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For the past several weeks, we've been writing about the many ways to celebrate National Poetry Month. If you haven't yet had a chance to stop by one of the open-mic readings, read the work of a new poet or reacquaint yourself with old favorite, it's never too late. Hampton Roads is home to a thriving community of poets, spoken-word artists, and those who simply love to read and listen to the special rhythm and power found in poetry.

Case in point: Local poet Talya Chatman, author of "The Good Word" blog which she describes as "Your one-stop shop for writing events in the 757 and 804 area."

I had the pleasure of meeting Chatman at a local event this spring and asked her to share her insights about the Hampton Roads poetry scene. Here is an edited interview:

How long have you been writing poetry? For more than 20 years. I have about 500 pages of poetry, but the majority of (the poems) have been written the past eight or nine years. I guess I've got a lot to say. With poetry I find that I will write a few poems about the same thing. It's not that I enjoy repeating myself, it's just my muse telling me I haven't gotten it quite right. I'll write some poem and never make changes to it and others I've continued to change over the years.

Where can we read your work? You will actually have to come out to a venue to hear my work. I've thought about publishing, but ..

What got you started in the local poetry community? I started getting really active within the past couple of years. Before, I used to go maybe two spots a month, but now I average three spots a week. I call them my happy places because I can really be me and be accepted for my talents.

What advice can you give to a newcomer to our area who's interested in getting involved? You will go to some spots and hear some amazing talents, but don't be discouraged. That amazing talent didn't get that way overnight. We all have to start somewhere. Being nervous is normal. I still get nervous, but always remember, we want you to succeed. The goal is not to be like someone else, but to contribute your unique voice to the poetry scene. If everyone was the same, how boring would that be.

Similarly, what advice can you give to a new poet who wants to test the waters of an open-mic reading? You are not required to read when you go to a spot. You may want to go and listen and get a feel for a place. All the venues I've attended are very supportive to novices. However, I would recommend finding a spot with a small group of people, so it's not as intimidating. I would say any family-friendly venues would be a great place to get your feet wet. It might even be a great idea to bring a friend for support.

What made you start writing "The Good Word" blog? It seems like a huge undertaking, time-wise. Do you do all the work yourself? When I went online to look for venues, I could find them here and there. I pride myself on laziness, and I wanted to find a website that had everything in one place. When I realized it didn't exist, I took it as a sign that perhaps this was something I needed to do. I started off with just providing a list of venues to include the venue name, address, phone number and host, and it was only one page. Now, it has grown into four pages.

When I started, it was not a huge undertaking, but now it is insane in a good way. Yes, it is time consuming, and I do all the work myself (that's the type A in me), but when I hear someone say, "Thank you," it really makes it all worth it. The blog came into the picture later when I was asked to take over an existing blog, and from there, "The Good Word" was born. The "Good Word" is not only a blog for venues, but recaps of venues I attend and other writing-related events going on in the area, to include short story and publishing classes, contests and plays.

Read more here:
Spoken word artist keeps 757 poets in the know