M.L. Desir's Blog, page 31

Mentors

El Space--The Blog of L. Marie

Do you have a mentor? Many people talk about the need for one in fiction and in real life. Before I ever had one, I remember having an idealistic view of what having a mentor would involve—someone who offered sage advice and remained in your life for years. But my experiences with mentors have been mostly brief.

In fiction, the mentor is one of the archetypes in Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey breakdown, which was popularized by Christopher Vogler in The Writ...

A Poem a Day Series 2019 – Day 10

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Willow Poem William Carlos Williams, 1883 – 1963

It is a willow when summer is over,
a willow by the river
from which no leaf has fallen nor
bitten by the sun
turned orange or crimson.
The leaves cling and grow paler,
swing and grow paler
over the swirling waters of the river
as if loath to let go,
they are so cool, so drunk with
the swirl of the wind and of the river—
oblivious to winter,
the last to let go and fall
into the water and on the ground.

 

 

This poem i...

A Poem a Day Series 2019 – Day 9

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The Sea of Glass Ezra Pound, 1885 – 1972

I looked and saw a sea
roofed over with rainbows,
In the midst of each
two lovers met and departed;
Then the sky was full of faces
with gold glories behind them.

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on August 16, 2015, by the Academy of American Poets.

A Poem a Day Series – Day 8

Picture-books in Winter Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850 – 1894 Summer fading, winter comes— Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs Window robins, winter rooks, And the picture story-books. Water now is turned to stone Nurse and I can walk upon; Still we find the flowing brooks In the picture story-books. All the pretty things put by, Wait upon the children’s eye, Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks, In the picture story-books. We may see how all things are, Seas and cities, near and f...

A Poem a Day Series – Day 7

Phyllis Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1872 – 1906 Phyllis, ah, Phyllis, my life is a gray day, Few are my years, but my griefs are not few, Ever to youth should each day be a May-day, Warm wind and rose-breath and diamonded dew— Phyllis, ah, Phyllis, my life is a gray day. Oh for the sunlight that shines on a May-day! Only the cloud hangeth over my life. Love that should bring me youth’s happiest heyday Brings me but seasons of sorrow and strife; Phyllis, ah, Phyllis, my life is a gray...

A Poem a Day Series – Day 6

According to Holiday Insights, April 6th is “Plan Your Epitaph Day“. Hmmm.

Goodbye, Prince

Seanarchy

Dear Prince,

My first memories of you were in the 1970s when I was a girl. Patchwork denim was everywhere. I had a head full of plaits, and remember enjoying your songs when they came on in the car. “Do Me, Baby” was choice, even though I had no idea you were singing about grown folks’ business; VERY grown folks’ business. I became further entranced with you with “1999” in elementary school. That album was visionary, energetic, and just well…fun.

Puberty loomed with your release o...

A Poem a Day Series – Day 5

Drifting Flowers of the Sea Sadakichi Hartmann Across the dunes, in the waning light, The rising moon pours her amber rays, Through the slumbrous air of the dim, brown night The pungent smell of the seaweed strays— From vast and trackless spaces Where wind and water meet, White flowers, that rise from the sleepless deep, Come drifting to my feet. They flutter the shore in a drowsy tune, Unfurl their bloom to the lightlorn sky, Allow a caress to the rising moon, Then fall to slu...

A Poem a Day Series – Day 4

A Jelly-Fish Marianne Moore, 1887 – 1972

Visible, invisible,
A fluctuating charm,
An amber-colored amethyst
Inhabits it; your arm
Approaches, and
It opens and
It closes;
You have meant
To catch it,
And it shrivels;
You abandon
Your intent—
It opens, and it
Closes and you
Reach for it—
The blue
Surrounding it
Grows cloudy, and
It floats away
From you.

 

This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on August 30, 2015, by the Academy of American Poets.

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4 Literary Agents Seeking Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance, MG, YA, Nonfiction and more – by Erica Verrillo…

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

on Publishing … and Other Forms of Insanity:

Here are four literary agents actively seeking clients.

Jacqueline Lipton is currently seeking submissions for middle grade and young adult, both fiction (all genres) and nonfiction.

Kerstin Wolf is looking for MG, YA, Young Adult, and Romance.

Victoria Loder is interested in historical, mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, steampunk, magical realism, paranormal fantasy, narrative non-fiction, feminist manifestos...