Send us an email to: ramblingverser@storyinstitute.com…Call us at 615-431-WRIT…or provide thoughts on the forum: www.storyinstitute.com/forum

Poetry Topic:
St. Patrick’s Day – Wearin’ the Green

The wearin’ of the green…that’s the day when all those who are not of Irish decent celebrate the lovely story of St. Patrick and his day. From marching in large parades to drinking green beer to eating corned beef and cabbage, this day is about celebrating life and enjoying it. This festive occasion brings about a brotherhood many don’t remember exists the rest of the year. This joyous occasion provides opportunities for grown adults to relive their youth and become a part of new traditions. And, don’t forget the beer.

Choose your path. Choose your subject. Choose you remember of the day, if you can remember. Were you standing in a parade line waiting to march your way down Michigan Avenue hold a freezing piece of metal, praying and hoping that the cameras would not catch your step on the opposite foot from everyone else as you passed by the judging booth? Were you a bystander watching the people walk by, happy, chilled, and throwing candy? Either way, choose your words well, but don’t leave out the pot of gold. Remember poems are simple, but have all the power of a story in a little, tiny space. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Short Story Topic:
Looking for Fantasylands

What is the difference between sprites and fairies? How about fairies and pixies? At some point, they were the same. At some point, they became different. At some point, they just moved away from one location to many. Until one day when another creature finds a document with hints of where each group moved.

What is this document that is found? Who is this other creature? What is the difference? Is there a difference? Will each group be found? Is there a map that goes along with the document? Why did they separate in the first place? Is this a series of short stories?

Decide on the path the character follows. Decide on the mysteries revealed. Decide on the reason for looking for the answers. Decide on the behaviors that separate each group. Decide on the setting. Is it a forest? A swamp? A dessert? All of them? Think about parallels between these groups and ones you know. Decide on the story, and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Remember to Imagine, Enhance, and Grow your stories

Running Time: 12 minutes 29 seconds

The play button (a large triangle) appears below this summary. Depending on your internet speed, the conversation should play immediately once you click on this button…

Quote by Dale Carnegie: “Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.”

This week, John ramblings on about finding a new notebook to jot down your creative thoughts and making sure you have a storyline for your novel while being open to it changing and growing…

Visit our new forum at Story Institute at http://www.storyinstitute.com/forum

Poem of the Day by John E. Murray, III
Let Me Not Begin Anew

Let me not begin anew,
Let me spend my days with you, or you, or you.
My friends, my companions, my creation,
Losing you would be a great devastation.
You are my entire being,
The results of my dreaming.
With every word I breathe,
You are able to achieve
New invigorating life,
To help me deal with all the strife.
I need, I want, I feel
Only what I believe real,
That being you
To whom I will always remain true.
So go forth
And let your intensity be shown,
But Please don’t leave me here,
Alone!

Poetry Topic – Sonnet Through Muse

A special relationship deserves to be appreciated and admired. A spouse or significant individual should be told how special they are to you and in your life. Reflect on the happiness they bring. Encourage your muse to show through the relationship and into a being all its own.

Research the great works and sonnets of the classic romantics and develop a style you share with your romantic counterpart and your inner muse. How strong is the connection? How important is the shared togetherness? How far into your heart do you delve to encourage the love you share to make its way onto a blank page or screen? How long is the gaze into the mirrors of your souls? Keep it intense, and encourage the surges of palpitations and emotion. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Sonnet through Muse
By: John E Murray, III

My mistress’s eyes are nothing like the sun, tis true,
They are a far more brilliant hue.
Coral’s redness may be debated only among sunken ships,
But they may never taste as sweet as my mistress’ lips.
If snow be white, then true purity befriended the seven,
And her silken hair was certainly spun from the clouds of heaven.
Her sweet scent is synonymous with what a fresh breeze brings,
And her voice chimes in time with my delicate heartstrings.
If on Earth there a goddess be,
I am truly fortunate, for she is with me.
Alas, a poet’s pact I break and abuse,
And, as my own words prove, I have fallen for my muse.
I offer no excuses for what my mind has endeavored to create,
But open my heart no matter how long the wait.
Short Story Topic – Clock Stopping

These days, carrying a watch is a pain on the wrist. With cell phones, PDAs, and computers all around us, the need for another form of the constricting value of time becomes less desirable. What happens if the digital clocks just stopped displaying. They still worked. However, only other computerized devices could read the time. You will need to search for a reason and a way to tell time more effectively than having the computer tell you. So, you track down that old pocket watch, give it a few twists, and you realize that you can see more than just the time. You can see…

Decide what it is that the character can see. Tell the story in the first person. Imagine yourself or someone close to you trapped in this environment. Decide on the path your character travels to find solutions. What caused the clocks to stop in the first place? What can be done? Decide on the origin of the wind-up watch. Decide on the story, and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Sponsored by Enchanted Travel Tales – Bringing Travel, Magic, and Fun to your holidays…contact us today for a enchanted vacation destination…615-431-WISH or visit us online at http://www.enchantedtraveltales.com

Contact us at: ramblingverser@storyinstitute.com; 615-431-WRIT(9748); or share a review on iTunes…follow us on Twitter as well…twitter.com/ramblingverser

Running Time: 18 minutes 28 seconds

The play button (a large triangle) appears below this summary. Depending on your internet speed, the conversation should play immediately once you click on this button…

Quote by Jim Henson: “Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.”

This week, we talk about characters, how they start, and how they grow into the breath of their stories…

We have a new forum at Story Institute at http://www.storyinstitute.com/forum

We are giving away copies of autographed copies of books from some of the authors we have interviewed…you must register for our forums to win…Tell us what you believe the inspiration of this week’s poem was or share one of your own…each will be entered to receive a book.

Short Story Topic – Finding the Golden Path Home

The clouds cleared and the rainbow made its way across the sky. Tiny feet scurried trying to locate the end of the brightly colored ribbon of light. When you lose the magic that brought you to this land and have no other way back to your own home, you keep trying no matter how long it has been between rainbows. Sure, you have maintained those simple party tricks with playing cards, pulling one coin out of random places, and basic mind-reading, but you lack the direction to find the end and true pot of gold…the path back home.

Decide on how you got here in the first place. Decide if you will truly tell this tale in the first person. Decide on the characters met along this most recent path to the end. Decide if the tale continues or silences after this episode. Decide how long this lost soul has remained without his own country. Decide on your path. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it at www.stoyinstitute.com, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Poetry Topic – Seashells

No two seashells are alike, yet they group themselves in the same places. They float and they sink. They migrate and are migrated. Some are flatter than others. Some are smooth and others posses ripples and ridges. Many have various colors that allow them to sparkle in the sunlight and catch your eye as you stroll down the beach. A few others are dull in nature and blend into the glistening sand.

Do you think about hearing the ocean? Do you hear the ocean when holding up a shell to your ear? Are these the same seashells that cover the clam shaped beings that were lost somewhere along the way to the shore? Decide on the adventure these residents of the deep took to reach the surface and share the story in verse. Post it www.storyinstitute.com, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Sponsored by Enchanted Travel Tales – Bringing Travel, Magic, and Fun to your holidays…contact us today for a enchanted vacation destination…visit us online at http://www.enchantedtraveltales.com OR call us at 615-431-WISH

Contact Story Institute at: ramblingverser@storyinstitute.com; 615-431-WRIT(9748); or share a review on iTunes

Running Time: 27 minutes 56 seconds

The play button (a large triangle) appears below this summary. Depending on your internet speed, the conversation should play immediately once you click on this button…

Hermann Hesse

Abraham Lincoln

Helen Keller

Aesop

Mark Twain

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Helen Keller