30 / 30 during my 30s

May 2023 was my first year completing the 30/30 challenge; I turned 31 during the month and made the decision that every year during my 30s (when possible) I'd like to dedicate my birthday month to writing poems and fundraising for Tupelo Press so that they can place more poems in gorgeous books. Help me to help this distinguished press!

Any contribution you can make to this challenge will be greatly appreciated, and any amount will be a great motivator to help me through this challenge. But I have a few extra incentives at certain donation amounts, in case that entices you to donate a little bit more!

Please note that if you want to redeem one of these perks, you will need to send details using the Contact form on my website: https://carolienacabada.com/contact/

Social media and website shoutouts ・ $0, share my donation page

Times are always hard, so I completely understand if you can't donate, or can only donate a little. However, I would greatly appreciate any word you can get out, so for any amount donated and/or proof of your sharing my fundraising page, I'll give you a shoutout on my Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook pages!

If you share on social media and tag me (social links above), I'll be able to see that you shared and can give a shoutout that way. If you share it in other ways (texts to friends, emails to colleagues, etc.), use the Contact form on my site to let me know how you shared the fundraiser, and an indication of how you'd like to be shouted out!

Poem prompts ・ less than $15

A donation of $15 or lower will give you the chance to prompt one of my poems. Want me to try to use a particular word, or set of words, in a poem? Want me to write a sestina? Want me to write an ode to an egg sandwich? I can do that! (According to my discretion, of course, e.g., I will not deliberately use offensive or derogatory language if prompted.)

If you make a donation, use the Contact form on my site to submit the details of your donation: your name (and, if anonymous, the date and time of your donation), the amount, your email address, and your prompt. I'll then let you know when the poem has been written and posted to Tupelo's page.

Poem dedication ・ $15 to $25

A donation between $15 and $25 will give you the chance to have me write a poem in dedication to someone.

If you make a donation, use the Contact form on my site to submit the details of your donation: your name (and, if the donation was made anonymously, the date and time of your donation), the amount, your email address, and your prompt. I'll then let you know when the poem has been written and posted to Tupelo's page. I may ask for more details if you want me to write a poem about a person I do not know

Poem feedback - $25 to $50

A donation of between $25 and $50 will give you the chance to get feedback on your writing. $25 will get you feedback on five poems; for each $5 beyond the minimum, I'll give feedback on one more poem (i.e., feedback on up to 10 poems for the maximum donation amount).

If you make a donation and want to redeem this tier, use the Contact form on my site to submit the details of your donation: your name (and, if the donation was made anonymously, the date and time of your donation), the amount, and your email address so that I can reach out and receive the writing you'd like to have me read and give feedback.

Manuscript feedback - $50+

A donation of more than $50 will give you the chance to get feedback on a poetry manuscript, from chapbook (11 poems) to book (75 poems, 100 pages maximum) length.

If you make a donation and want to redeem this tier, use the Contact form on my site to submit the details of your donation: your name (and, if the donation was made anonymously, the date and time of your donation), the amount, and your email address so that I can reach out and receive the writing you'd like to have me read and give feedback.

Who am I?

My name is Caroliena Cabada, and I am a writer currently based in Lincoln, Nebraska. I've had poems published in Hawai'i Pacific Review, Midway Journal, Whale Road Review, and elsewhere. My first book of poetry, True Stories, is forthcoming from another independent publisher, Unsolicited Press, in June 2024.

I've been writing poetry all my life, but have only been formally studying it since 2018 when I started my MFA at Iowa State University. I'm currently a PhD student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and have read for Prairie Schooner book prizes in poetry and fiction.