The Archer's MArch

• My name is Frank Garnick.  I’m a 56 year old father and grandfather in New Jersey.  
• I've done almost everything, had a paper route, lab technician, pumped gas, apartment building maintenance, construction, landscaping, law enforcement, Journeyman Machinist, manufacturing, maritime, Government (Municipal, County and Federal), sales, management, retail, driver, restaurant, procurement and more.  I've sold hot dogs from a cart in Atlantic City and I even ran for Sheriff in 2013.
• Now I'm concentrating on Sonnetry.  I wrote a lot of poetry in my younger days. One of my high school English teachers told me that my work was good but that I needed to demonstrate proficiency in accepted forms before I could be taken seriously. I took her advice and explored the myriad options available. I ended up writing mainly sonnets after she gave me the go ahead to write whatever I chose. That was over 35 years ago.
• I stopped writing poetry about 30 years ago. No particular reason, it simply faded from view. In the late 90s I destroyed all my work. I had my reasons and at the time they were valid.
• Two years ago I sat down and wrote a sonnet. It seemed quite good and I got “scared”. You see, writing had been important to me and over the years I had convinced myself that it was no longer important. It was exhilarating to create again but what did it mean? I put it away and forgot about it.
• In November of 2021 I wrote a “joke” sonnet and sent it out to people. I even read it at a family gathering. One of the recipients (who holds 3 Ivy League degrees) told me it was good and encouraged me to write more. I wrote one as an “assignment” and I based it on their favorite bird and flower. I now had three sonnets in my new “portfolio”. That was December of 2021.  
• I posted the following on September 2, 2022.
• It may not mean much to the world but it means a helluva lot to me, on so many levels that only He understands.  I finished my 154th sonnet this morning. And this was in only 9 months. For those of you who know, Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets. Don't get me wrong, I'm not declaring myself his equal in any way, shape or form. I will say though that the goals one sets can be achieved and their importance is for you alone. In my case I attribute it to seven words that were said to me after writing my third sonnet as an "assignment". "How can you not believe in yourself?!"
• As of last month, I've written 251 sonnets.
• I read a lot, always have.  I even read a dictionary as a kid, spending many pleasure filled hours doing that.  I have no degree on my wall, which could classify me as uneducated.  I know many people who feel that way.  I also know many highly educated people who disapprove of the term in general.
• I started a Substack in September 0f 2022 as a way to explain my work.  Hit the “Learn More” button on the homepage and sign up for the newsletter.  At the moment, the free and paid are the same.  If you find value in my writing, I’d recommend a paid subscription, or hit the “Become a Patron” button.  I find that my body is having a harder time providing “my daily bread” as a carpenter and I’m spending more time with pen (and keyboard) in hand.

Frank Garnick

02 May 2023