Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 92

Robert Graves, "A Dead Boche"

A Dead BocheTo you who'd read my songs of War And only hear of blood and fame, I'll say (you've heard it said before) "War's Hell!" and if you doubt the same, Today I found in Mametz Wood A certain cure for lust of blood: Where, propped against a shattered trunk, In a great mess of things unclean, Sat a dead Boche; he scowled and stunk With clothes and face a sodden green, Big-bellied, spectacled

Brenda Shaughnessy, "Miracles"

MiraclesI spent the whole daycrying and writing, untilthey became the same,as when the planet covers the sunwith all its might and stillI can see it; or when one deadbody gives its heartto a name on a list. A match.A light. Sailing a signalflare behind me for another to find.A scratch on the pageis a supernatural act, one twistingfire out of water, blood out of stone.We can read us. We are not

Down the Rabbit Hole to Alison's Wonderland

I'm over at the Savvy Authors blog today, talking about inspiration.Happy launch day to Alison's Wonderland from Harlequin Spice!"From a perverse prince to a vampire-esque Sleeping Beauty, the stars of these reimagined tales are—like the original protagonists—chafing at desire unfulfilled."Alison's Wonderland blog, which features interviews with the anthology authors (including me, in my Elspeth

Non-White WWI Soldier Picspam

Today's post is picspam - these are all photos of soldiers from World War One. They weren't all white. Not by a longshot.

Dating for Writing

If I'm having a really hard time motivating myself to write--and by write, I mean planting myself in a chair to just do it--I make a date. There are several advantages to making a date.1. The time is scheduled. I feel obligated just because it's in my datebook. I feel even more obligated if I announce that I have a writing date on Twitter or similar.2. If I don't show up, my fellow writer

Which Book? Oh, Which?

So many books, so little time! How do I choose what to read next?The illustration for this post is some of my giant To Be Read pile, extracted from its boxes and strewn all over my bed for its photo opportunity. (And let me tell you, that was a terrifying experience. I suspect the TBR weighs more than I do.)Mostly, I keep books in boxes to cut down on dust, but it also helps me to prioritize.

Siegfried Sassoon, "Lamentations"

LamentationsI found him in the guard-room at the Base.From the blind darkness I had heard his cryingAnd blundered in. With puzzled, patient faceA sergeant watched him; it was no good trying To stop it; for he howled and beat his chest.And, all because his brother had gone west,Raved at the bleeding war; his rampant griefMoaned, shouted, sobbed, and choked, while he was kneelingHalf-naked on the

"The End," Wilfred Owen

The EndAfter the blast of lightning from the east, The flourish of loud clouds, the Chariot Throne; After the drums of time have rolled and ceased, And by the bronze west long retreat is blown, Shall Life renew these bodies? Of a truth All death will he annul, all tears assuage?--Or fill these void veins full again with youth, And wash, with an immortal water, Age? When I do ask white Age he

Voirey Linger - Guest Post

I'm elsewhere today! You can find me talking about my top five favorite Marriage of Convenience novels at Monkey Bear Reviews.I'm also a guest poster today at the Novelists, Inc. Blog on "Real Writers Have Business Cards?" Please drop by and check it out!Now please welcome my guest, Voirey Linger, as she chats about the paranormal element of her new novella, Risking Eternity.#Information for an

Worms Are Eating In My Brain, Swamps, Etc.

I often think of my writing process—the part that goes on inside my head—as composting. The worms of my brain take in information, process it, and expel it. (Okay, so maybe not the tastiest metaphor….) Maybe it's more like stuff fermenting in a swamp?Never mind.My job as front person is to feed information to the worms.I haven't been writing a lot lately. I need to write; I'm on deadline; but