Volume VI, Issue 16 April 17, 2017 Dear ,
I must confess, if I wasn't so delighted to share WordPlayer Jay Sloan with you
today, I might not have been able to muster the energy to put together today's zine. I'm a bit exhausted after a week of house guests, and the accompanying cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.
Plus a frenzy of Skyping and phoning and texting with the family that couldn't be here, including my "little
brother" John, who became a grandfather on Easter Sunday. (My niece went into labor in church yesterday morning; we're expecting great things from sweet baby James!)
But Jay, whom I so admire for his work as a peacemaker in this often troubled world of ours, agreed to share his poem "Kinds of Love," and some words
about his journey from Director for Policy Support at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to his first poem, via Poetry Rocks, with you and the rest of the Word-zine readers, so here I go, tap tapping out my part! It's truly an honor to support Jay in the writing of his memoir, which celebrates the good in people, and to
know that he chose to work with me through reading the zine.
But first, two photos... Here's one I took of our first-shift Easter dinner to send to son Dan, who was in Miami. He made the paper mache bunny centerpiece in elementary school and I still put it out every year, even though he's 28 now, much to his
mortification. But what are moms for? (Yes, there was a second-shift dinner in the evening for late-arriving family.)
And much of the merriment over the past week was due to
these two guys, whose birthdays we celebrated on Saturday, since Rhys turned four today, and Harry turns one tomorrow. Here they are playing with "jalk" on Grammy and Grampy's sidewalk: One thing's for sure, love showed up in all kinds of ways for us while we were all together, virtually or in person, as it does when family gathers,
even if we have to remind ourselves of that in some moments. When I forget that love comes in many different guises, Tony Hoagland’s poem “The Word” reminds me, especially the lines "Do you remember?/that time and light are kinds//of love, and love/is no less practical/than a coffee grinder//or a safe spare tire?" His poem inspired Jay's first poem, which you'll find below, along with the prompt, an exercise straight from Poetry Rocks.
I hope you love trying it yourself!
Wishing you all manner of kinds of love, in and out of your writing,
Maureen
Upcoming WordPlay
WRITING OUR WAY TO HAPPINESS
(Learning New Practices and Strategies for Our Writing and Our
Lives; Creating New Writing; Expanding Our Well-being) Come explore time-tested ways writing can increase your happiness level! This class will not only teach you how to use writing as a tool to increase your sense of well-being, but also jumpstart your pen and provide inspiration and knowledge about the
process of creative writing, whether you want to write memoir, fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. For writers of all levels, including beginners, who are interested in expanding their writing practice—for personal fulfillment or for publication.$630 for one week-long session (lodging and meals are additional – options can be
found on the Folk School website)
WHERE: John Campbell Folk School, 1 Folk School Road, Brasstown, NC 28902
WHEN: Sunday, May 28th – Saturday, June 3rd,
2017.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- POETRY ROCKS
(Learning the Ins and Outs of Poetry; Strengthening Your Writing Skills; Adding a New Layer of Literary Beauty to Your Life) Would you like your writing — prose and/or poetry — to be more graceful, powerful, beautiful? Do you sometimes find poetry
confusing or intimidating and wish you could “crack the code”? Or do you enjoy writing and reading poems, but want a more thorough understanding of what makes a poem good? Then this poetry extravaganza is for you.
Expect a good time exploring what makes a poem a poem, gaining the knowledge you need to confidently create and revise poetry, and strengthening your writing skills in all
genres.
It would be a joy and an honor to share what rocks about poetry with you!
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET: - 23 poetry creation tools, delivered one per day
(Monday through Friday) to your inbox — in honor of National Poetry month. Use them as you get them, use them when you can, use them over and over to create poems. Each tool zeroes in on one aspect of poetry and provides an innovative method to approach writing a poem. Many of them are great for creating prose, too. The tools include:
*
a purpose, so you’re clear what you will learn
* background information when helpful
* “how-to” directions to create a poem
* an example that illustrates the poetry tool in action
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
* “Hone Your Craft” suggestions for further exploration
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts
covered - A PDF document of each tool that you can print or save on your computer
- An audio recording of each tool, so you can learn by listening and/or reading
- Instruction on the role of audience, reading like a writer, and the process of revision, including a handy Revision Checkpoint Chart — this information can be applied to strengthen your prose as well as poetry
- Additional poetry resources
- An e-book that contains the information and resources covered, as well as your 23 poetry creation tools for ongoing use
WHERE: From the comfort of your own home, via the web. WHEN: Any time you want! And once you receive all 23 tools, they’re
yours to keep, which means that you can keep using them for years to come. COST: $45
TO REGISTER: To register for Poetry Rocks online, click here. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ART AND CRAFT OF POLISHING A POEM
(Learning and Practicing Revision Tools and Strategies; Feedback on at Least One of Your Own Poems) What is revision, after all, but bringing sparkling fresh vision to a piece of writing and its possibilities? I once heard gifted poet Linda Pastan, whose work I’ve loved for years, speak at length on revision, which she called “the main act of writing.” She writes her first draft by putting herself in a trance-like state, she said. “And then come 100 revisions. It
would be wonderful if there were right and wrong choices.” No one can tell us exactly what to do with our work—writing is an art as well as a craft.
But while there may not be right and wrong choices, it does help to get clear what kinds of options we have and how and why some serve our work better than others. I absolutely love re-visioning and am excited to share my process with you! You’ll get feedback
on at least one of your poems, along with tips and strategies to use ongoingly, and a handy reference chart.
WHERE: Covenant Presbyterian Recreation Center, 1000 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204. Click here for map.
WHEN: Saturday, April 29th, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
COST: $38
TO REGISTER: To register for The Art and Craft of Polishing a Poem, click here.
To register for The Art and Craft of Polishing a Poem AND Poetry Rocks, click
here.
More WordPlay opportunities here. WordPlay Success Story "I took several days out to explore some of the world of poetry via Maureen’s easy-to-use course. I found myself at ease and enjoying her process and guidance..."
Jay served as the Defense Intelligence Officer for East Asia and the Pacific, and subsequently, as Director for Policy Support at the Defense Intelligence Agency, where he served most of his 30-year Intelligence career.
President Reagan conferred on him the Presidential Meritorious Executive Award “for sustained superior accomplishments in the management of programs of the United States Government and for noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency in the public service.” He holds degrees in International Relations and studied intensively both the Russian and Chinese languages.
Following retirement, he and
his wife Susan, a former high school teacher, affiliated with The Pacific Institute, an international education company headquartered in Seattle. Using the Institute’s curriculum as a base, they worked with local, state, federal, and foreign governments to help them set and achieve bold goals, build constructive cultures, improve performance, and enhance individual quality of life.
Along the
way, Jay discovered and studied the theology of peacemaking within the Presbyterian Church. He served as the Chair of the Church’s Peacemaking Committee within its National Capital Region. Upon moving to Charlotte, NC, he engaged in directed study at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta and initiated a Compassion, Peace, and Justice ministry within his home church, Unity Presbyterian Church, in Denver, NC.
Jay’s draft memoir has as its theme, “There Are Good People Everywhere.” He looks forward to completing it while, at the same time, continuing exploration and experimentation within the realm of poetry. His ultimate goal is to write a piece one day that makes a meaningful contribution within the body of literature focused on peacemaking. He looks forward to continued collaboration with Maureen in pursuit of these goals.
What Jay says about WordPlay
I have done a lot of writing throughout my adult life. Nearly all of it was nonfiction, expository products intended to
serve serious readers to better understand the issues and options before them as they pondered decisions needed on grave issues having heavy consequences.
My writing took many forms, from in-depth research documents with annexes and footnotes to essential points for the reader to absorb and articulate on a given, complex subject in no more than two
pages.
You see, I spent a full career as a professional Intelligence Analyst. The products I wrote needed to be timely, useful, and accurate. They had to be void of any emotion or perceived bias. Facts and degrees of uncertainty needed to be clearly specified. There were no such things as “alternative facts.”
My days were filled with serious business, and I became a serious person. Looking back, perhaps too serious. In my personal life, I tried to compensate some by reading fiction and works of a spiritual nature. I “let loose” in letters to family members and special friends.
Several years after I retired, my wife Susan and I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where one
of our sons and his family reside. Although “retired,” we partnered in a consulting business that focused on teaching how to achieve “change beyond pretense” and “bold goals” individually first and then as a group or organization.
In time, it occurred to me that one change I could make would be to free myself from the bounds of seriousness in which I lived for so long. I became interested in
examining how I could improve and expand my writing skills, freely flow more easily.
I decided to look around for some professional help and found Maureen’s website. I was intrigued. It looked just like what I wanted. But, I was reluctant to jump in. What if it wasn’t exactly as advertised? Would I be getting into something over my head? Besides, I was still “too busy.” We were doing a
lot of travel for seminar work. Could I really afford to take on another project?
For nearly a year, I followed Maureen’s website and “zine.” I felt her sense of serious intent, authenticity, and commitment to a higher good. I could relate to the people she introduced. I sensed there was a gathering of like souls, and so I signed up to work with Maureen as my writing
mentor.
Maureen helped me clarify my needs and intention. I delved into writing my memoir, intended for my own satisfaction but also hopefully something of interest to generations of family beyond my four granddaughters.
Now, on many early mornings, I write whatever comes up from my sub-conscious as memory and feelings in line with a broad outline of my life. I do not concern myself with what will emerge. In fact, I am often surprised by what does, and so this has become fun as I anticipate what will come next. I am enjoying the mystery.
In the midst of this, last year, Maureen
mentioned in passing that she offers an online poetry course at a very reasonable rate with maximum flexibility. It [Poetry Rocks] is intended to help anyone interested in poetry, both the beginner and the experienced.
Poetry? Now that is something I never allowed myself to get involved in. I always appreciated poetry and put poets on a pedestal. Of course, I had several favorite poets encountered during high school and college—poets that everyone knows, such as William Wordsworth, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, and Mary Oliver. But suddenly it occurred to me, “Why, I only recently met another: Maureen Ryan Griffin, author of Ten Thousand Cicadas Can’t Be Wrong. I read
some of her poems at my church-sponsored poetry reading evening. Since I was now working with her, why not let go and dip into poetry via her online course?"
I took several days out to explore some of the world of poetry via Maureen’s easy-to-use course. I found myself at ease and enjoying her process and guidance—so much so that I allowed myself to experiment some. I’m sharing
with you below one of the only two poems I have ever written in my life. They were written in 2016 using only two of many techniques within the course. I have resolved to write at least two poems each year for the rest of my life … well, mainly for myself.
The poem “Kinds of Love” was inspired by reading Tony Hoagland’s “The Word.” What I am trying to express is that each day is filled with Love, but I must allow it to be felt and respond to it. From time to time, my children and I talk, and I feel good that they seem to understand this belief.
The other poem, “My Rose Garden,” is an expression of love
for my mother who died in recent years at age 94. She was a kind and loving soul who gave out more love than was received. As a child, I received her deeply felt, unconditional love. I also witnessed the abuse she endured silently for many years owing to Old World prejudice. This was my first experience with bullying and the beginning of my interest in the need for peacemaking at all levels.
I
continue to enjoy the mystery within my memoir writing. I exchange thoughts and insights free-flowingly with Maureen on a range of subjects. The writing experience she facilitates transcends writing alone. It touches on all aspects of life and has proven to be beyond my expectations. I am grateful for her teaching and friendship. Featured Writing
Kinds of
Love
by
Jay Sloan
Morning sunlight is a kind of Love, but only if I allow myself to see and feel it, if I accept that pleasure is good and useful, something that also needs accomplishing, and that love is as necessary as the air I breathe.
I have things I feel I “have to” do today, but no, not really, right? No have-to’s. Only want-to’s, choose
to’s, love to’s in response to God’s call. They are gifts that cheer me like the sweet smell of honeysuckle that grows wild and reappears each
spring.
At times, I have doubts and feel apart. Random thoughts sour my mood. But then, the morning sunlight – or some other gift from God – arrives into my searching heart. And all is well.
This morning, I am talking to my children, who take time to sit in the sunlight and listen.
WordPlay Now! Writing
Prompt This is WordPlay—so why not revel in the power and
potential of one good word after another? This week, it's "love."
PROMPT: (from WordPlay's online course Poetry Rocks)
Gather words and phrases from a poem you love to use as building blocks to create your own poem via this technique adapted from Gabriele Lusser Rico’s book Recreations. It can be really interesting to choose a poem by a poet whose work is very different from yours.
- Find a poem with beautiful, interesting language. If you’re a new poet, the field is wide open! If you’d like a suggestion, try “The Word” by Tony Hoagland, as read by Garrison Keillor on The Writer’s Almanac. (The Writer’s Almanac has a new poem every day that’s great for gathering, by the way, if you want to play with this tool again. A daily Gather, or at least a weekly one, is a great practice for a working poet to take on.)
- Now, listen to your piece of writing. And I do mean listen,
whether you use The Writer’s Almanac, ask someone to read it to you, tape it and listen to yourself, or simply read it out loud. Don’t think or analyze, just listen to the sound and music of the words.
- Listen to your selected piece of writing again, and this time, as you listen, gather individual words and/or phrases from the writing at random, grabbing them as they go by. Again, don’t think or
analyze, just write random words and phrases around your magnetic center. Put them anywhere you like, arranged any way that pleases—clockwise, counterclockwise, higgledy-piggledy.
- Next, read over your words and phrases, and let one of them, or a few of them in combination, suggest a topic or working title to you. Go with whatever shows up in your brain. You can’t do this wrong.
- Write your topic or working title in that empty square in the center of your paper. Stare at it, sitting there, surrounded by words and phrases.
- Then, rewrite your theme, topic, or title on a separate piece of paper. Keep your Gather beside it for the next step.
- Now
set a timer for four minutes (I like using this applauding online timer), and assemble a poem from your Gather. Use as many or as few of your gathered words and phrases as you like, in any order. And this is way better than those Magnetic Poetry Kits—you can add anything you care
to. Note: This tool, like many of the others, is designed to be done without thinking or analyzing. Just write. And feel free to create prose instead of poetry, if that suits you better.
- Read your finished piece out loud, and enjoy.
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and three collections of poetry, Ten Thousand Cicadas Can't Be Wrong, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water. One of her long-held dreams came true in July of 2015 when Garrison Keillor read one of her poems on The Writer's Almanac. She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another."
Maureen also believes that serious "word work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best learn—and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with
intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours! |
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