Musings and Meanderings

Yes, I like trees:

i walk through the pine
wood on needle-muffled feet
trees whisper welcome

...here is Rich Horton's 2009 yearly summary of Lone Star Stories. Rich favorably notes stories by Jay Lake, Jeremy Adam Smith, Jo Walton, Josh Rountree, and Samantha Henderson. He also has kind words for the webzine itself, which I greatly appreciate.

I noticed today that the number of people visiting Lone Star Stories from August 1, 2009 to December 8, 2009 is roughly the same as the August 1, 2008 to December 8, 2008 period, despite the fact that the final issue of LSS appeared on June 1st. Bizarre.

I've found that my interest in writing/getting published blog entries and articles has risen with my poetry production. However, the vast majority of those posts/articles discuss fiction, which is what I used to think I should spend my time writing. Now, as soon as I start to think about writing short stories or novels and what to do with the finished products, my newly awakened poet brain reminds me, gently but firmly, that I don't like writing fiction (unless it's flash that has a poetry aura to it). Then I go back to writing poetry and trying to get that poetry published, both of which I enjoy very much.

That's a nice change for my writerly happiness level.

Yes, I'm amusing myself today:

A Question of Form

I have

N
O
T
I
C
E
D

that I'm falling into a pattern of
writing poetry in unrhymed meter.

Perhaps it's time for

something different
in my poetic structure--
a fusion of forms

I
use most
often that
incorporates,

V
A
R
I
A
T
I
O
N
?

Nah.

----

Of the two non-ku poems I wrote yesterday, I didn't like the first poem (the squirrel one) all that much and quite liked the second poem (the Unseelie war one). Now, I think the squirrel poem isn't too bad, but I don't like the Unseelie war poem. I spent a lot more time writing the second poem, too. Of course, I could change my mind in an hour.

It's probably best that I just write something new.

ann_leckie (Podcastle co-editor and writer) thoughtfully explains what she means when she exhorts fledgling authors to "write better."

thirty-six poems
written in thirty-six days
whee!

So much for cheery poetry:

snowflakes swirl past the
pizzeria's dark windows
for lease sign obscured

frigid winds tumble
dried leaves outside my window
autumn's death rattle

Lots of dark poetry and images over the last couple of days. I need to think of something cheery to write about....

I intended to write something longer, but this ku appeared instead:

poinsetta leaves glow
red-bladed in the spotlight
holiday welcome

new forecast calls for
snow-dusting, rather than sleet
city remains spooked

humming a winter
ode as i pass cedar woods
fox spirits approve

transferring years of
electronic memories--
my wife's new laptop

Inspired by asakiyume's nifty, fifteen part story:

rain sizzling to
steam on the heat-cracked highway--
goddess awakens

I keep looking at poetry MFA programs, then remind myself that I have family obligations and a legal career that can't be put on hold for that long. So, I'm now considering the idea of joining a poetry writing group. However, I know nothing about such groups. Do any of you have any thoughts you'd care to share on this topic?

No novel-writing for me this month (or likely ever). Instead, I've been shooting for thirty non-ku poems, one for each of the thirty days of November. I'm at twenty-seven now (most of them posted here in friends-locked entries), so I've got three more to write before midnight on the 30th. I'll have to think of some appropriate way to reward myself, should I reach my goal. In the meantime, I'll be thinking of more poetry to write....

I received an email this morning from Fiona Robyn, editor of a handful of stones, letting me know that she has accepted a pair of my ku. :-)

And for everyone celebrating it, happy Thanksgiving!

I've been thinking tonight about the closing of Lone Star Stories, and I've realized, with the benefit of a few months passing since I ended the webzine, two things:

1. I did not like the fact that I was the only person reading slush, selecting (or begging for) stories and poems, picking art for each published piece, laying out and publishing new issues, getting the word out about new issues, etc., etc. for Lone Star Stories. I have found the reality of complete creative control to be overrated.

2. I really didn't like the fact that the webzine budget was limited to my disposable income. My ability to grow LSS readership (and pay authors better) was proportionately limited.

Having realized the above, I've resolved, should I ever return to the biz, to not go it alone.

Oaky, back to thinking about poetry.

the sloop runs before
the Atlantic's whitecapped fists--
hurricane season