[stylist] Weekly Writing Challenge

Sun Jun 7 20:11:56 UTC 2015

Hey Jackie Lee,

A little chocolate indulgence seems like just the right medicine at this 
moment, LOL.  Thanks so much for clearing up my misunderstanding.  
Especially, you make the point that we're all very gifted busy  writers 
and can't always get to everything we'd like to.  That's right on the 
mark, as far as I can tell.   I wish the best of Sundays to you, and 
look forward to reading your work in the future.

--Bill

On 6/7/2015 12:37 PM, Jackie Williams via stylist wrote:
> Bill,
> The strong emotion you felt when you read my little ten-minute whatever, is probably why you are such a good poet. I felt no anger toward you. Perhaps frustration at the fact that I have about five of your poems I wanted to respond to, and deleted at least two because I had not seen the picture, the words were too strong for me, or I was totally unfamiliar with the character you were writing about.
> The word "reciprocity" was used because the definition of this word was just run on this list by, Chris, I think, and I wondered if it had a meaning over-all here. I have not reciprocated at times, and feel really guilty about it. It is usually a lack of time. If you count the hours spend just reading the Braille Monitor, the State newsletter, and all of the other must read news about new devices, and  special developments, something has to get short shrift.
> Perhaps the bottom line is that we are on this list because we all expect to be published writers in one form or another. So we have to protect the writing time that will get us there, and continue with our groups that give us the most honest, and sometime detailed and painful critiquing. This may not be that group for poets.
>    The critique group I belong to has an iron-clad rule. No one can keep a copy of  a poem that is being critiqued. Even among 12 trusted and old time friends, we do not want our poetry floating around out there because of the very strict rules about submissions.  For this reason, I do not put much on the list.
> Also, I want an in-depth critique such as I have gotten from Myrna, who is now out-of-bounds since she is an editor of a publication I might submit to, or Lynda, who is very busy with her own blogs and projects, or Donna who spends so much time in service to all of us as well as marketing her own publication, or Bridgit, who is a master of the writing craft and more than willingly shares her rare free time helping us to understand the value and beauty of imagery and metaphor.
> I am overwhelmed at the back and forth that has occurred from Rowena's prompt, and I am glad that you commented on the dearth of comments from this list. Both of them really brought many reactions.
> If my response made you think I am hurt and angry, I have no cause to be. I actually think you have the possibility of being a great poet because of your originality in using and creating words, and your unusual twisting of metaphors, and lines into the new, refreshing, or challenging ideas. The problem, is it takes me over an hour to find and comment on all these things, and  also to point out the weaknesses.
> I was amazed at how quickly some people can type as illustrated by how much they managed to write in ten minutes.
> Yes, While I did mean my character to be you, I don't think I meant to do other than explore the reason you had not found the response lately. Not sure what quotes you are referring to.
> Now, I can either respond to the other 20 responses to this prompt, or I can pick out something to send you that I do not intend to submit, or it is not out there right now, or I can write a new poem.
> I think I'll have a big hunk of dark chocolate and a cup of full-bore coffee!
>
> Jackie Lee
>
> Time is the school in which we learn.
> Time is the fire in which we burn.
> Delmore Schwartz	
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of William L Houts via stylist
> Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2015 9:33 PM
> To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> Cc: William L Houts
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Weekly Writing Challenge
>
>
>
> HI Jackie Lee,
>
> I take your point that I could reciprocate more in my criticism of work
> submitted here by others; I didn't realize I was being a devouring ego
> or something.  But you quote me as saying things which I have not said,
> so I feel a little cagey about this criticism.  It's not as if I'm some
> kind of stern taskmaster who submits difficult work and demands that it
> be absorbed and criticized by a terrorized and helpless class. Neither
> you nor anyone else subscribed to this list is obligated to comment on
> my or anyone else's work, and I have not demanded such attention. But
> you sound truly hurt and angry, and if I have done the hurting and
> angering , then I'm truly sorry for it.  If you have some work which you
> would like me to read and comment on, I'd be glad to read it and give
> you a responsible, non-vengeful critique. Though you're apparently
> really mad at me, I read it as a sign that you take me seriously, and
> one doesn't always expect that kind of respect on email discussion
> lists.  Let's take it once more from the top, with forgiveness on both
> sides.
>
>
> --Bill
>
> On 6/6/2015 3:56 PM, Jackie Williams via stylist wrote:
>> Rowena, Bill and whoever is interested.
>> About ten minutes of writing. Plus, the spell check at the end!
>> I sat in the small café next to two blind people. At least that is what I assumed because one had a folded cane on the table beside her coffee, and the man had a ddog resting quietly under the table.
>> They seemed to have a lively conversation going. I tried to hear, since the man's voice seemed to have some measure of frustration in it.
>> They apparently were writers and that amazed me. I did not know that blind people were writers, at least, not usually.
>> " This list seems to have dormant. I haven't had any feedback for many of my recent poems."
>> "You know, Bill, you are an extremely prolific poet and some of your poems are difficult to understand at first reading."
>> Yes, but they could still be acknowledged, couldn't they?"
>> "Yes, that would be the normal thing to do, but perhaps some feel that there has not been enough reciprocity shown in terms of their own work. To comment on a poem without a serious critique, is something a serious poet does not want to spend time on. Particularly now, when almost all on the list are sending e-mails about the conference  coming up in early July."
>> Bill said, "But surely many are not going.
>> "I agree, but that is perhaps because I am not going, and thus do not read many of the e-mails lately. But do not forget that many who are not able to go, are still busy with blogs
>> Submitting poetry to state contests, or having computer problems."
>>
>> I think my ten minutes are gone, and I have hardly gotten a story out of this. Interesting
>> Jackie Lee
>>
>> Time is the school in which we learn.
>> Time is the fire in which we burn.
>> Delmore Schwartz	
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rowena Portch via stylist
>> Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2015 12:33 PM
>> To: Writers' Division Mailing List
>> Cc: Rowena Portch
>> Subject: [stylist] Weekly Writing Challenge
>>
>> Okay, here is my ten-minute writing snippet. No need to comment on it. I just wanted to share. I’m curious what others come up with.
>>
>> As I sat there, quietly listening to the couple sitting beside me, I realized how very important communication is. They were having an argument about who said what and why. Now, because I'm blind, I cannot see their facial expressions, but I could feel their body language as if it were as palpable as dust on the table.
>>
>> The woman spoke, voicing her opinion about the man's point of view on gay people. He had believed that gays should be able to marry, where the woman was opposed of such things. Instead of letting him explain his views, she was more excited about voicing her opinion. Neither of them listened to the other and tensions flared. Soon, the woman was pounding the table. I heard her drink spill onto the table top. Neither them of seemed to have noticed.
>>
>> A chair scraped, and the man walked away. The woman groaned, slopped up the spilled drink, and followed him out of the store. The tension that had built between them lingered; a dark heavy thickness in the air that was hard to breathe.
>>
>>
>>
>> R o w e n a  P o r t c h
>> Author of the Spirian Saga
>>
>> RowenaPortch.com <http://rowenaportch.com/>
>>
>> View the Book Trailer for The Spirian Saga, a new paranormal romance <http://youtu.be/XeNmJkXyJv0>
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>

-- 

"Oh, Sophie!  Whyfore have you eated all de cheeldren?"