Different Styles

A cool thing about poetry is that I can read a piece whose style I couldn’t/wouldn’t want to emulate, thoroughly enjoy it, yet know that my style, what naturally comes out of me, is just as valid despite being so different. I’m sure artists and other creators experience this understanding too.

Here’s a link to a poem I like but will never output:

On Antiphon Island by Nathaniel Mackey

Rock My Socks

Lace Words is now being hosted by Pam at RockMySocks.org.

I’d just like to say thanks to her and to my old host.

1st Submission

Though I’ve been enthused with editing and with planning my upcoming service, writing is my first passion. My true passion. I think I’m good at it too. That doesn’t mean I don’t pump out absolute garbage sometimes, of course, but sometimes I can write.

Despite my confidence, though, I have never submitted anything for publishing. I’ve thought about it. I’ve planned for it. But I’ve never done it because I’ve been afraid. A few days ago, though, I just went for it: I savored the vision of becoming a well-known writer until I craved for it to be true, which pushed me to polish five poems and submit them to a poetry magazine.

Whether or not I get published, I’m proud of myself for taking this step. Of course, when it’s been four months and I get no response, I may have a different attitude about it; I may re-read my submission and deem it crap, delete it, and vow never to write again. Or I may re-read it and indignantly wonder how the editor didn’t recognize my genius, my talent. Or I may shrug it off, write something better, submit again.

I hope for the last one.

I don’t get many visitors since I barely advertise this little site, but I still like to update it.

Health and Happiness

credit: topfer

I am naturally inclined to be cynical and sensitive. These traits paired with life’s troubles throw me into frequent bouts of depression.

I’m not sure what changed, but after years of this, I have resolved to be happier. I hate to abandon the righteous ranks of cynicism and distress–I’m not being fully sarcastic either–but, truly, it will make for better living.

As a result of wanting to be happier, I have begun reading a lot of articles on health. I’ve been exercising more, wiggling my fingers, fending off stress, and enjoying the small moments, such as listening to music.

While I want this attitude to last, I hope it doesn’t seep into my poetry–because I like it glum.

Look Inside! Tip

If you shop for books on Amazon.com, you have probably noticed the Look Inside! and Surprise Me! options. They’re really useful. They have stopped me from buying books that weren’t what they seemed and have pushed me to buy books that were precisely what I wanted but didn’t look like it at first. It’s gotten to the point where I tend to disregard books that don’t have these options.

This, however, is not the point of my post. The point is free knowledge. Getting the most out of what’s around us is a skill of sorts. And it’s an important one to have when you are either cheap or broke, short on time or impatient (I’m broke and impatient).

Amazon’s Look Inside! and Surprise Me! options won’t save time, but they can save money because they allow one to access a few pages of useful books, not only for assessment but for free information too. Once you pass the copyright pages and acknowledgments, there’s good stuff to be found, even within just a few pages. As an aspiring editor/proofreader (and writer), I loot the grammar, writing, and editing books. What about you?

Try out my tip and leave a comment!

Mmm…Never Mind

As for the new grammar/punctuation section I introduced in the last post–never mind. It’s not coming. There are too many great sources out there for someone looking to learn the basics. My section wasn’t needed, especially because I have nothing new to say on the subject.

I have, however, been steadfastly building the proofreading/editing service I briefly mentioned. The pages, such as Services, Pricing, and FAQ, grow and become clearer daily. And my implementation of grammar has taken on a new form: it used to be intuitive, but now I constantly question myself; for example, yesterday I found myself having to look up if for is capitalized in a title. Later on, I found a piece in which I hadn’t capitalized it. (Unless it’s the first or last word for shouldn’t be capitalized in a title.) I took it as meaning that I know what to do intuitively, but now that I hope to detect mistakes in the work of others, my mind recognizes the need to know the rules on a conscious level.

New Section Coming

I’m in the process of creating a new section for Lace Words. It will be organized under the current Resources section. Not only will it be new, it will be huge. I am attempting to create a detailed guide to grammar and punctuation (with a focus on the latter).

My goals with this upcoming section are to refine my grasp on the mechanics of the English language, to add more useful content to this site, and lastly, and most importantly, to share a comprehensible and thorough coverage of grammar and punctuation rules.

Aside from simply enjoying error-free writing, my reason for wanting to refine my grasp of grammar and punctuation is that I hope to start a proofreading/editing service within the next six months. I don’t have a degree in a related field to offer as credentials, but I feel that through my passion of writing, I can gain the knowledge I need to provide a quality service.

Birthday

I aged on April 28. I went out to eat Chinese food with my parents and boyfriend then went to Toadstool bookshop with the latter. Despite it’s simplicity, I felt special as hell all day because of him. He kept telling me, “Whatever you want. It’s your birthday.” I think that’s the best way to celebrate someone’s birthday: encourage the person to be unabashedly selfish for a day.

I especially enjoyed browsing the bookshop, where my boyfriend was treating me to a few books. I considered The Gremlins of Grammar, where I learned that if ending a sentence with etc. or another abbreviation with a period, another period isn’t necessary. I decided it’s too basic of a book for me, though, and ultimately picked How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card (author of Ender’s Game).

I bought it hoping to receive some help writing my fantasy story, “Flower Woman.” Despite its focus on Science Fiction, a genre I would love to write for if I wasn’t so inept at science, and a few quips here and there, I’m enjoying the book. Plus, it’s so pretty! Gold serif lettering on a simple maroon cover. Mmm! (I have a different version than the one shown.)

The Necessary Steps to Edit a Poem

While attempting to edit my poetry over the past week, I put together a (tentative) list of the necessary steps needed to edit a poem:

Step 1: Identify what’s wrong.

Perhaps your message has become obscured or has morphed through out the poem into something different, not poetically but illogically.

Or there’s a line that doesn’t sound right, that doesn’t fit with the rest of the poem’s tone. Maybe the line is trite.

Whatever it is, don’t allow yourself to overlook a discrepancy because you feel you won’t be able to fix it. Your poem deserves more respect than that.

Step 2: Make changes, Part 1.

If necessary, make drastic changes. Cut out and rewrite entire stanzas. Scrap the original poem and try to convey its message in a new format, or simply, work a line around. Do whatever the poem calls for until you get tired, bored, angry, or discouraged, and then walk away.

Step 3: Make Changes, Part 2.

Return to the poem and continue to make changes. Having had some time away from it will give you a fresh perspective.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 as many time as is necessary for you to feel that the poem is free of aberrations, glaring or subtle. Moreover, revise until you are absolutely, completely satisfied with your piece.

Step 4: Be happy.

Admire your work and humbly proclaim yourself to be the master.

As nice as it is to have these steps before me, they don’t simplify the task. With most of my pieces, I can’t seem to get past steps 2 and 3; I’m in a loop. Or, I sometimes reach step four but can’t seem to finish up with 5 because I’m too caught up with wondering if the piece is up to par.

When I do arrive at step 5, though–it feels good. Ah, self satisfaction.

If you’d like to amend the list, leave a comment! I’d love to know your thoughts.

The Forecast

I recently renewed the domain and switched to a new host, Tranquilium.net, because of a technical problem with my last host, Worth the Risk. Via same technical problem, I lost my previous WordPress entries, so I have to start anew, but that’s what I get for not doing a back up.

I am currently working on several new pieces of poetry and flash fiction and a short story with the aim to improve my craft, with the aim to become worthy of publication.

I feel like I could become published now, in some literary journal or another, but I want to really feel like I deserve to be published, and not like some literary journal has low standards or bad taste–okay, I’m bashing my writing and a pretend literary journal, so anyway. My working on new pieces means I’ll have more writing to add to the site. Though Lace Words fell to the back burner for a bit, I still adore it.

Kristan Hoffman’s site has inspired me to share more about my quest as an aspiring writer on the blog. On this. Normally, I don’t like to blog, especially if I feel like nobody cares, but I’ll give it a try. I’ll even advertise the site again so that more people, who may care, shall stumble upon it.

In summary, expect new writing, personal blog entries, and more love for Lace Words.