What is the purpose of poetry?

First, bullet points...to get them out of my system:

• Happy Veteran's Day--my thanks and admiration go out to all American veterans for everything they've done for our country.
  
• My heart goes out to the victims in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal...and to all victims of sexual abuse.
  
• There are approximately 4 weeks left in the semester...I can't yet see the light at the end of the paper-filled tunnel, but it's only a matter of time.
  
• I've been spending too much time reading Chuck Wendig's blog...F--- Nano. F--- thinking of getting published. F--- rejection. Again. I write because I want to write, because I enjoy playing with words, because I have ideas and characters and plotlines that want expression. Someday I will likely realize that I'm a talentless hack whose work is like a punishment and trial to anyone I subject it to...but not today.
  

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I actually started writing the post below about a month ago...these classes have now completed the Poetry Unit, and I'm in the midst of grading the analysis projects at the end of said unit.

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Okay, so you probably have your own answer to the question that titles this post: What is the purpose of poetry. Well, so do I. But the reason I raise the question here is that my English II sections recently faced this question when we did the Poetry Unit of the course, and I found their initial responses to this very question absolutely fascinating. Note: In recent semesters, I've split the units in this course by genre: short fiction, poetry, and drama. In the past, I've tried focusing units on themes or literary concepts (like irony) and mixing genres within that topic.) I asked the class to freewrite responses to two questions that came out of an interview (with a poet) that was published in our course textbook:

1. What is the purpose of poetry?
2. Why do we need poetry?

This tends to be a vocal group so, in the middle of the freewrite time, someone piped up, "We don't need it! If you have something you want to express, just say it!"  And other students agreed. This wasn't surprising.  Many people dislike poetry.  Even people who write poetry aren't always avid readers of poetry.  Poems can be difficult and mysterious. Students sometimes carry anti-poetry baggage from their educational history.  And poets like T.S. Eliot are deliberately obscure, fueling the notion that poetry is inaccessible. Over the course of the class period, we got to talking about how poetry works differently.  Even though no one would initially say poetry is "needed," some students did point out that poetry does what other forms of writing don't do.  And this transitioned nicely into a couple of videos I showed of spoken poetry that were direct examples of how poetry "works" differently than prose:
Sekou Sundiata's "Blink Your Eyes."
Brian Turner's "Caravan" and "Eulogy"

By the end of the class period, it *seemed* more students recognized that, just like there are some songs we relate to *exactly*, songs that seem to "get" who we are and how we feel or think, sometimes poetry captures an experience or a moment in ways that prose can't. That "Aha!" moment.

While this might not be surprising to you, it can be eye-opening for students who aren't interested in reading and are perhaps downright antagonistic toward poetry.

Sidenote: one student was on the other side of the fence, stating that all literature had a purpose because the author was trying to convey ideas to an audience and spent time and effort shaping that message. (Sort of a reassuring thought for a hack writer like me.)

Ahem...Imagery

Okay, so I'm swamped.  And today I'm collecting literary analysis papers from two sections.  So I'll continue to be swamped for a while.

But I stumbled across this sardonic gem about the use of imagery, in poetry and in general, and had to share.  I can't remember what the program is that creates this video, but it can be used to covert text to animation...and I suspect the series by EnglishAdvisingBear is brilliant in a dark, depressing, horribly cynical way.

Totally tongue-in-cheek and frighteningly astute. I do want to yell from the mountaintops, "This has GREAT imagery." But I'm too demanding about what "great" constitutes. 

All creative writers use imagery...the images we use say a lot about who we are and how we think. And on that note, I'm going back to work...and trying to ignore what the images I use in my writing say about me...

#FridayFollow - An Interview with Aimee Laine

I recently made the acquaintance of romance novelist Aimee Laine at the Clarity of Night blog contest.  Have you started noticing a trend? Yes, many of my literary acquaintances have been through Clarity of Night--it's just that awesome.  Here is Aimee's sharp and lovely entry in the most recent CoN contest: "Twisted Fairytale."

Aimee Laine's debut paranormal romance Little White Lies was published in July by J.Taylor Publishing. It features a powerful shapeshifter and a menace that forces her to team up with the boy she once loved, who is now all grown up and doesn't know her in her current face. Oh, the anguish. It's a quick, fast-paced, touching read.

Here's more about Aimee herself:

Aimee is a romantic at heart and a southern transplant with a bit of the accent (but not a whole bunch). She's married to her high school sweetheart, and with him, she's produced three native North Carolinians, two of whom share the same DNA.

With an MBA and a degree in Applied Mathematics, there’s absolutely no reason she should be writing romance novels. Then again, she shouldn't need a calculator to add two numbers, either ... but she does.

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Herewith, an interview with the savvy and prolific Aimee Laine:

Did you pick your genre(s) or did your genre(s)pick you?

Oh, my genre picked me. There is no question about that. I am made for the mysterious nature of romance. Though most of mine classified as paranormal romance (because there is *something* otherworldly in all of them) I'm really much more in line with suspense and mystery, weaving romance into all the plot elements.

What, if anything, has surprised you about the publishing industry?

Honestly, it's not the publishing industry that surprises me anymore. It is pretty much a tried and true group that only does things one way. It's the use of technology that surprises me and the fact that authors have SO many more possibilities when it comes to their work now. We aren't limited to waiting 10 years in the hopes that an agent will pick up an author and an editor will pick up a story and a publisher will actually publish. We're in a whole new arena of 'entrpreneurism' when it comes to books. Now, it's up to authors to run their businesses toward success. That's what has changed. As one with an entrepreneurial spirit and background, this is what I think is so amazing.

You’re a professional photographer as well as anovelist. How do those roles influence each other?

They are both art. One is crafted with imagery through the lens of a camera and the other with the placement of words on a paper. I honestly don't think I would have moved into writing without having first experienced life as a photographer and experienced the lives of OTHERS through that lens. I learned so much about other people in the last 6 years that being able to translate my 'view' onto paper has been incredibly fun.

What’s your best advice for balancing your workand your personal life?

Prioritize. Some days, writing will be my priority. Other days my kids. Moments happen. I have to take them when I can get them. I also work full time (the corporate, paycheck gig) and so I have to balance that too. I'm very adept at juggling and multi-tasking and switching what I need to do when. If my kids need me, I will be there for them. If they don't, I will take every opportunity to write or to talk with my photography clients or to spend time with my hubby. It's about not leaving a moment free that could have been used. Time is a commodity. I do what I love during the time I have. And I type freakishly fast, so that helps a lot, too.

Who are your favorite writers of all time? Why?

I'm not one of those people who'd followed 'the great classical writers' and wish I could write like them. I sometimes, don't even remember the names of writers who've written great stories because I'm so enthralled with the story itself. I'll go searching for books by using the titles of ones I've read to FIND the author. Yes, I know I'm bad, but it's who I am. I remember actions, not static stuff. I'll remember those stories. As for the stories, I have a shelf full of Nora Roberts and JD Robb (remember, I said my genre picked me). I have Debbie MacComber, Stephenie Meyer, JK Rowling, Kristin Hannah, Lolly Winston, Sharon McCrumb, Judy Blume, Nicholas Sparks (even though I can't read his anymore. Refer to my being a romance lover). These are all just books I've loved so much that I have them and know their stories.

How do you deal with your inner editor/critic?

She and I do not agree on anything! In this little writing challenge I accepted with a writer-friend of mine, I had 25,000 words to get to the final and win. I was always right with her and even ahead of the game until one day, I realized I had a plot error in my story and my muse went on vacation. At that point, my inner editor took over. I cannot write on if I have a major error like that. So I stopped to fix it and my friend went on to ... well ... win. :) So, as you can see, my inner editor has massive control over me.

Unfortunately, that same inner editor has massive control over what I read, too. There are some lazy writing issues I can overcome, but not many and I'm finding more and more that I just can't get past some of the blatant errors that are occurring in published works. Unfortunately, I'm seeing it even more in self-published works -- the few I've tried at the suggestion of friends or family. It makes me wonder if editors have lost their inner editor. Are we pushing so fast to get books out that we're forgetting to fix the writing? So anyway, my inner editor and I are always at war with each other. If the story, however, is that great? Then I win the battle ... for that moment.

Do you have a favorite character or scene from one of your books?

My all time favorite character thus far is Mac Thorne. She's a character I created for a YA trilogy and in Book 1 currently called After Dark, she is who I wanted to be as a teen. She's a mix between Charley Randall (my main character from Little White Lies) and my more serene characters in other books, but brought back down to 18 years old. Mac has something about her makes me want to hug her and punch her all at the same time. I absolutely love her and can't wait to share her with the world, but I have to write book 2 and let book 1 simmer a little longer before I can do that.

As a writer, what has been your best moment sofar?

The day a blog reviewer said she loved my book and the day a random person on the street walked into my office with a copy and said, "will you sign this" and I went, Yes! That was my crowning moment.

What advice do you have for newbie writers?

Don't publish just to publish. Don't wait for an agent to pick you up because you think that's the only way. Write more. Write often. Write a lot and get REALY feedback. Use a critiquing site or partner or group. Take feedback early and often and infuse that into your work. It takes time to find your voice. It takes time to find your style. It takes work, but it's so fulfilling.

What’s next for you?

Well ... I just announced that my book Hide & Seek, the first in the Games of Zeus series will be out in March! Yeah! And I'm finishing up Cael and Lily's story (Book two in the Mimics of Rune series -- behind Little White Lies). And I have 7 other books that could go after that, but we'll see what will come next after those.

To find out more about Aimee Laine, visit her at www.aimeelaine.com.

#FridayFollow - An Interview with Theresa Weir

I first encountered the work of Theresa Weir/Anne Frasier through the Clarity of Night blog back in 2006. Under both names, she's a prolific and renowned author in multiple genres.

Since her debut in 1988, she's published thirteen novels as Theresa Weir, including the RITA-award winning Cool Shade (1998) and the Daphne du Maurier-award winner Bad Kharma (1999).

As suspense novelist Anne Frasier, she's published several novels and anthologies, including three USA Today bestsellers: Hush (2002), Sleep Tight (2003), and Play Dead (2004). (As of August 28, 2011, Amazon had the Kindle versions of Hush and Play Dead for FREE.)

Fortunately for us, her writing prowess continues. In August, she saw the release of the short story anthology Deadly Treats (compiled and edited by Anne Frasier), which promises to be a great Halloween read. And this month welcomes the release of Theresa Weir's poignant memoir The Orchard (release date: September 21, 2011).

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Herewith, an interview with the gracious and talented Theresa Weir:

Your memoir The Orchard is a departure from your novels. What challenges did you encounter in writing it or in getting it published?

The Orchard came very close to never being published because I couldn’t find an agent who wanted to represent it. Agents were looking for Anne Frasier suspense from me, not a Theresa Weir memoir. I gave up and put the book away for a year, then got it out again and tried one more time. So it was very difficult. But in the end, three major publishers wanted to buy it.

Did you pick your genre(s) or did your genre(s) pick you?

I suppose they pick me. This has been especially true with the short stories I’ve been writing. I seem to be writing a lot of fantasy and occult, but I never sit down to write fantasy or occult.

What, if anything, has surprised you about the publishing industry?

There’s an incredible amount of passion for books at major publishing houses.

Do you read reviews of your books? How do you deal with them (whether they’re positive or negative)?

It really depends. I haven’t been reading reviews of The Orchard unless they’re sent to me. I’m finding when it comes to my own life, lukewarm reviews are much harder to take.

What’s your best advice for balancing your work and your personal life?

I wish I knew the answer to that. I think writers give up a lot. We put our heads down, and twenty years later we look up to see that life has passed us by. We have to be careful to live our lives.

Who are your favorite writers of all time? Why?

Oh, that’s tough. I think J.D. Salinger was the biggest influence on me. He made me realize that a story can be quiet, yet have impact.

How do you deal with your inner editor/critic?

I listen, because my inner critic is usually right. When I have that feeling…that uneasy, sick feeling in my gut, I know a scene isn’t working.

On the other hand, I know great writers who don’t advance because they’re always rewriting and reworking and questioning.

Do you do your research before writing or during your writing process?

During.

As a writer, what has been your best moment so far?

When I got the call from my new agent telling me we had an offer on The Orchard. I still can’t believe it. I think especially because I’d written genre fiction for so many years, and I’d never dreamed that my own personal story was the one people would really want to hear.

What advice do you have for newbie writers?

• Watch for repeated words.
• Show, don’t tell is always good advice, but don’t be afraid to tell in order to move scene forward.
• Be careful of too much backstory. Readers don’t care about what happened yesterday; they want to know what’s happening now.
• Establish conflict right away.
• Good balance of dialogue and narrative. Make sure you have some white space.
• Know your strengths, but don’t abuse them. Don’t torture the reader with them.
• Start the story in the right place.

To find out more about Theresa Weir/Anne Frasier, visit her at these haunts:

Website: www.theresaweir.com

Blog: http://monkeywithapen.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anne.frasier and https://www.facebook.com/TheOrchardBook

Thanks for stopping by!

User Guides and Press Releases and Web Sites, Oh, My!

So, last week (which seems like eons ago), reader Cat asked me in one of the comments to talk more about my technical writer experience. I said I'd focus on that in my next blog post...but I'm more swamped this week than I expected (You'd think I'd learn that the first week of the semester is a blur, no matter how prepared I thought I was ahead of time.)

So my answer will be abbreviated.

Cat asked: Would you recommend it?

My answer, as I said briefly in last week's Comments section: An enthusiastic YES, but...

Did I enjoy being a technical writer? Absolutely yes. Given the opportunity, I would probably consider doing some freelance technical writing during summers.

So why the "but..."? Because I worked for a small business (fewer than 50 employees) in a niche software industry. I was the company's sole technical writer during my tenure there. And the company used proprietary programming language and a proprietary documentation system. So I don't think my position was indicative of what is common in technical writing as a career field.

I had a great time. I worked with smart, talented people. In addition to writing and editing user manuals for customers, I ended up also writing press releases for distribution to trade publications, marketing materials for sales and promotion. I also ended up as the company's web master for a few years.

But in contrast, a friend of mine worked as a technical editor at a much larger company for a few years, and her experience was very different from mine. Hers was much more about maintaining consistency in style and accuracy in language. She enjoyed her work too, and I'm sure many technical writers are between our (somewhat) extremes.

And here's a bigger "but"...Although it's only been 3 years since I transitioned from that position, I suspect the world of technical writing has changed a lot, due mainly to technological advances and to the economy. I suspect the world has less need of user manuals...just look at how computer and tablet manufacturers provide minimal documentation with their products. More and more, it seems that software companies are embedding documentation within their products (Help menus, in-product or online tutorials, etc.). This means that technical writers need to have as much of a programming or technical background as a strong writing background. I suspect that same need for a technical background applies to most any field that employs technical writers these days--engineering, manufacturing, biotechnology, etc.

I used to be a member of the Society for Technical Communication, and I would highly recommend their web site and resources for a clearer picture of where technical writing is going, what is expected of technical writers, and what opportunities are currently available.

So...if anyone has any questions for me...about anything really...feel free to post them in the comments! (This applies to any post at any time...um, I think.)

A Toast to New Beginnings

Between completing my graduate degree and becoming a professor, I spent over nine years working outside academe. (I frequently marvel at how fortuitous my life has been, despite whatever little hiccups and frustrations I might have along the way.) Working as a technical writer, I regularly found that the coming of Fall brought a poignant nostalgia for the ebb and flow of the academic year. It was a longing for the level of excitement conveyed in that now-cliche Staples ad with the Christmas song.

Except that the parent in the ad is thrilled that the kids are going back, while the kids are miserable. Attribute that thrill to the student, and you have me in grad school.

Yes, I was a nerd, and I'm proud of it. Starting a new semester was truly exciting. It wasn't about getting past another hurdle. It was about new opportunities to learn and explore, new chances to develop my skills and broaden my horizons. Remember what it's like when you're in a new relationship? The mystery? The excitement? The awe? The tentative (or maybe not so tentative) exploration? It's like that.

As much as I had opportunities to broaden my horizons in industry, I still find that the delineation of semesters and academic years has a strong psychological effect on me. As the daylight gets shorter, it gets harder for me to get out of bed in the morning...but the promise of the New (new experiences, new students, new ideas) is remarkably motivating and exciting.  (As is the opportunity to catch up with some former students and follow their progress...the opportunity to follow up on projects begun in previous semesters...it's not ALL about the new. I'm not obsessed with shiny newness for the sake of shiny newness.  Honest.) 

So how does this relate to writing? (Yes, I have all the focus of a Simpsons episode, starting with one thing and ending somewhere else entirely.)

Well, I do get jazzed by totally new story ideas, with as much excitement and energy as the beginnign of a new school year. I'm easily wooed by how attractive and exciting they are. And I am totally guilty of getting sidetracked by such pretties. Sometimes (when I'm lucky), all I need to do is jot down a few ideas and sentences in a new doc and save it for later.  Other times, I have to wrestle that idea to the ground over a few thousand words at least...very distracting. (Could this be why I haven't yet completed a single manuscript? Hmmm.)  Fortunately, Dave White, author of the e-book WITNESS TO DEATH, has a recent--and helpful--guest post at Chuck Wendig's Terrible Minds blog exactly about how to handle distracting new ideas: "New Ideas Are Like Shiny Jewels."**
(**Warning: adult language. And that warning covers the entire Terrible Minds blog. Just in case that matters to you.)

So...what am I saying today?

• Well, one, even if you aren't in academia, new beginnings abound.  New jobs, new friends, new endeavors, and, yes, new story ideas.  Celebrate them.  Don't miss out on the excitement, don't try to block out the nervousness...celebrate the moment. It will inevitably pass (which is not a necessarily a bad thing...but it's worth being aware of how fleeting "new" is).
• Two, be adventurous. No, I don't mean go climb Mt. Everest or quit your day job to explore the Amazon. But consider the last time you tried something new. This past summer, I took an African Dance class, just for the chance to try something new...and it was awesome. As the instructor explained, African dances sometimes require your muscles to move in unfamiliar ways; the rhythms and movements and cultural background all awakened my senses anew.
• Three...here is my "Toast to New Beginnings":

Celebrate the new, even as you cherish the old.

Embrace the unknown, even as you cling to the familiar.

Seek out life, even unto death.

So you think you can write?

Since my last post led down some depressing paths, I'm determined to make this next one lighter...sunnier.  Like last time, a confluence of ideas has merged for me into today's overriding message.

Here's a hint from Disney's Ratatouille: (Insert scene in which "everyone can cook!")

So last week, I read this blog post by Kristen Lamb last week asking "Are We Born to Create?", in which she mused about whether some people are born writers, and here was part of my comment on that post:

Hmm…I actually think everyone has stories in them that they could write. Whether they do or not might be a matter of encouragement or motivation. And some people might have more innate talent at putting words together, but people with the committed drive to write can learn to do it well.

Here is what I tell my First-Year English Composition students:
Everyone can be a good writer.

Not everyone can be the next Stephen King or Joan Didion (or whoever you define as a great writer), but everyone in my classrooms has the potential to be a good writer. Some writers may need more than a semester to get there, but they can. I've had the honor of working with several students who just needed encouragement in productive directions in order to see that they were capable of much more than they'd expected. They didn't know that they could write, but they absolutely could. Maybe not A-level writing, but then again, I really am a hardass.

Ths doesn't mean writing is easy. Not a chance in hell. Okay, so some gifted writers may find it easy, but everyone has stories within them. And a not-so-gifted writer who has a burning desire to share their stories has, in my mind, just as much potential for success as a writer for whom words flow like water. Some writers may need to learn some of the tools and tricks and tips that come naturally to others. They don't all follow the same path or fit into the same timeframe, but there's nothing innate that says one person "is a writer" while another isn't.

So...today's message is nothing new, but it sometimes needs to be heard anew.

Anyone can write.

It may take writing and rewriting and workshopping and practice. It may take years.

But anyone can write.

(Is that as comforting to you as it is to me?)