What Makes Good Poetry?

What makes good poetry? Because this question opens the virtual door to ambiguity, there really is no clear-cut answer, not in the real strict sense of the definition. And because there is such an enormous array of poetry out there, not all of it is reducible to a common blueprint.

There are, though, what have been called hard edges when it comes to birthing a poem. Poems need them to survive and there is a common list of what this constitutes. In the interest of brevity, I will list them accordingly, without definition, their meanings not difficult to deduce.

meter
grammar & syntax
vocabulary
fearlessness
wit
insouciance – this one is my favorite and I will elaborate. When you have mastered the above this last hard edge is icing on the cake. Keep an indifference to the reactions of readers to your work. Never, never tailor your poem to suit the tastes of others. Your poem is answerable only to yourself, God, and your internalized aesthetic criteria.

paulygrl ©

International Weblogger's Day

Hey everyone,

Anyone hear about International Weblogger's Day? It's on June 14. Check out the link below to learn all about it. Happy Memorial Day!

Thanks.

paulygrl

http://chronicled.org/intlblogday

Memorial Day Tribute ~ Poem By John McCrae

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Read my take on Memorial Day 2005 at the Blogosphere Zoo [click here] Its a bit of a satire but leads to an OUTSTANDING TRIBUTE to our Troops.

Fantasy Writing...A Primer

One of the most important, although basic, is the well-developed world you must create in your fantasy tale. And as in a true fantasy you will be writing about events that happen in a world much different from your own. And to prevent the reader from being confused, the world must be well defined and clearly depicted. It must be clear in the mind of the writer, and only then can that thought process be transferred to the reader.

Next comes a clear definition of the time period in which your story takes place. What is the government in power at that time? Or if you wish to write void of a governing body, you must make clear the region and the nature of the anarchy. Also, you must also begin to think about what type of weaponry or method of defense will be utilized in your make believe world.

Another important entity to a good fantasy story is its characters. They need to be developed in great detail, but not so much as to become mundane. You want the reader to be able to connect with the heroes, villains and also the neutral players. And unless the writer has that connection, the reader will flail about trying to relate to the characters. And as far as minor characters their development is quite different. They only need cursory attention, and only as far as their part deems them to need to be. And if you have a difficult time with differentiating between the two, then perhaps this minor character should be a major one. It is a good idea to list all of your characters beforehand, give a brief description of their roles so you’ll know where they fit within the story line.

One of the major differences in fantasy story writing is the subject of magic. This is what draws the reader’s attention, and what sets it apart from other genres. Here again, this area must be clearly explained. This is called the force that exists in your world. What does it do? How is it viewed by your characters? How is it obtained? Will it be used for peace or battle? The significance of magic may or may not influence the fundamentals of your fantasy world, but it is a required element none-the-less. With magic there is a cause and effect and you can put it anywhere you wish: in the hands of the magicians, noblemen, mages, queens, the list goes on and on. Magic is what causes the basic conflict in fantasy writing. The power that can be wielded at will.

And last, but certainly not least, is the plot. In a fantasy the plot is the story that is made from the combination of all of the above, only intricately interwoven. It is two-fold in that you must introduce each aspect of the plot, but at the same time keep the story flowing. This comes with practice and reading other fantasy writers to develop your own style in order to find what works best for you.

paulygrl

“Fantasy is the natural, the appropriate language for the recounting of the spiritual journey and the struggle of good and evil in the soul.” ~ Ursula Le Guin (1992)

Blogging Your Way to Writing Ideas

Blogging or as some call it journaling or diary writing is the buzzword of the times with many individuals doing it for an array of reasons. In its strictest sense it leads to a basic need to put thoughts to a page in a relaxed and easy manner. And in this conscious act a freedom is born, one that takes away inhibitions and inner doubts. This paves the way to a more structured environment, what ultimately creates a story or a poem.

To develop creativity in your words you must first apply it to other areas of your life as well. When we think creatively we tend to write the same way, and in the act of journaling, ideas birth. In the interim you not only have an outlet for putting your feelings to the page, but you develop good writing skills as well. And teaching yourself to do this on a daily basis only adds to its benefits. Before you know it, your confidence level is raised and you are not intimidated by the blank page. Soon putting down random thoughts at will becomes second nature.

You’d be surprised at what evolves from simple thoughts put to a blank page, so often what’s taken from bits and pieces of an ordinary day. The beauty of journaling, unlike forced writing, is you may write even if you have nothing to say. You can let loose of constraints, be creative, be yourself, without fear of reprisal. It has no critics and you can choose whether or not to show it to others. And as you free yourself from the regimen of correctness, you develop a sense of self, with an insight that can transcend to more serious writing.

With regular journaling you’d be surprised how ideas pop into your head, generating from the quietness and solitude of you. But you must feed the mind often. Write about what you read, what you see, what you hear, write the ordinary, the odd, and even the uninteresting. And notice people, all types of people, they offer a wellspring of unique writing prompts. Your eyes and ears are gateways to creative writing beyond your normal expectations if you learn to open yourself to its possibilities. You’ll find yourself reaching that inner self, the part with which serious writing must emerge.

Just do it, the possibilities are endless.

Comments and discussion are welcome. Thank you.

“Be inspired” from paulygrl ©

Check these out to get your creative juices flowing.

http://www.creativityforlife.com/
http://www.dailywriting.net/

Ecological Footprint

What is an ecological footprint? Basically it is a tangible management and communications tool that quantifies. It combines the effect of multiple community’s initiatives into one comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand measurement of ecological impact. Next it simplifies clearly and visually communicates your community’s progress toward sustainability over time. And finally it unifies, acting as an “umbrella” metric that multiplies organizations and all individuals can rally around reducing. In essence it measures and reduces your community’s demands on nature.

“There is one measure and one measure only describing the capacity and relationship between human society and living systems: The Ecological Footprint. It is the only standard by which we may calibrate our collective impact upon the planet, and assess the viability of our future. It is “true north” when it comes to sustainability; no report about the environment is complete without it.” ~ Paul Hawkin, co-author, Natural Capitalism

For more details and how you can help please see the following links.

http://earthday.net/footprint/index.asp
http://bestfootforward.com/footprintlife.htm
http://www.regionalprogressorg/.

Fast Fact: Did you know that the average US footprint is 24 acres per person; there are only 4.6 productive acres available for each person on the planet.

paulygrl ©

Give Your Creative A Whirl In The InterBoard Poetry Community Monthly Poetry Competition

Enter that special poem of yours in the InterBoard Poetry Community Monthly Poetry Competition. SplashHall Poetry is a host along with over 20 online top poetry boards that compete for top honors of the month.

The InterBoard Poetry Community was founded by Michael Neff founder, developer, and executive director of the WDS Association which includes Web del Sol, the Words Work Network, and Algonkian Workshops.

The goals fo the IBPC and particiapting poetry boards are - to seek to improve the quality of poetry and discourse on participating boards and on the Internet in general; second, to discover and publish new poets; and third, to help these new poets become recognized by leading literary periodicals.

Judges for the IBPC have been many and distinguished, including Guggenheim winner Robert Sward, Joan Houlihan of Boston Comment fame, 1999 Pulitzer Prize nominee Harvey Stanbrough, the editorial staff of River Styx, Mark Yakich of River City, and many others.

SplashHall Poetry and the IBPC encourages both beginners and seasoned poets. The IBPC competitions and SplashHall Poetry is FREE. At SplashHall Poetry you can even have your poem fine tuned free by established poets in the Poetic AX, our workshop at Splashhall Poetry where poets sharpen up their poems for publishing and competitions.

To enter the IBPC Competition or for more information click here to login into SplashHall Poetry, membership is free and only takes a minute. Give it whirl!

1 Click WordPress v1.5 Install Plus Up To 14 Months Free* Hosting For Your Blog Or Website

Are you getting all should from your hosting company? I know this post is a little commercial and a repeat but they have had an update plus they are running a special offer for new accounts, check this out - How would 300 GIG of Bandwidth/transfer a month sound? How about 5 GIG of Storage? A Free Domain name or transfer? 24/7 customer support including a #800 Toll Free. And all the extras cgi, php, mysql, cron etc. PLUS 1 Click WordPress v1.5 Install.

*Also sign up right now and get 6 MONTHS FREE! (with 1 year purchase) or 14 MONTHS FREE! (with 2 years purchase). This offer could end anytime, so sign up now. PowWeb Hosting For Your Website and Blog!

You can also sign up through their Toll FREE # 1-877-476-9932, be sure to mention SplashHall.Org, so our Art Community gets a little credit.

This is the same hosting company SplashHall.Org has been using for over 4 years, including our popular Poetry And Art Boards at SplashHall, Blogosphere Zoo and Rollin Thunder Poetry. WordPress themselves even recommends PowWeb Hosting.

If you use Blogger.Com you can even tranfer your account to PowWeb Hosting and use your own www.yourname.com domain name, while still using your Blogger.Com dashboard. All this for only $7.77 a month.

Check them out at PowWeb Blog Hosting

Rain Dance ~ A Haiku

Rain Dance



desert dust; lips thirst.
still to watch rain dance, drunken
me with your sweet wet.



Read and share more Haiku in the SplashHall Poetry Boards Haiku Forum

Why Every Writer & Poet Should Blog

Blogging aka 'journaling' has come a long way since its conception in the 1990s. Blogging was introduced for family and friends to communicate online with a touch of creativity. Some blogs were used for the sole purpose of an online diary. Blogging software was created to offer an user-friendly format, that allowed even those that didn't have any knowledge of html or website building. Blogging software is an organized, usually reverse chronological order, format where any user only needs to know how to press the keys (type) on a keyboard.

Today blogging has become much more sophisticated, though the basic start point of any blogware is still type and click (user-friendly). Blogs are now popular among political groups, educators, students, journalist, corporations, entrepreneurs, moms, pops - just about anyone who wants to create an interactive forum for displaying of ones craft, thoughts or opinions, rants and raves. Blogs can be used, to name a few, for art, photography, writing, poetry.

Why Every Writer & Poet Should Blog

A blog can be your best friend. A blog can be your BIO or publisher. A blog can be your creative outlet. If you choose you can allow others to comment to get feedback on a new idea whether a poem or story. If you're a seasoned writer or poet you can help others with advice. You can use your blog as a tool to tell the world of a new book or chapbook you're releasing. Or your blog can be your chapbook. It can be any combination of the above or anything you want it to be.

As you dip your pen further into blogging you will learn of RSS syndication where others can subscribe to your blog and stay up-to-date to your latest with a click of their mouse. You can offer basic 'free' or premium editions or services. You can stay simple with graphics and text or you can express your creative side. In time you will find your links to other writers and poets increasing as well as discovering new publishing avenues and resources. Your readership will be never-ending flowing stream with each passing day.

How To Get Started

Blogs come in many styles and formats. The most common are 2 column, like our portal Splashhall Art & Poetry and 3 column, like our poetry blog Rollin Thunder Poetry and our electic, with a little bit of erotica, blog Blogosphere Zoo. Though there are many blogging communities, the two we use are Blogger.Com and Wordpress.Org.

Blogger.Com is owned by Google and offers both their 'Free hosting on their 'Blogspot' servers or you can use their blogware and host it on your host of choice. They offer many different one-click templates (graphics). Blogger.Com is probably the easiest to get started with.

If you have a little knowledge of html and css then you may enjoy WordPress Blogware. They also have starter templates. With Wordpress you will need your host. The blogware is free also and includes a few more features the Blogger.Com

Splash uses and recommends PowWeb.Com for your hosting service. They offer large amounts of web space and features including one-click WordPress install, their customer service is 'outstanding'. Our poerty and art boards, SplashHall Poetry Boards and blogs have been hosted by PowWeb for over 4 years. You can check them out here or call them toll free at 1-877-476-9932. If you call them be sure to tell them that SplashHall.Org sent you.

Try Blogging For Yourself

I have tried to be brief and to the point. Blogging or blogs are a great tool for writers and poets. In fact I feel its safe to say, that in the near future publishers will ask you for your blog to check out your work - it will be a 'must' and part of your BIO if not your BIO. Use the information above to get started. Also Google some keywords to see what others are doing with writing and poetry blogs. Keyword suggestions - poetry blogs, poem blogs, writing blogs, writer blogs.

Good Luck and if you need some help, please just ask - email me at cafeRg@gmail.com or leave comment.

:-)

Take The 'Some Blues Of Summer' Poetry Challenge

Create a blues poem based on the picture below and enter the 'Some Blues Of Summer' Poetry Challenge. Below is a couple of stanzas showing how blues is used in poetry.

from The Weary Blues
by Langston Hughes

To the tune o' those Weary Blues.
With his ebony hands on each ivory key
He made that poor piano moan with melody.
O Blues!
Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
Sweet Blues!

from Twenty Notes Gone South
by R.D. Armstrong

remember those beer-stained nights
of rompin', out-of-focus blues
when couples squeezed onto crowded dance
floors
to dance the crazy-legged be-bop & jive, or
jumpin' at the woodside, or
doin' the crosstown, las' chance fo' romance-
closing-time boogie

Blues is said to have come out of Africa and born to the USA with the slave trade. From cotton fields to Blues and Jazz Clubs to Beatniks and Coffeehouses the Blues live on in both music, poetry and art. Think culture, dignity of man, yearning for a missing love. Blues is almost always sad but behind the sadness in blues there is almost always laughter and strength.

Two Ways To Enter And Win

Splashhall Poetry Boards Members Choice Challenge. Top poems are decided by anonymous Splashhall Members Choice open voting poll. Award Banners are given to First Place and Honorable Mention. To enter your blues poem in the SplashHall Poetry Members Choice post your 'Some Blues Of Summer' poem or prose Here at SplashHall Poetry.

Rollin Thunder Poetry Editors Choice Challenge. Top poems are decided by Rollin Thunder Poetry Editors, by a scoring method. Award Banners are given to First Place and Honorable Mention.

Rollin Thunder Poetry top poems are awarded blogging credits from our sponsors





To enter your blues poem in the Rollin Thunder Poetry's Editor's Choice post your 'Some Blues Of Summer' poem or prose Here at Rollin Thunder Poetry.

Top poems are also published on our syndicated blogs including Rollin Thunder Poetry, BlogOsphere ZoO and SplashHall Art & Poetry.

You can enter the same poem or different poems in either challenge or both. There is a limit of 1 poem per person per challenge. Poems that do not have a Blues tone to it will not be included in the voting or scoring.

Submit your Blues poem or prose today ..invite your friends to take the 'Some Blues of Summer' with you !

Mad Kane Introduces Herself

Thanks so much to our poetic host for naming me a Rollin Thunder editor. And my apologies for my long delay in posting an introduction.

If you've ever stopped by my Mad Kane's Notables blog, you know that I'm a humor writer, specializing in politics. (I also write humor about everything from work and money to marriage and travel, when I'm not obsessing about the Bush administration.)

So why am I here? Because I write lots of verse: both poetry and song parodies, again, mostly political.

I hope to be better about posting here in the future. But in the meantime, here's a taste of what I do -- a poem to celebrate my return home:

The Madness Returns
By Madeleine Begun Kane

I've been gone for two weeks.
Did I miss something good?
Didn't keep up with the news,
Though I know that I should.

I see Dub's not impeached,
And DeLay''s not in jail...

The rest of The Madness Is Back is here.

Congratulations!! Ned & Allura ~ Winners Rollin Thunder's Mother's Day Poetry Challenge

Congratulations Ned And Allura ~ Top Poems Rollin Thunder Poetry Challenge Mother's Day!

The Judges return. The verdict is in. Congratulations goes to First Place Ned Mother's Day and Honorable Mention Allura for Joy Still Blooms.


First Place
Rollin Thunder Poetry


Honorable Mention
Rollin Thunder Poetry

Also worthy of of mention was ...

Shewanda
Like Yesterday

Swanny
Mum

Maureen
My Mother's Daughter

You can read all the poems here. Thank you all for your support and participation. All poems were really great. We will have our next poetry challenge up shortly. The theme will be for Summer with a blues theme, should be fun.

Ned and Allura I will need your email and relative Traffic Exchanges IDs so we award you your Award Banners and Prizes from the Sponsors. Please send your information to cafeRg@gmail.com

Congratulations Witt & AlluraD ~ CafeRg's Splash Mother's Day Poetry Challenge Winners

Rollin Thunder poets, please note these awards are seperate from the Rollin Thunder Mother's Day Poetry Challenge, which the winners here at Rollin Thunder will be announced shortly

Please join me and Congratulate Witt First Place Mother's Day Gifts and AlluraD Honorable Mention Joy Still Blooms in the cafeRg's Splash Poetry Picture Challenge 'A Mother's Love.

Both poems voted and awarded by, you, our Splash Members. Two deserving poets for fine poems.



Mother's Day Gifts
by Witt

Mother's Day Gifts

When I was just a tot
I colored Sunday school pictures
crudely ripped from a story book
and drew outside the lines a lot.
That was your gift on Mother's Day

When I grew a little more
I molded an ashtray out of clay
Mashing and squeezing a mishapped
glob and left a mess on the floor.
That was your gift on Mother's Day

When I could go and shop in my prime
I purchased gaudy bejeweled vases
that sported garish colors tempting
my eyes only from a five and dime.
That was your gift on Mother's Day

When I became independent and free
I lavished you with expensive baubles
and the latest technology like
a state-of-the-art VCR and a brand new TV.
That was your gift on Mother's Day

Now you have reached your years sublime
There are no presents left to give,
you have it all and need nothing more
I shall give you my all my love and time.
That is your gift this Mother's Day.


© 2005 Witt



Joy Still Blooms
by AlluraD

Come along sweet girl child, take my hand,
Mama’s eyes shine from your face.
Let’s wander up the love worn path
That leads to the old home place.

Your Granny made our home here,
It was built on prayer and tears.
She held us up and taught us truth.
She pushed aside her fears.

Though life was hard our wants were few,
She labored tirelessly,
And graced our minds with her belief
In our ability.

As evening dons her violet dress
I see her waiting there.
Her eyes rejoice to see us come,
Face worn and etched with care.

These walls are warped, stick dry now,
As frail as summer’s breath.
But here she smiles, yes she dances,
And eludes the arms of death.

She lives in every memory,
Her treasured dreams my own.
And after me, she’ll live in you.
Joy blooms where love was sown.

© 2005 AlluraD

ConGrats!! Again!

Please Note: A New Challenge will be presented within a couple days for Summer. Please come back to take the Splash Challenge yourself.