Looking forward

When I've managed to drag myself away from the TV I have been using some time to catch up on my magazine pile and I actually wrote a poem on Boxing Day morning!

Some while ago I told you that I'd never read a book by Margaret Atwood.  Well, before Christmas I bought a few books in charity shops (I was looking for stocking presents but the books caught my eye!).  Anyway, I bought The Handmaid's Tale, perhaps Atwood's best known book and I am nearly half way through it, having started it on Boxing Day.  I was craving for a book as at present I am waiting for the next Book Club read, and this is really compelling.  Set in the future in a world with a repressive state and where the only option to young women is to breed.  There is so much more to find out in this book.

The New Year is fast approaching.  I have blank diary for 2012 yet I already have lots to put into it.  I find the New Year an exciting time.  New beginnings beckon.  I make all sorts of half-hearted plans but I still find it a positive time.  January can be a depressing time, an anti-climax after Christmas and especially when the tree and decorations are packed away, but soon the days will gradually lengthen and before you know it new growth will appear in gardens followed by bright spring flowers. Can't you feel a poem or story coming on?   Around this time of year my Dad always used to say 'spring is just round the corner'.  We always laughed, but he was right.  Then longest day has gone and things are on the up!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

If you find some time over the festive holidays use it to write a short story or a poem, or write a diary each day and soon I'm sure you will find some inspiration from your entries (think of all those festive words!)/

Think about New Years Resolutions too.  What would you put on your list.  It's also a good time to look back over the year to see what you've achieved, what you could do better and where you are going.  More about that soon.

HAVE A GOOD TIME

SEE YOU ALL SOON

A little Christmas Story

I have been neglecting you of late (shame on me!).  To make up for it you get this Christmas story first!

The Guiding Star

When you look up at the sky at night you see that some stars are larger and brighter than others.  This is the story of a star that became known all over the world due to one extraordinary event.

            Once, a long, long time ago in the reign of King Herod there was a star in the east which had shone for many, many years.  She was old and her light was beginning to fade.  The time was coming when she would shine no more and would burn out, as all stars did.  This thought saddened her for she felt no use to anyone anymore.

            One night a voice called to her “Why are you so sad?” 

The star jumped in fright but answered in a shaky voice “Because I am too old now to give much light and I feel useless.”

The voice said “The one who made you does not think that.  In fact he has an important job for you.  A new King is soon to be born, one whose reign will never end, a saviour, the son of the true God.  Now this wonderful news is to be taken to the people on earth and God has chosen you to play your part in this.  Tonight you will give birth to a new star, a large, bright star, one which will guide shepherds and Kings to the stable in Bethlehem where God’s son is born.”

The star was amazed by all that she heard and thought that she must be dreaming.  “All my babies have been small,” she said, “not bold and bright.”

“Do not worry,” the voice reassured her, “I am a messenger of the Lord, through whom and all things are possible.  Before this night is ended you will see your light shine through your son.  He will shine brighter than any star has done before and he will be seen throughout the world, and will rest over the place where the baby Jesus lies in a manger.”

Later that night when the old star was dozing in the moonlight she was suddenly filled with a great energy.  A huge flash of light burst from her and she was dazzled by the brightly shining rays of the emerging new star.  This was her son.  Other stars turned to look at him for they had never seen one such as he.  Then angels appeared and surrounded the young star and began to softly sing.  The sweet voices grew louder, then all at once ceased.  Then the star bowed to his mother and gently moved away surrounded by the angels.  “Come,” said one, “we have much to do tonight.”

The old star watched proudly as her son departed to begin the work he was destined for.  His light did indeed fill the sky that night and for many nights to come.  The heavens were alive with music, and angels accompanied the bright star wherever he went.  News spread of the wondrous event that had taken place on earth and the old star felt privileged to have been chosen in her latter years by God, to be the mother of the guiding star.


(first published in Areopogus in December 2007)

Finding the words

I'm struggling with a poem at the moment.  It's a rhyming one and I've got to the last verse and can't quite finish it!  Originally it had two stanzas but I wasn't happy with ending it there - it seemed incomplete.  The next stanza went well so it's just this last one I'm stuck on.  I've put it aside for a while so that I will come back fresh to it next time.

I entered a poetry competition yesterday through Holland Park Press.  They have several competitions on offer so well worth a look.

I have put a Christmas poem on my other blog, so do hop over there.

What will you be doing next year?

If you didn't sign up to any writing courses in the autumn, now is a good time to do it as part of your New Years' resolution!  There are bound to be courses in your area or online, or maybe if you know others who write (friends/acquaintances) you could form your own group and meet at someone's house or a pub or coffee bar.  The  you can set a programme of exercises, read books of poets/authors, attend some 'open mic' sessions in your area (do some research!).  The idea is to be with others who write, whether you are a beginner or a little further on with your writing.  We can all learn something by being with others and share our passion and our work.  Small groups often go on to produce booklets of members work which can be sold locally.  The sky is the limit!


What will you be doing next year?  If you have any other ideas for writing why not share them here.

A redirection!

Just to say that there is a Christmas short story published on my other blog today if you are interested!

Winter muse

Just when I thought that my creative muse had flown, I wrote a poem.  You know how it is, something you hear, see or think about sparks off a thought worth pursuing, well that's what's happened.  It probably won't get 'air play' for a year because it is an Advent poem and it's too late to send it anywhere now, but it's in my portfolio.

I have signed up for the next term of my poetry course which should help keep me on track.

So, here is a quick limber up for you.  Write something about winter - think frost, snow, hazy sun, long shadows, spindly trees, ice - you get the drift (sorry no pun intended!).  Restrict yourself to a word limit (story) or to a list of wintery words (poem).  Write in any form but hey...why not try a Sonnet!  Use the image above as a starting point if you like.

A seasonal poem in rhyme

I'm not going to make my last class of the term tonight due to still not feeling 100% fit (I've had a rotten cold) but as the weather is due to turn very windy and wet I am pleased I won't have to struggle up to London.

Christmas Cards

His birth was not in December

with snow at a stable door

and Father Christmas and reindeer

was never what Christmas was for.

He came to us for a purpose

though often it seems we forget

the message he came to deliver

and the road on which he was set.

So while pretty cards paint a picture

of holly and red breasted birds

they do not portray the meaning

or the truth in the Gospels’ words.

(published in Areopogus in December 2009)

Term Ending and an Advent diversion!

The first term of my poetry course finishes next week.  On Thursday we read our pieces on silence/noise and work-shopped our poems.  I had some helpful criticism of my poem called December, though one idea I couldn't agree with - if I took out the first two lines I might as well make it into a Haiku as the poem is short anyway (plus there is a least one great line!).  However, perhaps that's what I should do - could try it, I guess, but I like the way most of the lines work and my tutor loved the last short stanza and most of the rest.  So perhaps just a 'twiddle' is needed.

On my other blog there is an Advent Prayer which I wrote last year (I think), if you would like to take a look at that.  Because I am doing daily posts on that blog (for Advent) I will be posting up seasonal poems and maybe very short stories there as part of my 'Advent Calendar'.  So do take a look there this month for my creative writing outlet!  A more normal service will resume after that.