Willy Martinez's Blog, page 52
December 30, 2021
Launching Social Differences Into Space
The following is a Flash Fiction work written in response to a recent launching into space from one of those rich people showing off their money.
As the millionaires interject through the stratosphere, the masses watch in excitement, awaiting for their stock in the billionaires’ companies to go up.
The followers watch in awe and spectacle, allowing their imaginations to take them onto the shuttle, transporting themselves onto the space team. Families hold hands as small groups keep a safe social distance from other families, forming small constellations and clusters of humans on the windy tarmac.
A tall man stands near the middle of the crowd and takes a pause from the show to look around to see if anyone will notice him adjust his mask, or to pull it away from his face to breathe. Two rows behind, a young obese teenager noticed as he clinches his fist in anger, not knowing whether the man was vaccinated or not.
Next to him stands an elderly lady with a hand on her stomach. The shuttle take-off covered the rumbling noises her stomach made – she was starving.
If you are enjoying this satirical flash fiction piece, check out our poetry and flash fiction at the Ritual Blog.Via the loud speakers set up in the viewing area, sound vibrates outwardly projecting a strong suggestion: “Don’t forget to tag us in your posts, letting all your friends and families know how cool you really are for being here with us today, to witness the jaw dropping spectacle – Private Space Shuttle Launches!””
A small child holding her mother’s hand pulls her mother down to ask if they will ever get to ride into space. The mother replies snarkishly, “only when they finally decide to eradicate the poor by launching us into space.”
Their phone alarms start going off in a distress call, alerting them to return to work. None complain as they are grateful to have work during these times.
A family with two minimum wage job winners was better than one bread winner. Jesus teaches them to be humble.
If you enjoyed this satirical flash fiction piece in response to billinoiaire’s launching their own space program, check out our poetry and flash fiction at the Ritual Blog.
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December 28, 2021
The Best Communication Style for 2022
My communication style is the best.
Working in Public Relations has taught me that the secret to longevity lay in where the message comes from, meaning that the person that delivers the message is more important than ever. Is this person reliable, are they here for the wrong reason, do they have experience? Who would the person be if you stripped away their eloquent words, title, and their sense of fashion? All the orators and great public speakers of the past, such as Cicero, Quintilian, Isocrates, and even the eloquent peasant in ancient Egyptian literature identify the importance of the speaker as needing to be a reliable source.
Look inside Details Mad Men Mad Men is a collection of three disturbing horror shorts from authors living in the Midwest. The themes explored in this collection range from man versus self, man versus man, and man versus creature.[caption id="attachment_4742" align="alignleft" width="188"]
Mad Men eBook at Mind on Fire Books[/caption]Mad Men begins with Matt’s tale, a thought-provoking thriller which causes the reader to question his reality and what he fears within himself. The second tale explores the grotesque juxtaposed with beautiful nature, where the ending unfolds into a horrific dream, waking in even more terrible pain. The third tale is by seasoned horror writer, A.R. Braun – and his diabolical creatures never disappoint! A.R. Braun’s goal is to be on the banned book list; we think this tale may just be evil enough to be considered. A must read before it does get banned!
Mainstream Horror Shorts don’t always satisfy us in the way they should. They don’t open conversations about what it is that we fear or why we fear such things, they focus mainly on pop culture and gore. The writers in the Mad Men anthology understand the need for literate horror, opening discussions of man’s psyche. When these writers set out to tell a story, they are less interested in conveying fear and more interested in wonder, the sublime, and the infinite strangeness that drives all man and woman. Highly recommended for tweens, teens, and adults.
The Mad Men anthology published by Mind on Fire Books. Written by Willy Martinez, A.R. Braun and Matt Lavitt. No part of this book shall be copied without permission from the publisher. .book[data-book="book-4740"] .cover::before {background: url(https://mindonfirebooks.com/wp-conten... figure .buttons a { font-size:0.65em !important;}.bookshelf figure h2 { font-size:1.8em !important;}div#bookshelf { -ms-transform: scale(1, 1); /* IE 9 */ -webkit-transform: scale(1, 1); /* Safari */ transform: scale(1, 1);}
And for that reason, I argue that the supportive communication style is the best style of communication to incorporate within the line of Public Relations work; especially if you plan to be respected and have longevity. In this business, your words can and will be used against you if you rub someone the wrong way, or if you make empty promises. The way we treat people is another assurance of our style. Applying the supportive communication style will not only keep us abreast the minds of our audience in a positive manner, but also gives us an upper hand on navigating different audiences.
Here are three reasons why it is the best communication style:You are revered as calm, steady, sincere and gentle. Being calm is detrimental to portraying a reliable character when dealing with potentially sensitive or privacy oriented materials. If your audience sees that you are uneasy, this may give the impression that you are not sure of yourself, what you are talking about, or the information you are given. This is about presence and delivery.The 2nd benefit to this communication style is that it empowers you with active listening skills, which portrays you as being cooperative, dependable, and loyal. Being able to hear what your peers are saying is important, why else would you be talking with them? Take the time to repeat what it is they have said in return, make sure you have understood their message. If you notice their tone changed with a story about something that enriches their story, such as their pets at home, ask them about that and engage in their interests. You apply a high priority on close relationships and do not like conflict, but are quick to mediate when necessary. This reminds me of my company commander, Captain Smith. As a ‘boot’ or new Marine to my unit, Captain smith made it a point to have all us new Marines report to his office where he asked us questions about who we were, where we were from, and if we had girlfriends or kids. Captain Smith would then remember everyone’s name, and where they were from. At a future promotion ceremony, we would not be surprised to hear him ask about a girlfriend or family member.
The Best Way to Communicate in 2022. Photo by Warren Wong at UnsplashThe Caveat to the best communication style:Even though I claim to have the best communication style for my job, I have to point out the caveat to my style. However, if you become aware of these 3 imperfections below, you may be able to side-step them, or address them head on, so that you can show mastery.
Look inside Details Preview Phantom World A.R. Braun [caption id="attachment_8291" align="alignleft" width="188"]
phantom world[/caption]Phantom World is a Hard Core Haunt collection that explores the bitter feelings of isolation, loss, and denounces religion from various personalities. Here we will be introduced to poltergeists, newly born ghost-entities along with their familiars learning about the afterlife, and spirits that are stuck in the netherworld. While some of these ectoplasmic beings may come across as innocent at times, their stories unfold in a manner to inform the reader as to why they were not allowed into the heaven or allowed to have a “peaceful” afterlife.
Written by A.R. Braun
Release Date: September 22nd, The First Day of Fall
Phantom World will be Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Scribd, Kobo and here.
ISBN: 978-1-7361447-2-5
About the Author
Once completing the Bram Stoker Award Boot Camp, A. R. Braun writes the following novels: Dogman of Illinois, Heaven’s Witches, Autonomy, and Only Women in Hell. As well as publishing the short-story collections: Insanity, Horror Book, Grimoire, and the novella, 66SICK.
He became interested in horror when he read “The Telltale Heart,” as an assignment in high school. By the time he was eighteen, he owns the whole Stephen King collection and begins writing short stories for friends and family.
A. R. holds numerous publication credits, including “NREM Sleep” in the D.O.A. anthology; “Freaks” in Downstate Story magazine; “The Unwanted Visitors” in the Vermin anthology; “Coven” in the Heavy Metal Horror anthology; “Remember Me?” in Horror Bound magazine; and “Shades of Gray (the Symbiosis of Light and Dark)” in Micro Horror magazine.
“The Interloper” wins story of the month in 2009’s June Full Moon in Bloom issue of SNM Horror Magazine, and the piece was included in the SNM Horror anthology, Bonded by Blood 2: a Romance in Red.
A.R. Braun is a featured writer in our fiction anthology, “Mad Men” – a collection of three disturbing tales exploring what lies within man. Available now at Google Books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple iBooks, Smashwords, and Amazon. .book[data-book="book-8002"] .cover::before {background: url(https://mindonfirebooks.com/wp-conten... figure .buttons a { font-size:0.65em !important;}.bookshelf figure h2 { font-size:1.8em !important;}div#bookshelf { -ms-transform: scale(1, 1); /* IE 9 */ -webkit-transform: scale(1, 1); /* Safari */ transform: scale(1, 1);}
What to look out for: People may view this style or this type of person as disliking changes, so they may appear to be indecisive. My wife says it to me all the time, I’m sure other husbands in the room can understand. But it’s not because we’re haters, it’s because we dislike changes.
Also, this person may not know how to accept praise in a public forum, they tend to be modest and would prefer a more personal, one-on-one compliment. We need to learn to accept compliments, we have worked hard so why not acknowledge this? Offering a thanks and a quick explanation does not mean you lack modesty, in fact, sharing your thoughts/processes may help even more people understand your message.
The last challenge to this style is that this slow and steady attitude may become susceptible to loud or tense environments. The challenge here is to find a way to personalize the experience and overcome the fear/tension in the room.
The Most Important Communication ToolIn summary, our communications are at the root of all outcomes. What we say, how we say it, and even where we say it can either have a negative impact, or a positive impact, depending on our intent. Words can drive Nations to war, and words can drive lovers to arms. I would like to highlight a quote written by the famous poet, Maya Angelou:
“people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou, Writer and Poet
I have used this expression as a guide for the way I carry myself when representing an organization or another person.
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Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.The main image used in the heading for this article is a photo by Warren Wong at Unsplash.
The post The Best Communication Style for 2022 appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.
December 27, 2021
A Poem – Even the Sun Comes Out To Play on Rainy Days
If you enjoyed this Poetry by Willy Martinez, we have more great Literary content on The Ritual Blog here. All rights reserved by the writer, 12/27/2021.
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December 25, 2021
No One is Safe With a Writer this Fierce Poem
This poem was written by Willy Martinez. Follow us for more poetry and original flash fiction at The Ritual.
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December 23, 2021
Love Poem to Wife
This love poem was written 16 years ago, to the future wife I envisioned at the time
You'll never understand how much Ireally love you,through thick and thinno matter what you do,It's been 10 years since God blessedme with a beautiful wife,The one to share my soul with for the rest of my life,Our love created three children that will grow healthy and strong,With our love and guidance we shallteach them right from wrong,There's a part of you in all threeall the special things thatbrought you to meThis poem was written by Willy Martinez in 2003. Follow us for more poetry and original flash fiction.
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December 21, 2021
Going Into the Dark – Enchanting Poems for Winter Solstice
As the shortest day of the year approaches – Winter solstice – we might not be feeling any love towards the cold, or the dark of the winter solstice. But poetry reminds us of the beauty in all things, even the frosty, bitterness of December days and the Winter that lay ahead. (Header photo by Hernan Sanchez at Unsplash.)
Instead of looking upon the solstice with dread, here are three poems to remind you of the enchantment of winter, and provide you with warmth and solidarity when the icy winds blow.
THE WORLD BY JENNIFER CHANGOne winter I lived north, aloneand effortless, dreaming myself
into the past. Perhaps, I thought,
words could replenish privacy.
Outside, a red bicycle froze
into form, made the world falser
in its white austerity. So much
happens after harvest: the moon
performing novelty: slaughter,
snow. One hour the same
as the next, I held my hands
or held the snow. I was like sculpture,
forgetting or, perhaps, remembering
everything. Red wings in the snow,
red thoughts ablaze in the war
I was having with myself again.
Everything I hate about the world
I hate about myself, even now
writing as if this were a law
of nature. Say there were deer
fleet in the snow, walking out
the cold, and more gingkoes
bare in the beggar’s grove. Say
I was not the only one who saw
or heard the trees, their diffidence
greater than my noise. Perhaps
the future is a tiny flame
I’ll nick from a candle. First, I’m burning.
Then, numb. Why must every winter
grow colder, and more sure?
If you are enjoying this collection on Winter Solstice Poetry, we have more great Literary content on The Ritual Blog here.
AN OLD MAN’S WINTER NIGHT BY ROBERT FROST
A collection of winter solstice poems. Image by Pavan Tirkutan.All out-of-doors looked darkly in at himThrough the thin frost, almost in separate stars,
That gathers on the pane in empty rooms.
What kept his eyes from giving back the gaze
Was the lamp tilted near them in his hand.
What kept him from remembering what it was
That brought him to that creaking room was age.
He stood with barrels round him—at a loss.
And having scared the cellar under him
In clomping there, he scared it once again
In clomping off—and scared the outer night,
Which has its sounds, familiar, like the roar
Of trees and crack of branches, common things,
But nothing so like beating on a box.
A light he was to no one but himself
Where now he sat, concerned with he knew what,
A quiet light, and then not even that.
He consigned to the moon—such as she was,
So late-arising—to the broken moon
As better than the sun in any case
For such a charge, his snow upon the roof,
His icicles along the wall to keep;
And slept. The log that shifted with a jolt
Once in the stove, disturbed him and he shifted,
And eased his heavy breathing, but still slept.
One aged man—one man—can’t keep a house,
A farm, a countryside, or if he can,
It’s thus he does it of a winter night.
Robert Frost was born on March 26, 1874, in San Francisco, where his father, William Prescott Frost Jr., and his mother, Isabelle Moodie, had moved from Pennsylvania shortly after marrying. After the death of his father from tuberculosis when Frost was eleven years old, he moved with his mother and sister, Jeanie, who was two years younger, to Lawrence, Massachusetts. He became interested in reading and writing poetry during his high school years in Lawrence, enrolled at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1892, and later at Harvard University in Boston, though he never earned a formal college degree. Excerpt taken from Poets.org.
If you are enjoying this collection on Winter Solstice Poetry, we have more great Literary content on The Ritual Blog here.
TO KNOW THE DARK BY WENDELL BERRY
Collection of Winter Solstice Poems. Image by Daniel PlanTo go in the dark with a light is to know the light.To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
Berry has published more than eighty books of poetry, fiction, essays, and criticism, but he’s perhaps best known for “The Unsettling of America,” a book-length polemic, from 1977, which argues that responsible, small-scale agriculture is essential to the preservation of the land and the culture. Exerpt taken from The New Yorker here.
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December 16, 2021
Demosthenes, the Great Greek Orator
Demosthenes’ family business was similar to Lysias’ family business contracts in weapons, except Demosthenes’ family manufactured swords instead of shields. The great orator was born of a wealthy family but the death of his father at age seven leaves his uncles with control over the estate and legal guardianship over him. He claims that the funds were depleted to the point that Demosthenes couldn’t afford to study under Isocrates, so instead he studied with Isaeus (another Attic orator).
Demosthenes overcame speech impediment practicing with pebbles in his mouth.Demosthenes 384 – 322 BCE (62 yrs of age)
He blames his uncles for spending his inheritance on themselves rather than his education. After studying with Isaeus and becoming more mature, he took his uncles to court. He managed to win back some money, but more importantly, his peers took note of his abilities as a speechwriter.
But he doesn’t stop at just writing speeches, he trains himself in the art of performance as well. History also shows that he suffered from a speech impediment which he overcame by practicing with pebbles in his mouth. He was determined to overcome his fault in that natural ability; he practiced with pebbles in his mouth and stood on the shore at Phalerum,” trying to make his voice heard above the waves” (Edwards 35).
If you are enjoying this article, we have similar content studying communication from discourse theory, here.
The Death of DemosthenesBoth his training with Isaeus and speech practice at the ocean eventually paid off in 355 BCE when he was hired to write “Against Androtion” (Edwards 36). He continues to grow after his debut and becomes one of the main opponents to the threat of Phillip II. Speaking out against Phillip II brought him to dispute matters on a personal level with Aeschines. Demosthenes would have to constantly persuade the Athenians to wage war against Phillip II and attempt in finding allies. Demosthenes delivers one of his strongest speeches, Third Philipic, “in which he spelled out Philip’s designs on Greece as a whole” (Edwards 38). Even after the death of Phillip, Demosthenes continued his disdain for Macedonia and spoke out against Alexander the Great. There is then a political scandal which results in Demosthenes being arrested.
Middle Style:He manages to escape into exile only to return after the death of Alexander in 323 BCE. Continuing to defy Macedonian advances, but Athens loss in the Lamian war leaves Demosthenes with no option but to run. He takes refuge at the temple of Poseidon, but eventually kills himself with the poison concealed in his pen.
Michael Edwards holds that his greatest skill was the ability to vary his style to suit the context. He is also noted to have been revered by both the Greeks and Romans as the greatest of the orators over all. He wrote in “plain Attic Greek”, closer to the language of the layman rather than the high class diction of Lysias (40). Demosthenes developed a ‘middle style’ which was a mix between Lysian simplicity and “Thucydidean complexity” (42).
Demosthenes giving a great oration.Critic Hans Wolff believes that many of his methods in forensic oratory “invoke skepticism” from the jury by misleading them in order to “keep the weaknesses of the actual position of his client concealed.” He uses the same Konon speech by Demosthenes to identify a trait for Athenian law which “never aims to entice the jurors toward an open disregard of the law.” If Demosthenes felt that the weight of evidence was more advantageous than his side, Demosthenes would then try to conceal the truth by distracting the jurors.
In Hans Julius Wolff’s article, “Demosthenes as Advocate,” the author attempts to label Demosthenes as almost being the Greek equivalent to Cicero due to Demosthenes’ “talent at rousing political speeches.” Both Cicero and Demosthenes are said to be advocates in the sense that they take a very political and intellectual approach to their orations. Cicero imitates Demosthenes arrangements and speeches in his Philipics, and applies them to his political enemy. So, in the very similar manner in which Demosthenes speaks out against Philip II’s plans, Cicero uses the speeches to attack Mark Antony of the Roman empire.
If you are enjoying this article, check out our other Literary content at The Ritual
Demosthenes practicing his speeches at the SeaWhat would other rhetoricians say about Demosthenes? I think that he would be flattered by Quintilian and Gorgias. History has already recorded how Plutarch and Cicero thought highly of him. One of his most admirable qualities was his personal drive to overcome his natural flaw in speech and develop his skills. Despite his not being able to afford the school of his choice, he still made the initiative to study rhetoric which would have please Quintilian. Aristotle would appreciate how he was able to manipulate the audience’s attention in order to persuade them.
Even though he lacked the military experience, similar to Cicero, he still grew to be a great politician based on his reputation of fighting the good fight, or at least saying what was unexpected of him. Plato would probably be his only real critique because of Aeschines’ lack of dialectical and his interest in persuading the audience by hiding knowledge.
The timeline designed below is to help illustrate the oratory and international wars going on between Demosthenes and his rival, Aeschines.
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Demosthenes clients were wealthy and he liked charging large sums for his services. Edwards points out that Demosthenes’ “earliest public speeches are all protests against the heavy taxation burden placed on the wealthy” which was his own personal class status (44).
First Olynthiac 349 BCE (Deliberative); Erotic Essay (Epideictic); On the Trierarchic Crown, after 361 (Deliberative; Against Macartatus 345 BCE (Forensic)
If you liked this article, we have similar content studying communication from discourse theory, here. Look inside Details Preview Phantom World A.R. Braun [caption id="attachment_8291" align="alignleft" width="188"] phantom world[/caption]Phantom World is a Hard Core Haunt collection that explores the bitter feelings of isolation, loss, and denounces religion from various personalities. Here we will be introduced to poltergeists, newly born ghost-entities along with their familiars learning about the afterlife, and spirits that are stuck in the netherworld. While some of these ectoplasmic beings may come across as innocent at times, their stories unfold in a manner to inform the reader as to why they were not allowed into the heaven or allowed to have a “peaceful” afterlife.
Written by A.R. Braun
Release Date: September 22nd, The First Day of Fall
Phantom World will be Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Scribd, Kobo and here.
ISBN: 978-1-7361447-2-5
About the Author
Once completing the Bram Stoker Award Boot Camp, A. R. Braun writes the following novels: Dogman of Illinois, Heaven’s Witches, Autonomy, and Only Women in Hell. As well as publishing the short-story collections: Insanity, Horror Book, Grimoire, and the novella, 66SICK.
He became interested in horror when he read “The Telltale Heart,” as an assignment in high school. By the time he was eighteen, he owns the whole Stephen King collection and begins writing short stories for friends and family.
A. R. holds numerous publication credits, including “NREM Sleep” in the D.O.A. anthology; “Freaks” in Downstate Story magazine; “The Unwanted Visitors” in the Vermin anthology; “Coven” in the Heavy Metal Horror anthology; “Remember Me?” in Horror Bound magazine; and “Shades of Gray (the Symbiosis of Light and Dark)” in Micro Horror magazine.
“The Interloper” wins story of the month in 2009’s June Full Moon in Bloom issue of SNM Horror Magazine, and the piece was included in the SNM Horror anthology, Bonded by Blood 2: a Romance in Red.
A.R. Braun is a featured writer in our fiction anthology, “Mad Men” – a collection of three disturbing tales exploring what lies within man. Available now at Google Books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple iBooks, Smashwords, and Amazon. .book[data-book="book-8002"] .cover::before {background: url(https://mindonfirebooks.com/wp-conten... figure .buttons a { font-size:0.65em !important;}.bookshelf figure h2 { font-size:1.8em !important;}div#bookshelf { -ms-transform: scale(1, 1); /* IE 9 */ -webkit-transform: scale(1, 1); /* Safari */ transform: scale(1, 1);} Look inside Details Mad Men Mad Men is a collection of three disturbing horror shorts from authors living in the Midwest. The themes explored in this collection range from man versus self, man versus man, and man versus creature.
[caption id="attachment_4742" align="alignleft" width="188"]
Mad Men eBook at Mind on Fire Books[/caption]Mad Men begins with Matt’s tale, a thought-provoking thriller which causes the reader to question his reality and what he fears within himself. The second tale explores the grotesque juxtaposed with beautiful nature, where the ending unfolds into a horrific dream, waking in even more terrible pain. The third tale is by seasoned horror writer, A.R. Braun – and his diabolical creatures never disappoint! A.R. Braun’s goal is to be on the banned book list; we think this tale may just be evil enough to be considered. A must read before it does get banned!
Mainstream Horror Shorts don’t always satisfy us in the way they should. They don’t open conversations about what it is that we fear or why we fear such things, they focus mainly on pop culture and gore. The writers in the Mad Men anthology understand the need for literate horror, opening discussions of man’s psyche. When these writers set out to tell a story, they are less interested in conveying fear and more interested in wonder, the sublime, and the infinite strangeness that drives all man and woman. Highly recommended for tweens, teens, and adults.
The Mad Men anthology published by Mind on Fire Books. Written by Willy Martinez, A.R. Braun and Matt Lavitt. No part of this book shall be copied without permission from the publisher. .book[data-book="book-4740"] .cover::before {background: url(https://mindonfirebooks.com/wp-conten... figure .buttons a { font-size:0.65em !important;}.bookshelf figure h2 { font-size:1.8em !important;}div#bookshelf { -ms-transform: scale(1, 1); /* IE 9 */ -webkit-transform: scale(1, 1); /* Safari */ transform: scale(1, 1);}
The post Demosthenes, the Great Greek Orator appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.
December 15, 2021
Slipping Through Enemy Mind Lines – A Punishment Poem
The following poem is titled “Punishment.”
People think Leavenworth is ultimate punishment,but when I'm done with you, you'llthink penitentiary is a Christmas present,Devil's advocate with a radical vengeance,You step in my way you get blown back like negligence,Thinking you the dopest around,Me and you, one on one is a mismatchlike a white boy V.S. TysonWalking on ceilings and walls, attack from angles from unfathomable parallelsOne mind one thought,Don't nobody know who fought,ripping the cosmos with what God wrote,slipped through enemy mind linescrossed time zones and collaborated crimes.It was my face you saw when I broke the sound barrier,dropped more powerful bombs than a jet Harrier,It was me who took them out and left them with loss and upsetWhen all was said and done, yeahI weptVirtually invincible to all who oppose,those who oppose fall from mind blowsThe following poem is titled “Punishment,” written by Willy Martinez in 2004. Follow us for more poetry and original flash fiction.
Photo from header was shot by Alex Iby at Unsplash, here.
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December 14, 2021
The Most Disturbing and Mind Crushing Quotes by Shirley Jackson
Over the years, Shirley Jackson (1916-1965) carved her literary niche as writing mainly within the horror and mystery genres. Her most infamous works being, “The Lottery,” and “The Haunting of Hill House.”
Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916, and spent her childhood in nearby Burlingame, California, where she began writing poetry and short stories as a young teenager. Her family moved East when she was seventeen, and she attended the University of Rochester. After a year, in 1936, she withdrew and spent a year at home practicing writing, producing a minimum of a thousand words a day.
This practice of writing 1,000 words a day is what helped her develop the discipline to go on to write over 200 published short stories, two memoirs, and six novels. Jackson’s body of work is so enormous that including all of her best quotes or observations would fill a book all of its own, we have limited this article to just 20 of her best quotes, picked at different points in her career, and from different works of fiction and non-fiction.
20 Of Her Best QuotesNo live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality. ― (The Haunting of Hill House)
My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all, I could have been born a werewolf because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom. Everyone else in our family is dead. ― (We Have Always Lived in the Castle)
Shirley Jackson, Author of Over 200 Short StoriesAlthough the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones. ― (The Lottery)
I shall eat the room in one mouthful, chewing ruthlessly on the boards and the small sweet bones. ― (Hangsaman)
Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it has stood for eighty years and might stand eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone. ― (The Haunting of Hill House)
If you are enjoying the Most Disturbing and Mind Crushing Quotes by Shirley Jackson, you would love our Writers Corner content at The Ritual.On the moon, we wore feathers in our hair, and rubies on our hands. On the moon, we had gold spoons. ― (We Have Always Lived in the Castle)
Outside were the eucalyptus trees, like lace against the sky. If it were only possible to lie against them, light and bodiless, sink into their softness, deeper and deeper, lost in them, buried, never come back again…. ― (The Road Through the Wall)
Most people have never seen a ghost, and never want or expect to, but almost everyone will admit that sometimes they have a sneaking feeling that they just possibly could meet a ghost if they weren’t careful―if they were to turn a corner too suddenly, perhaps, or open their eyes too soon when they wake up at night or go into a dark room without hesitating first. ― (Come Along With Me)
It isn’t fair, it isn’t right,” Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her. ― (The Lottery)
Shirley Jackson – Class of 1938 non-graduate. Student ID card“I can’t help it when people are frightened,” says Merricat. “I always want to frighten them more.” ― (We Have Always Lived in the Castle)
When shall we live if not now? ― (The Sundial, 1958)
“In the country of the story, the writer is king.” (Come Along with Me, 1968)
“Materializations are often best produced in rooms where there are books. I cannot think of any time when materialization was in any way hampered by the presence of books.” (The Haunting of Hill House, 1959)
If you are enjoying the Most Disturbing and Mind Crushing Quotes by Shirley Jackson, you would love our Writers Corner content at The Ritual.“A pretty sight, a lady with a book.” (We Have Always Lived in a Castle, 1962)
“I have always loved to use fear, to take it and comprehend it and make it work and consolidate a situation where I was afraid and take it whole and work from there.”
“I remember that I stood on the library steps holding my books and looking for a minute at the soft hinted green in the branches against the sky and wishing, as I always did, that I could walk home across the sky instead of through the village.” (We Have Always Lived in a Castle, 1962)
“I began writing stories about my children because, more than any other single being in the world, children possess and kind of magic that makes much of what they do so oddly logical and yet so incredible to grown-ups.”
“I delight in what I fear.”
“What I am trying to say is that with the small addition of the one element of fantasy, or unreality, or imagination, all the things that happen are fun to write about.”
“You will actually find that if you keep your story tight, with no swerving from the proper path, it will curl up quite naturally at the end, provided you stop when you have finished what you have to say.”
Elevate my Thoughts
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Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. About Shirley JacksonShirley Hardie Jackson was an American writer known primarily for her works of horror and mystery. Over the duration of her writing career, which spanned over two decades, she composed six novels, two memoirs, and more than 200 short stories. Did you know that she suffered from Agrophobia? Jackson suffered from such severe agoraphobia in the last years of her life, and that she was sometimes unable to leave her house.
Her first novel, The Road Through The Wall, was published in 1948. That same year The New Yorker published Jackson’s iconic story, “The Lottery,” which generated the largest volume of mail ever received by the magazine—before or since—almost all of it hateful. “The Lottery” has since been published in dozens of languages, and is still required reading in U.S. high schools. It is possibly the most well-known short story of the 20th Century.
In 1959 came The Haunting of Hill House, her best-known novel, which has come to be generally regarded as the “quintessential haunted house tale.” That novel has twice been adapted for feature films. In 1961 Jackson received the Edgar Allan Poe Award for “Louisa, Please,” one of the few such awards she ever received during her lifetime.
The post The Most Disturbing and Mind Crushing Quotes by Shirley Jackson appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.
December 12, 2021
Strangers in the Night – Love to Read: Frank Sinatra’s Favorite Bookstore
We all know Frank Sinatra for his lyrics, his songs, his love of women and living large. But, did you know he also had a love of a bookstore, Shakespeare and Company, a small independent bookstore in Paris?
Ed Walters, a former pit boss at the Sands, in Las Vegas, who was taken under Sinatra’s wing in the 1960’s and offered this account of how much Sinatra actually talked about books:
What few Sinatra fans know is that he loved books, especially history books. He was in the casino at a 21 table, playing blackjack and talking with his friends. He told the guys, “I’m giving Eddie some books to educate him. He needs it.”Ed Walters, Friend of Frank Sinatra
He asked about a book he’d given me, was I reading it. He said, “Eddie you must travel and when you do, go to Paris, go to the Shakespeare bookstore. I know the guy there… . Go see the guy George—he’s a guy that lives with the books.”
We suppose it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, after all, he also loved to write songs about love. And what better resource for a poet than to read books!
For more Literary pop culture at The Ritual, check out this thread. Also check out the Frank Sinatra Quotes Below!“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.”
Frank Sinatra
“The best revenge is massive success.”
Frank Sinatra
“You may be a puzzle, but I like the way the parts fit.”
The post Strangers in the Night – Love to Read: Frank Sinatra’s Favorite Bookstore appeared first on Mind on Fire Books.
