Michael A. Arnzen's Blog: News from Gorelets.com, page 15

Live Instigation

Thought I’d toss up a quick reminder that I’ve been erratically posting Instigation prompts to twitter all month, which are feeding into the new Instigation Showcase page. I conceive of all this as being not only an extension of this department on the blog, but also the recently-released ebook. If you’re on twitter, just follow @MikeArnzen — if you’re not, you can always see what I’m posting to that nefarious site on the archive I keep called “The Nest” right here at gorelets.com/nest. Here’s a sampler of some recent favorites:

 

 

“Construct a scenario involving a contemporary equivalent to firewalking on hot coals.”

“Pick an occupation (eg. banker, fireman, etc.). Your title is: ‘Bring me the Head of the [Occupation].’”

“Your character spots a broken scalpel blade, in the corner of library’s restroom floor.”

“The setting: a cannibal food truck.”

“Create a strange gathering of feathers.”

 

And sometimes I toss out some images, too, like this one, recently posted to my flickr gallery:

The dark side should breed and spread, don’t you think? If you come up with anything based on these and publish it (or post it online), I’ll happily add your name with a link back, to the Instigation Showcase!

Outlaws At the Treffpunkt: the 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly

In co-celebration of National Poetry Month with my friends at The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly, I’d like to take a moment to put the spotlight on a writer I am becoming fond of lately.

His name is Angel Zapata. He doesn’t know I’m doing this. And I don’t know Angel at all. I only know him from a few pieces of writing I’ve seen online. And I think he’s doing really interesting work.

Angel Zapata

Angel Zapata strikes me as one of those guys who is writing for the love it. From my review of his website, I can tell that he has had an awful lot of success publishing as a poet on the dark side and in the realm of the short mystery, and he’s earned more than enough cred in my book to be dubbed a real “indie writer.” You can tell just from the blogroll on his website that lists all the places he’s published his crafty, often dark, thinkpieces. He’s widespread and placing little jewels of work in all sorts of little lit zines, so he might not be someone who is on your radar. But maybe that gives him even more cred, because he’s sort of a lone wolf, earning his own bread, bit-by-bit across the internet. He’s steering clear of bandwagons to pilot his own ship, and taking it wherever he wants it to go. But you can tell he’s well read, an aficionado of the genre, and a person who is professional in every way. And he has a great sense of humor.

And I think he’s someone who could use more attention. I like writers like Angel. He’s a writer earning his audience. Some one should pay this man more money for what he does, because he has a lot of talent. Since I am not a Wall Street broker, I can’t give him anything, beyond tossing him a few royalties when I buy the books he appears in. But I can give him a little spotlight by turning you on to his work. So that’s what I’m trying to do in this blog entry.

You see, writers often band together and promote each other, either because they’re affiliated by genre or have a shared publishing history. That’s one of the reasons we need publishers who offer up the pages in their journals and the space on their website to foment a community. Writers and editors and readers all come together at what Germans call the “treffpunkt” — the rendezvous point or gathering place — to traffic with the tribe.

I think that’s why journals like The 5-2: Crime Poetry Weekly — run by a very generous soul and smart editor/poet named Gerald So — are such cool places to publish and visit. The 5-2 is well-populated by great authors who are delivering the goods for anyone interested in mystery and crime stories. If you’re into the crime genre, you should be into the 5-2. It posts new material EVERY WEEK like clockwork. But it’s also a little bit off. Like any good outlaw, this weekly journal is doing something a little bit off the grid. It’s an indie journal doing indie things. To be more specific: it’s Mr. So’s treffpunkt off the grid for people who are interested in what happens when vice and villainy are put through that unique word grinder known as “poetry.”

Crime…poetry? Is that like gangsta rap? Not quite, but they are sibling subgenres in their own way.

So much of what constitutes the “crime” genre is defined by popular mystery novels, potboiler paperback thrillers, prime time cop shows, and, heck, maybe even the nightly news. But poetry? Believe it or not, poetry has something different to say, because by its very nature it has to say things differently. This frees the subject matter from the conventions of narrative to dance to its own beat. Poetry is an exploration. And I harbor the suspicion that criminals and detectives are explorers in their own right, too. So as a peculiar little subgenre, “crime poetry” is really interesting stuff, and from all I can tell, the 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly is THE treffpunkt for this business.

Angel belongs there, and I hope to encounter his work in the 5-2 or in a similar meeting place when our paths cross once again.

Back in November of 2012, Angel published a devious little poem on the 5-2, called “Housekeeper.” I should just shut my yapper and let you go read it on the site, but here’s the non-spoiler gist of the poem in a nutshell: the poem is about a man who is tricking his housekeeper into cleaning evidence of his crime up after him, in a very clever way.

I love this idea. It is a case study in the old “hidden in plain sight” trick that the great writers are able to pull off. But more than that, the poem — in just 20 brief lines — gives us a full blown picture of the criminal’s backstory, his psychological motive, and the perverse pleasure he takes in getting revenge. We get hit in the gut with a “perfect murder” scenario, followed by a punch square in the jaw with the poem’s final lines. I’m not sure whether to loather the killer or feel sorry for him, but it doesn’t matter at that point: it’s a knockout poem precisely because it pushes me off balance and resists an easy judgment about the killer’s guilt. Its also one of those poems that deserves to be re-read (my favorite kind), because you start to see more depth and dark irony to it the more you read it. You start to see hidden meanings in the passing mention of “cancer” and the comparison of a trash heap to “volcanic ash”. Though I’d love to keep performing an explication de texte to prove just how good it is, I won’t say anything more, because I want you to read it, study it, and see what makes it such a successful piece of crime poetry on your own.

But if you’re impatient, how about this: One of the (many) great things about the 5-2 is that the site is very active in social networking, tapping twitter, youtube blogging and e-books to broaden the audience for its outlaw poets. Along with every poem, Gerald So includes recitations of the poems via youtube broadcasts, and you can hear Dehant Paul read Angel’s “Housekeeper” here or in the embedded video below. But do go to the 5-2 and read the poem too, and I think you’ll understand why I admire its craftsmanship.

The 5-2 is not the only place I’ve encountered Angel Zapata’s work.

I recently judged the annual flash fiction contest for microhorror.com, which meant reading a bunch of anonymous horror stories having to do with the theme of “art” and picking my favorites. It turned out that Angel’s short story, “The Blood Worms” was one of my top picks and it placed as a winner in the contest. Here’s what I said in my review:

The Blood Worms?! How could anyone not be intrigued by a title like that? The concept of this one is pretty strong, but Zapata’s story really won me over with its chilling imagery — and the sheer insanity depicted here really transfers from the story into the reader’s mind. “Blood Worms” is written with a sure hand, driven to deliver the goods, and it succeeds in depicting an artist’s vision as a disturbed one. The last line stuck with me long after I read it, like an afterburn.

I won’t give anything away, but I know you’ll be hooked if I cite just one sentence from the story — a bit of dialogue uttered by a madman:

‘The worms eat us,’ he said. ‘Now I eat them.’

I love that line. Angel and I think alike.

So do most of the writers over at the 5-2. Head on over and meet me at the treffpunkt. You can read a piece I published there last year if you like, called “This is How I Murdered the Librarian.” Or simply join me in celebrating the 30 Days of the 5-2 for the rest of the month.

Who says National Poetry Month has to be all lovey dove and/or clove cigarettes? These are beat poets of a different kind…check it out and tell Gerald I sent you.

If you’re on twitter, you can also follow @poemsoncrime and use hashtag #30OfThe52 to help promote the site for National Poetry Month. Not into that? Then just remember the name ANGEL ZAPATA and seek out his work. And if you’re not into any of this? Well, then go your merry way and let the worms eat you.

– Mike Arnzen

p.s. In addition to this tribute to the 5-2, I am also celebrating April by posting a new horror poem every day throughout the month on my website at gorelets.com. Come back and read the new pieces as they’re posted. A new one — a poem constructed with The Fridge of the Damned magnetic poetry tiles — will appear tonight!  is now live, called “Zombie Milk”!

National Poetry Writing Month 2013

I’ve signed up over at NaPoWriMo.net, committing to try to write and post a new poem every day throughout April for “National Poetry Writing Month”. My plan is to mix things up regularly: to post twitter poems, full-length gorelets, some audio recordings, videos, word art, and more Fridge of the Damned magnet poetry pieces. Return to this calendar page for all this, which I’m posting off the main blog to avoid clutter and confusion; things will also be tagged as #napowrimo” on twitter or The Nest if you want to search for them. I invite you to join me, too, on the Instigation Showcase (see below)!

 


CalendarOrganizersVenues Arnzen Appearances NaPoWriMo 2013 Assoc. of Writers & Writing Programs KillerCon PARSEC SHU Alumni World Horror Con Airport Holiday Inn (Pittsburgh) Portland DoubleTree Hotel (OR) Seton Hill University (PA) Sheraton Seattle Hotel (Seattle, WA) Stratosphere Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas)

 

+ I’ve joined the gang over at the 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly for 30 Days of the 5-2. My particular post is going up on April 4th.

+ I will fit some poetry reading in between the bouts of writing. And if time permits, review it.

+ A new issue of The Goreletter will appear this month. Certainly it will contain a poetry-related contest with some goodies for prizes, so subscribe!

 

 

+ DO YOU WRITE? I will continue to celebrate the recent release of my ebook, Instigation: Creative Prompts on the Dark Side by posting #Instigation prompts on twitter… these (along with more) are automatically fed into the new Instigation Showcase page, so if you’re a poet/writer looking for dark inspiration, you’ve found the right place! You also can get a meaty sampler from the book of prompts over at scribd.com/Arnzen

And if you own the Fridge of the Damned poetry magnets (buy yours here), remember that I will post photos of your #TFOTD work in the amazing fridge fan gallery!

 

Instigation: Creative Prompts on the Dark Side – New E-book Now Available!

Instigation: Creative Prompts on the Dark Side by Michael Arnzen:

Instigation: Creative Prompts on the Dark Side is a treasury of twisted tips, strange scenarios and disturbing sparks to help ignite the fuel in your creative furnace. Its aim? To push you into the danger zone of your imagination, by thinking in unconventional ways and trying things you never thought — or dared — to try before in your writing, art, or dreams.

See the catalog page for more information.

NOW AVAILABLE for direct purchase from Mastication Publications! Purchase price is just $3.99 via Paypalto books@masticationpublications.com. Click the button below to order and a password with download information will be provided within 48 hours.

NOTE: This book is currently only available in .mobi, .epub, and .pdf formats, which are readable in most ebook devices and computers. It will soon also be available directly from ebook distributors like amazon and nook. A print edition is not currently available (though you can get a large sampler in the hardcover only edition of The Gorelets Omnibus published by Raw Dog Screaming Press).

NOTE 2: Backers of The Fridge of the Damned kickstarter project should have received an email with information on acquiring their complimentary copy. If not, let me know.

Announcing the Instigation Showcase

Announcing the Instigation Showcase!

From now on, anyone who publishes a response to a prompt or is inspired to write something specifically in response to Instigation: Creative Prompts on the Dark Side or the Instigation department on this weblog will be listed on the new Showcase page dedicated to helping broaden your audience.

Over the years, I’ve received numerous emails from writers who produced new work based on the prompts in The Goreletter, and I’m happy to have finally figured out a way to showcase your work. Share your links to work (whether on a blog or in a book) that has Instigation as its source, via e-mail or comments on the blog and you’ll be listed. That easy. And remember to check back from time to time to read the work of others… it’s bound to inspire you to pick up your demonic pen.

[NEWSFLASH: TONIGHT (3/15) is Instigation Eve! Help us get ready to launch the book this evening. Folks are sharing links to masticationpublications.com and tweeting their own bizarro prompts using the hashtag #Instigation.

Don’t forget: subscribers to the Mastication Publications newsletter will get a discount code to use when purchasing Instigation directly from this website!

Goldfisher

borrowing from Bond

he brings home the bloated baggie

and scoops out blissful killifish,

dropping one after the other

into his plastic aquarium:

the translucent bucket

of gold paint

these goldfish never swim,

and his net is clotted

from skimming them back out

so often, but he knows

he will find the right species

eventually — there are tens of thousands

and if he knows his evolution,

then only the fittest will survive

The Fridge of the Damned Gallery

Photo by Nicole Peeler

The Fridge of the Damned is currently landing in backer mailboxes everywhere, and people are having a blast with the weird horror poetry magnets, and sharing their photos online. If you’re one of them, I invite you to email me a shot or post a link to one to contribute a photo to the Fridge of the Damned gallery on Flickr. People are also sharing shots on twitter with hashtag #TFOTD. I love what I’ve seen so far!

User Fridge of the Damned poem by Jessica McHugh

The Fridge of the Damned is now offered for sale for $12 each by Raw Dog Screaming Press, while supplies last.

The Fridge of the Damned! Get yours at RDSP.

Fridge of the Damned: Get Yours! Share Yours!

As I’ve reported over the past month, we successfully funded the production of The Fridge of the Damned at the end of January through a great Kickstarter campaign, and rewards to backers are being distributed as I type, including all the awesomely weird horror poetry magnets in a despicable tin set.  You can order a set if you didn’t get one through the kickstarter campaign, now, too!

If you make a cool poem with the FotD, please take a photo and share it (or a link to it) with me via comment below or email.  I will post it to our Flickr gallery for all to see!  Like this one, our first arrival from Jennifer Barnes:

First user poem comes in! Send yours to Arnzen to include in gallery.

 

If you were unable to participate in the Kickstarter, the remainder of the manufacturing run is being offered for sale through Raw Dog Screaming Press — just $12 while supplies last.  Place your order on their website.

 

The Fridge of the Damned! Get yours at RDSP.

Visdum Tooten: En Film Boot Don Hertzfeldt

This morning’s cereal is “Wisdom Teeth,” a handcrafted work of disturbing brilliance on the absurdity of the body and the insanity of pain, brought to you by the wonderfully deranged animator Don Hertzfeldt. You must visit him at bitterfilms.com — where you can pick up DVDs of his selected works over the past decade. His most recent work is the “Bill” trilogy, aka It’s Such a Beautiful Day — a haunting work of existentialism can’t recommend enough. And for a limited time, he is currently screening his brilliant, must-see 2005 film, The Meaning of Life in HD on Youtube.

Don’t forget to brush your teeth.

Fridge of the Damned: Production Complete!

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A Peek Inside the “Fridge of the Damned” tins:
“a shriek spurts / and distorts the voices / that worm and collect / lifting the agony inside”

Thanks to the support of so many generous readers, our successful project on kickstarter has brought something new into this world. Perhaps something sinister and terrifying, as well. The Fridge of the Damned magnetic word tile set! These “poetry magnets” have been manufactured by US Magnetix and all 210 pounds of them have been delivered to my publisher, Raw Dog Screaming Press, who will be working with Nathan Rosen at microhorror.com to distribute these and the myriad rewards that are going out in the first few weeks of March in appreciation to those who helped fund this project. (You might be wondering how to get your hands on these… I believe extra tins of the Fridge magnets from the manufacturing run will no doubt be available for sale online and at conventions from RDSP soon.)

If you backed this project, I’d love for you to share a photo of any weird poem you create.  I’ll add it to the gallery.

The initial photos I received look wonderful, and I’m very excited to start messing with them on sticky surfaces everywhere. Sure, it’s a novelty item, but I think it’s really neat!  I’ve been posting reward production updates to the Fridge’s Flickr gallery, if you’re interested in peeking behind the Fridge.  And in case you missed it, I’ve posted a recap of this event from last January here.

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The Fridge of the Damned – tin design by Nathan Rosen.