it down on paper? By the way thank you for taking the time to talk to us tonight!
October 24, 2007 at 7:18 pm
do you sometimes feel that you must write?
October 24, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Was there symbolic meaning in the poem about your grandfather?
October 24, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Are you going to make another book?
October 24, 2007 at 7:19 pm
have you ever had a dream that inspired you to write, then forgot your idea?
October 24, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Quick question, and I hope I’m not overwhelming you with a storm of questions, I’m just excited to have you here, but I am hoping to have a book published in the future. What is a good way of going about that?
October 24, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Hi Juan! My name is Christina Cisneros, but for short Teena. I’m sorry if this is a repeated question but what was your Inspiration to write your poems and are they based on things that are true or did you make them up?
October 24, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Is some of the poetry you wrote true or about someone you know
October 24, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Hi I’m Olivia. when you started to write poetry? and make pome is not hard for you?
or it fun to write pome? what you like to write in the pome?
October 24, 2007 at 7:21 pm
guys i thinkw eneed to slow down alittle. remember hes our guest and we shouldnt make him all stressed. =)
October 24, 2007 at 7:22 pm
A lot of you asked me about the sadness in these poems. Ever since I was a kid, I used to read a lot of stories about ghosts, witches, and other scary things. My parents and friends also liked to tell these kinds of stories, so it made me want to write them. I also wanted to share some of these with you because it’s close to Halloween, which is one of my favorite holidays!
In my book, I write one section of poems about my mother and her experiences growing up in Ecuador, so I do write poems about women too. Another section is poems about my father and his time in the military. The final section of my book has a little bit of everything including some scary stories and historical ones too.
October 24, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I hate to post agin, but I agree with Sam. Also, for the people who are asking 5 questions in a row, please limit that to about two, there are other people with other questions. Thanks!
October 24, 2007 at 7:23 pm
have you ever not wanted to go to work or write and just chill?
October 24, 2007 at 7:23 pm
i agree with becca
October 24, 2007 at 7:24 pm
what emotions do you feel when you write your poems? do you get sad every time you sit down and try and write or do you get happy?
October 24, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Was writing your favorite class in school?
October 24, 2007 at 7:25 pm
How are you doing? My name is Jalen, and as I read your poetry I realize that your writing is very strong. My question is how do I make my writing better and more powerful.
October 24, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Do you have happy poems?
October 24, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Hi Im ryan I just got back from soccer and I would like to know who the main character in each of these stories was.
October 24, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Okay, guys, we’re about five minutes to the half hour. Let’s ask our final questions and thank Mr. Morales for his time.
October 24, 2007 at 7:26 pm
I saw a few questions about my current writing. I am working on a novel and some stories, and I am writing a second book of poems. I write every day and enjoy playing around with different forms and language.
I try to write about different subjects too, based on what interests me. That’s what helps me when I write. Sometimes, when I’m having trouble writing, I pick something to write about just so I get something on the page. I think of it like exercise for my brain.
October 24, 2007 at 7:26 pm
So is your family your Inspiration?
October 24, 2007 at 7:26 pm
thank you for your time i just wish we could tall to you some more but is it ever stressfull to be a writer?
October 24, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Thanks for talking to us Mr. Morales.
October 24, 2007 at 7:27 pm
THnk you for your time Mr. Morales. I’ve learned a lot in so little time
October 24, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Thank you Jaun for your time. I appreciate that you took your time to help us answer our questions. I look forward to reading more of your poems!
Rebecca
October 24, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Are a lot of poems about you or your family?
October 24, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Thankyou so much for coming and answering some of are questions. I really enjoyed it!
October 24, 2007 at 7:27 pm
What is your favorite poem that you have written
October 24, 2007 at 7:28 pm
A lo tof times when I am writing I know there are more powerful words I could use, but I can’t think of them. A lot of times I have to go to a thesaurus, or think of things that convey what I am trying to express, and use figurative language to get my point acrossed. What do you do when you know there is a better word, but can’t think of one?
October 24, 2007 at 7:28 pm
thanks for spending time with us
October 24, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Thank You I learned a lot about you. Thank you for youre time.
October 24, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Teaching poetry is really challenging, so when I teach a class on it, I always try to make sure they write every day in class. I also give my students assignments that let them explore different things that interest them.
I also like to have my students read a lot. This allows them to become acquainted with new ideas and perspectives.
Great questions, folks!
October 24, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I love all the questions everyone is asking. Here’s one more do you ever have writer’s block for weeks at a time? For the poem you wrote describing your father as a monster was that based on the truth?
October 24, 2007 at 7:29 pm
thanks for answering our questions.
October 24, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Yeah guys, give him some time
October 24, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Are you inspired by other forms of art?
October 24, 2007 at 7:29 pm
When I was in school, my favorite subject was actually History and English. They both were fun to read about, but I also liked Drama too. I used to do a lot of acting in high school.
October 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Thank you for talking with us tonight!
October 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm
So you like to write for fun? I’m currently working on a poem of my own. I have already sumitted a poem to poetry.com and i got he editors award for my poem, and it’s going to be published in a book.
October 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Thenks for talking with us and good luck with future poems, hope you publish some more for us to read.
Kevin
October 24, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Thank you for telling us alittle about your life as a writer. we all really enjoyed it! =)
October 24, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Thank you so much for talking with us tonight. We really appreciate it! I know that after reading your poems I will always try to use more powerful words and expressions in my writing. Thanks again!
October 24, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Ryan D.,
The poems I shared with you have different narrators. One of them is me talking about my grandfather. Another is my mother talking about her father when he was sick with smallpox. The last one is a story told from the point of view of my dad when he was growing up in Puerto Rico.
October 24, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Bye Juan thank you very much I hope one day I will get to meet you and discuss writing. Till next time Elizabeth
October 24, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Reading your poems and talking with you tonight has taught me how to come on to writing and how to express emotion in writing. It has also showed me to use more figuritave language and stong vocabulary. Thank you so much!
October 24, 2007 at 7:33 pm
I was wondering what influenced you to write about the dogs that breathed fire. You mentioned your grandfather in that poem, and I was wondering if he had ever actually seen fire breathing dogs, or if the meaning is symbolic?
October 24, 2007 at 7:33 pm
than you so much i hope to talk to you someother time
October 24, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Kurstyn,
That’s a great question. There are times when I’m writing, and I try to pick the right, and this can take hours or several drafts. I try to use the thesaurus too. Other times, I look at the other words in the poem and read it out loud to see if it sounds good and has a nice rhythm to it. Other times, if the word is not quite right, I change the sentence or section of the poem to see if I can say it better.
October 24, 2007 at 7:35 pm
I’m sorry if my replies are a little slow, but I have really enjoyed myself. Thank you all for taking the time to talk to me and for all these interesting questions. I hope I could answer most of them.
October 24, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I hope to meet you all in the future. I will be up in Colorado Springs in February for the Bridges conference Mrs. Gutierrez is putting together.
Thank you again for inviting me, Mrs. Gutierrez! I had a wonderful time!
October 24, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Bye Juan i’m really glad we got the chance to talk to you and ask you questions about you. THANKS SO MUCH!
October 24, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I like to write but, I tend to leave out important details, and add the less important stuff.
October 24, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Thank you for answering my question I will try that in the future. Thank you for your time
October 24, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Thanks again, Juan. Enjoy the rest of your evening guys . . .
October 24, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Thanks again!
October 24, 2007 at 7:40 pm
It was really nice to hear what you had to say, it really added some depth to your writing, and I enjoyed listening to you.
October 24, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Hi,
I was wondering why you wrote so many storys about fathers.
October 24, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Thank you for anseweing the question!
October 24, 2007 at 8:19 pm
What made you interested in writin poetry?
October 24, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Why do you like writing scary poetry?
October 24, 2007 at 8:44 pm
What made you want to be a poet? Were you always interested in it or did you like it along the way?
October 24, 2007 at 8:55 pm
HEY, sarry I’m a little lat with the thanks but the internet decided to kick me off this web page and well ill explain tomorrow…..it;s a long story…..but…………..
thanks Mr. Morales i had a good time talking with you!!
October 24, 2007 at 8:56 pm
What was your childhood like? When did you decide to be a poet?
October 25, 2007 at 5:45 am
A few last answers:
The Dogs Who Breathed Fire is a story my mom told me about my grandfather. He swore it really happened to him, and the poem is exploring that very theme. Maybe the dogs are symbolic of the things we fear in life?
When My Father Had La Viruela is a poem written in the point of view of my mother when she was a little girl. Her father was sick and almost died from a virus, and the poem is about that very fear.
Both of these poems and a lot of other poems I write are based on events that are said to have happened or are stories my family shared. My method is to try and write about them as if they did happen.
Someone also asked how I feel when I write poems. Usually, it’s a lot of fun for me, but it also takes a lot of concentration too and studying of the words and ideas. There are some poems I write that make me sad, but usually I feel very happy and lucky to write.
When it comes to publishing and writing, just take your time and just start writing the poems and stories you want. Then work on polishing them, so they look their best. Look for contests and places that are accepting work and just keep trying to send them out!
Thanks again for the great questions! It’s been fun!