Open Thread: Oracle Hotline

[mithen]

Adapted from a list of "questions for writers" that I rather liked (and I know I sometimes post the same questions more than once, but we get new people, and I suspect the answers change too!):

--Who is your favorite poet (if you read poetry) and why?

I usually go back to Sara Teasdale because the mix of romanticism and lushness combined with formal rhythm and rhyme always appeals to me. However, I've probably memorized more T.S. Eliot than any other poet. :)

I don't want to talk about my writing this week because I will descend into a sobby and incoherent mess of whining about meetings and committees, so...tell me about yours!

Comments

[me_ya_ri]

Yay! DW Post! 8D

Poetry? Poetry??? What is this 'poetry' you speak of? *wry grin* I don't really read poetry at all. I got burned really bad on it by a college professor and I've never gotten over my dislike of it. I should work on getting over that but every time I try to read a poem her voice comes back and starts demanding that I analyze the rhyme and meter and meaning and symbolism and I just sort of run screaming in my head.

XD I'm more than happy to talk about my writing this week! I FINISHED THE BOOK! *cheers and dances around* Finished it up yesterday and I'm actually pretty pleased with the flow of it and the ending. I do still have to go back through and do that thing where you check that no one changed names halfway through, that injuries are all to the correct person / limb etc. Plus the normal spelling, grammar and typo checks of course.

But that's pretty minor compared to writing the story itself. It ended up being 60,046 words spread through 25 chapters and it's solidly a romance despite being in a matrichal world. I even got to have Mari, the heroine, blushing over glimpses of Gavin's petticoats and 'strong, well-turned' ankles. *cackles* I love this verse so much! Hopefully I'll be able to get all the cleanup and final work done and the story published by the end of June, middle of July.

I hope your writing goes better next week, sweetie! *big hug*

[prince0froses]

congratulations on finishing your book!

[me_ya_ri]

XD Thank you! *dances* Such a nice feeling to get one done. Now to get on the oh, six or seven others I need to finish. ;)

[mithen]

I should work on getting over that but every time I try to read a poem her voice comes back and starts demanding that I analyze the rhyme and meter and meaning and symbolism and I just sort of run screaming in my head.

Yeah, college classes in poetry will do that to you!

Wow, congrats on finishing the book, whoo! I'm laughing at the image of people changing names partway through--I don't have that problem much in fanfic, but even with the very few original names that I do put in, I've been known to discover they changed at some point. :P

There is something about the phrase "well-turned ankle" that just sounds so deliciously old-fashioned and graceful, I love it! I hope all the little cleaning-up details go well and smoothly for you!

[prince0froses]

This has been another week where personal life and sobby incoherent messes are a thing for me too so not really writing. I keep thinking about it - the writing I think about doing is all the self-indulgent/comfort porn style. But between the computer and, well, other things, it hasn't happened. I'm pushing my luck more and more with the computer though so I'll be trying to get back on the horse (how many times have I gotten up and down from this metaphor horse I swear...).

My favorite poets tend not to be the Big Names - I like to read poetry written by my friends the most. I like having the insight into their feelings, to see what words they like to play with, etc. If I had to pick one of the big ones, I'd have to be mega lame and go for Shakespeare or whatever nebulous entity is credited as 'Homer', more for long-term impact on me than any deep love of their choices in imagery and structure. I always enjoyed reading the Romantics, and that text book is one of the few I kept from college, but I haven't perused it in some time.

[mithen]

This has been another week where personal life and sobby incoherent messes are a thing for me too so not really writing.

This is definitely one of those things where--this risks minimizing, and forgive me if it does--but it's one of those experiences that is sure to add depth and nuance to your worldview and your writing.

I always enjoyed reading the Romantics, and that text book is one of the few I kept from college, but I haven't perused it in some time.

I freely confess that any poem longer than a sonnet tends to make me mentally backbutton out in a hurry, somehow. It's usually got to be something I can process in one gulp and contemplate at my leisure...