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limejuicer1862 · 5 years

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Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Andy N.

is a writer, performer, podcaster, creative writing workshop tutor and sometimes experimental musician from Manchester who also is currently co running Stretford’s always welcoming spoken word night ‘Speak easy’

He has been published in numerous books and magazines and has been performing in some form or the other since 2006 and regularly since 2008 and was also vocalist and keyboardist in the spoken word collective ‘A Means to an End’ (Can be found on facebook).

He is also the editor and chief of Spoken Label, a new spoken word based interview podcast label featuring podcasts with all kinds of writers and artists (https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/) and is also the co creator of ‘Reading in Bed’, a literature review podcast he does with his partner (http://readinginbed.bandcamp.com)

His official website is onewriterandhispc.blogspot.co.uk/ and he is always interested in under-taking performing / new projects. His email address is [email protected]

List of Publications:

(http://onewriterandhispc.blogspot.co.uk/p/publications.html)

on Facebook (Official page)

https://www.facebook.com/andynstorytellerpoet/

on Bandcamp

https://andyn.bandcamp.com/

Ocean in a Bottle (ambient music)

on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Ocean-in-a-bottle-802773986422467/

on bandcamp

https://oceaninabottle.bandcamp.com/

Spoken Label (spoken word podcasts)

on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1640184132900821/

on bandcamp

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/

Speak Easy (Stretford’s always welcoming Spoken Word Open Mic night)

https://www.facebook.com/speakeasymanchester/

Reading in Bed (Book Review Podcast with Amanda)

on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/readinginbed/

on bandcamp

https://readinginbed.bandcamp.com/

Comics Unity Podcast Series (Comics related and culture podcast with Michael)

on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1366264170126341/

The Interview

1. When and why did you start writing poetry?

I actually started writing poetry when i was 10. It was terrible i seem to recall. My teacher encouraged to keep on it at it

. Little did she know

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

Good question. It was my teacher Miss Fenton. She always thought i had a good eye for images even back then

2.1. What poetry did she introduce you to?

She introduced me into Hilaire Belloc at the time. My major inspirations Hugo Williams and Paul Celan / Wilfred Owen came during college and at degree level years ago.

2.2. How did they influence you?

In Williams case it was the human touch the sheer love of life. Cealan and owen the misery

3. How aware are and were you of the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary?

Not really if I am honest until I got into my mid 20s when I went back to evening classes. I had left school with quite poor qualifications (long story) and next to no interest in writing by the time I got to 18 or 19 and although I touched on poetry while studying English A Level (where I studied Tennyson, Browning and Swinburne etc), it wasn’t until I got to university in 1999 as a mature student (I was 27) when I really began to see the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary and slowly began to find my own voice.

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I actually have a day job (I wish I was a full time artist) so that covers me during the day so it usually means just the evening when I get home. I’m quite deep into the world of Podcasting at the moment which can means that does take some time up when I am at home, and I also do ambient music under the name of Ocean in a Bottle but if I am not writing everyday I am always reading and usually have either a book in my bag or a new poetry book on my kindle. Bookwise, that’s Robert Cochrane’s ‘A Memory of Keys’ and I have a pre-order of a book by a South African writer called Alta Martin which is out later in the year I think.

5. What motivates you to write?

What motivates my writing? That’s a good question really. When I first started writing right up to when I went to university, I never really had any plans with it atall, perhaps I thought it was something more interesting to do than just watch Television. The older I got, it changed and now I love telling my own stories in poems rather than been told stories (for example on Television) if they makes sense and this has now developed further so on my laptop I have various folders on there on sequences I want to tell. Currently this includes Science Fiction poems (A mystery called Robot Noir) or poems about an imaginary couple I am writing about who visit all kinds of cities and have adventures in them. Both of them motivate me as I want to work out where they end both of these stories end up next.

6. Why do you like writing mysteries?

Just what I am writing really at the moment, Paul and is not a reflection of my first three full length poetry collections. The first book ‘Return to Kemptown’ was a compilation of what I regarded as my best material as of 2010 (I have been performing poetry on a fairly regular basis since 2007). The second and third books ‘The End of Summer’ ‘and ‘The Birth of Spring’ are seasonal books really with each book designed to represent the seasons with poems about Summer and Autumn mixed with longer narrative poems which contain the elements of those seasons also.

I do have a third seasonal book in mind ‘In the Midst of Winter’ which is looking good but I also have two other full length books on the go which are certainly more mystery based. The first one ‘Changing carriages at Birmingham New Street’ which is about my imaginary couple actually made a brief appearance in The Birth of Autumn and I enjoyed reading about them, it kind of made sense to try and write a full length collection covering their time together. Robot Noir, my Science Fiction poetry book is quite different but still carries the same emotional strengths that people like about my poetry but is getting wrote hand in hand next to it covering before, during and after a Robot uprising in Poetry which threatens the existence of mankind itself. Both books here are mysteries as they do not operate like most full length poetry collections, but tell a story like in novels but rather in poetry which pieces stand alone but also work well in a long sequence and I hope will prove emotional satisfying for readers as well as me when they are completed.

7. How do the writers/musicians you read/heard when you were young influence you today?

I had a bit of a unusual taste in music growing up in the early 80s when my father got me into folk music and country and western music, of which if I am honest I haven’t heard in years. When I got into my mid teens in the late 80s, I started listening to some discoveries of my own, some of which are very difficult to listen to nowadays. One band I love listening to even now and saw live twice back at that point were a Scottish band called The Blue Nile who have had a rare ability to convey the ordinariness of life itself which still hits me hard even now over thirty years later and has proved a influence on my writing certainly.

Reading wise, I’ve just re-read a few books by Fred Hoyle which are very pure Science Fiction indeed and I think are difficult to read now (How I read them at 11 or 12 with great ease I have no idea) and I also remember reading a lot of Harry Harrison’s work as the Stainless Steel Rat which I struggle with nowadays also because of the sexism towards women which is pretty bad in the first book or two. I think it depends really, my father got me reading the Western works by American writer Louis L’Amour in my early teens and his later books like Comstack Lode are great novels and while a little preachy are full of what I try to convey in my poems now (as much as any work by Plath and Larkin, both of which I was familiar with in my early 20s and am still now).. I let the characters tell their own stories whether in a few lines or 40 lines

8. Who of today’s writers/musicians/ do you admire the most and why?

Ooh. I am taking my time reading Ocean Vuong’s ‘Night Sky with Exit Wounds’ at the moment. I also recommend Spiderseed by David Hartley, a young writer from Stretford (near where I was born) whose debut book is twenty illustrated flash fictions, all of which has a defo Gorey feel to them. Comic wise, as I am still reading them, I love the work by Ed Brukaber (who is known on the TV front for being the show runner for Season 1 of West World and Too die to this young). Comic wise, his work with Sean Philips is always worth reading, and their current series Criminal which is a series of interlinked stories involving Criminal has magnificient character work

9. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

I started as a child as I said before and also studied writing at university, but if I am honest although I learned stuff from starting from so young and also studying it, I learnt going to a writing group certainly helped me the most as it made me listen to people who tried to give me advice. So listen really

And also perhaps join websites likes Writeoutloud.net and blog your poems on there, as people will give you feedback on them sometimes.

10. Tell me about writing projects you’re involved in at the moment.

Current writing projects are the following:

1) The Streets were all we could see – my 4th full length poetry book which is a series of mini poems (All under 10 lines each). Book is now complete and will be out before the end of Winter.

2) Buried alive under the Wall – this is my second fantasy book, a sequel to a book released in 2018 called Enemy of the Wall. Currently on the last draft.

Other projects on the go is Europa 4, my 4th book of anti war poetry with my pal Nick Armbrister and I am thinking about what I am can do for NaPoWriMo this year which I think will be 30 poems wrote daily in April called Fragments of David.

Also will be carrying on with my constant podcasting and ambient music.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Andy N. Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

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wallpaperpaintings · 4 years

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ber39james · 7 years

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10 Amazing Books That Will Improve Your Writing Skills

Here are two simple truths—writing skills can be taught, and all good writers are also readers. What better way to accomplish two things at once than to read books about writing?

Back in the late ’90s, I owned and managed one of the first websites to offer online workshops especially for writers. Nearly every week, some publishing house would send me one of their latest books for writers hoping for a glowing review. The bottom line? I’ve read a lot of books about how to write and how to live the writing life.

This collection of recommendations includes some of my favorite classics as well as impressive new additions that will help wordslingers of all types—from bloggers to content producers to budding novelists to poets—hone their skills.

The Best Writing How-To Books

1Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley

Best for: Bloggers, content creators

Millions of new blog posts and other pieces of content hit the internet every single day. Ann Handley’s book is a must-have guide that shows content producers what it takes to stand out in a space where competition is fierce. With an accessible style, she takes on everything from how to write to grammar and usage to best practices. Perhaps my favorite part is Handley’s formula for creating content with a focus on empathizing with the reader and telling a great story. This isn’t just a how-to-write guide, it’ll also help you uncover what to write.

2Write Tight: Say Exactly What You Mean with Precision and Power by William Brohaugh

Best for: All writers

Writers are encouraged to make their writing lean and precise. Which is great advice, but how do you do it? Brohaugh, a former Writer’s Digest editor, offers all the necessary how-tos in this book. He teaches writers to eliminate redundancy, recognize and squash empty modifiers, and remove other dead weight that slows writing down. Although it’s sometimes criticized for being a bit pedantic, Brohaugh’s guide gave me some striking Aha! moments when I first read it about a decade ago, which is why I heartily recommend it.

3The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker

Best for: All writers

Although Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style is a time-honored classic, its prescriptive approach to language isn’t for everyone. Enter Harvard professor Steven Pinker with a more contemporary take. His witty approach recognizes that language is fluid and that, while it’s good to know and follow the rules when it makes sense to, expressive writing often relies on bending them. Writing newbs may find this book challenging, but it’s full of insight for those who already have a grasp on grammar and style and want to improve.

4You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins

Best for: Bloggers, content creators, indie authors

Jeff Goins parlayed a love of writing into a successful career as an author, blogger, and speaker. If you have the drive to succeed as a writer, Goins provides the roadmap. You Are a Writer isn’t so much a book about the art of writing as it is about the business of getting your hard work noticed. If you aspire to build your platform and become a professional writer, it’s a great place to start.

5Stein On Writing by Sol Stein

Best for: Creative writers

There are plenty of books that share advice for dealing with writer angst, getting unstuck creatively, and living life as a wordsmith. Stein On Writing is not one of those books. If you’re ready to dig into the nuts and bolts of great writing and you want to truly improve at your craft, this book is a master class by a veteran editor, author, and teacher.

6 1001 Ways to Write Great Fiction, Get Published, and Earn Your Audience by Chuck Wendig

Best for: Fiction writers

Chuck Wendig’s writing isn’t for the sensitive or easily offended—his no-holds-barred style is full of biting humor, social commentary, and profanity. But what his book delivers is a contemporary guide to becoming a better fiction writer that’s rendered in quick, easy-to-digest truth bombs. This from a successful blogger, screenwriter, and author of numerous novels, including the New York Times bestselling Star Wars: Aftermath.

The Best Books about Living the Writing Life

7On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Best for: Fiction writers

Any writer who dreams of publishing a novel should add On Writing to their to-read (or to-reread) list. Part writing how-to and part memoir, King’s book is a modern classic. (I’ve read it three times so far.) I love King’s stories about how his experiences forged him as a writer from early on. I’m moved by the tale of how King, his young family living hand-to-mouth, collapsed to the floor when his editor called to tell him that the paperback rights to Carrie, his breakout novel, sold for $400,000.

Not only does On Writing share one enormously successful writer’s origin story, it teaches the craft of writing in a way that feels conversational and real, as though he’s a mentor sitting across the table from you, sipping coffee and giving you his best advice.

8Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

Best for: Creative writers

Sometimes writers take themselves too seriously. By allowing us a glimpse of her own human foibles, Anne Lamott takes some of the sting out of the things that cause writers grief, from perfectionism to insomnia. And she does it all with her celebrated wit and self-deprecating humor. It’s like having a crazy writer aunt to commiserate with. And you’ll learn a thing or two in the process.

9Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within Natalie Goldberg

Best for: Creative writers

Natalie Goldberg’s approach to writing is simple—if you want to write truthfully and powerfully, you have to connect with yourself. Using Zen teachings, she encourages writers to follow their first thoughts and to trust their minds and bodies to lead them. Her voice is accessible, and sometimes vulnerable, and her inspirational and wildly creative methods have been helping writers find their voices for over thirty years.

10Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

Best for: Creative writers

In the form of some Fahrenheit 451 bookends, I own a chunk of Ray Bradbury’s former California bungalow, so I could hardly leave his classic off the list. Zen in the Art of Writing, a collection of essays on the writing life, rings with sage wisdom from a famous sci-fi master. Keep your highlighter (physical or digital) handy for marking all the memorable phrases, like “Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a landmine. The landmine is me . . . .I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now it’s your turn. Jump!”

The post 10 Amazing Books That Will Improve Your Writing Skills appeared first on Grammarly Blog.

from Grammarly Blog https://www.grammarly.com/blog/books-that-improve-writing-skills/

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nofomoartworld · 7 years

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Essay: Inclusive DIY Space “The Mez” Nurtures Amateur Artists in Nebraska | #50StatesofArt

As part of 50 States of Art, Creators is inviting artists to contribute first-person accounts of what it is like to live and create in their communities. Gabriella Parsons is a journalist, storyteller and artist living and working in Lincoln, NE. She is often found with a camera in hand, and enjoys sparking conversations with strangers at coffee shops.

I didn't always call myself an artist.

Growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska, I was made to believe that being an artist was a struggle, a dream accessible only by people in far away, Hollywood-like places. As much as I loved to dance, sing, write and play music, I was, like so many other young people in Nebraska, under the impression that in order to truly succeed in these passions, I'd need to live somewhere else.

The frequent depictions of Nebraska as flat, conservative, and boring blinded me and my friends from seeing our community's potential. While these stereotypes are somewhat exclusive and outdated, they still reflect the reality that Nebraska is losing its young people.

The challenge to keep young people in Nebraska has motivated Nebraska artists to diversify what it means to live, work, and create in Nebraska, subsequently cultivating an even stronger and more vibrant arts community. After seeing many artists and entrepreneurs face Nebraska's adversity with relentless pursuit of their craft, I was inspired to stay in Lincoln to pursue a writing career and a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Casey Callahan and her mother at Callahan's art show at The Mez. All images courtesy Gabriella Parsons

In January 2017, I co-launched an arts collective with my best friend and roommate Joelle Sandfort, a fine artist who studies at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Our partnership formed out of a mutual desire to bring together artists of different disciplines, with the idea that visual and performing arts do not have to be mutually exclusive, but rather be seen as equally important experiences that can intersect and influence one another.

An 800 square foot studio on the mezzanine level of a downtown Lincoln building, The Mez is a substance-free space where artists of varying interests and educational backgrounds gather under the same roof. The Mez attempts to eliminate the division between classically trained, college-educated artists and artists who are self-taught or without a degree. Instead, we provide artists with a platform that frees them from these clichés and assumptions about their identities, allowing their art to be fully appreciated by a diverse, all-ages audience.

In wake of conventional art and concert venues that often treat artists and audiences separately, The Mez rejects this notion and invites people to connect with art in a way that coexists with their own unique lives and experiences. Let me tell you, there's nothing quite like witnessing an audience aged 19-70 cram in a room to watch a nude performance art piece that captures the essence of human nature and connection. That happened during our first show, which also featured contemporary visual artists, spoken word artists, poets and musicians, a handful of whom were debut acts or first-time performers.

Through my work at The Mez, I have begun to call myself an artist. Even if I do more art facilitating than art making, it's humbling to know that my contributions are valued and have a place in my community. Especially during a time when the value of art is receiving national attention and criticism, an unprecedented number of Nebraska artists' voices are beginning to surface.

Hardcore group Black Nail (Chicago, IL) performs at The Mez

In January, a Nebraska artist was featured in Buzzfeed for her project that depicts the aftermath of sexual assault. In February, The New York Times mentioned Nebraska's arts proponents for being proactive in the wake of President Trump's proposal to eliminate the National Arts and Humanities Endowments. This month, a colorblind photographer and filmmaker living in Lincoln was interviewed by Feature Shoot, a prominent online photo publisher.

Recently, Lincoln was ranked No. 3 on Lonely Planet's top 10 list of destinations to visit in 2017, and namely for its music scene. In 2016, Hear Nebraska, a nonprofit music journalism organization that promotes local music and music programs, injected more than $100,000 into the state's music industry, which included paying $61,000 to a combined 140 Nebraska artists through 49 concerts in 16 communities. One of Hear Nebraska's most significant programs, The Good Living Tour, brings local Nebraska artists to perform across the state at free, all-ages and outdoor concerts in rural Nebraska towns. Last year, the tour featured 48 original Nebraska artists in 12 Nebraska towns.

Lincoln designers Jillian Fielder (left) and Chloe DeCoito (right) set up for The Mez soft opening show

For every well-known creative venture happening in Nebraska, there always seems to be some other idea brewing, or happening just under the surface. In Nebraska, there is now a Porch Fest, a Femme Fest, a Zine Fest, a recently-debuted House Fest and a DIO (Do It Ourselves) Fest, amongst many other music and art festivals that draw regional and national audiences. Another Hear Nebraska program, Lincoln Calling Music Festival, featured 170 artists in fall 2016, and this summer, an annual experimental performance festival, Omaha Under The Radar, is expected to feature over 100 artists from 14 cities around the United States.

It seems that in Nebraska, our sense of place influences the ways in which we approach our work. Many Nebraskans are motivated, now more than ever, to give back to our state in order to help its identity grow. Put simply, nobody around here organizes a music festival or puts on a house show or curates an art exhibition to be recognized for what they do, but rather, to be seen for who they are.

Lincoln floral artist Cassandra Morton (Stella Was Floral) sets up for The Mez soft opening show

Lincoln indie rock trio Shit Flowers perform at The Mez soft opening show

Lincoln singer-songwriter Adam D'Josey (Sun Dog) performs at The Mez

See more of Gabriella Parsons's work on her website and follow her on Instagram.

All year, we're highlighting 50 States of Art projects around the United States. This month, we're covering Arizona, Mississippi, Nebraska, Maine, and Virginia. To learn more, click here.

The Charleston, SC Art Gallery That Dares to Be Different | #50StatesofArt

Meet Honolulu's Friendly Neighborhood Art Collective | #50StatesofArt

Inside New Mexico's Body Shop-Turned-Art Gallery | #50StatesofArt

from creators http://ift.tt/2nzPyR8 via IFTTT

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limejuicer1862 · 5 years

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Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

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Juliette Sebock

is a Best of the Net-nominated poet and writer and the author of Mistakes Were Made, Micro, Boleyn, and How My Cat Saved My Life and Other Poems, with work forthcoming or appearing in a wide variety of publications. She is the founding editor of Nightingale & Sparrow, runs a lifestyle blog, For the Sake of Good Taste, and is a regular contributor with Marías at Sampaguitas, Royal Rose, Memoir Mixtapes, and The Poetry Question. When she isn’t writing (and sometimes when she is), she can be found with a cup of coffee and her cat, Fitz. Juliette can be reached on her website, juliettesebock.com, or across social media @juliettesebock.

The Interview

1. When and why did you start writing poetry?

I honestly don’t remember a time in which I wasn’t writing something—from stories in preschool to songs in middle school. I really started writing poetry, though, in high school and into college. It was solely a cathartic thing for me—a sort of therapeutic exercise to cope with, well, life. I’ve always found writing, in all its forms, to be a kind of restorative act. By the summer prior to my senior year of college, I knew I had to do something more with it, and my first chapbook was born!

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

Just like I can’t remember a time without writing, I really can’t remember a time when I wasn’t reading. Shakespeare & Poe were early favourites (I was that weird kid who read way too much classic lit), so I was exposed to poetry in general rather early.

But, when it comes to my own poetry, I owe so much to my friend and fellow poet, Hugh Martin. Hugh was the first person who ever really talked to me seriously about poetry, and he encouraged my writing, too. He recommended one of the first poetry books I seriously read beyond the “greats,” and reading his work, as well, was especially inspiring. I’d already been writing, but I never really thought much about doing anything with it, and I’m so absurdly grateful to him for igniting that spark, so to speak!

3. How aware are and were you of the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary?

When I first started writing, and even submitting, I had no idea of just how massive the poetry community, both currently and through time, really is. I’d been exposed to some of the biggest names (and even then, only a small portion of the canon), but little more. I found Button Poetry’s videos which, while hardly unknown, showed me a glimpse of the voices that are out there. From there, I dug up more and more small publications; along the way, I not only found more accessible opportunities, but I made connections with so many amazing poets I may never have found otherwise!

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I don’t really have one. Between health issues and work, it really is hard to find time to write…but that’s when I really need to “make” the time, so to speak.

For me, writing’s always been a sort of compulsion–at the risk of a poetic cliché, I need to write like I need to breathe. Most of my writing happens in a notetaking app on my phone when the urge strikes. I hope to have the room, in a scheduling sense, to have the sort of formal writing routine that you see the big-name authors share but, for now, this works for me!

Link! https://mysmallpresswritingday.blogspot.com/2019/09/my-small-press-writing-day-juliette.html

5. What motivates you to write?

For me, writing is frankly as necessary as breathing. There’s not really another option–if I’m not writing and haven’t for a while, everything feels off.

Publishing though, I’ve found is motivated in part by my experience in dealing with chronic illness. A lot of what I live with tends to be confusing to doctors, and I constantly have that deeply-rooted fear that there’s something bigger going on that will be missed. I’ve had a lot of people comment on the extent to which I submit & publish pieces, but so much of that is simply because I’m afraid I won’t always have the opportunity to do so.

6. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

Allusions are probably the most blatant case of that influence; I think almost every manuscript I’ve completed has at least one reference to something by Shakespeare. His work and Austen’s, in particular, played in a big part in my dream of living in the UK, which I was lucky enough to do for a while–an experience that’s been a huge factor in my writing as well.

6.1. Why “Austen’s, in particular”?

Shakespeare and Austen were some of the first writers I read seriously, and that’s stuck with me through the years. In fact, I learnt a lot about language from doing so, rather in the classroom–I’m still holding a grudge against an elementary school spelling test that took off points for my spelling it “grey” as opposed to “gray!” I’ve always loved the sort of romanticised version of Britain and books were a major portion of that. I’ve ended up with a sort of US/UK English myself as a result which, in my mind, sort of marks a piece as my own.

7. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

One of my favourite things about indie lit is that so many writers that I admire are those I’m lucky enough to call friends, or at least acquaintances (with a few exceptions in which I’m exclusively a fan [so far])…which also means I’m bound to forget a few along the way, so I’ll apologise for that upfront. But some of those writers include Lannie Stabile, Lynne Schmidt, Elfie, Imani Campbell, Jean-Marie Bub, Kat Giordano, Maddie Anthes, Kate Garrett, Megan Lucas, Nadia Gerassimenko, Marisa Craine, Janna C. Valente, Megan O’Keeffe, Juliette van der Molen, Kayt Christensen, Courtney LeBlanc, and so, so many more! All of these writers are so hardworking and talented and generally wonderful–it’d be hard not to admire them!

8. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

Quite simply, I’d tell them to write. It’s the only real “requirement” to call yourself a writer!

To answer the implicit question, though, of how to become a published writer, the answer is similar–submit. If you tell yourself that your work isn’t good enough to send to a publication, you’ll never have the chance to have someone say “Yes, we’d love to publish your piece!” There’s so, so much rejection to be had, but if you don’t push through that, you’ll never have the joy that comes with that first acceptance (and those that come after it!).

9. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

Right now, I’ve got two chapbooks lined up for 2020 publication and have a few more manuscripts out in the world and in progress. I’ve pulled away from submitting much over the past few months amidst some health & other issues, so one of my plans for the next few months is to get back into the swing of things there–and I’ve still got a few pending submissions from earlier in the year! Otherwise, we’ve got a lot of exciting things to come from Nightingale & Sparrow and I’m hoping to build my freelance writing & editing client base as well. Overall, I’m optimistic about some great opportunities on the horizon!

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Juliette Sebock Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

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limejuicer1862 · 5 years

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Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger. The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

L.B. Sedlacek

is an award winning poet and author with poetry and fiction appearing in many different journals and zines. Her latest poetry books are “The Architect of French Fries” (Presa Press) and “Words and Bones” (Finishing Line Press.) She is a former Poetry Editor for “ESC! Magazine” and also co-hosted the podcast for the small press, “Coffee House to Go,” for several years. She teacher poetry at local elementary and middle schools and publishes a free resource for poets, “The Poetry Market Ezine.” In her free time, LB enjoys swimming, reading, and taking guitar lessons.

Here’s her website: http://www.lbsedlacek.com or http://www.thepoetrymarket.com

The Interview

1. When and why did you start writing poetry?

I started writing poetry when I was living in Washington DC. I wrote song lyrics as a kid. After moving to DC, I tried writing short stories and poems. My first poem I wrote was called “Melancholy.” Not sure what happened to that poem, but that may be for the best, lol.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

I guess I first learned about it in middle school. The famous Paul Revere poem comes to mind.

3. How aware are and were you of the dominating presence of older poets traditional and contemporary?

I didn’t become too familiar with Poets until I started studying poetry on my own and then later on in graduate school. My favorite poet I discovered at that time was Rilke and then later on there were several more. I bought a book of Rilke poems – one I don’t have – at an independent bookstore last night. I have always been a Shakespeare nut too. I’m reading Walt Whitman currently – his story of becoming a writer & poet to me is interesting ….a self made poet. For the most part I don’t care for his poems. I do like William Carlos Williams very much. I find poetry in most everything now that I’m looking!

4. What is your daily writing routine?

I write almost every day for a 2-3 hours in the evening. By writing I mean writing poems or stories, editing, submitting or updating my websites or social media or publishing the occasional blog post. I take time to read someone else’s poem every single day – sometimes more than one. The first thing I do every weekday is to read from a book on writing poetry, 1 or 2 books of poems by other poets, and then anything else poetry or writing related. I think it’s very important to read as much as possible as this helps to improve your own craft as well as to support fellow authors. I try to write 3-4 poems a week depending on whatever project is taking priority at the time. On weekends I’m more likely to spend time on submissions or practicing my guitar or ukulele. Music to me lends a hand in my creative process.

5. What motivates you to write?

Usually an idea. It can be just something I’ve though of and wonder how it would turn out or based on a true story or one of my own experiences. I’m very fluid with my process as I work on several projects at a time which is how I read books too – several at a time.

6. What is your work ethic?

These days I tend to write for a very general G rated audience. One of my poetry books was added to the local 3rd grade school curriculum so those poems have to be readable for anyone more or less. With poetry I never use extremes in language like cursing or sexuality – I don’t write love poetry and I don’t read it either as it’s just not for me. I keep my poems basically clean. I enjoy writing Sci Fi poetry the most and sometimes Horror type poems but those poems of mine tend to focus on the psychological types of suspense and not blood and guts. I don’t watch or read Horror so I don’t try to write it either. For Fiction, I take more latitude with my work with some despicable characters making the pages. For my new psychological thriller book coming out soon (it will probably be a one and done because I don’t know if I can manage these characters again) there’s a lot of questionable characters, awful things they do to each other, language etc. For non-fiction, I try to write to a general audience with articles that can be published every where read by anyone. I tend to cater my writing ethic, I suppose based on what I’m writing. I’d say its most flexible with me with Fiction.

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

Today, I admire them, their careers and try to keep persevering more or less as they did. I read JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, and mysteries by anyone. Funny thing I never dreamed of being a writer when I was young – I wanted to be a singer!

7.1. How have they influenced your work?

I would say they’ve inspired me as a writer – I don’t write the same kind of books but their work and originality gives me hope and inspiration for my own works.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why

Dani Shapiro is one of my favorite authors – she started out with fiction and now does memoirs. I really liked her style of writing – the way she’d weave narrative with prose in her books. Ted Kooser is one of my favorite poets. He can take the most ordinary thing and turn it into something amazing. I also like to read the poetry of local poets and/or attend their readings to get a different perspective on how someone else’s process works.

9. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

I write because I must – even if no one else reads what I write I still have to write or some form of writing. Writing for me is akin to breathing. I feel that way about swimming too – that’s probably why I’ve written several things about water. I’ve tried other things and I’ve found I’m just not that good at anything else.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

I’d tell them to 1) read 2) read some more 3) read in the genres they’d like to try writing in, 4) attend readings and author events, 5) join a writers group online or in person, 6) buy or check out from the library books or ebooks on writing – just one at a time, 7) check reference periodicals, 8 – search online for articles on writing, 9) talk to writer who has been published- they don’t have to write in the same genre. There is an educational aspect to it – study form, structure, grammar, vocabulary , all those things schoolteachers make you do when you take an English or Reading class. Also you can try an online or local college writing course as well. After you learn about writing, practice writing. After you practice writing, read your works out loud for others. After you share your writings, share them again on paper or online – don’t share online if you plan to actually submit that piece so you don’t run into “no previously published submissions” when submitting. Next re-read, edit, re-draft and read again. After that try submitting to a zine or journal or your newspaper. You can start with a simple Letter to the Editor or post in an online writers forum to get a feel for it.

11. Tell me about writing projects you’re involved in at the moment.

Sure! I just recently had 2 chapbooks published: “The Architect of French Fries” from Presa Press and “The Adventures of Stick People on Cars” from Alien Buddha Press that I’m currently publicizing. I have a new beach poetry chapbook coming out soon. Plus I’m working on a sequel to my award nominated mystery “The Glass River.” I’m also editing a prose poetry book written over an entire year broken out by month. It seems I always have a lot going at once!

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: L.B. Sedlacek Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

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limejuicer1862 · 6 years

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Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

Alwyn Marriage

http://www.marriages.me.uk/alwyn

Alwyn’s ten books include poetry, fiction and non-fiction. She has won a number of competitions and is very widely represented in magazines, anthologies and on-line. She has appeared at many literary festivals and other literary events and gives readings all over the world. Her latest books are Rapeseed (a novel) and In the image: portraits of mediaeval women (poetry collection).

Formerly a university philosophy lecturer and Director of two international literacy and literature NGOs, Alwyn is Managing Editor of Oversteps Books (www.overstepsbooks.com) and research fellow at Surrey University. Her blogs at <www.marriages.me.uk/alwyn/blog> cover, among other subjects, poetry, dance, visual art, publishing and travel.

The Interview

What inspired you to write poetry?I have written all my life. My primary school head teacher called my parents in to see one of my poems when I was 6 or 7, and predicted that she would read books by me before she died. I have no idea whether she did or not!

Who introduced you to poetry?Some wonderful person gave me a book of poems when I was four – it was as tall as I was and the poems were, I seem to remember, about fairies. I wasn’t particularly into fairies, but I loved the poetry and was passionately fond of the tall book. As a child and adolescent, I was also fed a diet of good hymns by the likes of Charles Wesley and George Herbert, and imagine that their control of form and content had some influence on me. My father frequently played word games with us, which fostered in me a love of the English language.

How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?I wrote nature poems through primary school then, when I went to a new secondary school and discovered the library, I was stunned to find that the Romantic poets had been writing similar things years ago. Obviously, my childish efforts were pathetic in comparison with theirs, but I suddenly found that I fitted into a long tradition.

What is your daily writing routine?I write because I love it. There is no routine or discipline. If I’m working on something, I spend longer; if I’m not, I don’t. It is rare to not write anything in a day.

What motivates you to write?Being attacked by new ideas, needing to understand something, fascination with words and forms.

What is your work ethic?Even though my writing is so important to me, I try to make sure that I also give time to those nearest and dearest to me. Most of the time this is fine, but sometimes, particularly if I’m working on a new book, I have to remind myself that they need my time and attention, as well as my writing does.

How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?I suspect that a propensity to rhyme rooted itself deep when I was small. As an adult, I am careful to control the tendency; but if I need to rhyme for some reason, I find it easy. It has sometimes been harder to resist it. Much of my poetry is in free verse, but it was also liberating to discover half-rhyme. The two dominant poets that affected me in my late teens and early twenties were T S Eliot and e e cummings and as my own work developed I had to distance myself a little from their influence.

Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?’Today’ changes from day to day. I read widely and admire many contemporary poets. It’s great to have so many fine women poets now. I could name names, but I prefer to be surprised and thrilled with each new poem that appeals to me, whoever wrote it. As Managing Editor of Oversteps Books, I also have the privilege of ‘discovering’ new poets and bringing them to public notice.

Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?Because I’m me.

What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”All the normal stuff about extensive reading, of course. Experiment all the time, and don’t think you’ve arrived and can carry on writing what’s worked before. Then don’t put it off; just DO IT.

Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

I’ve been putting together a couple of themed pamphlets recently, and I’ve got a large new collection of poems about women that I’m excited about and want to get published before too long. I’ve recently finished my second novel, for which I also need to find a publisher; and I’ve just been asked to write some non-fiction pieces for a new website. One of these will, in time, grow into a non-fiction book. My ten published books include poetry, fiction and non-fiction; and it seems that I’m going to continue jumping around from one to another. But poetry is my greatest love.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Alwyn Marriage Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

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