Wednesday's Word: Writing

I have a hard time reading poorly written books. Years ago they didn't seem to bother me. Before I learned to write I didn't recognize mistakes the authors made in their writing. If the story was good, I kept reading. But some books almost sang to me. I gobbled them up and after I finished them I kept thinking about them. But I could never put my finger on the reason why I liked those particular books more than some other ho-hum book that I had read. Now I realize the reason why some books stood out while others were just okay. It was the quality of the writing and a proper use of story structure. My opinion on following rules as a new writer is that it is important, just like following a recipe in cooking. True, in cooking I take a lot of creative liberties, but I know there are certain basics that must be followed to make a cake rise, or the combination of complementary seasonings to make savory dish delicious. And if I break basic rules, only the odd palate here and there may be able to enjoy my dish, but the majority of eaters won't enjoy it. So it is with writing.

Writing is

no more the filling of paper with ink

than art is

the painting of a canvas with pink.

A true artist can transport you into a scene,

not by mere use of a blue or a green.

but by incorporation of things unseen.

Up close, each stroke of the brush

appears untamed,

spreading its colors

by rules unnamed.

But take a step back

and partake of a feast

prepared by a multitude of strokes,

none mattering more or less than the least.

But creating order

out of chaos

upon that canvas of white,

took attention

to rules

to create such a sight.

So it is with putting words on a page.

It’s more than reciting

the wisdom

of a learned old sage,

or placing a comma or an adverb in the right place,

or separating a point of view with a quadruple space.

It’s learning all the rules,

so a vision you’ll see

of what your written art

has the potential to be.

And then as the words flow from your pen
You’ll create a piece that will please all men. (and women)

Wednesday's Word: Choice

As I look back on the four novels I have written thus far, everyone of them had a common thread that ran through them; that of choice. My fifth book too contains that thread. I didn't do this intentionally, but the fact that my passion to be able to choose for myself has obviously worked its way into my writing. In my current work in progress, Bonded, the M.C is a slave girl who makes her own choices, despite the oppression she is subject to. In a sense, she is more free than the society that enslaves her. They have made poor choices for the last hundred years. Those choices have led their society into dysfunctional state where they are enslaved to their gluttony, gambling, and laziness.
Bonded is a dystopic YA novel, but many elements are not that far removed from today's society. The ability to make good choices, and allow all men the same privilege, is essential to a healthy society. As our government grows bigger and bigger, and makes more  and more choices for its citizens rather than letting individuals make their own choices, the closer I feel we come to having our own dystopic society--right here, right now, in the daily news rather than in a science fiction novel. It's scary.

Only you
can choose
who or what you'll be.
Others
may try
to rule and remove
elements that make you free.
But it's you
who'll decide
to fight,
or let things slide,
to do good
and to love,
or to hate
or to shove.
Your choices define you.
So make them well
and to them be true.

Wednesday's Word: See

One of my favorite songs on my MP3 is Blue World by the Moody Blues. (Yeah, I'm old). In the lyrics they sing, "There are none so blind as those who will not see." The truthfulness of these words ring loud to me. So much so that they have been woven into the theme of my latest work in progress. In my new book, Bonded, Shay is a slave girl in a society where those whom she serves have digressed into a society that is blind to the crumbling world they have created.

To see things as they really are is a valuable trait, one that would benifit all if more were to possess it.

I rejoice

in those who

make a choice

to listen

and hear,
to lookand see
things as they were meant to be,
not as the world chooses to see.

Wednesday's Word: Tile

This was actually last weeks' post. I had scheduled it to post at 6:00 AM on the 13th, because I was out of town, but apparently it didn't work. Because of my super hectic life right now, I'm cheating and using it for this Wednesday's word.

Wednesday is here and I realized I don't have a word for this week. Things have been hectic. I'm leaving shortly to travel to Wyoming to our fixer-upper cabin in Alpine. I'm going to be spendin the rest of the week laying tile. Since I don't have time to think of anything clever, and the word/subject that is on my mind is tile, I guess Wednesday's word is going to be TILE. Sorry, nothing note worthy to go with it.
Oh, what the heck, I'll throw out a few thoughts and rhymes.

Tile
makes me smile--
when its all layed.
Tile
has some style
for that's how its made;
colorful and smooth,
waterproof and more;
its the perfect covering
for my new cabin floor.
But alas,
I must travel mile upon mile
to lay piles
of tiles.
Here's good bye to the smiles.

P.S. the above picture is not from my cabin. It's a google image. One of these days I'll take the time to share some real pictures of our cabin, reflecting all the hard work my family has put into it over the past year.

Wednesday's Word: Freedom

With the celebration of our nation's independence this past week I think a fitting word for this week is FREEDOM

Freedom isn't free;
wasn't meant to be.
But it was meant for me
and everyone I see.
That's why we should fight
against evil
for our right
to think, speak, and talk,
and even wear and walk
what and where we want.

Wednesday's Word: Birds

This past week I went out to my strawberry patch to pick me some delicious strawberries. The plants should have been loaded--I usually fill a big bowl this time of the growing season, but each time I came away with a handful or two. It's the birds. They are devouring my berries and I'm not happy. So this week's Wednesday's word has got to be BIRDS.

Birds are for the birds.
They mark my plants with turds.
But even worse than that
on ripe berries they grow fat,
leaving two for me,
each the size of peas.
I could get mad and yell
and curse them all to Hell.
But do I really wish they'd go?
The answer I fear is, no.
I love to hear them sing

and watch them as they wing

across the sky in flight;

such a beautiful sound and sight.

I'll just share and share some more,
and buy my berries at the store.

Wednesday's Word: Pie

Yesterday I made three pies, one for a critique group member's birthday, one for a picnic tonight, and one for my family. With all of those pies in front of my eyes, I just had to make this week's word: Pie.

Pies are fun to make and fun to eat.
They're fun to take when you need a treat.
You can fill them with fruit
or with pudding chocolaty and sweet,
or with carrots and potatoes
and savory meat.
But pies are also
like people we meet.
They can be flaky on the outside,
but within hold a treat.
So don't let people or pie
pass you by,
without peering inside
to see what resides.