Susanna Leonard Hill’s Holiday Writing Contest is in its third year, though this is my first year of participating.
The Contest: Write a children’s story about a Holiday Mishap,
mix-up, miscommunication, mistake, or potential disaster (a la Grandma
Got Run Over By A Reindeer). Your story may be poetry or prose,
silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas,
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words.
Your entry should be posted on your blog between now and Friday December
13 at 11:59 PM EST and your post-specific link should be added to the
link list below which will remain up through Sunday December 15.
Not only is this fun to take part in, but you can also win great prizes!!!! For all the details click HERE.
If you don't want to take part, feel free to go to Susanna's blog and read the entries.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Adding On
I'm adding on!
Adding on what? you might ask. Adding on to our house? (Oh, don't I wish!) Adding on pounds? (Could be but I hope not.) A new addition to the family? (Oh, gosh, no. We're getting close to end of the child-rearing years. I'd hate to start all over again.) So what am I adding on? I am adding another challenge to my November list.
Remember on Sunday's post where I mentioned I am participating in a poem-a-day challenge (November Chapbook Challenge at Poetic Asides)? What? You didn't read that. Are you serious???? Get to it!
In that post I mentioned that I would participate in NaNoWriMo if I had just a bit more time. I have a great idea for a middle reader chapter book that I am eager to start, but I just don't think I could complete the challenge. I also have a few other children's writing projects in mind (non-fiction articles, picture books, etc.)
Anyway, at the end of Sunday's post I asked my readers what challenges they might be taken part in this month. One person responded with PiBoIdMo. I had no idea what it was. I could figure out PiBo...picture books...and thought it might be something of interest. So I googled it and WHAM! Right away I decided to do this at the same time as the PAD challenge. PiBoIdMo stands for Picture Book Idea Month. I am so excited. By the end of this month I will have 30 good ideas worked out and ready to start writing. Woohoo! AND after completing the challenge I will be eligible to win some really cool prizes.
And look! I've even got the cool badge to prove it.
If you think this is something you might be interested in doing, CLICK HERE for more information.
Now matter what writing challenges you are taking part in this month (and even if you aren't doing any at all) I wish you fun and success in November.
Adding on what? you might ask. Adding on to our house? (Oh, don't I wish!) Adding on pounds? (Could be but I hope not.) A new addition to the family? (Oh, gosh, no. We're getting close to end of the child-rearing years. I'd hate to start all over again.) So what am I adding on? I am adding another challenge to my November list.
Remember on Sunday's post where I mentioned I am participating in a poem-a-day challenge (November Chapbook Challenge at Poetic Asides)? What? You didn't read that. Are you serious???? Get to it!
In that post I mentioned that I would participate in NaNoWriMo if I had just a bit more time. I have a great idea for a middle reader chapter book that I am eager to start, but I just don't think I could complete the challenge. I also have a few other children's writing projects in mind (non-fiction articles, picture books, etc.)
Anyway, at the end of Sunday's post I asked my readers what challenges they might be taken part in this month. One person responded with PiBoIdMo. I had no idea what it was. I could figure out PiBo...picture books...and thought it might be something of interest. So I googled it and WHAM! Right away I decided to do this at the same time as the PAD challenge. PiBoIdMo stands for Picture Book Idea Month. I am so excited. By the end of this month I will have 30 good ideas worked out and ready to start writing. Woohoo! AND after completing the challenge I will be eligible to win some really cool prizes.
And look! I've even got the cool badge to prove it.
If you think this is something you might be interested in doing, CLICK HERE for more information.
Now matter what writing challenges you are taking part in this month (and even if you aren't doing any at all) I wish you fun and success in November.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Sunday Link
Hi everyone.
To hear about my Sunday, join me at my other blog, Linda's Life on the Other Side. To do so, PRESS HERE.
For all my friends doing writing challenges, happy writing. I am doing Robert Lee Brewer's November chapbook challenge over at Poetic Asides and instead of participating in NaNoWriMo, which would be too much with my schedule, I have created my own writing challenge. It is the NaChiWriMo challenge. There are a few children's literature projects (certain submission and story ideas I have) that I will be working on this month.
Care to share what you are doing thsi month?
To hear about my Sunday, join me at my other blog, Linda's Life on the Other Side. To do so, PRESS HERE.
For all my friends doing writing challenges, happy writing. I am doing Robert Lee Brewer's November chapbook challenge over at Poetic Asides and instead of participating in NaNoWriMo, which would be too much with my schedule, I have created my own writing challenge. It is the NaChiWriMo challenge. There are a few children's literature projects (certain submission and story ideas I have) that I will be working on this month.
Care to share what you are doing thsi month?
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Clay & Poetry
Today I am participating for the first time at dVerse Poets. Basically, this is how it works. The dVerse team offers a poetry prompt. You write a poem and post it on your blog and link to them (with the Mr. Linky button). Then you can visit other participants blogs and see what ideas they came up with, and they in turn can read what you created.
This week's prompt is to write a poem based on one (or more) of the several painting shown by Judith Clay. Let me say, I love art. I love collage. I love original styles. A bit of funk and fantasy. Judith's work is all of these things. That caused a bit of a problem. I was taken in by all the paintings and, therefore, couldn't decide which one to choose for my poem. Eventually, I got overwhelmed with reasoning and just did "eeny-meeny, miney, mo". Seriously. I did. And I ended up with the very first picture--Henry and Adele. Isn't it beautiful?
Here's what I came up with (while half asleep...next time I'll need to do the eeny-meeny-method right away).
This week's prompt is to write a poem based on one (or more) of the several painting shown by Judith Clay. Let me say, I love art. I love collage. I love original styles. A bit of funk and fantasy. Judith's work is all of these things. That caused a bit of a problem. I was taken in by all the paintings and, therefore, couldn't decide which one to choose for my poem. Eventually, I got overwhelmed with reasoning and just did "eeny-meeny, miney, mo". Seriously. I did. And I ended up with the very first picture--Henry and Adele. Isn't it beautiful?
 |
| Henry & Adele, by Judith Clay |
Henry's
Lullaby
Sitting
on the hilltop,a boy with ringlets of hair
darker
than the night curls fingers around a flute,
his
breath transforming to notes of nightingale.
A
nearby mourning dove spreads his feathers,
whistles
wings and coos to the tranquil tunes.
Up
above, waning Luna, a silver-slivered jewel
in
the sapphire sky, listens. Somniferous songs
bring
visions of a river that gently rolls along
to
the melody. Tiny black boats transport fruit
and
letters as moon surrenders to the surrealism
of sleep shortly before the sun's reappearance.
of sleep shortly before the sun's reappearance.
You would think that since I am writing a poem everyday this month for the August Postcard Poetry Fest that this would be an easy task. It wasn't. Unfortunately, I find ekphrastic poetry difficult sometimes, especially if I like the work. I get so caught up in the art that I forgot to produce words. So don't ever expect genius from me with ekphrastic. It is usually just a description of what I see. Not much thinking outside the box on this one. But I did it and I wrote my postcard poem for today as well. I hope the practice I am getting each day this month helps me get the creative juices flowing again.
If you would like to see more of Judith's amazing art, CLICK HERE to go to her Society6 Shop. I also found more of here work shown at Blue Canvas. Oh, and did I mention that she is German? How cool is that! And I think she lives in Baden Württemberg, too. Maybe one day I'll walk into an art exhibit somewhere and see her work displayed. And if I am not mistake, she has a children's book coming out soon. At least I think I read that somewhere. If I find the information I will add a link.
To take part in this week's poetry prompt at dVerse, CLICK HERE. Or to learn more about dVerse visit their This is Us page.
As always, thanks for stopping by Lind-guistics. If you want me to know you've been here, leave a comment.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Empty...ten reasons why...
Patience. It is something many children don't have. Waiting to go on an amusement park ride seems like an eternity to them (well, ok. The sad reality is that waiting for a ride can be an eternity. Bad example). How about travelling...when on a long trip they might ask every 15 minutes "Are we there yet?" When they come home from school the question is "When will dinner be ready?" Five minutes later they moan and groan about being hungry and ask, "Is is ready yet? I'm starving!"
Well, I feel like a child today. I feel impatient and hungry. When I heard the mailbox shut today I was like one of Pavlov's dogs. (Uh, no, I wasn't salivating...just anticipating.) After receiving only three postcard poems in the mail, I've been conditioned to rush to the mailbox and see what goodies are waiting for me. Well, today I checked my mail and you know what I got? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. I wanted to chase after the mail carrier and say, "Hey, Mr.! Aren't my postcards here yet?" I was the hungry child. I wanted to wrapped my fingers around his arm and ask, "Are they ready yet? I'm starving? Give me some poetry to chew on." But I didn't. Not only because I am usually quite patient but also because he would probably think I was nuts. (Tami Miller! I know you just read that last sentence and replied, "Oh, but you are nuts.")
Yea, I am nuts. Nuts about art and poetry, and this project is fun. However, international mail is so unpredictable; who knows when they will arrive. Sometimes in only takes two day. Other times two weeks are needed. The weird thing is I haven't received a postcard yet from the person who had to send one to me on day one (August 1). I received from my day 5 person already and my day 11 person (who obviously sent it early). So, where is day 1? Here are my ideas.
Ten Reason I Haven't Received My Postcard*
1) She waited to first receive a postcard to respond to and sent it late.
2) She wrote it and sent it on August 1 but one of the postal workers liked it so much he/she kept it. Probably took the damn thing home and framed it. The nerve!
3) The dog ate it. (Hey, the dog always eats the homework so why not poetry postcards. Maybe it is a very intelligent, literary-incline canine who thinks adjectives and verbs are delectable.)
4) The mail truck was hijacked by a clan of bored people who need reading material.
5) When the postal worker opened the mail box to empty the contents, the wind carried it away and it got stuck on a unicorn's horn. It probably rolled on its back and used all four hooves to remove it. Probably tore the thing to shreds in the process. Yep, just great. Thanks a lot.
6) Customs is holding it. They figured if I was getting great stuff like that in the mail, I should need to pay tax on it. After all, one must declare valuable items. They'll probably call me about it tomorrow. What price can I put on creativity and snail mail happiness?
7) The secret service is holding it. They thought it was some sort of secret poetic code. They're trying to decipher it. It is taking it a while because each agent interpretes it differently.
8) The poem is alive and walked off. It might never be found.
9) The postcard is taking the road less travelled, the one that starts in the boondocks, then on to East Jeblip, the land of make-believe and Oz before stopping here.
And the tenth possible reason that it isn't here yet is:
Ahhh! This is where you, my lovely readers, come into play. YOU give me the reason. Make it as silly or serious as you want. There is no right or wrong answer. Just write it in the comments section. Otherwise, my list of ten won't be complete and we don't want that do we? Perhaps with a combined effort we can reach 20 reasons.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1...write!
____________________________________________________________________________
*Please note, this is in no way an attack on the person. I also haven't received from the third and fourth day poets and well as those for day 6, 7, 8... It is most likely the same as last year...the curse of overseas mailing. The postcards will get here eventually. I just wanted to post about running to the mailbox and being bummed and decided to have a little fun with it.
Well, I feel like a child today. I feel impatient and hungry. When I heard the mailbox shut today I was like one of Pavlov's dogs. (Uh, no, I wasn't salivating...just anticipating.) After receiving only three postcard poems in the mail, I've been conditioned to rush to the mailbox and see what goodies are waiting for me. Well, today I checked my mail and you know what I got? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. I wanted to chase after the mail carrier and say, "Hey, Mr.! Aren't my postcards here yet?" I was the hungry child. I wanted to wrapped my fingers around his arm and ask, "Are they ready yet? I'm starving? Give me some poetry to chew on." But I didn't. Not only because I am usually quite patient but also because he would probably think I was nuts. (Tami Miller! I know you just read that last sentence and replied, "Oh, but you are nuts.")
Yea, I am nuts. Nuts about art and poetry, and this project is fun. However, international mail is so unpredictable; who knows when they will arrive. Sometimes in only takes two day. Other times two weeks are needed. The weird thing is I haven't received a postcard yet from the person who had to send one to me on day one (August 1). I received from my day 5 person already and my day 11 person (who obviously sent it early). So, where is day 1? Here are my ideas.
Ten Reason I Haven't Received My Postcard*
1) She waited to first receive a postcard to respond to and sent it late.
2) She wrote it and sent it on August 1 but one of the postal workers liked it so much he/she kept it. Probably took the damn thing home and framed it. The nerve!
3) The dog ate it. (Hey, the dog always eats the homework so why not poetry postcards. Maybe it is a very intelligent, literary-incline canine who thinks adjectives and verbs are delectable.)
4) The mail truck was hijacked by a clan of bored people who need reading material.
5) When the postal worker opened the mail box to empty the contents, the wind carried it away and it got stuck on a unicorn's horn. It probably rolled on its back and used all four hooves to remove it. Probably tore the thing to shreds in the process. Yep, just great. Thanks a lot.
6) Customs is holding it. They figured if I was getting great stuff like that in the mail, I should need to pay tax on it. After all, one must declare valuable items. They'll probably call me about it tomorrow. What price can I put on creativity and snail mail happiness?
7) The secret service is holding it. They thought it was some sort of secret poetic code. They're trying to decipher it. It is taking it a while because each agent interpretes it differently.
8) The poem is alive and walked off. It might never be found.
9) The postcard is taking the road less travelled, the one that starts in the boondocks, then on to East Jeblip, the land of make-believe and Oz before stopping here.
And the tenth possible reason that it isn't here yet is:
Ahhh! This is where you, my lovely readers, come into play. YOU give me the reason. Make it as silly or serious as you want. There is no right or wrong answer. Just write it in the comments section. Otherwise, my list of ten won't be complete and we don't want that do we? Perhaps with a combined effort we can reach 20 reasons.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1...write!
____________________________________________________________________________
*Please note, this is in no way an attack on the person. I also haven't received from the third and fourth day poets and well as those for day 6, 7, 8... It is most likely the same as last year...the curse of overseas mailing. The postcards will get here eventually. I just wanted to post about running to the mailbox and being bummed and decided to have a little fun with it.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Postcard Potpourri
Hurray! I have postcards in my mailbox!
Remember that project I told you about? The August postcard poetry project.What? Is your memory that bad? If you don't recall or missed that post, CLICK HERE to read about it.
After (im)patiently waiting, this week I received my first three postcards. I would post pics here but with only mailing addresses, I am unable to contact the artists quickly to acquire permission to do so. However, I can describe them to you.
Like last year year, the first one I received was handmade. It is almost like a haiga in the sense that it combines the poem and picture in one. The image appears to be a painting which she printed onto the postcard, deep red strokes, perhaps flowers or fields or even wild waves of auburn hair underneath a glazed full moon. In the center, in white type, is the poem which has an ending line "axis of desire". Stunning and creative. Thank you so much, Anita E.!
The second I received is a purchased card, lime green, with a quote from Jean Cocteau on it. It reads, "What the public criticizes in you, cultivate. It is you." I agree with that to some extent. However, considering how I criticized my husband's loud snoring the other evening I definitely do not wish for him to cultivate that!
But back to the postcard. The first thing I noticed when I flipped it over to read the poem was the fine-point, red marker ink, handwritten with artistic perfection. Then I began reading the poem which describes a morning in the garden. I liked the alliteration in this line: "did not portend the improbable perfection". Thanks to Cathleen M. for this postcard. I often spend time in the garden, so I could relate to this one.
The third postcard arrived today. It has a wonderful collage with a lady's head, animals, clouds. Actually, that description does is no justice. It is super cool. I like how the rabbit is positioned so that it is kissing the lady's cheek. On the back is the poem entitled Dappled by Joanne C. Thank you, Joanne.
So how am I progressing with this postcard poem-a-day challenge? Well, I had been three days ahead of schedule, then got a bit lazy. Okay. Maybe not lazy. After a week with no postcards to respond to I felt a bit unmotivated and am now two days behind. These postcards have stimulated my wayward brain cells and the creative juices are flowing again. I just jotted down a few idea and hope to write two poems today, write them on the postcards and go to the post office tomorrow morning. Maybe this weekend I create a few postcards. As of now I have only made one, a collage made from magazine clippings. However, I might change direction. Since I love photography, I might print a few of my favorite shots and craft them into postcards.
My friend Linda Hatton, editor of Mouse Tales Press, is also participating in the challenge. To read about her experience with the project, go to her blog post HERE (and then return to it often for updates). One thing she discusses is the need for brevity when writing a poem on a postcard. That certainly is a challenge. How do you capture the glory of a sunrise over the lake with such limited space? How do you express an emotion clearly? How do you detail a moment in only a few lines?
Let's work on that together. In 25 words or less I want you to describe something you saw or felt today and post it in the comments section. Go ahead. Make my day.
Remember that project I told you about? The August postcard poetry project.What? Is your memory that bad? If you don't recall or missed that post, CLICK HERE to read about it.
After (im)patiently waiting, this week I received my first three postcards. I would post pics here but with only mailing addresses, I am unable to contact the artists quickly to acquire permission to do so. However, I can describe them to you.
Like last year year, the first one I received was handmade. It is almost like a haiga in the sense that it combines the poem and picture in one. The image appears to be a painting which she printed onto the postcard, deep red strokes, perhaps flowers or fields or even wild waves of auburn hair underneath a glazed full moon. In the center, in white type, is the poem which has an ending line "axis of desire". Stunning and creative. Thank you so much, Anita E.!
The second I received is a purchased card, lime green, with a quote from Jean Cocteau on it. It reads, "What the public criticizes in you, cultivate. It is you." I agree with that to some extent. However, considering how I criticized my husband's loud snoring the other evening I definitely do not wish for him to cultivate that!
But back to the postcard. The first thing I noticed when I flipped it over to read the poem was the fine-point, red marker ink, handwritten with artistic perfection. Then I began reading the poem which describes a morning in the garden. I liked the alliteration in this line: "did not portend the improbable perfection". Thanks to Cathleen M. for this postcard. I often spend time in the garden, so I could relate to this one.
The third postcard arrived today. It has a wonderful collage with a lady's head, animals, clouds. Actually, that description does is no justice. It is super cool. I like how the rabbit is positioned so that it is kissing the lady's cheek. On the back is the poem entitled Dappled by Joanne C. Thank you, Joanne.
So how am I progressing with this postcard poem-a-day challenge? Well, I had been three days ahead of schedule, then got a bit lazy. Okay. Maybe not lazy. After a week with no postcards to respond to I felt a bit unmotivated and am now two days behind. These postcards have stimulated my wayward brain cells and the creative juices are flowing again. I just jotted down a few idea and hope to write two poems today, write them on the postcards and go to the post office tomorrow morning. Maybe this weekend I create a few postcards. As of now I have only made one, a collage made from magazine clippings. However, I might change direction. Since I love photography, I might print a few of my favorite shots and craft them into postcards.
My friend Linda Hatton, editor of Mouse Tales Press, is also participating in the challenge. To read about her experience with the project, go to her blog post HERE (and then return to it often for updates). One thing she discusses is the need for brevity when writing a poem on a postcard. That certainly is a challenge. How do you capture the glory of a sunrise over the lake with such limited space? How do you express an emotion clearly? How do you detail a moment in only a few lines?
Let's work on that together. In 25 words or less I want you to describe something you saw or felt today and post it in the comments section. Go ahead. Make my day.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
It's Almost that Time Again
While most of my blog readers are busy enjoying their summer break, we here in southern Germany are still counting the days. Only eight more school days to go. July 24th can't come soon enough. No more having to deal with a teenager who asks at 6:30 in the morning, "Mom, did you see my English book?" No more having to bug said teenager about practicing math, asking about progress on upcoming projects, or signing tests. No more school stress.
Ah, what joy! So what will I be doing while in the "no school stress zone"? A lot of the same routine, but also (hopefully) spending more time with my husband and daughter, perhaps swimming at the pond, going to Fests, or just relaxing at home in the backyard. And writing.
I'd like to finish a little book project I started a while ago but am not sure if I will be able to complete it. One thing I do know for sure if that I'll be writing 31 poems in August.
Why? Remember this old post? August Postcards
That's right. The August Postcard project is back. With everything going on in July, I'd almost forgotten about it. Luckily, my friend Ina (who has a great little blog called In Our Books with another mutual friend, Andrea) posted about it and I immediately signed up for this year.
So, I know you are asking "what is the postcard project?" HEY! Don't be a lazy bum. Go read that old post (link above).
Okay, I know how a few of you are. Alright, alright. If you aren't going to read the old blog post (insert frown here), then I will give you the extremely shortened version. 31 days, 31 people, a new poem written each day (in response to the last one you receive). Put poem on a postcard, sent to the next person on your list. It's as easy as that. (okay, sometimes it wasn't easy for me but I did manage to complete the task anyway)
Sound like something you are interested in? Then hop on over to this blog post for details on how to sign up this year: August Postcard Poem Fest Returns
Becca and Siv, both of you commented last year that you would have signed up had you known about it earlier. I promised to remind both of you. So...get to it, girls. It will be fun. Maybe we'll even end up on the same list. Not only is it a good writing challenge but you never know what else you'll get out of it. Last year I discovered a writer whose work I really love.
For all of you who decide to join in, I hope you enjoy it. For those who don't join in, I hope you enjoy your August by doing something fun and special. After all, the school year always returns before we expect it.
Ah, what joy! So what will I be doing while in the "no school stress zone"? A lot of the same routine, but also (hopefully) spending more time with my husband and daughter, perhaps swimming at the pond, going to Fests, or just relaxing at home in the backyard. And writing.
I'd like to finish a little book project I started a while ago but am not sure if I will be able to complete it. One thing I do know for sure if that I'll be writing 31 poems in August.
Why? Remember this old post? August Postcards
That's right. The August Postcard project is back. With everything going on in July, I'd almost forgotten about it. Luckily, my friend Ina (who has a great little blog called In Our Books with another mutual friend, Andrea) posted about it and I immediately signed up for this year.
So, I know you are asking "what is the postcard project?" HEY! Don't be a lazy bum. Go read that old post (link above).
Okay, I know how a few of you are. Alright, alright. If you aren't going to read the old blog post (insert frown here), then I will give you the extremely shortened version. 31 days, 31 people, a new poem written each day (in response to the last one you receive). Put poem on a postcard, sent to the next person on your list. It's as easy as that. (okay, sometimes it wasn't easy for me but I did manage to complete the task anyway)
Sound like something you are interested in? Then hop on over to this blog post for details on how to sign up this year: August Postcard Poem Fest Returns
Becca and Siv, both of you commented last year that you would have signed up had you known about it earlier. I promised to remind both of you. So...get to it, girls. It will be fun. Maybe we'll even end up on the same list. Not only is it a good writing challenge but you never know what else you'll get out of it. Last year I discovered a writer whose work I really love.
For all of you who decide to join in, I hope you enjoy it. For those who don't join in, I hope you enjoy your August by doing something fun and special. After all, the school year always returns before we expect it.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Forget the Yuck-Phooey and Laugh
I am not sure how the weather is where you are, but in my part of Germany today, it is a yuck-phooey-rainy day. In fact, I am not sure where the summer weather and sunshine has been hiding.
What's one to do when the day is so bleak? Brighten it up, of course! Luckily, I stumbled across the perfect blog post to put a smile on my face. It isn't even a blog I follow (though I might start to), so I guess it was a bit of fate that I found it.
The blog is Pleated Jeans (no filler, just funny!) and the blog post is about deleting or changing one letter in the title of a popular book to make a new (and funny) title, complete with new book jacket. For instance, Margaret Atwood's book The Handmaiden's Tale suddenly becomes The Handmaiden's Ale and Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven now becomes The Rave.
I just love silly things like that. If you do, too, you can go to the blog post by CLICKING HERE.
Can you think of any other title changes? If so, post them here in the comments section.
Here are a few I came up with:
(sorry I can't make my own graphics to accompany these)
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill now becomes.... Think and Grow Rice
(hey, who knows...maybe growing your own rice would be great)
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is now... Gone with the Wine
(I know a few people who have been "gone with the wine")
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien now becomes... Lard of the Rings (story of that spare tire?)
or perhaps... Lord of the Rinks (story of a rollerskating champion)
or even... Lord of the Rigs (history of an oil rig monopoly)
The Call of the Wild by Jack London is now... The Calm of the Wild
(tale of how a crazy man learns to be still by taking of downers)
and last but not least...
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare becomes... A Midsummer Night's Cream
(well, I think you can figure that one out...)
Now it's YOUR turn. C'mon. I know there are some creative people out there reading this. Give it to me. Make me smile on this dreary day.
Whatcha' waiting for? 1, 2, 3....post!
What's one to do when the day is so bleak? Brighten it up, of course! Luckily, I stumbled across the perfect blog post to put a smile on my face. It isn't even a blog I follow (though I might start to), so I guess it was a bit of fate that I found it.
The blog is Pleated Jeans (no filler, just funny!) and the blog post is about deleting or changing one letter in the title of a popular book to make a new (and funny) title, complete with new book jacket. For instance, Margaret Atwood's book The Handmaiden's Tale suddenly becomes The Handmaiden's Ale and Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven now becomes The Rave.
I just love silly things like that. If you do, too, you can go to the blog post by CLICKING HERE.
Can you think of any other title changes? If so, post them here in the comments section.
Here are a few I came up with:
(sorry I can't make my own graphics to accompany these)
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill now becomes.... Think and Grow Rice
(hey, who knows...maybe growing your own rice would be great)
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is now... Gone with the Wine
(I know a few people who have been "gone with the wine")
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien now becomes... Lard of the Rings (story of that spare tire?)
or perhaps... Lord of the Rinks (story of a rollerskating champion)
or even... Lord of the Rigs (history of an oil rig monopoly)
The Call of the Wild by Jack London is now... The Calm of the Wild
(tale of how a crazy man learns to be still by taking of downers)
and last but not least...
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare becomes... A Midsummer Night's Cream
(well, I think you can figure that one out...)
Now it's YOUR turn. C'mon. I know there are some creative people out there reading this. Give it to me. Make me smile on this dreary day.
Whatcha' waiting for? 1, 2, 3....post!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Hodgepodge 130
The Hodgepodge is back! Here are the questions and my answers. If you would like to participate, click on the picture below and you'll go to From this Side of the Pond (the blog of our beautiful hostess, Joyce).
1. Summertime is a season of reunions, weddings, and other family
celebrations and gatherings...are any of the above on your calendar in
the next two months?
Unfortunately, no, since my family lives on the other side of the ocean. But there are plenty of Feste in Germany during the summer months, and we'll be enjoying grill parties/picnics with friends. This weekend I went to a rubber duck race. That's not a joke. Three thousand rubber ducks were floating down the river.
Unfortunately, no, since my family lives on the other side of the ocean. But there are plenty of Feste in Germany during the summer months, and we'll be enjoying grill parties/picnics with friends. This weekend I went to a rubber duck race. That's not a joke. Three thousand rubber ducks were floating down the river.
2. June is National Iced Tea Month...are you an iced tea drinker? If so, how do you like yours (sweet, flavored, etc)?
Oh, yes. I like iced tea. My mother grew mint tea in our garden. We'd brew it and add a tiny touch of orange juice to it. Though I enjoy several different kinds of iced tea, homemade orange mint is still my favorite.
3. When were you last nervous? Looking back, was the 'event' actually nerve-worthy?
The last time I was nervous? That was just last week when I had a mammogram, and then later in the week when I had other (unrelated) tests done. Routines/yearly tests don't normally bother me, but when they are doing medical tests specifically to check something, I can't help be a bit uncomfortable with the situation.
4. The bristle toothbrush was invented in China on June 26, 1498...not
sure how that date was pinned down so precisely but, on a scale of
1-10, with 10 being sick to your stomach and 1 being not at all, how
nervous do you feel when you're headed to the dentist? Do you see your
dentist twice a year?
I see my dentist faithfully twice a year for cleaning, once a year for a check-up. I'd never been nervous going to the dentist until I had a bad tooth and the treatment did not go well. After that my nervousness scale jumped from a 1 to a 10. Now, I am at a 3 because I have one sensitive tooth that makes cleaning a bit uncomfortable.
5. What's making news in your town this week?
Not much going on in this little village. But if something comes up, the news will certainly spread like wildfire. ;-)
6. Curtains, drapes, blinds...your window treatment of choice? Are there
any bare windows in your house? Is that by choice or because you
haven't gotten around to covering them?
Some of the smaller ones just have lace curtains, the others have lace or silk curtains and drapes. Most have shutters and/or Rolladen (rolling blinds).
7. Summertime is officially here (in the Northern hemisphere anyway)...what one song is a must-have on your summer playlist?
One song? One? Are you nuts? No music lover can pick just one song.
I think when I was younger my answer might have been Alice Cooper's School's Out or Bryan Adam's Summer of '69. And let's not forget perhaps Born to be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf. I remember my oldest brother listening them as well as to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Three Dog Night, Led Zeppelin. One summer I remember one of my other brothers making me dial the radio station's telephone number over and over during request hour so he could ask them to play Jukebox Hero by Foreigner. So, maybe it's not a very summery tune but I associate it with summer.
What songs might I pick now for my summer playlist? There are many. One song would be Brighter than the Sun by Colbie Caillat. Another might be Sheryl Crow's All I Wanna Do (is have some fun). Also any song from Sugar Ray's CD Music for Cougars. And, of course, it doesn't matter what time of year it is...I can always listen to anything by P!nk.
Here's the song Dance Like No One's Watchin' by Sugar Ray, featuring Donavon Frankenreiter.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Summer. All my American friends are posting about school being out, about sunny summer weather, grilling, swimming, mosquitoes. (insert big sigh here) Oh, I wish I could say the same. The German school system is more like year-round schooling. My daughter only has a scant 6 weeks compared to the 8 or 9 in the states. However, she has two weeks free for Easter, after Christmas she never goes back to school before January 6th (also a holiday here) and has two weeks Spring break and one week in Autumn. We appreciate all those breaks, but it also means that she must attend school later in the summer months. Last year she had to go until July 29 but this year she gets out on July 24. By the time she begins, your summer vacation might be half over. On the bright side though, it stay light longer here in summer, we have less humidity, and (at least in my neck of the woods) we have fewer mosquitoes. Those blood-sucking pests used to eat me alive in Pennsylvania. I don't miss them at all.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Cindi - Sadness and Joy
This month a writing friend of mine passed away. Though she'd been battling breast cancer, it still came
as a bit of a shock. Cindi was a strong person and had such a positive
attitude regarding life despite all she'd been through. If anyone would win the
fight, I was certain it would be her. I still can't believe she's gone.I will miss all the long chats, the sharing of poetry, the mutual encouragement; the friendship.
For a week now I've been trying to write a poem for her but the words don't come. Or a few come and the rest get caught in tears. Or words come but they're just not good enough.
I've decided that if I can't manage to write a tribute poem to post here, I will provide a link to her words. I wanted to link to my favorite poem of hers, one about travelling on the bus, but I guess she hadn't shared it publicly. I did, however, find a link to one of her older poems: A Breast Cancer Poem by Cindi Silva.
To read it, CLICK HERE.
If Cindi were here, she'd remind all women to get mammograms. The other thing she'd say (as she always did) is go out and spread joy.
So I've made a list of things you might do today.
* bake someone a cake, just because
* try to give at least 5 people compliments (but sincere ones, please)
* give someone flowers
* help someone in need
* smile :-) You usually get a smile in return.
* donate used books, puzzles, etc. to a senior citizen's center, day care, etc.
* tell a good joke. After all, everyone enjoys a good laugh.
* be the best person you can be today...and then do it again tomorrow
Now, go on. Get to it! Go out and spread some joy.
**************
Have you spread joy lately? If so, share it in the comments section.
For a week now I've been trying to write a poem for her but the words don't come. Or a few come and the rest get caught in tears. Or words come but they're just not good enough.
I've decided that if I can't manage to write a tribute poem to post here, I will provide a link to her words. I wanted to link to my favorite poem of hers, one about travelling on the bus, but I guess she hadn't shared it publicly. I did, however, find a link to one of her older poems: A Breast Cancer Poem by Cindi Silva.
To read it, CLICK HERE.
If Cindi were here, she'd remind all women to get mammograms. The other thing she'd say (as she always did) is go out and spread joy.
So I've made a list of things you might do today.
* bake someone a cake, just because
* try to give at least 5 people compliments (but sincere ones, please)
* give someone flowers
* help someone in need
* smile :-) You usually get a smile in return.
* donate used books, puzzles, etc. to a senior citizen's center, day care, etc.
* tell a good joke. After all, everyone enjoys a good laugh.
* be the best person you can be today...and then do it again tomorrow
Now, go on. Get to it! Go out and spread some joy.
**************
Have you spread joy lately? If so, share it in the comments section.
The Frog Question
Hey, everyone! I didn't forget about you. And I didn't forget about this blog. Honestly, I didn't. Life just hasn't been my friend lately. I won't go into a lengthy explanation but it had to do with family matters and visitors and obligations and being ill. I'm still not 100% better but am functioning. SO hopefully I'll be able to get the ball rolling again here.
Thanks to those of you who sent me messages asking if all was okay. You are so sweet.
Today I wrote a limerick.
There once was a gal with a blog
who got caught up in life's ugly smog.
Hadn't posted for weeks on end,
got concerned notes from her friends,
asking if she'd croaked. Like a frog?
Well, that's all for today. Thanks for hopping over to my pad today.
'Til next time...
rib-bit!
Thanks to those of you who sent me messages asking if all was okay. You are so sweet.
Today I wrote a limerick.
There once was a gal with a blog
who got caught up in life's ugly smog.
Hadn't posted for weeks on end,
got concerned notes from her friends,
asking if she'd croaked. Like a frog?
Well, that's all for today. Thanks for hopping over to my pad today.
'Til next time...
rib-bit!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Birthday Bash Poetry Contest Winners
On March 1 (over a month ago) I held a Birthday Bash Poetry Contest in honor of Dr. Seuss. I asked followers (and even non-followers) to write a poem. If you didn't read that post, here is a scaled-down version of the rules:
1. The poem had to rhyme.
2. The poem had to use one of the following four titles.
The Pig in the Wig
The Cow in the Towel
Goats in Petticoats
The Mouse and his Spouse
3. The poems had to be rated PG-13 (because my daughter was one of the judges.)
4. There was no restriction on how long or short the poem could be. Participants could enter up to 4 times-- once for each title.
Well, guess what, folks. The winners have been selected and prizes have been verified. The judges were my teenage daughter, my husband, and I. I printed out copies of the poems that were post and/or emailed and asked both of them to select their two favorites, thinking we could narrow them down more easily after that. As it turned out, chosing a first place winner was no problem at all since all three of us had this poem on our lists. Even though it's a little "cheesey" we all felt it said much in a few words and make us SMILE! Here it is.
Every time I say “Cheese,”
they flat out call me a tease
‘cause I take their picture instead.
1. The poem had to rhyme.
2. The poem had to use one of the following four titles.
The Pig in the Wig
The Cow in the Towel
Goats in Petticoats
The Mouse and his Spouse
3. The poems had to be rated PG-13 (because my daughter was one of the judges.)
4. There was no restriction on how long or short the poem could be. Participants could enter up to 4 times-- once for each title.
Well, guess what, folks. The winners have been selected and prizes have been verified. The judges were my teenage daughter, my husband, and I. I printed out copies of the poems that were post and/or emailed and asked both of them to select their two favorites, thinking we could narrow them down more easily after that. As it turned out, chosing a first place winner was no problem at all since all three of us had this poem on our lists. Even though it's a little "cheesey" we all felt it said much in a few words and make us SMILE! Here it is.
A mouse and his spouse
A mouse and his spouse,
tiny guests in my house,
oftentimes feel misled.
tiny guests in my house,
oftentimes feel misled.
Every time I say “Cheese,”
they flat out call me a tease
‘cause I take their picture instead.
(c) Jacqueline Hallenbeck
Congratulations to Jacqueline! She wins a signed copy of R.J. Clarken's book, Mugging for the Camera which is described as "a fun and funny
collection of odd, off-beat and really quirky poetry which can be
enjoyed by anyone who has a good sense of humor, a whimsical imagination
and a fair appreciation of the witty bon mot. Penned in mostly light
verse, this album of original 'snapshots' makes use of (and frequently
abuses) classic metrics like the ever-popular iambic pentameter; and in
the process, often wreaks general havoc upon traditional poetry forms
such as sonnets, haiku, couplets, etc. in order to capture those special
moments in time having to do with creative and unusual word play,
peculiar events in the weird news and everyday life in the suburbs,
among other things." If you aren't familiar with R.J.'s work, go check it out. I know it always makes me smile.
And a big thanks to R.J. for donating the signed book. You rock!
The other winner is the "kid's choice" award. My daughter awards that to Marie Elena Good of Poetic Bloomings for her poem.
The Mouse and His Spouse
The mouse had a spouse with a very big brain,
And he a big ego, and so she would feign
Nonsensical humor, absurd and inane,
To make him feel good for each thought he’d retain.
‘Til one day he realized just what she had done.
He got on her case, and he ruined her fun.
“I figured it helped you feel shrewder, my Hon.
I know that you need to feel YOU’re the smart one.”
He squeezed her and told her, “No need to appease.
I know I’m the one with the great expertise
To outsmart the mousetrap with flair and with ease,
And keep us in plenty of mouse-lovin’ cheese!”
The spouse of the mouse said, “You’re one sharp chap,
And the brain in my head likes your fine thinking cap.”
Then the mouse and his spouse took a nice little nap
(‘til she sneaked out to disarm their daily mousetrap).
The mouse had a spouse with a very big brain,
And he a big ego, and so she would feign
Nonsensical humor, absurd and inane,
To make him feel good for each thought he’d retain.
‘Til one day he realized just what she had done.
He got on her case, and he ruined her fun.
“I figured it helped you feel shrewder, my Hon.
I know that you need to feel YOU’re the smart one.”
He squeezed her and told her, “No need to appease.
I know I’m the one with the great expertise
To outsmart the mousetrap with flair and with ease,
And keep us in plenty of mouse-lovin’ cheese!”
The spouse of the mouse said, “You’re one sharp chap,
And the brain in my head likes your fine thinking cap.”
Then the mouse and his spouse took a nice little nap
(‘til she sneaked out to disarm their daily mousetrap).
(c) Marie Elena Good
Marie Elena is the winner of a signed copy of the book Natural Musings: Photography and Poetry by Michelle Hed. This book combines Michelle's stunning photos with her short poem. A perfect combination. I know because I have this one on my book shelf. But why not check it out yourself.
Michelle was also kind enough to donate the signed copy of her book. You also rock. (I had to resist the urge to type, "you rock, Hed!" LOL. Yeah, I know, Michelle. You probably tire of hearing the "head" jokes and you know I usually never do them but couldn't help myself. Seriously though....you ROCK!)
The other two poems that were one the lists are our runners-up. They have no idea they've won and they'll have to wait a tiny bit longer to find out, because today is the day for Jacqueline and Marie Elena to shine.
I'll announce the runners-up sometime in the next week, so stay tuned in to find out who wins some tasty, European chocolates.
Thanks to everyone for taking part. It sure was a blast!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Coming Soon
No. I haven't forgotten about the Birthday Bash Poetry Contest. The winners have been selected. I am in the process of working out the prizes and will make the announcement this weekend.
Stay tuned.
And for all of you who are writing a poem a day in April to celebrate poetry month, whether it be NaPoWriMo or Poetic Asides or Pulitzer Remix, etc., I hope you are having fun with the challenge.
Stay tuned.
And for all of you who are writing a poem a day in April to celebrate poetry month, whether it be NaPoWriMo or Poetic Asides or Pulitzer Remix, etc., I hope you are having fun with the challenge.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Quote and Question - March 26, 2013
In honor of Robert Frost's birthday, I offer these quotes:
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
I'm not confused. I'm just well mixed.
I never dared to be radical when young for fear it would make me conservative when old.
I had a lover's quarrel with the world.
******
My question to you is...which of these three quotes resonates with you the most and why?
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
I'm not confused. I'm just well mixed.
I never dared to be radical when young for fear it would make me conservative when old.
I had a lover's quarrel with the world.
******
My question to you is...which of these three quotes resonates with you the most and why?
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Birthday Bash Contest Reminder
Hi, everyone!
I just received notification that an autographed copy of RJ Clarken's book, Mugging for the Camera, will definitely be offered as a prize in the Birthday Bash Poetry Contest. If you haven't entered, that should be incentive enough to get you writing. RJ writes some delightfully silly poems. She also writes serious work, and it was just announced last night that RJ won the Pantoum Poetry Form Challenge at Writer's Digest. Congratulations, RJ!
There are still four days left to enter the Birthday Bash Poetry Contest. CLICK HERE to go to the original post listing the guidelines.
I have enlisted the help of my daughter and husband to help with judging. As poems come in I copy and paste them (excluding name) into a file. After the deadline I will print a copy of the file for each judge. The two winners will be notified by the end of March.
Several of the contest entries are listed in the comment section of the original post. Others have been received by email. We currently have about 20, but keep 'em comin'. The more poems, the more difficult it is to decide and the more I can torture my two judges (insert evil smirk here). But seriously, just send them in, because I love reading them. It sure beats housework.
Well, since I don't have any entries to read at the moment, I guess I will tackle the ironing.
HELP!
Please.
Send.
Poems.
Pretty please.
I just received notification that an autographed copy of RJ Clarken's book, Mugging for the Camera, will definitely be offered as a prize in the Birthday Bash Poetry Contest. If you haven't entered, that should be incentive enough to get you writing. RJ writes some delightfully silly poems. She also writes serious work, and it was just announced last night that RJ won the Pantoum Poetry Form Challenge at Writer's Digest. Congratulations, RJ!
There are still four days left to enter the Birthday Bash Poetry Contest. CLICK HERE to go to the original post listing the guidelines.
I have enlisted the help of my daughter and husband to help with judging. As poems come in I copy and paste them (excluding name) into a file. After the deadline I will print a copy of the file for each judge. The two winners will be notified by the end of March.
Several of the contest entries are listed in the comment section of the original post. Others have been received by email. We currently have about 20, but keep 'em comin'. The more poems, the more difficult it is to decide and the more I can torture my two judges (insert evil smirk here). But seriously, just send them in, because I love reading them. It sure beats housework.
Well, since I don't have any entries to read at the moment, I guess I will tackle the ironing.
HELP!
Please.
Send.
Poems.
Pretty please.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Overcoming Adversity
Nick Wilford has put together an anthology with seventy stories of both fiction and non-fiction as well as poetry about overcoming adversity and is currently selling it as an eBook (It will also be available in print soon.)
The anthology is part of a fundraising effort to send Nick's stepson, Andrew, to a specialist college in England. Andrew has cerebral palsy, and is a remarkable young man with a promising future. However, the free further education options offered in his own country (Scotland) no longer challenge him nor and allow him to progress. In order to access the education he deserves, Andrew will have to pay exorbitant fees. You can help by purchasing a copy of the book and by sharing this post with other. I know I will.
If you are in the U.S., the price for the Kindle Edition is only $3.54. Just CLICK HERE to go to the page on Amazon.
To order on Amazon in the United Kingdom, CLICK HERE. The cost is
£2.03.
It is also available on SMASHWORDS and GOODREADS.
Oh, and did I mention that it features work by great writers such as E.J. Wesley, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Kyra Lennon. There's even a short piece by me. So why not buy a copy? It's a win-win situation. You get great reading material and Andrew gets one step closer to his educational needs.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Birthday Bash Poetry Contest
This post might be sort of rushed, because I just came up with this birthday bash contest about half an hour ago. In fact, I haven't even sorted out all the details yet but there isn't much time to think. I just need to type, type, type and figure it out as I go, because tomorrow is the big day.
Those who know me well know that though I have a February birthday, mine has already passed. So whose birthday are we celebrating? I'll give you a hint. He wrote one book, two books, three books, four, five books, six book and a whole lot more. He had red books, blue books, yellow, tangerine, and a very famous book about eggs that are green. He wrote rhyming books that brought him great fame. By now you probably all know his name.
That's right. Tomorrow (March 2) is the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss. Other pen-names include Theo LeSieg (LeSieg is Geisel spelled backwards) and Rosetta Stone.
In honor of his birthday, I am holding a poetry writing contest. The rules are as follows:
1. The poem must rhyme. After all, Dr. Seuss is best remembered for his ability to write appealing rhyming stories that both children and adults enjoyed reading.
2. The poem must use one of the following four titles.
The Pig in the Wig
The Cow in the Towel
Goats in Petticoats
The Mouse and his Spouse
Yes, I know. You could probably think of quite a few more titles, maybe even more exciting ones, but those are the four choices. That means there should be no poems entitled Turkey and the Beef Jerky or The Monkey and his Junkie or The Squirrel and the Epidural. If you do send me something like that, I admit that I will probably take great pleasure in reading your work. However, it will not be eligible for the contest.
Also, the poem itself must focus on the title chosen. By that I mean, if you pick The Pig in the Wig, the poem must revolve around a pig who is wearing a wig. You can't write about a boy who is grumpy all day and his parents use all sorts of failed methods to get him to smile and then in the last few lines have him smile because a pig in a wig goes trotting by.
3. The poems should be rated PG-13 because my daughter will be one of the judges.
4. There is no restriction on how long or short the poem should be. It doesn't even need to be funny. Though we do love funny. Just make sure it has some sort of rhyme scheme. AND you can enter up to 4 times-- once for each title.
5. The deadline is March 16 (that gives you two weeks) and the winners will be announced by March 31. You may post your poem directly in the comments section of this post or if you prefer to send your poem by email, write "I wish to email my poem" in the comments section and I will contact you regarding how to do so. However, please note by entering the contest you give me permission to post it later, because the winning poems will be made public when I announce the winners.
6. Since I just came up with this idea less than an hour ago, I haven't sorted out the prizes yet, but there were be at least two winners. Since this is a poetry contest and I have several friends with poetry books, I am thinking of providing the winners with a list of books available as prizes (or perhaps non-poetry books as well).For instance, I might send them a list of six books and they each get to pick one. And if all else fails, there is always German chocolate. Of course, if anyone has further ideas for prizes, I am open to suggestions.
7. You don't need to be a follower of my blog to enter, but it sure would make me happy. :-)
I think that's about it. If I've forgotten any details, feel free to ask.
Now go embrace your inner Seuss and start writing. You can write your poem in your car. You can write your poem at the bar. You can write your poem with a magical gnome or write your poem with your dog at home. You can write with pen and ink. You can type your poem by the sink. You can write your poem here or there. You can write it anywhere. Just write it.
And have fun.
Those who know me well know that though I have a February birthday, mine has already passed. So whose birthday are we celebrating? I'll give you a hint. He wrote one book, two books, three books, four, five books, six book and a whole lot more. He had red books, blue books, yellow, tangerine, and a very famous book about eggs that are green. He wrote rhyming books that brought him great fame. By now you probably all know his name.
That's right. Tomorrow (March 2) is the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss. Other pen-names include Theo LeSieg (LeSieg is Geisel spelled backwards) and Rosetta Stone.
In honor of his birthday, I am holding a poetry writing contest. The rules are as follows:
1. The poem must rhyme. After all, Dr. Seuss is best remembered for his ability to write appealing rhyming stories that both children and adults enjoyed reading.
2. The poem must use one of the following four titles.
The Pig in the Wig
The Cow in the Towel
Goats in Petticoats
The Mouse and his Spouse
Yes, I know. You could probably think of quite a few more titles, maybe even more exciting ones, but those are the four choices. That means there should be no poems entitled Turkey and the Beef Jerky or The Monkey and his Junkie or The Squirrel and the Epidural. If you do send me something like that, I admit that I will probably take great pleasure in reading your work. However, it will not be eligible for the contest.
Also, the poem itself must focus on the title chosen. By that I mean, if you pick The Pig in the Wig, the poem must revolve around a pig who is wearing a wig. You can't write about a boy who is grumpy all day and his parents use all sorts of failed methods to get him to smile and then in the last few lines have him smile because a pig in a wig goes trotting by.
3. The poems should be rated PG-13 because my daughter will be one of the judges.
4. There is no restriction on how long or short the poem should be. It doesn't even need to be funny. Though we do love funny. Just make sure it has some sort of rhyme scheme. AND you can enter up to 4 times-- once for each title.
5. The deadline is March 16 (that gives you two weeks) and the winners will be announced by March 31. You may post your poem directly in the comments section of this post or if you prefer to send your poem by email, write "I wish to email my poem" in the comments section and I will contact you regarding how to do so. However, please note by entering the contest you give me permission to post it later, because the winning poems will be made public when I announce the winners.
6. Since I just came up with this idea less than an hour ago, I haven't sorted out the prizes yet, but there were be at least two winners. Since this is a poetry contest and I have several friends with poetry books, I am thinking of providing the winners with a list of books available as prizes (or perhaps non-poetry books as well).For instance, I might send them a list of six books and they each get to pick one. And if all else fails, there is always German chocolate. Of course, if anyone has further ideas for prizes, I am open to suggestions.
7. You don't need to be a follower of my blog to enter, but it sure would make me happy. :-)
I think that's about it. If I've forgotten any details, feel free to ask.
Now go embrace your inner Seuss and start writing. You can write your poem in your car. You can write your poem at the bar. You can write your poem with a magical gnome or write your poem with your dog at home. You can write with pen and ink. You can type your poem by the sink. You can write your poem here or there. You can write it anywhere. Just write it.
And have fun.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Ragged
Yesterday was a day of mishaps. On days when I go to Welzheim (like yesterday) I take the train to Rudersberg and take the bus from there to Welzheim. Instead of getting off at the central station, I went one station further because the bus driver told me last week that for the next 6 weeks the bus will not be stopping at the central train station but in Rudersberg Nord instead. So that's what I did.
I got off the train and walked to the bus stop. Then I noticed a paper hanging there. Not only had they changed the route but the schedule had changed as well. I had to wait 45 minutes in the cold for the next bus to come. It was not fun. I tried to call my friend to let her know I would be late but a message on my cell phone told me my card needed to be loaded (no money left). Wonderful. Then the bus driver forgot to stop at my stop, so I rang the bell again and she stopped right in the middle of the road.
My friends and I were meeting at a different place than usual, at one of the women's houses. I had been there once before but it is sort of hidden. I walked around aimlessly until I found a street corner that looked familiar. I turned right at the corner and followed the hidden drive to the house. I had found it but was 10 minutes late. We had a nice time together and then I headed home.
That evening we made homemade beef vegetable soup. We always make it in our pressure cooker. It's very old (from my husband's grandmother) but still works well. Except something went wrong and for the first time since having it (over 10 years) it had a mini explosion. Not huge, but some of the carrots and celery and leeks and beef flew up about 6 inches and landed on the counter.
Yep, it was just "one of those days" and I was feeling a little ragged. So I decided to do some online reading before bed and came across a blog post by Sheryl Oder. I know her from participating in the April PAD challenge (write a poem each day from the prompt given by Robert at Poetic Asides). I don't know Sheryl well and have never visited her blog before (I believe she just started blogging not too long ago). Anyway, it must have been poetic fate, because this was exactly what I needed to read. The post with her poem "This April is a Ragged Poem" had me smiling in no time.Maybe you will enjoy it as well.
To go to her blog (Sheryl's Sporadic Word Tag) and read it, CLICK HERE.
****************
If you liked Sheryl's poem, I hope you left a comment telling her so. And in my comments section? Well, what I'd like to know is...
what is the last bad thing that happened to you?
AND
Does it still bother you or can you laugh about it now?
As always, thanks for stopping by Lind-guistics.
I got off the train and walked to the bus stop. Then I noticed a paper hanging there. Not only had they changed the route but the schedule had changed as well. I had to wait 45 minutes in the cold for the next bus to come. It was not fun. I tried to call my friend to let her know I would be late but a message on my cell phone told me my card needed to be loaded (no money left). Wonderful. Then the bus driver forgot to stop at my stop, so I rang the bell again and she stopped right in the middle of the road.
My friends and I were meeting at a different place than usual, at one of the women's houses. I had been there once before but it is sort of hidden. I walked around aimlessly until I found a street corner that looked familiar. I turned right at the corner and followed the hidden drive to the house. I had found it but was 10 minutes late. We had a nice time together and then I headed home.
That evening we made homemade beef vegetable soup. We always make it in our pressure cooker. It's very old (from my husband's grandmother) but still works well. Except something went wrong and for the first time since having it (over 10 years) it had a mini explosion. Not huge, but some of the carrots and celery and leeks and beef flew up about 6 inches and landed on the counter.
Yep, it was just "one of those days" and I was feeling a little ragged. So I decided to do some online reading before bed and came across a blog post by Sheryl Oder. I know her from participating in the April PAD challenge (write a poem each day from the prompt given by Robert at Poetic Asides). I don't know Sheryl well and have never visited her blog before (I believe she just started blogging not too long ago). Anyway, it must have been poetic fate, because this was exactly what I needed to read. The post with her poem "This April is a Ragged Poem" had me smiling in no time.Maybe you will enjoy it as well.
To go to her blog (Sheryl's Sporadic Word Tag) and read it, CLICK HERE.
****************
If you liked Sheryl's poem, I hope you left a comment telling her so. And in my comments section? Well, what I'd like to know is...
what is the last bad thing that happened to you?
AND
Does it still bother you or can you laugh about it now?
As always, thanks for stopping by Lind-guistics.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
A Kiss for Valentine's Day
In my last post I shared the tearsheet that featured my short story and a photo of a beautiful lady. If you missed that post, you can read it now by CLICKING HERE. Except there was one thing that I didn't tell you then. Not only do I have that story in the February issue of The Poetic Pinup Revue, but I also have a poem featured as well.
Here it is:
In case the print is too small to read, here is the poem.
Don't think for one second that I will profess
with written word my eternal love for you,
because after all this time how could you even
have the audacity to think that a mushy love poem
could express the way that I feel about you when
words could only graze the surface of its depths.
TPPR doesn't list titles on the page with the material, just in the table of contents/credits, but the title is To My Husband, Stefan. So today, on Valentine's Day, this poem is for my husband, who I would be totally lost without.
Did you celebrate Valentine's Day in some way? Did you give gifts? Tell me about.
Here it is:
In case the print is too small to read, here is the poem.
I've known you for what seems an
eternity.
I know all your little secrets, mister,
know the man inside others never get to see,
so don't expect me to write you a love letter
telling you how the world would stop spinning
if you were no longer here and how the big bang theory
would sum up the breaking of my fragile heart.
I know all your little secrets, mister,
know the man inside others never get to see,
so don't expect me to write you a love letter
telling you how the world would stop spinning
if you were no longer here and how the big bang theory
would sum up the breaking of my fragile heart.
Don't think for one second that I will profess
with written word my eternal love for you,
because after all this time how could you even
have the audacity to think that a mushy love poem
could express the way that I feel about you when
words could only graze the surface of its depths.
Did you celebrate Valentine's Day in some way? Did you give gifts? Tell me about.
Friday, February 8, 2013
The Many Faces of Love
The other day I had a few minutes to spare and decided to post something here, but I didn't. Why? you might ask. Well, it wasn't for lack of ideas. The problem is that I had too many idea and not enough time to do any of them justice. So I just signed off and went to bed. Then I stared at the ceiling a bit while all those ideas swirled around in my mind. I wasn't sure which one I would use the next time I sat in front of my laptop, but I decided it would somehow work itself out. It's like when you need to buy a gift for someone but don't know what. You go shopping and as you walk in the store you find the perfect gift setting on the shelf. Yep, that's how it will happen I told myself.
And you know what? That's really how it happened. Except it is not any of the ideas I had thought about the other day. This topic just sort of fell into my lap so to say. I sat down, checked my email, and there it was waiting for me. What was it? My spreadsheet for my flash fiction piece that is featuring in the upcoming (to be released on 12th) February issue of The Poetic Pinup Revue.
Never heard of The Poetic Pinup Revue? Here is how the publication is described on their website:
We’re not quite a pinup magazine. We’re not quite a literary journal. We’re not quite a poetry rag, or a fine art photography showcase, we’re not quite a lot of things and very much a lot of others.
How would I describe it? It is a magazine that features flash fiction and poetry paired with images. Very artsy. Sometimes those images might be a black and white photograph of a winding staircase or a colorful drawing of a museum scene (both in the October 2012 issue) or a lady drinking from a martini glass (December 2012) or a sketch of a women or even a very tasteful nude. Yes, there is some nudity in TPPR but in the several issues I have seen, they are all artistic works. I liken them more to paintings of nude women in museums, yet with more depth to them because 1) they are doing something other than just posing nude for a painter and 2) the editor (Harlean Carpenter) takes great care in choosing the best image to complement the text (or vice versa). Of course, not all the images are nudes (only a small portion - though I understand the current issue has more than usual, but then again, this issue also has many more pages) and not all pictures even have a person in them. In the December issue which has the theme "food for thought" there was very artsy photo of a cut lemon and some sort of cube (ice?) on a granite countertop. The photo is shades of black and white with shadowing but the lemon is yellow.
Even with all that I've said, I realize this magazine might not be everyone's cup of tea. I really like it, because it is unique and interesting. This is, I believe, the fourth time I have had work featured. Do you want to see my tearsheet? Don't worry. For any of you out there who aren't into nudes, you can breathe easy.
Here it is:
I think it looks great. And see? This is not really a pin-up shot, is it? It's so much more. That's what you get with TPPR.
If you are interested in buying a copy of the magazine (which has the theme The Many Faces of Love), you can click here to get information. If you do purchase a copy, please be sure to fill in the "Who Sent You?" field with my name.
To submit work to The Poetic Pinup Revue, CLICK HERE for information regarding upcoming themes.
To read reviews of TPPR, CLICK HERE.
For general information regarding The Poetic Pinup Revue, CLICK HERE.
AND here is my favorite link of them all. This link has samples from various editions. To see a whole bunch of awesome spreadsheets, CLICK HERE.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on my spreadsheet/my story, about your views on nudity, about photography, poetry, on artistic expression... anything vaguely related to this post. Go ahead. Lay it on me. If you have a thought (c'mon, I know you are thinking something), go ahead and write a comment for me. It will make me happy, and I like being happy.
And you know what? That's really how it happened. Except it is not any of the ideas I had thought about the other day. This topic just sort of fell into my lap so to say. I sat down, checked my email, and there it was waiting for me. What was it? My spreadsheet for my flash fiction piece that is featuring in the upcoming (to be released on 12th) February issue of The Poetic Pinup Revue.
Never heard of The Poetic Pinup Revue? Here is how the publication is described on their website:
We’re not quite a pinup magazine. We’re not quite a literary journal. We’re not quite a poetry rag, or a fine art photography showcase, we’re not quite a lot of things and very much a lot of others.
How would I describe it? It is a magazine that features flash fiction and poetry paired with images. Very artsy. Sometimes those images might be a black and white photograph of a winding staircase or a colorful drawing of a museum scene (both in the October 2012 issue) or a lady drinking from a martini glass (December 2012) or a sketch of a women or even a very tasteful nude. Yes, there is some nudity in TPPR but in the several issues I have seen, they are all artistic works. I liken them more to paintings of nude women in museums, yet with more depth to them because 1) they are doing something other than just posing nude for a painter and 2) the editor (Harlean Carpenter) takes great care in choosing the best image to complement the text (or vice versa). Of course, not all the images are nudes (only a small portion - though I understand the current issue has more than usual, but then again, this issue also has many more pages) and not all pictures even have a person in them. In the December issue which has the theme "food for thought" there was very artsy photo of a cut lemon and some sort of cube (ice?) on a granite countertop. The photo is shades of black and white with shadowing but the lemon is yellow.
Even with all that I've said, I realize this magazine might not be everyone's cup of tea. I really like it, because it is unique and interesting. This is, I believe, the fourth time I have had work featured. Do you want to see my tearsheet? Don't worry. For any of you out there who aren't into nudes, you can breathe easy.
Here it is:
 | ||
| Flash fiction by Linda Hofke, Model: Vicky Lievens (I don't have the photographer info but think it might be by Kelly Van Wonterghem) |
If you are interested in buying a copy of the magazine (which has the theme The Many Faces of Love), you can click here to get information. If you do purchase a copy, please be sure to fill in the "Who Sent You?" field with my name.
To submit work to The Poetic Pinup Revue, CLICK HERE for information regarding upcoming themes.
To read reviews of TPPR, CLICK HERE.
For general information regarding The Poetic Pinup Revue, CLICK HERE.
AND here is my favorite link of them all. This link has samples from various editions. To see a whole bunch of awesome spreadsheets, CLICK HERE.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on my spreadsheet/my story, about your views on nudity, about photography, poetry, on artistic expression... anything vaguely related to this post. Go ahead. Lay it on me. If you have a thought (c'mon, I know you are thinking something), go ahead and write a comment for me. It will make me happy, and I like being happy.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
14 Words...a project you can join!
As you know I've been limiting my time online, especially Facebook. Reading status updates, writing comments, looking at photos, joining writing groups, reading calls from literary journals--it's all well and good but the intended 15 minutes turns into 30 or 40 or sometimes an hour. And while I sit in front of my little laptop, there is a great big world out there waiting to be explored. It makes me wonder why I even go on Facebook.
So, this morning I went for a long walk. Then it started to rain. Soon it was pouring. I rushed back home. I did some wash. Tidied up a bit. On Wednesday my daughter only has school in the morning, so soon I was cooking lunch. And the day went on. I went into town to run errands and did anything but go on the computer.
At 9 PM I finally decided to take 15 minutes (and only 15 minutes--which I managed to do) on Facebook. I read my messages and a few status updates and then...hey, what's this? One of the women in my writer's group (Nancy) posted in a group called 14 Words for One Love on Valentine's Day. I had never heard of it. I clicked on the page link and noticed my friend Paula was also taking part. Now I had to read the description and find out what this was all about.
The project is hosted by Jodi Barnes and is a public event. So anyone can join. (And yes...I did.) Perhaps you might be interested in doing so as well. Here is the description for 14 Words for One Love on Valentine's Day.
That brings me back to Facebook again. I must admit, it is the easiest way to keep in touch with family and friends back in the states. I guess another reason is things like this. Through Facebook I have taken part in daily photo projects, donated work to poetry anthologies that raised money for charity, joined a random acts of kindness challenge, learned of writing contests, and so much more. I guess it all depends on how you use it. At least I am not spending my time on there using countless apps (which I noticed some people do).
So, this morning I went for a long walk. Then it started to rain. Soon it was pouring. I rushed back home. I did some wash. Tidied up a bit. On Wednesday my daughter only has school in the morning, so soon I was cooking lunch. And the day went on. I went into town to run errands and did anything but go on the computer.
At 9 PM I finally decided to take 15 minutes (and only 15 minutes--which I managed to do) on Facebook. I read my messages and a few status updates and then...hey, what's this? One of the women in my writer's group (Nancy) posted in a group called 14 Words for One Love on Valentine's Day. I had never heard of it. I clicked on the page link and noticed my friend Paula was also taking part. Now I had to read the description and find out what this was all about.
The project is hosted by Jodi Barnes and is a public event. So anyone can join. (And yes...I did.) Perhaps you might be interested in doing so as well. Here is the description for 14 Words for One Love on Valentine's Day.
On
Thursday, Feb. 14, I will hand out small (14-word) poems --any form--to
people on the streets of Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, and
Carrboro, NC. Will you help me in one of two ways?
1. Write a 14-word poem (doesn't need to rhyme or take a specific form). Because "14 words" has a repulsive association with white supremacy, I'm ready to help turn "14 words" into one unifying hopeful piece of love for ONE WORLD, ONE RACE, ONE LOVE. Write 14 words about love--anything related to love, kindness, peace--and post it/them here, let them go, and know that another human being you (probably) don't know will read your little poem(s) and then, who knows?!
2. I also need volunteers to help me distribute the 14-word poems I hope to collect here! MY GOAL IS 1400 POEMS!! If you live anywhere in the Triangle and can take an hour shift somewhere, I'll make sure you have printed out poems to hand out! If you live in another state, you can still help!! Please write some 14-word poems and ask your friends to! No need to "be" a poet. And everyone, REPOST this, please!
1. Write a 14-word poem (doesn't need to rhyme or take a specific form). Because "14 words" has a repulsive association with white supremacy, I'm ready to help turn "14 words" into one unifying hopeful piece of love for ONE WORLD, ONE RACE, ONE LOVE. Write 14 words about love--anything related to love, kindness, peace--and post it/them here, let them go, and know that another human being you (probably) don't know will read your little poem(s) and then, who knows?!
2. I also need volunteers to help me distribute the 14-word poems I hope to collect here! MY GOAL IS 1400 POEMS!! If you live anywhere in the Triangle and can take an hour shift somewhere, I'll make sure you have printed out poems to hand out! If you live in another state, you can still help!! Please write some 14-word poems and ask your friends to! No need to "be" a poet. And everyone, REPOST this, please!
Please FEEL FREE TO DO THE SAME EVENT WHEREVER YOU MAY LIVE OR WORK.
Fourteen words. That's all you need to write. Not a sestina or a villanelle or rondeau. Not a long novel or even a first chapter. Nor a flash fiction piece. Only 14 words. Interested?
If you are on Facebook, here is the link to join this event. )
If you are on Facebook, here is the link to join this event. )
That brings me back to Facebook again. I must admit, it is the easiest way to keep in touch with family and friends back in the states. I guess another reason is things like this. Through Facebook I have taken part in daily photo projects, donated work to poetry anthologies that raised money for charity, joined a random acts of kindness challenge, learned of writing contests, and so much more. I guess it all depends on how you use it. At least I am not spending my time on there using countless apps (which I noticed some people do).
Well, that's all for now. I have a writing deadline to meet tomorrow. After that task is completed, I can write my 14 words. Fourteen words on love. The possibilities are endless.
*************************************************************
To visit the blogs of my friends Nancy and/or Paula, click on their names in the text above. To visit the blog of Jodi Barnes, do the same. To read the bio of Jodi Barnes and learn more about her chapbook Unsettled Poems, click here.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Good News
Good news. I checked and I have a pulse. My heart is beating. My lungs are breathing in air.
So, even though I haven't been blogging lately, I am alive. I just needed a break, I guess, to do the things that need to be done, spend time with my husband and daughter, live life. A litte less computer time.
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. ~John Burroughs
New blog posts will be coming in February. Thanks for understanding.
So, even though I haven't been blogging lately, I am alive. I just needed a break, I guess, to do the things that need to be done, spend time with my husband and daughter, live life. A litte less computer time.
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. ~John Burroughs
New blog posts will be coming in February. Thanks for understanding.
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