 Poetry: April 20, 2016 Issue [#7600] |
  Poetry
This week: Sparks.. Edited by: Fyn  
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Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose…not the one you began with perhaps, but one you’ll be glad to remember. ~Anne Sullivan Macy
You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we’re doing it. ~Neil Gaiman
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things about all others: read a lot and write a lot…reading is the creative center of a writer’s life…you cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you. ~Stephen King
A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit. ~Richard Bach
The great advantage of being a writer is that you can spy on people. You’re there, listening to every word, but part of you is observing. Everything is useful to a writer, you see—every scrap, even the longest and most boring of luncheon parties. ~Graham Greene
Don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work ~Pearl S. Buck
Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~ Anton Chekhov |
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Dan Poynter once said, "If you wait for inspiration to write; you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter." Truer words were never said. If you want to be a writer, a poet, you need to write. Every day. In the 'mood' or not, just write. Something. Anything. Worst case scenario, you scribble a few lines that somewhere down the road become a 'something.' Everything you write won't be fabulous or noteworthy, but you will get your brain in the habit of writing, get your mind to spill seeds, get your muse to think creatively. Journaling is good, even if only a few notes about your day, whether it was good, bad, stellar or boring, as it gets you trained to write.
This is part of being a writer. You do something every day for a while, it becomes habit. Many writers need to write. They can't not write. Others have yet to get to that point. It simply is not, "Gee, I think I'll write a poem today." It is far, far more than that.
Even more is what I call 'living creatively.' This means, above all, training yourself to be an observer. It is easy to get caught up in the day to day stuff, the routines we follow, the 'get up, get kids fed and off to school, get to work, drive the kids somewhere or another, come home, cook dinner, get the kids bathed and in bed, collapse' routine that we do not see beyond the next step. In doing this, you tend to miss the cardinal sitting on your mailbox, the streak of contrails across the sky, the amazing sunrise (or set), the funny bumper sticker on the car in front of you or the little old lady with the flowers in her hat. All you see are the bird leaving a mess on the mailbox, that it isn't raining, that the sun is in your eyes and you forgot your sunglasses, the person driving five (or ten) miles under the speed limit when you are in a hurry or the old lady who is walking very slowly across the cross walk. You don't see.
Every day we are presented with numerous opportunities to see and file away a nifty detail, a cool scenario, a fresh outlook, a phrase, a thought that could become! If it is still dark, check out the stars. If the sun is rising, are there colors staining the sky? What stories could that lady in the floppy, flowered hat have to tell? When you sit down to write, rewind your day and remember all the little details. The couple squabbling in the coffee shop, the flowers bursting into bloom, that green tinge that takes over the trees just before they burst to leaf, the orange 'punch-bug' (remember them?) that you passed, and all the other things you saw without seeing them.
People watch at lunch time and wonder on their stories. The bent over, grey bearded man walking his fussy little pooch, the kid weaving through the crowd on his skateboard and the walking fashion plate who broke her heel on a crack in the side walk as she ran for the bus. (How do women run in three inch heels anyway? I'd break my leg walking in them!) Observation: So happy to be able to stay at home, writing away in my jammies! Who wears what and why? Who's in a great mood, who isn't? What song did you hear that made you smile? What clever thing did your child say? Did you tell your spouse you loved them as you both left for work? Did you think of your mom, dad, great-grandmother or a childhood fried? Did something remind you of a long ago memory or of something you need to do this weekend?
I'll often ask someone if they saw that broad-bellied moon still up at dawn. 'Huh?" "What?" No, they didn't because they rarely look up, just straight in front to the day ahead. Did they notice that glorious magenta sky when the sun set? No, they were too busy cooking or some such. Hubby and I regularly turn off a stove, pause a TV show or walk away from the computer to check out a rising smile of moon, a spectacular sunset, or an amazingly starry sky. We talk about that first walking stick, the bluebird checking out the ornamental birdhouse that never expected occupants, the fifteen daffodil to bloom or the way the flag looks against the sky. We notice the 'characters' shopping for food, the big guy on the huge riding lawnmower in the teeny yard, the way the paper is curling off the birch trees and the mushroom just begging for a fairy visit. We notice the dew droplets on the plants in the sun looking for all the world like a nest of diamonds, the laurel bush before it bursts into bloom and the fact that the peeper frogs are singing at night. Observation gives the writer/poet so much to pick and choose from.
These moments are each a spark, just waiting for our muse to fan them into poetic fire. A fire needs fuel and oxygen to burn. So too, we need observations to spark ideas, writing to fan the flame. |
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Elfin Dragon-finally published  says: Regarding "Growing up to be a Writer". At first I was wondering where it was all leading to and then I caught on. And what you were saying reminded me of what happens during April when poets are challenged to write those 30 poems. I'm one who finds it difficult to write from a prompt. It might take me days to figure it out but I'll stick to it because it challenges me. Causing me to grow in different ways. Thanks for reminding me why I do it. 
We all need reminders now and again!
Elfin Dragon-finally published also sent: With regards to "Draw me a Poem, Sing me some Art" - I love how you compare poetry to music and art; especially since I'm a writer, musician and artist. You've brought out the essence of what poetry really is. It's probably why I love music and dance as much as I love art and poetry. They all have this lovely flair of rhythm and rhyme to them. What a lovely comparison.
A*Monaing*Faith writes: I love reading old reviews. I just went back and read some old reviews today on pieces I had forgotten about!
I always try to think about how the author will perceive my words. I feel I can be much more straightforward about things when I 'know' the author. I think I can come across as a little critical even with newbies but I take the Disclaimer seriously: These are just my opinions. At the end of the day, it's YOUR work.
Monty  comments: OK Fyn another good N/L. I think you were saying reviewing poetry is the same as reviewing any type of write, at least that is what I get for a message. A good message is to review as you like to be reviewed.
eyestar~*  adds: Right on Fyn! Thanks for the reminders on reviewing poetry. I like the Idea of talking about "accessibility"!
good picks to read too.
tYpO/T.Boilerman thanks: Thank you so muy mucho for featuring my humble work in your newsletter my gracious Lady! God bless you!
Thanking you and you are most welcome!
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