RamblingVerses Newsletter – Episode V – January 2009
Welcome to the fifth Story Institute newsletter…No time for wasting…let’s rambling on through the storylines…
Engage a New Outlook…
Ahh, the new year…full of fun, full of frenzy, full of excuses not to write that new story, poem, novel, play, or check…There are always resolutions around writing if you are a writer. There are also at least double the excuses for every resolution going unfulfilled. The only one who can build the story you need to tell is you. You neighbor, your writing group or buddy, your small pet can only encourage the story to start, stop, or spin. You must engage in the actual writing. The inspiration was not meant for anyone else. Need to choose and write.
You know what your day looks like. You know when you have time to write. You also know when you don’t have time to write. There are really two challenges though…Finding the time when you are not asleep and finding your particular muse somewhere along the way. They are both elusive creatures. Neither seem to be on your side. Neither want to cooperate with each other. You may be inspired, but you don’t have the time. You may have the time, but are not inspired.
Read this Tale-ing Tip for recommendations and ideas on how to engage yourself in the writing process…Enjoy…
http://www.storyinstitute.com/2008/12/06/find-your-time-to-write/
Simplified Celebration Connections…
Oscar Wilde
Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.
Mark Twain
New Year’s is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions.
T.S. Eliot
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
Shared Verses…
As we try to align our poetry contest with other events, the Story Institute Poetry contest deadline has been changed to March 15th…yes, you are right, the Ides of March…so, get your poems in….
Enjoy the poems before the contest ends or submit your own for this contest:
NEW Deadline: March 15th…
http://www.storyinstitute.com/poetry-contest-submission/
Perfect Man
© 2008 – Damien Livingston
Just foolish, thinking I can be a perfect man Look at my face masked wit incorrect thoughts Or this body of mine… that has been bathed in self ignorance Listen to the words I speak from the depth of my mouth that are not genuine but are instead dishonest and misleading Or the loss look in my eyes… smothered with life’s tragedies I’m just foolish, for there is only one who’s perfect Why do I ache for approval from relatives and friends …, or, lust for acceptance from foreign faces Where did I misplace my self respect, or bury my integrity What would make me sacrifice my inner potency, for shame and guilt Most times I feel lost in this abandoned house known as my Life Unsheltered from self-hatred, adverse depression and redundant let downs Yet, I find myself looking for a savior Looking for someone to feel sorry for me Yearning for compassion…, starving for unbeneficial pity Chasing a mirage of a Perfect man Left me scorn, drowning in a sea of hatred For I forgot to accept myself, forgot to believe in myself… but most of all I forgot to love myself I forgot to tell myself that as long as I give it my all
I’m am perfect, perfectly me as I can be
http://www.storyinstitute.com/2008/12/04/poem-perfect-man-damien-livingston/
Bitter Awareness
© 2008 – Jamie Lynn Waters
What is a dream? The word dream is scrumptious, Like the cotton candy held in the palm of your hand, Realistic and loud, Like the sticky situation if held to long, Self knowledge weighing on you like a twenty-eight pound brick dropped from the sky, Landing in the palm of your hands, Preservation, the key to the long roads you’ll take, Preparing yourself for what may or may not be, Most satisfying to the mind like a cold winter’s day and a cup of hot chocolate, Your future of life, or the death of your dignity, Your goals set before you like a steaming brownie with a perfectly round scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, most delicious when reached for, your dream!
http://www.storyinstitute.com/2008/12/17/poem-bitter-awareness-jamie-lynn-waters/
Moving On
© 2008 – Jamie Lynn Waters
There comes a point in life when we all grow up The loss of innocence, Promises, Heartbreaks, Loss of loved ones, High school, Graduation, It’s all a part of life, Some may experience more than others but it’s what makes you, you Don’t lose your morals and faith for the pleasure of others, Keep your ground and hold your head high, Show people you can be who you want to be and still succeed, Sometimes there will be a fork in the road, Take the path in which you feel you will succeed because if worse comes to worst There’s always construction, you can make it back on that path of triumph, It’s never too late, You’ll learn from your mistakes and become more cautious as you continue on the path of life.
http://www.storyinstitute.com/2008/12/17/poem-moving-on-jamie-lynn-waters/
As you grow into the new year, Alfred, Lord Tennyson shares well-chosen words about where the old year went and where it started…
Read carefully. Something may arise that remained dormant for previous readings…
The Death of the Old Year
By: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Full knee-deep lies the winter snow, And the winter winds are wearily sighing: Toll ye the church bell sad and slow, And tread softly and speak low, For the old year lies a-dying. Old year you must not die; You came to us so readily, You lived with us so steadily, Old year you shall not die.
He lieth still: he doth not move: He will not see the dawn of day. He hath no other life above. He gave me a friend and a true truelove And the New-year will take ’em away. Old year you must not go; So long you have been with us, Such joy as you have seen with us, Old year, you shall not go.
He froth’d his bumpers to the brim; A jollier year we shall not see. But tho’ his eyes are waxing dim, And tho’ his foes speak ill of him, He was a friend to me. Old year, you shall not die; We did so laugh and cry with you, I’ve half a mind to die with you, Old year, if you must die.
He was full of joke and jest, But all his merry quips are o’er. To see him die across the waste His son and heir doth ride post-haste, But he’ll be dead before. Every one for his own. The night is starry and cold, my friend, And the New-year blithe and bold, my friend, Comes up to take his own.
How hard he breathes! over the snow I heard just now the crowing cock. The shadows flicker to and fro: The cricket chirps: the light burns low: ’Tis nearly twelve o’clock. Shake hands, before you die. Old year, we’ll dearly rue for you: What is it we can do for you? Speak out before you die.
His face is growing sharp and thin. Alack! our friend is gone, Close up his eyes: tie up his chin: Step from the corpse, and let him in That standeth there alone, And waiteth at the door. There’s a new foot on the floor, my friend, And a new face at the door, my friend, A new face at the door.
New Look at New Years…
(Short Story idea for your new year)
It was New Year’s Eve. Ted thought that things could not be worse than last year. In fact, he was not taking any chances. He decided to stay home, watch the celebrations on tv, and go straight to bed shortly after midnight. The doors were locked. The windows sealed shut as the cold tried to reach inside and chill everything within its grasp. Ted did not want to face the same path he did last year. He did not want to see the faces on any of the party-goers this time as he did last year. It was a mess.
Why was Ted so concerned? What happened last year that caused Ted to keep things simple? Was it a girl? Or, did something erupt within him bringing about a Ted than anyone had ever seen? Why was the cold so cold?
Decide on the path. Decide on the past. Decide on the other characters who may call, stop by, or make their way back into the memory of Ted. Decide on the history. Decide on the future. Decide if Ted makes it to bed on time. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…
Clouded Resources – Write Now
Here are some of the many resources on the web for engaging yourself and your audience…Good luck…
Poets.org – New Year Poetry Topics –
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5889
Poem Recordings –
http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com/
Children Short Stories –
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/new-years-day/short-stories/
New Year Challenge –
http://bloginhood.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-years-resolution-365-short-stories.html
Charles Dickens Refresher –
http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/7730/
Visit us at Story Institute for other ideas and writing prompts…
http://www.storyinstitute.com
To take RamblingVerser with you or read it offline, download the PDF version here:
ramblingversesepisode5january2009