An Hour a Day

“One hour per day of study will put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years you’ll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the best people in the world at what you do.” -Earl Nightingale, quoted from Earl Nightingale's words of wisdom

This year I plan to study poetry an hour a day, though 5 days a week instead of 7, because I know that I'll need some days off. If I could do math, I could figure out how many years it will take me to become a national authority at that rate. I do have an MFA in poetry writing, and some published books, so hopefully those things will give me a head start! It's been over 10 years now since I finished my MFA, though, and I miss that experience of being so immersed in the disciplined. So the one hour a day will be my goal for 2016 (I think to think in terms of goals rather than resolutions.)

I began today with the following books:

• How to Read a Poem, by Tania Runyan
• Thirteen Ways of Looking for a Poem: A Guide to Writing Poetry, by Wendy Bishop
• American Hybrid: A Norton Anthology of Poetry, Edited by Cole Swenson and David St. John

Has anyone else tried this hour a day idea? If so, what did you study?

If you'd like to join me in An Hour a Day (studying whatever interests you -- you don't have to do poetry like I am!), please sign up with Mr. Linky below.