But things are beginning to change for me. Her first poetry manuscript has been a finalist 15 times in national literary competitions. Among her awards are a first place in the Tucson Poetry International Festival, second place in the Writers at Work contest in Salt Lake City, and the Paumanock Poetry Award. She has been nominated twice for the prestigious Pushcart Prize, and, close to home, has won awards from the Scottsdale Cultural Council, Phoenix Arts Commission, Arizona Humanities Council, Tempe Arts Council, and the Phoenix Public Libraries. I meet people from rich, diverse backgrounds and teach them about the music in language.
Every poem has to have music.
I think silence is important. I tell my students to be patient and allow themselves time. Creative writing is about accessing the unconscious. Sutton plans to take a sabbatical this fall to work on her doctorate in creative writing. Click here for next story.