Have you heard of imagist poetry? “Imagism called for a return to what were seen as more Classical values, such as directness of presentation and economy of language, as well as a willingness to experiment with non-traditional verse forms. Imagists use free verse.” Wikipedia The Red Wheelbarrow, by William Carlos Williams (1883 – 1963) is an example of an imagist poem. so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens. There have been many discussions and theories about this simple little poem. Was it meant to be simple, or is there hidden meaning, plumbing the depths of our sub-conscious? “I was fumbling around, looking for a way to make sense of my life, and seized on William Carlos Williams’s poems . . . His poems were experimental yet safe—a combo I craved in my extra-dark teenage years.” Craig Morgan Teicher, Poetry Foundation One…
Month: April 2016
Is serialization in your future?
Guest Blogger Daedalus Howell reveals a tried and true method to reach new audiences. The revolution will be serialized. As it’s always been. Much of episodic entertainment, from our favorite shows on Netflix or premium cable to the summertime superhero blockbusters, are issued in discrete elements that comprise a whole story. Comic books have long functioned in this manner, ditto popular literature, which was once serialized in newspapers. And, of course, there’s the staggeringly popular Serial podcast, which not only popularized a new storytelling medium but so embraced the concept of serialization that it branded itself with it. Clearly, serialization is back, representing to some, a vanguard in publishing. It can also be an integral part of your creative process. This is what I’ve found creating Quantum Deadline, a sci-fi crime romp that comically explores the death of newspapers through the foggy lens of a reporter tripping through the multiverse….
Random words plucked from a poem . . . Prompt #244
Random words (plucked from a poem) as a writing prompt. Tell a story, truth or not, with these words: heavy linger delicate footprints flat maroon foam hard perfume Or use the photo as a writing prompt. Set your timer for 15-20 minutes. Write. Polish. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog. Photo by Karen Bobier
The Bitter Oleander is ready for your submission.
The Bitter Oleander Press: Home of Fine Poetry Collections and The Bitter Oleander: A Journal of Contemporary International Poetry & Short Fiction The Bitter Oleander Press publishes works that contain imagery revealing a “world we thought we knew but were mistaken.” We believe in bringing our readers and writers face to face with each other, with the reality of our uncommon world, like the one that exists in grape seeds blown by hurricanes into hidden corners doors form when closed. The Bitter Oleander prefers “poetry devoid of clichés and predictable twists of well-worn or entrenched truths. We prefer a heightened music driven by a profound linguistic rhythm.” “Because we are open to submissions from all cultures, people and languages, we regard their investment of time spent submitting and creating to be very critical. We pride ourselves on answering every request, every order, every submission, every letter of gratitude and annoyance…
First Lines Make Great Prompts . . . Prompt #243
First lines from books can be sparks for freewrites. Read the sentence and then write whatever pops into your mind. Don’t over think it. Go with the flow and just write. Here are a few for you to play around with. “Some time ago, when I was 6 or 7 or 8 years old, it would occasionally happen that I’d walk into a room and certain people would begin to cry.” The Lost by Daniel Mendelsohn “The phone rang.” Booked by Die by John Dunning “Footsteps on the forest floor made a noise like paper crumpling in a child’s fist.” The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond
Jane Dystel: How long should it take to write a novel?
Today’s Guest Blogger is Jane Dystel, president of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management: Over the weekend, I finished a remarkable first novel. The author had taken many years to complete this work and, in the end, I think the time it took her to do so has paid off (of course, only the marketplace will tell). Thinking about this – the time it takes a writer to finish a book – brought to mind how different each writer’s process is. I found this very interesting piece on the subject in the Huffington Post. I have clients who take many years to finish their novels, much like the writer whose work I read this weekend. Then, there are those who actually ask for deadlines (from me) by when they should have their next manuscript completed. And then, of course, there are those who can conceptualize their stories and write them down…
Pranks . . . Prompt #242
What pranks have you pulled off? Were you successful? Did you get caught? Have you been pranked? What happened? What do you think about playing tricks on people? Is it funny? Rude? Cruel? Does it depend on the circumstances? Writing Prompt: Pranks