Right. And Walt Whitman makes chocolate candy!

[wednes]

When I was a kid, I used to write a lot of poetry. It was mostly angsty stuff dealing with my suffering, and sadness over some jackassy man boy who was too stupid to see my inner beauty. Most of it sucked, but there was an occasional intriguing poetical insight. Frankly, I haven't pulled my high school poetry journal off the shelf in quite some time. I'm almost afraid to for fear of being assaulted by the emo (even though when this stuff was written, some 20+ years ago, "emo" was that nerdy comedian with the funny haircut--he had a cameo in UHF). It wasn't actually it's own genre (milieu?) yet. I used to shove my poetry notebook du jour into the faces of anyone and everyone willing to read it. I'm pretty sure I bored the hell out of people in my desperate attempts to show off how creative and wonderful I was. Some of those people were teachers who actually told me that I should try to be a professional writer. Too bad I forgot to listen until I was almost 35.
Anyway, ladyteal, a truly remarkable pagan lady (and published poet), is doing a thing where you write 100 poems in 100 days. As you may know, I am a fan of using arbitrary goals as a motivational tool. That's why all 3 of my published novels were written for the NaNoWriMo (though Cat's Apprentice was finished under the Zokutou clause). And if someone else is checking my progress from time to time, so much he better for keeping me working. I haven't written poetry since my ill-fated zombie rock opera from the mid-1990's. I bet if I applied myself, I could write 100 poems in 100 days and churn out maybe, 20-30 that do not completely suck. Since my last poetry writing excursion, I like to think I've developed some skill; not just basic wordsmithery, but some insights into the human condition and into my own strengths and weaknesses. So I'm gonna go for it.
For the most part, I'll be posting the 100 poems in wednes_writes unless I come up with anything I need you all to see. I joined 100poems, perhaps I will make use of that also, even though I generally hate networking with other writers**. It starts tomorrow. Maybe I'll write a short story in poem form. I anticipate a lot of blank verse, but hopefully I can do some formal rhyme and meter stuff as well.

H is in the process of designing my new business cards. You may recall that my publisher changed our web address, basically negating all the advertising I've done up to this point: press packets, swag, free book giveaways, TV commercial, etc. Plus I need all new business cards. Turns out, they are having a special where i can get full color cards for the same price as B&W. So I'm figuring out the best way to use color in what is already an effective design. As usual uterdic came up with a smashing idea that I'll be sharing with the all of you's as soon as it's done. They will be the best business cards in the history of mankind. But I don't want to oversell it. H is just so monsterously talented.





**I don't want to network with anyone whose work I don't enjoy. And I'm sorry, but there are a LOT of shitty writers out there getting published by tiny houses like mine. Since I'm a picky snob with an enormous sense of intellectual vanity, attempts at networking tend to end up with me avoiding people so I don't have to tell them I dislike their work. Even when people ask for critique, they always seem to get offended by mine. Frown.

Comments

Business Cards

[thehula.livejournal.com]

Are you going to have your cards in time for the Vampire's Ball? I bet you're going to give out a lot of them there. I can't wait to see pictures, they'd never let me in. Not only do I get ALL the names and movie titles wrong, but I'm a whopping beacon of NOT DARK OR MYSTERIOUS AT ALL. Maybe I could go as vampire bait? I would totally bite me. Although I suspect I would taste like one of those fluorescent candies that LOOKS super sweet but is actually kind of sour.

Are you getting really excited to go? Did you pick a shirt? I'm so proud of you for hashing the whole thing out, mentally. I bet every time you catch yourself in a mirror you'll be like, "Nope, not a vampire. Wicked awesome shirt, though!" I find that when I totally love a piece of clothing, I have to FORCE myself not to do a thumbs-up in any reflective surface. I'm so dorky.

As for the 100 poems, I am not educated or fanatical about the medium. I've never gotten it, or been good at writing it, so I won't have much helpful input, I'm afraid. Of course, I know YOU, so I have no doubt you can do it, and do it well. Pretty soon you'll be avoiding Poets, too. ;)

Re: Business Cards

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I never heard back from the promotions chick at the Vampire Ball, so I don't get to have a book selling table. I may try to sneak some cards onto one of the existing tables though. I'm sly. :-]

I am getting the shirt that most people voted for, which is also the DVD cover. The one with Barlow's face is just too asymmetrical for me. I still have to order it.

I'm sure once your flist is full of my poems, you'll have plenty of opinions to contribute.

Re: Business Cards

[thehula.livejournal.com]

You could do like I do at conferences, and hand them out every time you meet someone you admire.

[derekfz.livejournal.com]

I *kick* HATE *kick* YOU *kick* WALT *kick* FREAKIN' *kick* WHITMAN! LEAVES OF GRASS, MY ASS!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Okay, I am literally LOLing right now. I may even be L'ingMAO.

[groovesinorbit]

Good luck with the 100 poems. : )

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm hoping I can do it in an hour a day. We shall see.

[ladyteal.livejournal.com]

:-)