tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post449713994610569306..comments2023-11-05T07:53:12.708-05:00Comments on Poets United: Moonlight MusingsRosemary Nissen-Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-47854252448807567322019-07-05T00:24:12.218-04:002019-07-05T00:24:12.218-04:00Oh, very belated apologies that I missed this que...Oh, very belated apologies that I missed this question when asked! I guess you found out without my help, eventually.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-86220624452217495882019-04-14T18:46:08.285-04:002019-04-14T18:46:08.285-04:00One quick question, Rosemary.
Susan's Wednesd...One quick question, Rosemary. <br />Susan's Wednesday prompt is on "writing prose"- so are we writing prose, discussing writing prose or writing poetry on 'writing prose'? I'm confused. Vivian Zemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09588008375525403964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-74344388496437721312019-04-14T18:18:20.463-04:002019-04-14T18:18:20.463-04:00Ha, synchronicity! I've just been re-reading t...Ha, synchronicity! I've just been re-reading the intro to your book, The Learning Curve, where you go into detail as to exactly how connecting with poetic communities and writing to their prompts changed your life. It has been exciting to watch your poetry develop over time, to the unique, sensuous, powerful voice you have today.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-55541309507223052082019-04-14T18:11:43.875-04:002019-04-14T18:11:43.875-04:00I love the questions you pose here💞 this is my fi...I love the questions you pose here💞 this is my fifth year writing poetry and third time participating in NaPowriMo 😊 I think it's safe to say that prompts fuel my poetry. Like you said we are led into unexpected directions and I love that! I love waking up everyday to see what I would write next 😊 the muse needs inspiration every now and then.. I must say I m very grateful to be a part of Imaginary Garden and a loyal participant at Poets United. It changed my life!💞<br /><br />Thank you for this amazing post, Rosemary!😊💞☕Sanaa Rizvihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06681404650477409830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-87324525649919098732019-04-14T11:57:54.955-04:002019-04-14T11:57:54.955-04:00I think I probably need them too. I know I start ...I think I probably need them too. I know I start to get cranky if I don't write poetry fairly often. The prompts keep me writing, and therefore reasonably sane and settled, lol.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-90645372636037693682019-04-14T11:54:54.811-04:002019-04-14T11:54:54.811-04:00Yes, a prompt starts a train of thought, but that ...Yes, a prompt starts a train of thought, but that doesn't necessarily go where the prompt would seem to lead, it could branch off in some different direction. I think that makes it even more exciting and valuable. And when a prompt is challenging, that can end up proving even more productive.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-21992534919468610112019-04-13T20:12:32.030-04:002019-04-13T20:12:32.030-04:00I enjoy writing with or without prompts, but I alw...I enjoy writing with or without prompts, but I always view prompts as gifts. Even if I don't always follow them completely, sometimes they ask things of me that I'd never ask of myself, leading me in directions I'd never imagine going otherwise.The Bizzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17797871556831556557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-50901381779893341512019-04-13T19:49:05.093-04:002019-04-13T19:49:05.093-04:00I love this question! I recently said to Magaly- t...I love this question! I recently said to Magaly- that if I didn't have a prompt, I'd probably be sitting at my computer like a zombie. i quite agree that prompts mine the subconscious. After responding to a prompt, I always surprise myself with what comes out of me. Simply put, my muse relies on them.Vivian Zemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09588008375525403964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-85955198606400522342019-04-13T18:13:23.921-04:002019-04-13T18:13:23.921-04:00Ah, and that's another thing. We're all di...Ah, and that's another thing. We're all different – different enough that we don't always have the same preferences. I myself am not so keen on picture prompts (though there are always the surprising exceptions) whereas I'm with you on the 'crazy quotes'. And I am naughty – if I don't like a prompt, I might subvert it: use it as a jumping off point to go in an entirely different direction. (Which means that even the ones I don't like are useful too.)Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-2762966490428287362019-04-13T18:05:53.161-04:002019-04-13T18:05:53.161-04:00And there it is in a nutshell! 'Truly inspirin...And there it is in a nutshell! 'Truly inspiring' is exactly what the prompts are meant to be. (Smile.)Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-67126493198346286572019-04-13T18:04:24.016-04:002019-04-13T18:04:24.016-04:00Ha, what you say reminds me of my late friend Phil...Ha, what you say reminds me of my late friend Philip Martin who, when asked why he wrote poetry, would quote Lewis Carroll: 'That moment,' the King went on, 'I shall never, NEVER forget.' 'You will, though,' the Queen said, 'If you don't make a memorandum of it'.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-66877490348010283922019-04-13T12:11:21.323-04:002019-04-13T12:11:21.323-04:00Prompts! It can be fun to work with and it could b...Prompts! It can be fun to work with and it could be challenging. I think prompts are a very useful tool for a writer. It help to give directions or point the way, and open up doors where one might think is locked. <br />I don't usually do prompts but those that give me a kick are picture prompts (photos, paintings, illustrations ) and crazy quotes (from poems, fiction). dsnake1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08724264906690080704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-81728086926822740702019-04-13T10:38:40.100-04:002019-04-13T10:38:40.100-04:00I love everything you say...I find if I don't ...I love everything you say...I find if I don't write it down, I don't know what I think. If I say to you, what were you thinking about yesterday, what did you have on your mind? I have but to look at what I write yesterday, and there it is. Yes, I like prompts, something new, unexpected. Wonderful post!!annell4https://www.blogger.com/profile/07629830133868270690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-25534997537659751582019-04-13T10:07:32.803-04:002019-04-13T10:07:32.803-04:00I feel the same way Rosemary. Prompts lead me in ...I feel the same way Rosemary. Prompts lead me in directions that I may not have gone on my own musings in life. Also, it is wonderful connecting with other writers, and seeing what direction prompts take them. All in all it is truly inspiring to me. Love this post Rosemary!!Carrie Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11715648073882529202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-25780120208530995442019-04-12T21:41:38.807-04:002019-04-12T21:41:38.807-04:00(You knew I meant *online communities, didn't ...(You knew I meant *online communities, didn't you?) LOLRosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-65260584966358337542019-04-12T21:39:56.861-04:002019-04-12T21:39:56.861-04:00Yes, I certainly would not be writing so often if ...Yes, I certainly would not be writing so often if I were not writing to prompts and participating in inline communities. I was always regraded as a prolific poet, but nothing like I am now. It perhaps doesn't leave a lot of time for polishing individual pieces, but among so many there may well be enough good ones anyway. On the other hand, I think it's hard to judge our own work. Feedback from one's peers is very helpful. Sometimes I think a poem isn't up to scratch, only to have readers fall in love with it. I think that happens to us all. It's good to have an instant forum out there, to know whether something is working or not.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-7086986882876025752019-04-12T21:21:40.270-04:002019-04-12T21:21:40.270-04:00I was interested to find online this distinction b...I was interested to find online this distinction between motif and theme:<br />'In a literary work, a motif can be seen as an image, sound, action, or other figure that has a symbolic significance, and contributes toward the development of a theme. ... In a literary piece, a motif is a recurrent image, idea, or symbol that develops or explains a theme, while a theme is a central idea or message.'<br /><br />Yes, I can see that writing to one's own prompts might be more difficult than writing to others'. Susie mentions the same thing, below.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-40590499751427746452019-04-12T21:07:41.411-04:002019-04-12T21:07:41.411-04:00'To be able to read and interact with such tal...'To be able to read and interact with such talent' – oh yes, such a huge blessing. We have such amazing poets in these communities. Including you! I suspect few of these brilliant poets realise just how good they are. (But I'll keep telling them.)Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-12803988666171608532019-04-12T18:38:29.029-04:002019-04-12T18:38:29.029-04:00Rosemary, thank you for asking and for sharing you...Rosemary, thank you for asking and for sharing your input on the subject of prompts. I really enjoy them. My mind is a squirrel cage of so many things it is nice to be presented inspirational suggestions for creativity to stop the chatter in my head so I can focus. I have learned so much from my interactions with poets here and at Real Toads. To be able to read and interact with such talent has really helped me to find my voice in poetry. I have had an urge lately to write prose and Magaly's writing prompt ( and her oh so delightful poetry/writing) is just what I needed. I enjoy Susan and Sumana's prompts(as well as their amazing poetry), and I need to write more often from their inspiration. I think writing communities that inspire us to stretch our pens, believe in ourselves, and grow deep connections are blessings. I do a prompt every few weeks at Real Toads. I find it hardest to write from my own suggestions. Prompts and the commitment to create one really keep me actively writing poetry.Susie Clevengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239990133754328967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-42839661280192249302019-04-12T18:27:23.481-04:002019-04-12T18:27:23.481-04:00Thanks for the mention of Midweek Motif! We are a...Thanks for the mention of Midweek Motif! We are a little different from other prompts by remaining committed to theme--actually, motif has a slightly different meaning than theme. If you think of motif in music, you'll see how much more playful it could be. But, I've been so busy with Poets United that I haven't written to other prompts for quite a while. I remember loving the form challenges of dVerse and the imagery challenges at the Garden. Now I wonder--if I write the prompt, am I responding to a prompt or simply continuing a train of thought? Hmmm? I love the surprises that Sumana brings me at Midweek Motif, and find I'm often stirred into action more by one of the poems and quotes included than by the actual spare motif that is the prompt. As a lifelong teacher, I can't help turning almost anything into inquiry and curiosity. I love the leadings, the nudges and the suggestions coming from everywhere in the world, including from prompts.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05723639294340760325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-80328811719853366772019-04-12T11:48:05.611-04:002019-04-12T11:48:05.611-04:00I love Moonlight Musings! The online poetry forum ...I love Moonlight Musings! The online poetry forum has been such a gift to me. When I found it, in 2010, barely anyone read my poems, in real life, and my muse was drying up for lack of sharing and inspiration. At first I thought poems that came solely from inspiration were superior to poems from prompts. But very soon I realized, writing as often as we do online, prompts are very helpful, and inspiration often happens upon lift-off.Even if the poem doesnt take flight, it is a poem I wouldnt have written otherwise and the bulk of my poems fall in that category. Online poetry gives my life purpose and productivity in my later years, and I am so grateful for the chance to share with other poets - every day, I am moved and inspired by the writing of others, and what a gift that is!Sherry Blue Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01926508656571639801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-5164792222576733052019-04-12T10:13:50.450-04:002019-04-12T10:13:50.450-04:00Ha ha, have those questioners ever tried selling p...Ha ha, have those questioners ever tried selling poetry? There are some stars who manage to do all right out of it (though most of them don't give up their day jobs) but in general poetry is that stuff that doesn't sell. Not well enough to feed us, anyway. I expect your stories may do rather better, but even so I think marketing is always challenging. Perhaps by blogging we actually create a readership who might buy our books? (Even if that is not our primary reason.)<br /><br />Yes, I love interacting online with other writers. When I lived in Melbourne I was part of the poetry community there, so even though the writing was solitary, sharing it wasn't. But I've been living in a small rural town for 25 years, and the internet has been a great gift.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-50917422985695425852019-04-12T10:05:15.119-04:002019-04-12T10:05:15.119-04:00I was pretty thrilled about it myself, Rommy! And ...I was pretty thrilled about it myself, Rommy! And it's not derpy for you to be delighted your prompt worked so well that for a minute it crowded out other thoughts. (Smile.) Take a bow! You're entitled.<br /><br />That's interesting, that prompts enable you to unscatter your thoughts. Yes, I can see how they would do that, giving you something to focus them around.<br /><br />And oh yes, isn't it fascinating how you can give a group of people a topic and they'll all come up with a different response! I run several offline writers' groups in which this happens all the time, and none of us ever ceases to wonder at it.Rosemary Nissen-Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913841031559499568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-51861132256021076032019-04-12T07:34:18.448-04:002019-04-12T07:34:18.448-04:00LOL, I am such a derp... to answer the question, I...LOL, I am such a derp... to answer the question, I think I have a lot of ideas in my head, but they are often scattered or ill-formed. All it takes is a really good prompt to make me think "A-HA!That's what I wanted to say!" I appreciate the focus provided by prompts and I love seeing the wild ways different people can interpret the same thing.Rommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11810721515248103148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139625267522039683.post-7639236620457120162019-04-12T07:25:08.980-04:002019-04-12T07:25:08.980-04:00I've been asked the same question, usually by ...I've been asked the same question, usually by writers who don't blog. Some have suggested that sharing my creative work online is a bit of a waste. "Why give away what you might be able to sell?" some have said. <br /><br />Like you, Rosemary, I like how prompts invite the muse to different places via paths we might not have thought of taking on our own. In the past, writing was very solitary work. But not anymore. Or, at least, it doesn't have to be. These days, we can delight in words with other people who also love words. Writing prompts (and the Internet) have made that so much easier to do.<br /><br />Thank you for the yummy post! Magaly Guerrerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18295455026184103230noreply@blogger.com