This one was stubborn to write and not an early morning poem. I wasn't sure that I wanted to the day's prompt. Being Halloween, or Samhain (pronounced SOW-WEN) in the pagan community, I wanted something special; it is also the Day of the Dead in Mexican/Hispanic traditions. The day when the spirit veil is the thinnest and our ancestor, loved ones, friends walk amongst us. I have love ones, both two and four legged variety that I want to remember on this day. After watching the movie, The Book of Life I wanted to end OctPoWriMo with a Samhain/Day of the Dead poem.
To those who have gone before, I remember you! Blessed be!
Visit my fellow OctPoWriMo-ers here! Poetry Form: Tri-Fall
Word Prompts: before, preface, precursor, front, antecedent
See what the other poets have written for today's OctPoWriMo. The Blog Hop is here.
Not my strongest piece. I am a bit tired this morning, but in keeping with the tradition of getting up and writing my poem in the early hours of the morning, here goes. I used the acrostic form to help me focus. Enjoy, Dear Readers.
Imaging the End
On the day before
Never could I believe
That I have made it through the month.
Here is the proof that in the words I write, that
Everyday I made the choice
Daring that I could write everyday, a poem.
Always using the prompts given (which was a choice),
Yet, I managed, within the sometimes daily writer's block.
Before there was an idea and
Even when there wasn't.
First, I would think
Of the possible outcomes then
Really set to write, free verse or haiku until
Everything suddenly fell into place.
Okay, might be a bit premature, but I did get some writing done this week. Gearing up for a LONG week next week. It's tech week for Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. I have had to squeeze as much writing and blogging and reading into what time I can get. This always happens right before tech week. When there is never enough time it seems. Theatre is my life, as much as writing.
Some think I am crazy, but it's what theatre folk do, especially theatre folk who are also writers, artists, gardeners, video producers. It's what we do and we do it with smiles and many sleepless nights. For all of you Dear Readers, if you have passion, you will find a way.
Anywhoo, sitting hearing listening to a Monkees podcast with the Hubs while I write this. Tomorrow is the RiffTrax Live Presentation of Anaconda (with J. Lo) in Ithaca. Been wrapping up OctPoWriMo. There are two more days. My Book to Movie review month will spill over into November. Such is life.
The amazing part of OctPoWriMo is that I have been networking with other poets. Poetry is where I got may start and to be able to share my love of poetry, words, and theatrical writing, make me giddy. Thanks Jessica, Morgan, and Rod!
So, what did I do this week, thus far?
*Outlining: put together a rough outline for the Xmas Show that we do in November/December and in the course of about 2 weeks, from writing to producing to acting in a scant 2 weeks. David and I came up with some ideas. I found one I like and wrote a treatment of the idea. It's a story based an obscure Xmas Special called "George and the Xmas Star". show might not look like the original idea, but that's how we do the Xmas Show for Hammondsport Xmas in the Park.
*Reading: almost done with American Gods (Neil Gaiman). At the less than a 100 page mark, maybe about 80 pages. It's really good, different story than I am used to, but I am enjoying the use of mythology. I will finish this by months end!
*Writing: mostly poems, but I have to say, I have written some strong pieces this month. Discovered a few new forms to practice writing in. I discovered I love writing pantoums especially and Blitz poems, which I wasn't sure about when it [blitz poems] was introduced to me.
*Social Media: been good, could be better. I am least getting 3 to 4 a day on OctPoWriMo, less on AROW80, but getting to visiting at least three days of the weeks. Mostly its a time issue. Keeping up with my Facebook and Twitter, some days are better than others.
*I haven't been able to get the The Audition revision, hoping to touch base with it this weekend for a hour or two. We'll see, I have three things going on Saturday alone. Sheesh!
*Prepping for NaNoWriMo. I need to sit down and see what WIP are interested in being a novel. I have one real contender and one that wants to be, but is not sure. November is sooooo close! ~grabs pillow and screams~ In a good way!
This is my life!!!
Go visit my fellow Round of Words Bloggers at the Blog Hop.
Finally, I what to point out that it is Epidermolysis BullosaAwarenessWeek!
And what is that, you are asking, Dear Readers? Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB fopr short) is a rare skin condition that make the skin as fragile as Butterfly Wings. The two layers of skin do not connect in the same way as standard skin. Too much friction-or in persons with EB's cases-just enough friction causes painful blisters. Children born with this EB are called butterflies because of their skin is so fragile My friend Sara Love, her mother, Marie, and her daughter, Wendy all have EB Simplex, a milder version of this condition. Their skin is prone to blister and bruising and is often quite painful.
Wendy and Sara as Monkeys
I never knew this existed before meeting Sara and Wendy. It's a condition that is larger unknown and seldom talked about. I want to support my butterfly friends, who are some of the strongest girls/women I have met. Wendy is 4 and seldom slows down. EB doesn't stop her, but others are not so lucky. There are some who struggle to do anything from eat to breathe. Wendy keeps going, and her mother is an amazing woman who has brought Shakespeare to the Keuka Lake Players and Steuben County. She also directs, makes costumes, acts, and is a major Whovian.
Those with EB want to be treated with the same respect as everyone else. Word needs to be spread and knowledge increased about EB. EB is bad. EB hurts. But, EB is not scary when you know what it is. EB exists. EB can one day be cured with education, research, and love that we give to those who experience the daily pain and blisters. Go and visit Epidermolysis bullosa to learn more. And remember the Butterflies; while they can be fragile can also be really strong. Have a stellar rest of the week, Dear Readers! I am going to make it awesome. So why don't you go out and make something awesome too. Here's some awesome to get you started...
Poetry Prompts: What phase of love are you in, before, during, or after? Are you dancing with euphoria or
are you crying with despair at the unfairness of life and love?
Something new and something old in today's poem. I figured since today prompt reminded me of past loves, crushes, and romantic attachments of a sort, that I would take you down the road of those feelings. I think of these feelings as phases of a moon (relationship), especially the more outlandish ones. Imagine a youth, male or female, discovering love for the first time and what it does to he or she... Poetry Form: Etheree, consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Reversed Etheree: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Double Etheree: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...Triple Etheree, Quadruple Etheree, and so on!
Thanks to Rod for this one! He got me thinking... ~evil grin~
Word Prompts: Love, Bliss, Consuming, Blind, Honeymoon
Something simple, something a little different, something about a basic need of humanity. I went a little deeper, maybe a little more though provoking. I also remember a bit about my high school health class with Abraham Maslow.
Hunger (as defined by dictionary.com. my go to source)
1. a compelling need or desire for food.
2. the painful sensation or state of weakness caused by the need of food: to collapse from hunger.
3. a shortage of food; famine. 4. a strong or compelling desire or craving: hunger for power.
Now add to HUNGER another, secondary emotion of your own choosing.
Word Prompts: sadness, joy, ambition, lust, yearning, self doubt, boredom, (or fetch your own via five minutes of free writing on the theme of hunger.)
OctPoWriMo a blog challenge that set you to write a poem a day for 31 days.
I took this is a literal way; how I feel when I fall sleep. In the process I discovered to words that I didn't really know the definitions to and when I look them up, somehow, they just fit even more perfectly. Huzzah! I love learning new things and being corrected when I am using a word wrong (as I now realize).
It's early and I am getting a jump on things this week. The sun in cresting over the hills and the world is still muchly darken and beautiful. As much as I fight mornings, they really as pretty wonderful. I was going to write in a form this morning, but what come out in free verse works just as well. Must be the Morning Goddess blessing me today. Enjoy, Dear Readers and have a stellar day!
Corning Sunrise
OctPoWriMo a poetry challenge where you write a poem a day for 31 days. Read my fellow poets works here.
The Prompt: Let's write about sleep. What does it feel like as you're drifting off or as you're returning to wakefulness? Do you dream vividly in color? Explore the physical sensations of sleep and dreaming in a free-write and see what surfaces as the story to be told in your poem.
as I'm lying in my bed.
The sounds become muted--
the TV singing softly of
the late night talk show chorus
to the sounds of the furnace roaring.
The world has begun to slow down
in slow dance of miasmic rhythm
and a dance of somatic nature.
My recollections faded
as my vision becomes blurred
at the edge of all reason
at least that what I've been told
when the body at last begins to sleep
and that's when dreaming begins.
Watching the original Little Shop of Horror movie and later Night of the Living Dead and Carnival of Souls. Gearing up for Halloween. This week is Halloween Improv on Tuesday and the last week of rehearsals before tech week of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, and cap off the week off by Halloween.
My last few weeks have been a blur of rehearsals, meetings, and miscellaneous blog posts and OctPoWriMo. I have gotten a little accomplished though through all of it. The first being one submission this week. Been finding some more online journals to submit to. I know, not much, but one is still better than nothing. I also blogged once this week, well today, but yesterday was a really full day of set construction, skypeing, and Doctor Who. Again, it is progress.
All the while I have been reading American Gods still. So much story! It's fantastic, but so much detail is
mentioned in two page at the beginning and then brought back up toward the end. Quite possibly will need a re-read at a later date. But still enjoying it anyway. A story built around mythologies from all over the world.
I also need to get the idea/outline list to Sara, so she can report to KLP's board about the progress of the Hammondsport Xmas Show. I know what you are thinking, nut but but, it's still October. Yeah, but the Xmas decoration were up in Kmart in August! So, you shouldn't be surprised...
On writing, my poetry this month for OctPoWriMo has been some of the best I have written this year. I feel more confidence in my poems and writing; must be the stretching of my poetic muscles, trying new styles, and the interesting and variety of prompts. If you are interested in writing poetry and meeting new people, check out OctPoWriMo.
Today is also my unplugged day, Dear Readers, so I am trying to be somewhat unplugged. Up next is Night of the Living Dead and maybe some popcorn (oh and dinner is in there too)! Have a spooky week and catch you later. Hope to have more to report on Wednesday! :-)
Writing Prompt: What is something that scares you? It doesn't have to be a major or life changing event. It could be that moment when you're turning a corner in a dark hallway. A sound that reminds you of walking home in the dark when you were young and easily startled. Get creative!
What scares me? Well, there are the things that give me the jibblies, such as tarantulas, or darken forests, or a really good scary story/movie. They don't always SCARE me, sometimes they do, if in the right circumstance. But there is also Fear... Fear is the thing under your bed as a child, the monster in your closet, the dark. I am NOT afraid of the dark, but I am easily suggestible, which is why the movie Occulus scared the liver outta me. Usually that which I fear is the unseen, the unknown, the mysterious. Yes, mirrors do scare me a little. :-) So, what scares me? Being alone has always been a big one. Not being home alone or not having a spouse or friends, but being utterly alone. Like being the last person left. It's not a practical fear, but it's a real one. that's why when the Zombie Apocalypse happens, I know what team I am on. ~giggle~ I do watch the Walking Dead (haven't watched Season 4 yet). Daryl rules!! I fear failure and not being good enough. Not the must scary thing ever, but it's a real fear. I will use this negative energy when I do OctPoWriMo, NaPoWriMo, NaNoWriMo, and when I go and submit my work for publication. I feel many of us have felt this to some degree, and because of this fear, I try just a bit harder, using the fear to propel the creative muse. Today prompt revolves around that which scares us. I have taken the feeling I sometimes get with the world feels empty, when there a few people around, and anything could happen. I used to work at a coffee shop and when I worked the late shift it would often be past midnight when I would be heading home. During that time my car was out of commission and have to walk home late for about a week until it was fixed. Late night, through a Dallas neighbourhood (not a bad neighbourhood), but in a city as big as Dallas walking that far is scary. Especially since after that week there was a slabbing behind the local Kroger. The Blitz Poem felt like the right poem style for this challenge. Hope to enjoy it, Dear Readers.
OctPoWriMo Blog Hop is here, come in we have cookies!
Word Prompts: Frightening, Darkness, Spooky, Mysterious, Thud, Striking, Midnight, Pounding
In that moment
In your own skin
Skin covered in bumps
Skin becomes cold
Cold is the night
Cold is what you feel
Feel the night’s solitude
Feel the crunching leaves
Leaves are falling
Leaves blowing past your feet
Feet are walking
Feet are frightened
Frightened of the dark
Frightened of the time ringing midnight
Midnight chimes upon the bank’s clock
Midnight is now the time
Time is over
Time to return home
Home is across town
Home is a long walk
Walk away
Walk faster
Faster than the short cut?
Faster than the lighted path?
Path through the darkness
Path through the graveyard
Graveyard is spooky
Graveyard is quiet
Quiet are the empty streets
Quiet as you walk
Walk across the street
Walk to the light
Light is very dim
Light is almost gone
Gone are the trick-or-treaters
Gone are most people
People that filled the night
People out to party
Party all night
Party until the end
End of the fun
End of the day
Day is opposite to night
Day is not scary
Scary is the night
Scary is the lonely streets
Streets that are empty
Streets that are mysterious
Mysterious
Empty.
Also, today, Dear Readers you luck out. I am featuring my top 5 favourite things to watch during the Halloween season. Note: this was meant to be a separate blog, but time and multiple blog posts required me to condense my posts.
Halloween sparks many things in me, from pumpkins to candy to scary movies. And as I pointed out above I don't like super scary movies; these are usually the ultra scary or gory horror movies. I prefer the classic. The scary/horror movies that will scary you for the duration of the movie, but when reality sets in cease to become scary after the movie is over.
Yet, I do watch these things. So these are my top 5 must watch during the month of October. Some are obvious, others are not.
1. Halloween 1 and 2: these are classic horror, not super gory, but entirely effective movies. Simple scares leave you with the sense of, "Was that noise Michael Myers Now?", They aren't super fast paced, but they is something creepy and maybe just a little scary about the use of a synthesizer and silence to off set the suspense and the actual murdering. Best part of the Halloween movies (1 and 2) is there are riffs for both, The one for Halloween is available on Rifftrax. The IRiff of Halloween 2 is currently unavailable due to site upgrades (check back in a few weeks, if you are curious still).
2. Halloween 3 - Season of the Witch: this movie is a terrible movie. Cheesy and full of camp, but in it's cheesiness there is something amazing. There is also an IRiff fro Halloween 3 (see note above). A Note to viewers, Halloween 3 is NOT a Michael Myers story. The Halloween franchise was suppose to be an anthology of Halloween stories after the Myers story finished. BUUUUUUUUUUUUT, the movie tanked and then was decided that people preferred more of Michael. Thus making Michael into another character in the vein of Jason Voorhees and Freddie Kruger.
3. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: yes, it's classic and yes it's a kids special. But, I did grow up on it and I get a great joy out of, "I got a Rock!" the Red Baron, and sincere pumpkin patches.
4. Halloween Safety Shorts from the 1970's and the 1980's:
Both of these were shown in school. I am most familiar with the first one. They play these in school during Halloween, on the day when we could dress up in our costumes and have the school Halloween parade. There usually was a party with cookies, cupcakes, candy, and cider. All kids got a free trick-or-treat bag. And the best part, there wasn't much school to the day because of it. What more could a kid want, right?
5. Mad Monster Party: a Rankin Bass special, full length movie about monsters coming together for a convention to hear their leader, Dr. Frankenstein retire and leave the business to his geeky, bumbling nephew. And then the attempt to attain the position by some of the fellow monsters. Not the best special. It is a tad on the long side and it has a slowly paced story. But the music is pretty good. Having a potential for an awesome premise, it misses by being too long. Yet, it is good for a laugh.
Honourable Mention - Grandpa's Silly Scaries and Monster Movies. Two DVD featuring Al Lewis as Grampa (Monster) hosting Halloween Public Domain cartoons and classic monster movie trailer. Both are available on DVD. Check out VCR from Heck for more information on Public Domain cartoons, Halloween cartoons, Publid Domain movies, and Grampa.
What do you watch during the Halloween season? What are you scared of or are afraid of?
It's odd, I haven't written in free verse in years (used to write in nothing but free verse. Well, consistently written in free verse in years. There is the occasion day where I just write, in whatever comes out will be. I have gotten into writing in various poetic forms in the last few years. When I first started writing poetry I LOVED free verse and loathed having to be bound by constraints of the various poetic forms. Feels a touch strange to admit that I prefer the form of sonnets, triolets, pantoums, haiku, etc after coming from writing most of my poems in high school and college as free verse poems. Not that I hate free form; I don't! I just find that lately, I get better and clearly ideas when I have a prescribed number of syllables or a rhyme scheme to work with.
Oh, course lately I don't always have the time to just plain write in free form. Today, I broke that trend and took today's prompt and wrote for 10 (well, 7 minutes) in free form poetic phrasing. The following poem resulted. I tweaked the end, as it needed a better ending and cleaned up the language some. Its relaxing in a way to just write and go with it. I need to remember to at least free form write poetry every once and a while, even if it never sees the light of day or the internet. Blitz poetry in the closest poetic form to free form/verse.
Poetry Prompts:I choose to believe in magic, I think it makes life more interesting. Whether it is the magic of life, synchronicities, or another magical event, write for ten minutes about magic, possibilities and mystery and see where it takes you. Do you believe in magic? Have you ever followed synchronicities to see where they would lead?
OctPoWriMo Blog Hop here to visit with other poets.
Word Prompts: Fascinating, Captivating, Enchanting, Magnetic, Irresistible Do You Believe?
I believe in magic
Don’t you see?
I believe
In the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
Or
The that rainbows are the backs of dragons.
I believe in the immaterial
Not that you can see--
The unseen
The unknown
That unicorns exists
and dwarfs are really six feet tall.
I believe in the legends
The fairy tales--
The captivating and enchanting
Both Old and New
From the brothers Grimm
To the likes of
Gaiman and James Owen.
Painted by Me. 2012
I believe in the simple
I believe in the sacred
In believe in the acts of man
The storytellers
And
Minstrels.
I believe in the spoken word
Don’t say it isn't true--
I believe in the written word
Words of lost languages
To that of the known world.
I believe in the
The dreamers,
Scientists,
Poets,
Painters,
And philosophers.
These are seekers of truth
In all the seen
And unseen.
Through them
We believe in
The unicorns,
Faeries,
Police boxes
Dragons,
Lightsabers,
And starships.
And thus,
The world is a little better
Having seen the
Magic therein.
Poetry Form: Tetractys - Tetractys consists of at least 5 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 syllables (total of 20). Tetractys can be written with more than one verse, but must follow suit with an inverted syllable count.
Tetractys can also be reversed and written 10, 4, 3, 2, 1. Check out Shadow Poetry for more poetry forms and other writer resources.
I have tried a Triple Tetractys - 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 10
Another chapter begins…
Turn the page….
And then there was….
I begin again….
And then there was….
Now it is time to write….
Poetry Prompt: Kyrielle Sonnet (form is AabB, ccbB, ddbB, AB -or- AbaB, cbcB, dbdB, AB). I tried the first form. It is a new form and writing about the now. It is cold and VERY windy here. The muse is slightly influenced by that. Enjoy, Dear Readers!
OctPoWriMo Blog Hop is here. Come and sit a spell...
It's been a bit of a blur lately, Dear Readers, what with the rehearsals, props, emailing, improv, and everything. Don't even get me started on the day job! I suppose I will leave it at that. Its a day job and I answer the phone. It is enough to know that I don't like answering phones. But, it pay the bills.
Anyway, off track. Busy week....Blah, blah, blah.
It is late and I will keep this short, as I normally do on Wednesday (rehearsal nights). I am pleasantly aqble to say that I have made some progress this week. Maybe not every area. Alas, there are not enough hours in the days to get everything done, but it's a nice start.
Accomplished:
*Editing: first major accomplishment this week. I took my general re-write notes on the first three pages of The Audition and typed them up on the new script. It is only 8 pages to begin with, but it is going to be a full rewrite. The plot involves the same two leads Betsy and Justin. Not sure if it'll still be a comedy, might be more a dramedy. Some back history, The Audition is a show I wrote for Keuka Lake Players 24 Hour Theatre in September 2013 and is a 1 act about Betsy's first BIG time audition. The original was a silly little comedy script. I want to make it tighter and trying to go for a deeper more mature script. Yesterday, I also took some notes for the next three pages. I have an idea where to take Betsy and Justin (might change the names too). Anyway, major progress on that project.
*Reading: American Gods (Neil Gaiman) is getting good. Passed the halfway mark. I am currently spending any waking time on reading this book. All others on hold. It's a real detailed story and I need to focus on it. It's my first Gaiman novel, so it's special and I am trying to acclimate myself to his writing style. Other book in queue, Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood) and The Winner Take All (A Doctor Who novel). *Writing: currently most of my this week has been for OctPoWriMo. I wrote a flash fiction piece last week about Dinosaurs. And I haven't blogged in almost two weeks. I need to focus more on that. Not just say it but DO EEET! It's coming. I will do better. I will! More forthcoming!
*Theatre:
>Improv show is set and titled The Fright Before Christmas. Just needing to get people together. Improv, check.
Rehearse some (means practice). Have a poster and spreading the word. And then do it of course! Had a set back with my first location choice. It didn't pan out. Just wish the lady was honest with me about not being interested in putting on a word there. Anyway the show is looking good. >Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Got most of the costumes, the set is nearly done, lines are coming along. I have set up a TV appearance, emailed press releases to two newspapers. so things are coming together. Santa, check. To accomplish: *Finish going over The Audition and get notes and plot outlined.
*Blog this week.
*Finish American Gods by Halloween.
*Enjoy Halloween!
Come a visit with the Round of Words in 80 Days crew here!
Also, I posted my daily OctPoWriMo entry, but today's prompt was about audio and I didn't have access to recording a poem at the day job. I then had rehearsal until 9:00 tonight. So, with a bit of help from the Hubs who does this kind of thing for a living I recordedIn Wartime.
Word Prompts: Hand, Foot, Sand, Impression, Memory, Beach, Ocean, Fingers
Today I will attempt a Blitz Poem. A poem of endurance. A poem of energetic exuberance. 50 lines in quick succession. Repetition. Finalized into a one line ending. Enter the Blitzkrieg of Poetry! A lightening pace war of words on your senses.
Here, There be Memories
Once I left them
Once I stood
Stood upon the sand
Stood there on the rocks
Rocks that are forever
Rocks oldest of the Earth
Earth is where I stand
Earth is where buried
Buried in the sand
Buried ankle deep
Deep are my memories
Deep are my tears
Tears I am crying
Tear that I remember
Remember that time
Remember when we kissed
Kissed upon the beach
Kissed under the sunset
Sunset, in russet gold
Sunset warms my toes
Toes are bare
Toes are trailing
Trailing in the sands
Trailing impressions
Impressions that will be lost
Impressions not permanent
Permanent is only a state
Permanent is memory
Memory is what marks
Memory is the lake
Lake stretches so far
Lake is by an Ocean
Ocean is but a Memory
Ocean is what moves
Moves the foot across
Moves the hand over
Over the sand kissed
Over the rocky shores
Shores forever eroding
Shores built to last
Last after the world has ended
Last after you have gone
Gone are the days together
Gone are all memories save one
Together
One.
Writing Prompt: Free write for 10 minutes on the subject of
Rain. Make it as visceral an experience as you can. How does it feel? Are there
emotions you associate with rain, or experiences from your past? A song? A
book? Use three of the words below.
Word Prompts: Melancholy, Drizzle,
Damp, Rainbow, Cloudy, Grass, Somber
This turned darker than I originally planned. When I usually write of rain, it usually calming, relaxing, or cleansing. This is different than I planned, but I am not surprised. There is something refreshing about writing from a different perspective. What is more ironic is that it isn't raining here, in fact its pretty sunny and almost warm. I am pleased with today's poem. I even used all of the word prompts today, without stretching the idea too far.
Now for ROW80 update. Still am very busy. Finally have a date for my Halloween Improv and a collaboration show too!! Now to solidify the cast and have a rehearsal with everyone at least once before then. Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is coming along. That's the BIG project, between props, sets, advertising, and getting last minute costume piece (not to mention my own costume and learn my 5 lines). Sounds daunting, Dear Readers? It can be, but a theatre person (if you are one, you know) you normally get 2 or 3 things going at once. It's in or blood. And from what I have seen doing A Round of Words, that writers often fall into this pattern too. It's thrilling and stressing at the same time.
Anyway, busy though I am here is where I am...
This week:
*Reading: continuing through American Gods (Neil Gaiman). It is such an addicting book. I love it. The mythology used makes me drool. I am such a mythology nerd. There is also Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood). Stalled on it this week. Will get back to it this week.
*Writing: wrote yesterday. Points for me. I even posted it here. Its about a dinosaur...
*Blogging: see above. Nothing new here. I have my next book to movie review The Little Prince. That is one of the projects for this week.
*Editing: started my revision of my short play The Audition. I got three page into the 1 act doing a full rewrite (it's only 8 pages). Stalled while trying to figure out where I wanted to go with it. Brainstormed some with the Hubs and got some ideas. Also planning on working more on this this week. I doubt I will finish the revision, but will get at good start on it. It's a start, right?
*Visiting and Social Media: this one is easy someday, while others it's a stretch. I am really good about visiting blogs everyday (almost everyday). My average is 3 blogs, often I do hit four. I actually read and absorb the writer content. I want people to read my stuff (poems, stories, blog articles, then I will give that respect back. Twitter and Facebook can be harder. Some days I do not do anything, while other days I'm on fire.
I have started thinking about NaNoWriMo. Its a scant 2 weeks away. Eek! I want to have an idea ready to go this year. Different from last year. I have been toying with a couple of previous written concept scenes/flash fiction piece, expanding them. Then I wrote my random Dinosaur scene(?)/flash fiction piece. Thinking I could potentially expand that. Or even take Crying Mascara and turn that into a full novel. I just don't know. So much potential. It's starting to get exciting. The unknown, the new adventures, the late nights where I write and write and write. I love the adrenaline that I get from NaNoWriMo. That'll be good times with Becky, Vicky, WordNerd, and Allison.
In the mean time keep checking back, Dear Readers. I will be up to something through the rest of this year
that will make it into this blog. I have two road trips in the coming months, as the normal stuff. Feeling great today. Listening to Sara Bareilles and planning to get my Pumpkins after I post this. Pictures to follow. In the mean time, see the Hubs and I made our first Halloween Mood Table (or Mantle). Thanks to Dinosaur Dracula for the idea. Oh, and can you guess some of what we have on the Halloween Mood Table?
Using the words Dinosaur, Rescue, Paraphernalia write a story in 500 words. Pictures are from MorgueFile. It’ll be fun, they said. Come out and try it once, they said.
You won’t know what it’s like until you try it, they said. Yeah, I am not sure
they expected this. Sally sat inside a huge metal cage. Outside there was a
huge dinosaur stalking outside, occasionally eyeing the cage. She wasn't sure if
it was waiting to releasing her for its dinner, or if she stepped into a poacher’s
trap.
But, it’s a dinosaur Sally thought to herself, trying to keep
still and quiet. She watched he dinosaur stalk around to the back of the cage.
It seemed to be watching the surrounding hills. Sally’s legs were getting sore
and she had to shift. As she did, the sound of the paraphernalia lining the
cage shifted and rustled. Sally stopped. She eyed the dinosaur. It didn't seem
to hear. It continued to pace the field where the huge cage was sitting, a
valley with a small stream and dense foliage at the edges of the field.
Sally wasn't really scared, but she was inconvenienced and a little
hungry. There was nothing in her pack but a dry canteen. Her lips were feeling the
lack of water and her stomach started growling. That was what got the dinosaur’s
attention. It stalked back over to the cage, eyes glowing. Sally pulled up against
he bars now very afraid. The dinosaur nosed between the bars and dropped something
into the cage. Sally looked at the slimy, saliva soaked snickers bar. The dinosaur
grunted and nodded at Sally, who was very confused.
“Don’t worry,” called a voice, “a rescue is coming.” Sally looked
around; she saw no one and the dinosaur hadn't moved its lips.
“Okay?”
“We caught them, and will let you go. Well after the rest get here,” the voice called.
“Who are you?” Sally called out. The voice sounded as if it
came upward. She scooted up to the front end of the cage; the huge dinosaur
backed up and looked up, indicating that Sally should also. Sally looked up and
saw on a platform a man with binoculars watching the hills. He was wearing an
animal skin pair of pants and no shirt.
The man turned towards her, “Just a man. Name’s Ty, if you
want to know. Oh and I know you weren't with the poachers.”
Sally seemed surprised. The poachers? “Who are the poachers?”
she called up to Ty. “And dinosaurs? Really? Is this JurassicPark?”
“Ty turned to face Sally, “No.” He crouched on the platform. “It
is NOTJurassicPark,
although it would make sense. No, it’s more than that. Do you remember how you
got here?”
“No, yes, well, I came here with friends, for an adventure.”
“Some adventure. I bet you don’t know where you are?”
Sally shook her head, suddenly feeling like she had a
headache. Hand to forehead, “I bet it’s wearing off...” Her head started
pounding and she felt dizzy. It was like a wave of nausea overtook her and she
then blacked out…
Today is fridge poetry a la Shakespeare's Magnetic Poetry. It was the quickest way to write a poem today. I am generally Photoshop illiterate (I am learning, but today's a time crunch). I have had this magnetic poetry set since late 2005. Hey, I guess I have a good reason to use it now. Hehehehe! A bit of Bawdy Shakespeare poetry to lighten you hearts, Dear Readers. This has inspired me to try and write a sonnet with my magnetic poetry. But that's for a later date...
Today's Prompt:Choose a page from one of your books and take a photo of it, email it to yourself, choose some of the words and create a poem out of them. You can print out the page to play with it or just keep it on your computer and play with it in your photo editing program.
Word Prompts: yacht, bargain, trade, game, catastrophe, aluminium
Taken from the Word Generator. "Things to keep in mind: Approach this activity like a child. Be open to unusual - even nonsensical - possibilities. And HAVE FUN!" This is what I did. It is very nonsensical, but with a song like quality. Written in the style of a Pantoum.
Come visit the other OctPoWriMo-ers here! A Child's Sea Shanty
Upon a yacht of golden hue
is where we begin our story true.
This boat is made of golden aluminium,
first in it's class and only one of it's kind.
This is where we begin our story true
when the aluminium ship, the Lacey Mae departs
first in it's class and only one of it's kind
to set sail upon the wavy sea of glass.
When the aluminum ship, the Lacey Mae departs
there's champagne and wild games to play.
To set upon the wavy sea of glass
There can only be catastrophe in sight.
There's champagne and wild games to play,
when the wealthy come out to roam
and there can only be catastrophe in sight,
when there's mischief on the mind.
When the wealthy come out to roam,
the Devil is ready to bargain
when there's mischief on the mind
upon the the Golden Ship of Aluminum.
The Devil is ready to bargain--
A trade is what he wants to make
upon the Golden Ship of Aluminum
or a fate worst than any nightmare born.
A trade is what he wants to make--
A Bride of the fairest sort
or a fate worst than any nightmare born
upon a yacht of golden hue.
"Aye," said the first, "It's quite a request, simple and plain.
"Let us say, and they from here on in drank champagne."
It's storytime here in the lush forests of the interwebs. I have been granted a boon by Julie Jordan Scott to write a story as a poem. There were two nice pictures and a whole world of potential for today's poem. I decided on a Terza Rima. Yes, it has rhyme, but also it is also one of about a half a dozen forms (thus far) that I have discovered that lend well to the story format. Might be a little silly, but I am overall please with the composition.
Today's Prompt:Once Upon a Time… is your prompt and the traditional ending -
..."and they lived happily ever after" may now become whatever you please.
.. "and they….(fill in the ending of your choice.)"
Poetry Form of Choice: Terza Rima - aba, bcb, cdc, ded, ee (Usually 11 syllables per line. I have take liberties on this one.)
.JPG)
