Journalism

by Kevin J. O'Conner

Overview

Journalism is the second collection of poems by Kevin J. O'Conner. Although some of the same themes explored in the first collection (Separation Anxiety) appear in this collection as well, there’s also more variety—in the form of weird dreams, peaceful vignettes, commentary, the occasional bit of humor, experimentation with poetic forms, etc.

Journalism continues O'Conner's straightforward approach to writing, which favors more direct, expressive language and simpler forms, making the poems more accessible than "typical" poetry. In that sense, this is poetry for people who don't otherwise like poetry.

As before, the contents are primarily drawn from O'Conner's personal journals, with many of the poems written as part of National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo). This time, however, the visual element is provided by sketches taken from those same journals. Writes O'Conner in the book's Preface: “Obviously, I’m not going to win any awards for my drawing skills; still, the sketches that I have included have their own peculiar charm. I mean, where else are you going to see the likes of the ‘Zapmaster X’ in action?” Indeed.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940046157116
Publisher:	Kevin J. O'Conner
Publication date:	09/30/2014
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	NOOK Book
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Kevin J. O’Conner (56) is not your typical poet. After 30 years of writing only sporadically, Kevin J. O’Conner returned to poetry in 2013—first as a creative exercise, then for the therapeutic benefits. Since 2015, he writes every day, exploring the craft of poetry through monthly writing challenges—‘my ongoing effort to write something that doesn’t sound like something I would write’, he says. Kevin’s poems explore isolation, memory, life’s small moments, and the experience of starting over at ‘a certain age’—always with an emphasis on straightforward expression. As of Spring 2019, Kevin has published eleven collections of poems, the latest of which is WISHES SOMETIMES HAVE CONSEQUENCES, plus four volumes of ‘love notes’ to the days of the week. His poems have also appeared in Raven Chronicles, Spindrift, The CDC Poetry Project, Lament for the Dead, and the anthology VOICES THAT MATTER, and as part of the Clay? VI (2016) exhibit at Kirkland Arts Center. When not writing poetry, Kevin can be found copy-editing documents from far-flung places, attending open-mic readings, designing books, and contemplating what to cook now that he is tired of soup. He lives in Bellingham with his mom's neurotic cat, Cleo III. (updated 28 October 2019)