NaPoWriMo 2017 - Prompt #6 - Poetry from Art

Medusa, the Gorgon of legend.  What do you see
in this work of art?  A creature of horror or of pathos?
 A mood that's grim or that is sad?  How does the dark,
monotone color palette work in this piece?

If you have been reading my blog through the years, you know my fascination with using art as inspiration for writing.  I've had the honor of posting some amazing pieces of art here, mostly with permission of artists on Deviant Art.  So of course, eventually, "poems inspired by art" would have to come up in the prompt list for this year's NaPoWriMo.  The official term for this is "ekphrastic poetry" and it has a long and glorious history (of course!).

Here are some call backs to great art that has appeared on this blog evoking fantasy, science fiction, and horror themes.

"Colchian"
"Reborn"
"A Fada Azul"
"Space"
"Yorick's Date Tonight"
"I Did Not Do It"

Prompt #6:  Find a work of art that intrigues you, and write a poem that invokes the piece.  Are you focusing on the colors in the art?  Is there an apparent 'theme' or story in the image?  Is there a mood or emotion that interests you?  Consider these sorts of questions as you ponder your poem.

For something more specific, use a photo that you took yourself as the inspiration for your poem.

If you, like me, are considering different aspects of science fiction, horror, and fantasy, then definitely check out the six pieces of art above, and flip through any posts labeled with "Prompt the Muse" for additional inspiration.

Happy Writing!

Prompts crafted by:
J.A. Grier, Senior Scientist and Education Specialist, Planetary Science Institute
Amy Grier, Managing Editor, Solstice Literary Magazine
Image Credits: Medusa, public domain.  Wikimedia Commons

NaPoWriMo 2017 - Prompts #4 and #5 - Making Words, Making Lists

Oldest known picture of a dragon, Ishtar Gate
What name would you make up for it?

Time to play a little catch up!  I was not feeling well yesterday, so I have two prompts to post for today (not to mention two poems to write).

So for prompt #4 we are going to expand on the language idea from prompt #3.  This time, you will be including a word or words that you make up!  You've probably seen plenty of poems with nonsense words or words the author has 'coined' themselves.  A classic is Jabberywocky by Lewis Caroll. 

Prompt #4:  Write a poem with a word or words that you make up.  Do your made up words have meaning or are they utter nonsense?  What is the reader's experience with these words - will they perceive a meaning from context, or will the words remain mysterious?  How do the words function in the poem?  Are they used to create a sense of confusion, playfulness, or perhaps alienation?  Consider these questions as you make up your words and craft your poem.

For something more specific, try writing your poem such that the nonsense word is repeated several times.  You can decide if this helps to underscore the meaning and emotion, or if it changes from one use to the next.

For prompt #5 we are going to take a look at a Japanese form known as zuihitsu - "fragmented ideas that typically respond to the author's surroundings" or "random jottings."  Kimiko Hahn says of the form that it is "a kind of randomness that is not really random, but a feeling of randomness ... can also resemble other Western forms: lists, journals ... Letter writing, diary form."

Prompt #5:  Write a poem in the form of zuihitsu.  To focus your writing, use the Western form of a list poem with at least 8 items on the list.  What is the relationship between the items?  How is the poem both random, and yet not?  How does the list form serve the poem?  Think about these questions as you create your poem.

To be more specific, try a list poem like a "Top Ten" list, numbering backwards from ten to one.  How does this sort of form change your approach to writing the poem?

And of course, as usual, I'll be trying to imagine how to do both of these through a speculative theme like science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Happy Writing!

Prompts crafted by:
J.A. Grier, Senior Scientist and Education Specialist, Planetary Science Institute
Amy Grier, Managing Editor, Solstice Literary Magazine
Image Credits: Dragon Image - CC 2.5 - Ishtar Gate Dragon

NaPoWriMo 2017 - Prompt #3 - The Lens of Language

A view juxtaposing language and culture.
This is the largest statue of Nichiren in Japan.
Sado Island, Japan.

Our prompt for the third day of NaPoWriMo 2017 is one that looks at language.  It is common enough to find poems with a word or line in another language, but have you explored this yourself, as a writer?  As we know, language is far more than a kind of code, it is an integral part of culture and how we form and express thoughts.

Prompt #3:  Write a poem with one line in a foreign language.  Do you expect your reader to be able to understand the line?  How does it work in the poem if the reader understands it literally, or not?  How does having multiple languages in your poem change the experience of reading the poem?  Is the change used for emphasis, to evoke a cultural association, or to express emotion?  Consider the answers to these questions as you craft your poem.

If you want something more specific, try writing your poem two ways, with long line lengths, and then short line lengths, and see how this works for you.

And of course, as usual, I'll be trying to imagine how to do this through a speculative theme like science fiction, fantasy, or horror.  I might try a fictitious language like Tolkien's elven tongue, if I'm feeling particularly ambitious.

Happy Writing!

Prompts crafted by:
J.A. Grier, Senior Scientist and Education Specialist, Planetary Science Institute
Amy Grier, Managing Editor, Solstice Literary Magazine
Image Credit:  My picture taken by me on Sado Island, Japan.

NaPoWriMo 2017 - Prompt #2 - Longing for Place

The desert Southwest of the U.S. - I long for this.

Our prompt for the second day of NaPoWriMo 2017 comes from the Welsh word hiraeth.  This word does not exist in English; it is a complex mix of feelings centered around a longing for place.  It includes a sort of homesickness, a nostalgia for a location you've been, a deep wistfulness, or a yearning to return somewhere that may no longer exist.

So Prompt #2 is this:  Write a poem that calls forth hiraeth.  Is there a place for which you long?  It is somewhere you have been or only imagine going?  Does it really exist, or only exist in the past, or in your mind?  Have you been homesick?  Do you yearn for mountains, oceans, or fields of flowers?  Consider the answers to these questions as you craft your poem.

If you want something more specific, try writing this feeling in blank verse (a poem with distinct meter but no end rhymes).

And of course, as usual, I'll be trying to express this sensation through a speculative theme like science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Happy Writing!

Prompts crafted by:
J.A. Grier, Senior Scientist and Education Specialist, Planetary Science Institute and
Amy Grier, Managing Editor, Solstice Literary Magazine
Image Credit:  My pic of the desert southwest, Arizona.

NaPoWriMo 2017 - Prompt #1 - The Moment of Connection

Peak cherry blossoms flowering in Washington, D.C.

Our first prompt for NaPoWriMo 2017 is fashioned around the concept of mono no aware.  I spent quite some time looking for one good site to point to about that concept, but it takes reading about ten sites before one becomes aware (see what I did there?) of the many possibilities behind this phrase.  So let us define what we mean for our purposes, briefly, right here.

Using the classic cherry blossoms as the example - there is a moment, upon looking at them, that one is struck with their fleeting, poignant grace.  It is a moment of both beauty and pain.  It is a moment out of the self, when we connect with all things.  It only lasts until we perceive or scrutinize it, and then it is gone.

So Prompt #1 is this:  Write a poem that reflects a moment from your life in which you encountered mono no aware.  You can consider why it is painful, what makes it fleeting, how it brings you out of yourself into the larger universe, or any other aspects of the phrase with which you are familiar.

If you want something more specific, try writing this moment in the classic form of a haiku.

Of course you can also try what I'm doing, and that is to express this moment through a speculative theme like science fiction, fantasy, or horror.

Happy Writing!

Prompts crafted by:
J.A. Grier, Senior Scientist and Education Specialist, Planetary Science Institute and
Amy Grier, Managing Editor, Solstice Literary Magazine
Image Credit:  My pic of peak blossoms from around the lake in Washington, D.C.

Demystifying The Business Side of Writing and Publishing - AWP Panel

I had a wonderful time at the annual AWP conference and book fair - this year in Washington, D.C.  It was my first AWP conference, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I went to some insightful panels and spent a good chunk of time in the book fair learning about new publications, programs, and yes, I certainly did buy some books.  I attended a reception hosted by a consortium of journals, and just generally had too much wine ...

So here is the first in a series of posts where I talk about some of the neat stuff that happened at the conference.  Now, as you know from my previous post on Panels at Cons I am not a big fan of panels in general.  However, most of the panels I attended at AWP were well moderated, and were able to keep my interest for at least half the scheduled time, if not more.  That's pretty good from my point of view.  (Still, check out the previous post, since I'd love to be able to do something other than listen to another panel.)

The first panel I attended, bright and early on Thursday morning, was the panel "Demystifying the Business Side of Writing and Publishing."  The panel members as listed in the guide are: Whitney Davis, Tarfia Faizullah, Paula Munier, Joshua Shenk, and Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum.  Although when I came in they were mentioning something about the panelists, and so there might have been a swap of some kind.  The room was completely packed, with people standing along the walls and three deep in the back.   I was completely blocked and could not see the panel table.  It was great to be in a well attended and high energy session, but it also would have been nice to be able to see who was speaking ...

I've attended a lot of panels and workshops with this subject, so I didn't expect too much info I had not heard already.  However, repetition of some good ideas never hurts.  Here is my distillation of some of the main ideas that were presented.

Demystifying the Business Side of Writing and Publishing

Submitting to Book Contests and Publications:

• Read.  Especially those books that have won the contest in question or that have been published where you'd like to be published.
• Best first.  Front load your best stories and poems in your submission.  This is more important than having an emotional 'arc' for example.  
  
• Vision.  The writer has to have a clear sense of what their aesthetic vision is for the work - so be able to summarize your work in a distinct way.  What is the lineage?  Who or what is this work like?  And then what makes it unique/different?
• Take your time.  Applications are conversations, don't just dash them off.  Imagine you are speaking through your application/submission - create a good impression of yourself and your book.
• No mistakes.  No typos, no weak stories or poems.  Don't give judges or editors any reason to object to your work.
• Be strategic.  Do not send the work to everyone under the sun, instead target those that appear to be the best match.  Some people say "send everywhere" but that is not a good use of anyone's time and energy.

Networking:

• "Network like hell." 
• Remember that you are your brand. 
• Put your picture on your business card so that people can put a face to a name.  
• If you are working in a solitary environment, then write emails and make calls.  Stay as connected as possible.  You are a colleague to other writers even if you don't see them in person every day.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help.  Look for people who will be generous.
• Put a limit on requests for time so people know what they are committing to - like "I want just 30 minutes over coffee" or "I need a quick 10 minutes for a phone call about X."

 Rejection and Tough Times:

• Embrace rejection.  Track rejections and see them as stepping stones to eventual acceptance. 
• Those who have success have a high capacity for humiliation.  
• Learn to live with your internal critic.  Learn when to listen and when to ignore that voice.
• "Remember the writers on Facebook all look successful and are all at home crying."  
• Be honest, don't try to portray yourself as a perfect human being.
• Don't be "precious" with your work, you can't be insulted when people ask for changes.

General Career Advice:

• Read copiously, read for your career. 
• Write about what you are passionate about.  
• Read the acknowledgements in books you love.  Who edited it, who represented it, who helped?  Learn where the writers you admire fit in.
• Look around and see what hasn't been done lately, think out of the box whenever possible.  
• Find a good editor.
• Look for awards, fellowships and residencies.     And don't miss your local resources for publishing and other opportunities - town, city, county, state ...
• Think strategically about your day job.  Be in environments that are creative and meaningful to you. "Adjuncting is atrocious, awful, and should be illegal."
• Keep learning and keep growing.  

NaNoWriMo - Hitting the Top Early

My eighth year of NaNo!

I posted about how I got a late start with NaNoWriMo again this year, but that I figured I could still pull it out because I usually get a few hot writing streaks during the month.  Well, I can't believe it, but I hit 50K words on November 16.  And that is considering that I only wrote for 12 of those 16 days.  This comes out to (what for me) is a blistering 4430 average words per day, on those days I was writing.  I'm pretty astonished.  This is the fastest I've ever reached the 50K NaNo goal.

So if you are a NaNo-newbie, maybe you are wondering how I did it ... and if you can, too.  First of all, I'm sure that you can do it!  What I'm not so sure about is if what works for me will work for anybody else.  But on the off chance that it might ... here are a few thoughts on how I'm cranking away this year.

1) Writing in all the spare moments.  I usually like to write when I can sit down and really focus, but that's not always an option.  I find this year I've been doing a lot of writing in 100 to 200 word bits and pieces.  A few lines of dialog here, or a brief description of a scene there.  I keep my computer open and ready to go, and whenever I have to wait around, I write - waiting for laundry means words, waiting for an email from a colleague means words, waiting four minutes for my tea to steep means words.  It is really adding up.

Wow - 50K on day sixteen.
I wonder if this graph is just going to flatten out
now, or if I'll keep on writing at this pace.

2) Having so much fun with the book.  This year, I picked back up on a piece of writing from the past that I really enjoyed.  It needed a lot of work, but I liked the way the first part of it came out, and wanted to finish it.  This is a book I'd want to read, myself.  It has vampires, zombies, battles, true love, and, well, it's not Princess Bride but you can't have everything.  So I say, when it comes to NaNo, don't settle for an idea you feel ho-hum about.  Pick something that you are really emotionally invested in.  That emotion will carry you through the dry times, and keep you going. 

3) Defining the characters.  When I do get times to focus and just write for a while, the words have been flowing out of my fingers fast.  Part of this is because I did a pretty good job of defining the characters in the first chapters.  Now all I have to do is put them in situations and write down what they say and do.  It is a total adventure for me.  Even though I know the ending of the book already, I'm not exactly sure how the characters will get there, or even exactly who will be alive at the end.  So it's all pretty exciting.  The characters are leading it all, and taking me along for the ride.  And they talk a lot (and spend time running from zombies, and fighting with a vampire war-lord, and on and on ...) - that's a lot of words.

4) Recognizing that writing is good for me.  I've been very distracted by the world these past weeks.  For some people, the reaction is to freeze up and not be able to write anything.  For me, I noticed that I felt better after writing, even if it was a very tough writing session.  So I pushed myself to write even (especially) when the world was pressing in.  My last post was to keep on writing, and I feel it is keenly important, now more than ever, that we do indeed keep on writing.  Give it a read for some encouragement.

Image Credits:  Particpant badge from the NaNoWriMo site, and a screen grab of my own data, also from the NaNo site, on my page.

Keep On Writing!

Sharpen up those quills
and get writing!

It can be hard to write when the world is pulling you in so many directions.  Many people feel their writing just isn't important in the larger scheme of things.  Especially for people who write fiction, their writing may seem so trivial to them, so much like it has no authentic connection to the outside.  And writing can be such a solitary endeavor, anyway, it can be difficult to see how it contributes to making a better world in the long run. 

"Write like it matters and it will." - Libba Bray
"If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write." - Martin Luther
"If a nation loses its storytellers, it loses its childhood." - Peter Handke

I've been struggling with some of these thoughts myself.  After all, most of my writing will probably never get published, and will never garner a big audience if it does.  And really, what good is my beloved sci-fi novel in the face of all the ills of the world?  What good are my little horror poems, flung out into the cosmos like darts at a dragon?  Even that essay I wrote about grad school, the one that I thought was oh, so crafty and writerly, what has it changed? 

"Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises." - Anne Lamott
 "Don't judge it.  Just write it.  Don't judge it.  It's not for you to judge it." - Philip Roth
"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self."
- Cyril Connolly

Well, it's changed me, for one.  Like now, when the world seems so very chaotic, I write and I find a place of focus and determination.  When I was my most depressed, I started my sci-fi series that means so much to me.  It may never get published, but it is a lifeline for me even (especially) now.  And even in the context of genre, I find myself writing about what matters to me - the nature of relationships, sacrifice, love, abuse, war, understanding, and more.  Not trivial issues by any means, as it turns out.

"I write for the same reason I breathe." - Isaac Asimov
"I admire anyone who has the guts to write anything at all." -  EB White
"Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now." - Earnest Hemingway

I want to encourage everyone to write, in whatever way works for them.  Get out those empty journals sitting on the shelf and start filling them up with quotes or whatever moves you.  Blog about your progress on your memoir, and then go write some more of that memoir.  Jot your poems down while commuting or drinking the morning's caffeinated beverage.  Scribble song lyrics in the margins of your class notes.  Fill your lunch breaks with introspective essays.  And if you are like me, huddle up with your computer in bed and pound out that fiction novel that you are just, oh, so close to finishing.  It may change more than you think.  There is no way to know - but certainly if we write nothing, then nothing will be the change we get.

Image Credit:  Sharpening Quill Pen.  Wikimedia Commons.  CC 4.0

NaNoWriMo 2016 - Getting Started

Pen, Paper, and Computer
The tools of the proverbial trade.

November!  Which for me of course means NaNoWriMo.  If you don't know about NaNoWriMo - that stands for National Novel Writing Month.  Many fanciful people like myself take November and ADD 50K of writing to their normal workload, along with feeding ourselves, and doing laundry, dealing with the day job, doing whatever other writing we said we do, etc. 

And a large subset of those writers so inclined and dedicated head over to the NaNoWriMo.org site.  At that site they can track their progress, interact on the forum, and keep in touch with other writers in their local area.  I love the word tracking tool - nothing like giving a nice data display to a scientist.  It's also the place to find out about 'write-ins' that happen nearby, which gives you a chance to meet other local writers and have some company while pounding out some words.

I think one of the reasons I enjoy NaNo so much is that I'm a terrible perfectionist.  I'm often stymied by trying to make everything I produce just so.  It was and is NaNo that gives me permission to just write those fiction words without the constant pounding of my inner editor.  In fact, I now have lots and lots of words drafted into novels that do indeed desperately need an editor ... but that's a different challenge!

Right now it's NaNo time!  That means just put pen to proverbial paper and get writing!   

I've had a slow start, as usual.  This year I'm only two days late, but this is a month packed with other commitments, not to mention, as always, Thanksgiving.  Getting words in over the T-giving holiday is always the major challenge of the month.  Still I recall I started one NaNo nine days late, and spent the entire month playing catch up.  So I'm not too far behind, and am very optimistic about my progress thus far.  Almost 1.8K of words a day will do nicely, if I can keep up the pace.  I have a tendency to write nothing for a few days, then pound out a few 3K and 5K days in a row.  But you don't want to count on the time to do that.  Better to keep that steady pace up to ensure reaching the goal.

How about you?  Do you have a book idea that is just burning to be written?  Did you take the plunge this year for NaNo?  Might be time to give it a try!

Image Credit:  Image - Writing Tools Creative Commons CC 2.0