NaPoWriMo #27 "Jamesean Dilemma, Pt. 2"

Jamesean Dilemma, Pt. 2

Two years ago, I made the leap.
I went from writing poems on paper
to crafting on machine.  At first
I was afraid that by not using a pen,
something would get lost. But I think
we're fine. There's been no discernible
difference between penned or keyed poems.

But today, I sat down with only paper--
no access to machine--and stared.
The big expanse of white. The blue
lines, empty, eagerly awaiting the application
of ink, left me flummoxed. Floundering.
Could I still do it? Could I use one hand
alone, painfully handwriting, transforming
ideas in my head into squiggles on the page?

The jury's still out.


***
The original "Jamesean Dilemma" can be found here

NaPoWriMo #24--"Writer's Block"

Writer’s Block

When students struggle with writing papers

they often tell me it’s because of “writer’s block.”

“Nonsense,” I boom.  “There is no such thing,

especially in this kind of paper. Not a lot of

creativity involved!” And there’s not.

Actually, after years working as a reporter.

I learned that in non-fiction, writer’s block

is a luxury none can afford.  With strict deadlines,

Bob’s yer uncle, the writing gets done.

All the impetus in the world to churn out prose.

But tonight, as I said, “I have to write today’s

poem,” I heard myself mumble,

“But I have writer’s block!” I laughed,

opened a WORD file, and lo, a poem was born.

Have a strict deadline, and Mary’s yer auntie,

the poem gets done. It might be weak, it might

be silly, but it’s there, a start. As I tell students:

there’s something to this discipline thing, so WRITE.

"Writer's Work"--NaPoWriMo #9

Writer's Work

It looks like I’m goofing off,
but I’m not.
I’m working.
Writers work in odd ways.

It looks like I’m dreaming.

But I’m writing,
in my head,
working out the holes.

It looks like I’m surfing,

skimming junk.
But all surface.
My brain is working elsewhere.

Sometimes I am

two places at once.
And the one you see
is much more boring.

***

It's the end of the work week here in Dubai. My brain's broken! And I'd rather post something every day than wait till I've got "something good". Then who knows when I'd post.

"Planning Utopia" NaPoWriMo #7

Planning Utopia

 

The other morning I had a brilliant idea

for a YA series. One not set in a dystopia

but for a change, a utopia.

It would be perfect: social theory

and adventure at the same time.

I started planning, gleeful at the rich

plots I could weave.

On the stairs to work, I hit my first snag.

How could a utopia not be full of

vegetarians? But then wouldn’t the

omnivores cry foul? But then, even

worse, from a demographics point of view,

wouldn’t a utopia be full of vegans?

In a perfect world, would we still make

animals serve us? And suddenly,

in my head, I was at Fruitlands

with the Alcotts and their friends,

living on apples and dreams.

So, dilemma: I could make the

vegetarians happy, or the vegans

or the omnivores, but not all at once.

And that, I thought, was that. The end.

But, wait! I thought. In a utopia,

people would agree to disagree!

They would respect people’s choices!

Could I? Would I be so bold as to create

a world where people let other people

live as they please without judging them?

That’s why it’s called fiction!

It’s imaginary! It’s not a real world.

I could do it! It would even be fantasy!

But wait.

Even if I create a perfect imaginary world,

Where people don’t judge others,

And the credo is “as long as your actions don’t

impact another, live and let live.” Where

crime, greed, jealousy, and vice are

eliminated, I’d have to sell the book.

And someone, somewhere, would say

I am a blood mouth or, alternately,

A left-wing-socialist-tree-hugging-feminazi.

With. An. Agenda.

And I wonder, would it be worth the time

to write a book in which people are kind,

and just, and fair, and non-judgmental, or

would I find, that there is no market for it,

even as fiction?

Because really, fiction, even fantasy

can only be so fantastic.

****

This took a turn I wasn't expecting, but write and post is my motto this month. One of the fun things of NaPoWriMo!