%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
My thoughts on writing and other random things as they come up. |
| This is a blog where I keep my thoughts and daily comments about writing and WDC. |
| Sometimes it takes a while for things to sink in with me. I've heard lots of people talk about what makes literary fiction, literary fiction! In other words, why is it not popular fiction? It wasn't till today that I really started to feel like I got a better grasp on it. Forgive me if I ramble, I'm still trying to put this all together in my mind. I was reading an interview in Midwestern Gothic about Eric Shonkwiler  . It interested me enough that I went to read one of his short stories off his website: The Man After Me (Pank). The short story reminded me of Nathan Poole, one of my favorite short story writers. Anyway...I digress.After I read that story I realized that the 'what was happening' was a relatively common incident (although it has various uncommon aspects), but it was heavy on introspection and empathy, and had a strong command of the tools of writing as well as the language itself. So it seems to me the difference is in degrees, angles and emphasis. I thought of it a bit like this: In popular fiction, the drama carries the tune. In literary fiction, the tune carries the drama. It seems like in literary fiction, we are given opportunities within normal human experience (perhaps in extraordinary circumstances) to foray deeper into the human psyche, respond with deeper emotional resonance. In popular fiction, what is happening (the more shock and awe the better) and who it is happening to - seems to be the focus. Anyway - I feel like I'm growing my understanding. Luckily - I like both types of fiction. :) Sil |
Here is a great place to submit. They do themed months, but also take general poems about longing anytime. Melancholy Hyperbole. Fast turn around. 23% acceptance (according to Duotrope). Happy Monday! Sil |
I wanted to write something today, so I did my usual things and checked the cramp and daily flash for inspiration. "Invalid Entry" Needs a better title.I've been recruiting writing friends to WDC. I hope some of them join and share in some of the same wonderful benefits I have enjoyed. Feels good to be writing again...even if it is a little awkward! C |
I don't know how or why but I am writing A LOT these days. Poems are pouring out. I wrote an essay. I'm going to write another (essay) today. I'm revising my FIRST novel! (my second one still isn't finished and it's....simmering or something. At least that is my excuse). It's kind of exciting! Hope summer is leading to many fruitful things for you as well. Best, Sil |
| This article from PW about the MFA program was very interesting. I'm rather sad that it doesn't include options for "old foggies" like me. Annie Proloux said in her speech at the AWP that she wished there were more opportunities for older writers, that they often have a breadth of experience to bring to the table. I agree! Still thinking MFA. But not as strong! C |
| I've been thinking a great deal about what Nathan Brown said at the recent OWFI conference about the academy and accessible poetry. I love his list of top poets, and I'm working my way through it. Finishing William Stafford today. Lifted from his facebook page: "Quite a few folks at the Oklahoma Writers Federation conference wanted me to re-post this list of my favorite poets to read… so… here it is: I've spoken at some events lately where I've had people say, "Ok, then… if I should give poetry another chance, who should I read?" Some in-the-know might disagree with my list, but give these poets a try: 1) Stephen Dunn 2) Tony Hoagland 3) Billy Collins 4) Ted Kooser 5) Sharon Olds 6) Mary Oliver 7) George Bilgere 8) Wendell Berry 9) Charles Bukowski 10) MartÃn Espada 11) Bob Hicok (earlier work) (I'm reading: "Animal Stories" & Words for Empty and Words for Full") 12) Robert Pinsky 13) Spencer Reece 14) Gary Soto 15) Adam Zagajewski 16) Kay Ryan 17) Naomi Shihab Nye 18) William Stafford Go for "New and Selected Poems" collections. They're the "greatest hits" albums of the poetry world… I know I've forgotten a few. But I gave it my best shot." I've underlined the ones I've already read extensively. Highlighting in purple the rest as I read them. He also mentioned Ben Myers (Lapse Americana) as one of his top five, but forgot him when listing them on the facebook page. I like my poetry so accessible you can drive a wheelchair through the 36" doorway. Excited to see what I find on this list. Best, Sil |
| Have you seen this? Poetry terms. .I found the responses to the article rather - interesting and odd. |
Sharing this link, for women poets over sixty: Persimmon tree Submission schedule based on where you live. Best, C |
Hm. Just - Hmmm. Demographic condition on mainstream publishing. .The artist as the engineer, or the psychologist. I don't agree with everything he says, but this article is interesting. I DO think it's very important to keep our audience in mind when writing. After all, the audience of one really doesn't pay very well.... And I think it helps us craft a better story if we are writing with the time of the reader (and the reader's interest) in mind. But I was kind of offended by some of what he said. Wait - I wonder if that is what he meant to do... Best, |
| I finally have started at 2014 Poetry Journal. Last year's journal started in April, and I had several works accepted out of the pool Some of them were no good of course. But - I'm hopeful by April of this year, I will have a couple of substance started. Now if I can just wrestle the words around... Hope all is well with you. Remember - APRIL IS POETRY MONTH! And it's just around the corner. In other news - Reading Fahrenheit 451 as part of the one book one community project. So far - very interesting. I'm doing immersion reading (listening to the audio book while reading the actual book) some of the time. Some of the time just one or the other. Learning a lot, just by studying the story. I kind of like the way he writes. Some of it goes against some of the modern teachings. For instance, Bradbury says "The front door shut gently." (page 7). I think the modern way to say it would be "The front door shut." or perhaps - to skip it all together. But I'm thinking the way Bradbury wrote it provides us with a very important visual. >................hmmm.....much to learn! Best, |
| New work (one of 2 scheduled to be published) up at Strong Verse. . I'm so excited about joining the ranks of the poets published here! |
Stumbled upon this during my duotrope travels today: Spellbound .Paying market! Looks very interesting! Best, Sil |
This submission game is full of highs and lows!!! Rejection: 201 days. Poem: Lunch Time, Cricket Magazine. |
| Acceptance - Strong Verse! Submitted revised entries of these: "Invalid Entry" and "Invalid Entry" Navigating the Hasty Waters and She Said Hopefully you will see the improvement when they are published! Happy Happy Day! PS - IF I CAN DO IT YOU CAN TOO! |
| I sent some poems into the Hearst Poetry prize. But I probably shouldn't have. Not (only) because they aren't good enough, but mostly because I would die if some of them were published. I wonder what that means. That I'm getting good at getting "the interesting' out? Or that I'm getting good at airing things that should never see the light of day? What good are these perspectives? Sharing that which is close to the skin, and under it. Who does it benefit? I guess we'll see what happens. |
YIKES Behind - for nano by three full days. Class Saturday, family crisis Sunday, sick monday! I'm going to have to really get after it to catch up. How are things in your world? |
| Sonnets anyone? I thought this looked very reasonable. ($3.00 reading fee). Howard Nemerov Sonnet contest. Sil |
| ACK! I thought I knew which story I was going to write for Nanowrimo, but I might be WRONG! (fine time to decide...). |
Ok so my friend asymmetrical had this amazing idea last year, and she's keeping it up this year. She set a goal for # of rejections for the year. I think that's an awesome way to turn the publications game on it's head. So I was cruising along in Duotrope today and happened to look at my acceptance ratio.It's.... *drum roll please* A whopping 20% for poetry. (My fiction ratio is 0%). I have submitted various poetry pieces 75 times in the last twelve months. Some poems were rejected over and over. Some of that is completely my fault. I sent things out before they were ready. Plus, I also added the goal of upping my challenge each time. Each new journal I submit to (with a new piece) must have a lower acceptance ratio then the one I previously submitted to. Example: Poem 1 goes to Journal A. Journal A has a 30% acceptance ratio. Journal A accepts poem 1. Poem 2 gets submitted to a journal with a less than 30% acceptance ratio. (Once it's been turned down, I can submit it to a journal with a higher acceptance ratio, but not before). I'm also allowed to make edits and revise the piece each time. I haven't resubmitted to any of the journals that have published me (yet). The theory is that I will learn something along the way. I'm not sure what I've learned except that goodness - this is a tough business to be in! But it sure is fun. And my poems are out there doing the work they are supposed to be doing. I sure am having a hard time finding the kind of journal I like to submit to. Accessible, free-verse poetry, about real people living real lives. I'm taking recommendations if anyone has any! Best, Sil |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
