South Jersey Writers' Group Open Mic Night - September 30th

South Jersey Writers' Group Open Mic Night - June 24th

SJWG Open-Mic Night - April 8th

SJWG Open Mic Night - September 25th

Poetry

po·et·ry  (poh-i-tree)   noun
writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm.

- Merriam-Webster.com

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po·et·ry  (poh-i-tree)   noun
saying as much as possible in as few words as possible, in a unique way   

- Me

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“You can't write a good poem about sadness.  But you can write a great poem about a homeless man sleeping on a park bench as it begins to snow on Christmas Eve.”   

- Dr. Philip Cioffari

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We can debate all day about what makes a good or bad poem, whether or not a poem should have rhyme or rhythm, if punctuation is needed after each line or at all, and if “pine” and “thin” are close enough to be considered as rhyming.  All of that is important, but not for this post.  For now, I don’t care about “what” a poem is as much as I care about “why" and "where.”  Why do we write poems?  Where do good poems come from?

A poem is not so much “writing” as much as it is “experiencing.”  To explain all of this, I will go through the process of writing a poem that has not yet been written but a poem that has “asked” to be written.  Let me explain by showing you the best poem I ever wrote, only about 30 years ago.  Before I show you the poem, I need to explain why it was written.

I lived in my parents’ basement from about age 13 until 20.  Occasionally, in basements, you see things.  Bugs.  I don’t know what the bug was, but there was one that tortured me for hours until I could not take it anymore.

On the basement walls were a few sports and music posters, a curtain covering a window, and a round mirror about a foot and a half in diameter.  Occasionally, while either writing/sketching at my desk or blow drying my hair (it was the 70’s), I would see peripheral movement.  I distinctly remember a night when I took a break, put down my pen, and tilted my head back to stretch my neck.  When my head returned to a more level position, I saw the bug on the opposite side of the room near an Elvis Costello poster.  It was grayish (the bug, not Elvis), looked about the size of a thumb, and was surrounded by nothing but legs.  Centipede?  Not sure, but it may as well have been called “Scott Tenorman” because I knew that it was going to die. (see: South Park)

Pretty gross, eh?

I’m not a killer, not even for bugs.  Instead of smashing them, I catch them and throw them outside.  Sure, maybe they get eaten by birds, but at least I give them a chance.  Except mosquitoes.  That’s where I draw the line.  This thing, however, was too big.  I knew that before I went to sleep that night, it must be dead.  I eventually got it, but then I needed to write about it.

Nobody would ever sit down and write a poem about trying to kill a bug unless they actually had to kill a bug.  Most people kill bugs, throw them in the trash, and get back to business.  And most people might tell their friends, “Hey, you should have seen what happened last week.  There was this giant bug, and…”  Sure, that’s fine.  Nice story, but there is a more unique way to say it.

"Breaking Webs"

Just the thought of those countless
long legs and I panic,
lured to chase satanic shadows
into dark, dusty corners.

You rise from the woodwork
feel your way through the dark
hide behind my mirror.
All the while I want you
but despise you
coming nearer.

Many others I’ve slain, and you -
soon comes your time.
I wish that devil inside
knew the hell you drag me through.

I wish you knew terror!
That at any time
I could move that mirror
then - your life would be mine!
And I wish I could tell you to run
because I don’t want it.

As I was writing about the bug and its legs, I noticed that it wasn’t just about killing a bug.  It could also be about killing a woman, like a Jack the Ripper-type stalking a prostitute or something like that.  But that’s not the important part, not now.  The important part is that this poem could not be written without the experience.

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Now, let’s do this from the beginning but with a little extra poetry instruction.  A few days ago I was looking through my basement window as the dog was whizzing in the backyard and I saw this tree.

It sparked a thought about trees in winter, and it was enough of an experience to make me think of a poem because – like I wrote earlier – people do not write poems.  Poems write themselves through poets.  Things happen everywhere, every day, 24/7.  Some things go unnoticed.  Some things are looked at for only a blink.  But some things work their way into our thoughts in such a way that they need to be remembered, processed, and translated for others to experience too.

I looked at the pine tree holding all that snow, and I thought about other trees, unlike the pine, that lose their leaves in the fall.  Oaks and maples, known as “deciduous,” drop their leaves as daily sunlight decreases.  Conifers, like the pines, hold their needles all year, thus allowing them to hold large amounts of snow.

Obviously, the pine is different physically, but it made me think about the pine being different emotionally or psychologically.  This brings in one of my favorite poetic devices: personification, in which you describe an inanimate object as if it has living qualities.  The pine in the snow made me think of it as being mentally stronger and more willing to deal with winter while the oaks and maples were hibernating until spring.

Before writing the poem, I need to do some research and find some facts about ways in which the pines are different from oaks and maples.  Obviously, it’s the leaves.  That allows me to juxtapose the broad leaves versus the pine needles, bigger versus smaller, yet the smaller works harder during the winter.

So I had a choice:  Just tell people that pine trees aren’t as strong or as tough as oaks and maples yet they seem to be ready all year, or make it more unique?

Winter's Man

Mother Nature offered herself to the Oak
.....His strong hands that hold riches of gold
.....Steady arms strong and bold
.....Inside his trunk a hundred rings
.....to Oak the Good Mother did sing
but Oak said, “I’ll be asleep until Spring”

Mother Nature met the Maple
.....Broad hands, sweet sugar in his veins
.....Enough muscle to fill bowling pins
.....the archer’s bow, the butcher’s block
.....to Maple the Good Mother let down her locks
but Maple said, “I’ve already set Autumn’s clock.”

Then Mother Nature purred at the Pine
.....No strong hands but needles short and thin
.....Not solid, but soft, willing limbs
.....Yet his green alive and the Fall he resist
.....to Pine she gave winter’s snowy kiss
and Pine said, “Sleep well, boys.  I got this.”

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Words in My Head by Zhäriya' Amani

By Kahlil Weston

I want to announce my publishing company called Mad Writer Publishing. It's a company that I founded and I'm assembling a roster and staff. If you're interested in bringing out a book, you can reach me at @KahlilDelgado on Twitter or you can contact Kahlil Weston or the president of my company Johnnie Thomas El on Facebook. Tracy Clark is the COO to my company and has a subsidiary division called "The Clark Administration" Publishing. My publishing logo exemplifies the personality of the company.

Zhäriya' Amani's book, Words in My Head, is officially live. All those interested, holla at your boy or Johnnie Thomas El or Zhäriya' Beautiful Jones. Thanks to Eric Jackson for the help with the cover. Whoever wants to have a book published come and see me.

Zhäriya' Amani is a very talented tenth grader who has been writing for three years. She's been published in Stars in Our Heart: Symbols by Word Poetry Movement, and is a resident of Camden NJ. The book, Words in My Head, is a compilation of eighteen select pieces from the poet. Cover design by Kahlil Weston and Eric Jackson. It can be purchased at Amazon here.

A launch party for the book will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Camden NJ on Saturday, July 12th, from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM. Come out and show your support! $10 for admission and food, $15 for admission, food, and an autographed book. There will be food, drinks, great music, raffles, special performances, a sneak-peak, and plenty of copies there to buy!

About today's guest-blogger:

Kahlil Weston has authored three books (all mature content), "The Kahlil Weston Hour," "The Wes Daddy Mack Hour," and "The Young and the Wesless" "I consider myself a different breed of a writer. I wrote with no rules and everything within my realm is fair game. When I have a bone to pick I consider myself a battle writer. I have started my own publishing company called Mad Writer Publishing. My goal with my publishing company is to publish books for writers whose last name isn't Weston."

Writers Coffeehouse for April

By Dawn Byrne

On April 27th Keith Strunk led The Liars Club's Writers Coffeehouse that meets at the Barnes & Noble in Willow Grove PA on the last Sunday of the month. Please note that the May meeting is canceled because of Memorial Day.

Keith is a teacher, actor, author and co-founder of River Union Stage. He wrote the book, Prallsville Mills and Stockton and is one of four authors of The Delaware River Byways that's due out in July. Both are published by Arcadia Publishing. Among other credits is his screenplay Time Lock (2005).

Keith talked about collaborating on fiction books, and suggested all involved in the project should agree on an editor, or a person who will have the final say with the project. A signed agreement can be helpful too. Kerry Gans added her experience collaborating with two other writers on a work yet to be completed. Her poem "The Towers Stood" is included in the non-profit first anthology of World Healing World Peace.

Anyone may ask a question to the facilitator or the group throughout the meeting. Keith addressed a question to the group. He needed tips on how to get back into a long project after being away from it for months. Suggestions were: conditioned/response where the writer repeats daily going to a specific area to write, or uses something like smell to trigger the brain that it's time to work on the writing; re-read the entire manuscript; look over notes on the project; make or review character sketches and the outline; get back into the head of the main character.

The discussion turned to branding. I have to admit I helped with this turn, seeking information on taglines. Keith mentioned that a writer's face is their best logo. An author may want a specific tagline for each book, which can be limiting. A tagline for the author is another option. I found myself in good company with Kerry Gans who also is trying to come up with a tagline that encompasses all the types of writing she does.

As an actor Keith was clearly comfortable explaining how dress can brand a person. It depends on what you write. Carol Kasser shared that as a children's author, she dresses in fun hats and child friendly clothing. Barbara Custer uses a balloon as part of her brand.

This brought up the subject: How to dress for a pitch. When pitching to an agent or editor, says Keith, dress neat but not necessarily formal. If you're nervous, uncomfortable clothing will add to your issues. This topic led to pitching in general.

Keith gave out information on the Philadelphia Writers' Conference coming in June. He mentioned that even though a writer should have a completed manuscript before pitching to an agent, at the conference that's not a deal breaker. As long as the writer has finished most of their book, it doesn't look bad in this situation to have an incomplete package.

I thank our founder and SJWG librarian, Janice Wilson, once again for driving me to the meeting. As always, carpool conversations are a bonus to the information and inspiration I receive during the meeting. Kindren spirits abound on the last Sunday of most months. May may be a bummer, though. I'll have to fill the emptiness with Memorial Day hot dogs and hamburgers.

SJWG at the Maple Shade Library

Guest blog by Dawn Byrne

A group of writers and readers didn't let the cold weather keep them from meeting on Novmber 13th at the Maple Shade Public Library in Burlington County New Jersey, inside Maple Shade's municipal building at 200 Stiles Ave. Visitors are encouraged to ask for assistance with information, as you can tell by this sign on the wall above the librarian's desk just inside the library.

This was the South Jersey Writers' Group's second visit to the library this year to promote their anthology, Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey. Members of the SJWG are preparing to publish a second Tall Tales anthology within the next year, so look for more local tales to come. The SJWG thanks the Maple Shade Library for inviting us back to speak about writing and publishing.

One audience member shared her sad experience with a publishing company and how the company not only didn't promote and distribute her book after she had paid them, but that she has lost control of her book. Writer Marie Gilbert suggested the importance of being part of a writing community, especially for new writers. The panel also mentioned that information and support from a group, and resources they offer, can help keep writers from becoming prey to dishonest publishers. And, as luck may have it, the SJWG is open for membership until the end of December.

The evening also featured an opportunity for public readings. Our panel read from their works and then opened the floor to the audience. John Farquhar, author of What To Expect When You're Dead, read his short story "Bad Day For Santa" from our highlighted anthology, Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey. Staying with the holiday theme, Dawn Byrne read her short story, "The Christmas Hostage" from the book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas. Both authors received laughs for their humorous works as well as applause.

John L. Smith, a retired economics teacher and member of the Juliette Writers' Group, which meets in Moorestown's Barnes & Noble on the third Tuesday of every month (except December), read two of his poems from his self-published book, Food For Thought. His poems, "Dark Satanic Mills" and "Pins In New Shirts" raise empathy and awareness for those forced to work in sweat shops.

Marie Gilbert, who is up for Skelations' Blogger of the Year 2014 (have you voted yet?), answered questions from the audience and spoke about the value social media holds for promoting oneself as a writer. She explained how blogging can create a brand for a writer, showcasing his voice, style, and type of writing for his readers, which can attract multiple reader audiences.

Our cold evening continued to warm up at 8 PM when the discussion switched locations. Some of the panel and audience attended a reception at Dawn Byrne's home. They exchanged mutual conversation that moved from general writing and publishing topics to specific issues.

The South Jersey Writers' Group appreciates the Maple Shade Library, the SJWG panel, and an amazing audience for a memorable evening of the spoken and written word.

About today's guest blogger:

Dawn Byrne, a grandmother, writes inspirational and fictional stories about families from her New Jersey home. She's a member of the South Jersey Writers' Group, facilitates the Juliette Writers' Group, and teaches Sunday School. Dawn strives to leave a small carbon footprint, reads classical literature and has stories featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Wives: 101 Daily Devotions to Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire You and Chicken Soup for the Soul: It's Christmas. Her website is www.dawnbyrne.yolasite.com.