Moondustwriter's Thursday - A Look at the Arts

Welcome to Moon Dust Writer Thursday

 I am using today to stand on a platform and shout.

I have had several friends recently who have doubted themselves as writers, poets, musicians. 

I have to say I blame society for the discouragement. I myself am a victim of society's hand of judgement on creative people. Why? I was bound to art and poetry, heart and soul, as a child. I grew up encouraged to be creative.I won my first awards in art at 5, sold my first drawings at 12, and started publishing
 (well you get the idea). When it was time to go to Art School, I caved in to the opinion of society.
All I heard was: "How will you make a living? You will be poor unless you become a commercial artist."
I had known poor my entire life as well as what appeared to be "unsuccessful." My extremely, talented artist mother is the epitome of the starving artist.  Her joy is in creating beauty and expressing the woes of mankind on a canvas. Those who own her work received it as a gift of gratitude. I walked away from my painting and poetry because I was intimidated and never looked back (until a year ago.)

So here's my shout to you - write, paint, create because you love it!

 Strive at it because you are inspired. Put your pen to the paper because you might inspire another to greatness. Don't look for self-aggrandizement. Art is intended to influence society. It is the intrinsic value that influences not the dollar value. Long before a DaVinci had a value of millions, DaVinci was influencing art students and bringing joy to the common man. Take your words and paint - big flashy stokes, 

 fine quiet ones, or a mixture of the two
. 

Here are two of my mother's paintings; they represent different styles and moods.
 I encourage each of you to use your words in a variety of styles and moods.

Your heart and hands will thank you!

OF MODERN POETRY
by Wallace Stevens

The poem of the mind in the act of finding.

What will suffice. It has not always has had

To find: the scene was set: it repeated what

Was in the script.

Then the theater was changed

To something else. Its past was a souvenir

It has to be living, to learn the speech of the place.

It has to face the time of the men and to meet

The women of the time. It has to think about war

And it has to find what will suffice. It has

To construct a new stage. It has to be on that stage,

And, like an insatiable actor, slowly and

With meditation, speak words that in the ear,

In the delicatest ear of the mind, repeat,

Exactly, that which it wants to hear, at the sound

Of which, an invisible audience listens,

Not to the play, but to itself, expressed

In an emotion as of two people, as of two

Emotions becoming one. The actor is

A metaphysician in the dark, twanging

An instrument twanging, a wiry sting that gives

Sounds passing through sudden rightness, wholly

Containing the mind, below which it cannot descend

Beyond which it has no will to rise.

It must

Be the finding of a satisfaction, and may

Be of a man skating, a woman dancing, a woman

 Combing. The poem of the act of the mind.

Wallace Stevens was a poet born in October 1879. Based on the ideas conveyed in this poem, he had a forward thinking mentality about poetry.Fortunately, for us, poets like Stevens took a stand or we might all be writing in quatrains.

Thanks for your visit to One Stop Poetry today. Our goal is to encourage you to inspire and be inspired. Hopefully we will have a generation on our heels driven to do the same thing.

One Shot Wednesday - Week 14

Welcome To One Shot Wednesday

home to some of the best

poetry on the web

I am brian miller and welcome to your moment in the spotlight. Do you know what inspired the name "one shot"? An eminem song..."You only get one shot, do not miss your chances to blow, opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo!" Don't blame it on my cohorts, lol. Here is your opportunity...go on and step up to the mic. I can not wait to see what you have in store for us tonight.

If you are new to One Shot Wednesday here is the deal:

1) Write a poem
2) Link your poem to One Shot using our Mr Linky (your name and the URL for the poem)
3) Visit other One Shot poets. Tell them how you felt when reading, encourage them, interact...honestly this is my favorite part...
4) Tell others about One Shot Wednesday by including a link to this page on your post.

On behalf of One Shot Wednesday, Pete Marshall, Adam Dustus, Leslie Moon, Claudia, Chris and myself, welcome to the stage. We are glad you are here. Now on with the show!

One Shot Wednesday - Poetry Week 13

Welcome to another One Shot Wednesday. I'm Moondustwriter (aka Leslie Moon) hosting this round of poetry. I have to say we have all been taken aback by the response from poets who come to our site. I hope you agree that there are well written, thought provoking pieces posted each week. Thanks to each of you for your friendship and for inspiring me to be a better poet.

If this is your first week, please comment so we can welcome you properly.

Here is the format for those of you just starting

1. Write a poem

2. Come to One Shot Tuesday night or anytime Wednesday and put in the necessary information on Mr Linky. If Mr Linky is down you will need to put the URL in the comment box. The URL is the web page address of your poem

3. Leave a comment (we love to hear from you)

4. Take a few moments to read a poem or two and give some words of kindness. I personally like constructive criticism but if you do that keep it positive.We have poets of all levels. I know how much it means when the reader can give the poet some encouragement. Thanks all of you for always knowing the right thing to say. 

Have a great One Shot Wednesday 

Dustus Friday - John Locke Book Review

John Locke Book Review

My friend Dustus is off and he kindly gave me an extra day to play with. I’ve wanted to feature not only poets on my site but people that I believe are noteworthy in the writing community. I will be doing book reviews once to twice a month on Thursdays.  If you are a fiction writer of any length and genre, please drop me a line at moondustwriter@gmail.com

There are many fiction writers I have met in the past year who are what I consider New York Times Best Seller material. My friend John Locke is one of them. John amazingly has only been writing for three years. He has five fictions published and is working on number six. He supports other writers and is a generous humanitarian. I have experienced his generosity first hand. About four months ago, John read that I am working for the special needs community and asked how he could help our non-profit. Next thing, we received a gift for our organization - for children! Thanks again John!

John has always loved reading, writing,and  telling stories but he was too busy with life and his business to put effort into serious writing. I’m glad that three years ago John decided to write. We have been missing out.

 
When I asked John what his goal as a writer is he told me: “I'm not trying to write the Great American Novel, I just want to entertain my readers.  I like to take a serious or semi-serious situation and blast it with zany characters and laugh-out-loud dialogue.  I want to shock my readers, but I also want to make them laugh.  I work really hard on the pacing of my books, with the goal that my readers will fly through them and complete them in one or two sittings.”

Here's a must read for your reading list: Saving Rachel by John Locke.

If you like a fast paced, not sure where it's taking you read, then I promise you have the right book. I picked the book up and read it straight through; I'm like that- if a book is good- what's the point of putting it down. John has not only developed interesting characters and a riveting crime story line, but he's also created the kind of story where you want to psycho analyze the characters. I need to read it again just to analyze the intricacies of the characters.

What doesn't this book have: doesn't have a walk in the park - no sorry there is a twist with a walk in the park; the beautiful knock-out - well he has her but this beauty is not what she seems;  hmm avarice, the double cross is there too.  I'm trying to think what it doesn't have. There's no granny driving a model T! If I say much more, I will start giving away the plot.

 If you like suspense, drama, humor - you'll enjoy Saving Rachel!

My suggestion go on Amazon and buy the Kindle version or like me get the paperback version.

Other Novels by John Locke: Lethal People, Lethal Experiment, Now and Then, Wish List, and Follow the Stone is in the writing stages.

Want to know what’s on my wish list for reading?

John's on Twitter @DonovanCreed

One Shot Wednesday: Poetry Week 12

Welcome to One Shot Wednesday

The place to highlight your poetic talents

Hi and welcome all, I am a very excited Pete Marshall and this evening I shall be your host for another One Shot Wednesday. Please do check out the details of our latest poetry competition also, an amazing prize is in store for our winner!

New to One Shot? Then let me explain how it works

1. Write a poetic piece & post it on your blog

2. Then let us know about your post. Link back to One Shot

3. Sign up in the Mr Linky list, linking directly to your post, AFTER you've posted it.

4. Go visit others who have signed up! Offer support & encouragement. Share your love of words and insight respectfully. Please try to visit as many participating poets as you can. We all could use and appreciate kind feedback.

All forms of poetry are accepted for One Shot Wednesday. Everyone is welcome.

Thanks for taking part and let the entertainment begin

Pete

Autumn Dreams: A Poem By Pete Marshall

Autumn Dreams

A Poem By Pete Marshall

The winters chill is drawing near

As wind whips through my tired bones

The furnace sparks and flares alight

The conkers placed around the home

The cobwebs hold a magic charm

As morning dew paints crystal scenes

The spiders knocked but cant get in

And lanterns glow in darkened dreams

The candy taste of trick or treat

That warms the mouth of innocence

Yet baptised souls will better fare

From witches spells and temperaments

And portals lay as weakened paths

When all who’ve gone can walk again

We pray their souls are one with God

So Man can walk once more with men

********

Autumn is my favourite season for so many reasons, and having enjoyed the plethora of poems we have received for our first competition I couldn't help but want to join in.

With Autumn comes colour, cold, fresh mornings, conkers, my wedding anniversary and Halloween. Halloween is in fact a celebration of the dead...a time to remember those that have passed..a festival that we now celebrate on 11th November and call Remembrance Day.

I hope you enjoyed my celebration of Autumn?

**************

image courtesy creative commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/sis/

One Shot Poetry Wednesday! (Week 11)

Welcome to One Shot Wednesday - highlight your poetic talents

My name is Adam Dustus. Welcome to One Shot for our 11th week! I am extremely happy to be part of this supportive peer community of talented poets. Let the fun begin!

New to One Shot Wednesday? Here's a quick recap of how it works:

1. Write a poetic piece & post it on your blog
2. Then let us know about your post. Link back to One Shot
3. Sign up in the Mr Linky list, linking directly to your post, AFTER you've posted it.
4. Go visit others who have signed up! Offer support & encouragement. Share your love of words and insight respectfully. Please try to visit as many participating poets as you can. We all could use and appreciate kind feedback.

All forms of poetry are accepted for One Shot Wednesday. Everyone is welcome.

Cheers.
Adam 

Moondustwriter's Thursday - guest featuring Dave Holloway

Bent by Moondustwriter

My friend Dave grew up in California. He lived in a time when the world was turned upside down as it was questioning the  mindset. He did drugs, Viet Nam, prison (for drugs),  multiple marriages and breakups, homelessness, self-expression through art and writing.

Dave is a self-taught artist; I wish you could see some of his art (most of which has been lost). Dave's expression in the arts has come from duelling with life. His poetry, which spans decades, is heavy hitting.

I appreciate Dave because he mentored me when I re-entered the world of poetry after a twenty year hiatus. I don’t think I would have had the confidence to blog poetry had it not been for Dave's constant encouragement.

Enjoy the poetry of 

Dave Holloway

The Last Days

 by

Dave Holloway

In a grand finale

almost vengeful air

the sound mind

slowly slipped away

yet a youthful gleam

shone crystal bright

through cloudy eyes

that saw too much

of a beautiful world

that grinds to dust

the wicked core

of self righteousness

still plaguing a corner

of a mind now loss

but sweetly surrendered

to a nurse’s care

and a garden view

where baby quail

pick and peck

their stomachs full.

Copyright 2010

A 100 Years Ago

by

Dave Holloway

Romantic as it seems

A century ago to me

Seems a dark and cold

Miserable time to be

A shower to a tub

A toilet to a pot

Ice for the few

Sitting at the top

Time slowed down

Farm life bleak

Sweat is the reward

Cities all reek

Medicine crude

The dying just die

In the world I see

Through my own 

mind’s eye

I wish I could direct you to Dave's website. Though he is published, he is a purist. Poem, pen and paper are preferable to computer and social media networking.

A writing question for you: What role has a mentor played in your life as a writer?

One Shoot Sunday - Guest Hosted by Moondustwriter

Welcome to 

One Shoot Sunday

Today I have the honor of  showing  you Terence Jones' photography. 

Look through the aperture with him and experience art.

Enjoy Terence Jones

What is your favorite subject to shoot?
"I usually want to capture something that is lost in every day's speed. I just realized this extremely old iron rail in front of my window. It is probably eighty years old, has seen wars, births, deaths; it is a silent witness of what happened here."

How does black and white impact your expression?
"Very much actually. Colors force the viewer to see the picture in a pre-defined way. In shooting black and white, I believe that  the perception is more genuine and not necessarily linked to former experience. It is more pure, more about the picture itself."

Tell me about the 365 project:
"It was a challenge from some friends. The 365 is about more honest experimenting with techniques and sharing those results no matter how good or bad. It's much different from the pretentious way of taking professional pictures; you only send out the ones which are the best of the best.  With the 365, you openly present whatever you have on that particular day. I see my shots and can reconstruct my mood on that day. It is good and honest because it is authentic."

What would you suggest to people just starting out?
"I believe in the Tradition of the Sun (Coelho). Go the extra mile, explore, get in touch and connect with what you are doing. You have to touch it yourself. Go out from the beginning and have fun."

For those of you who are curious, Terence shoots with a Canon EOS 7D. His primary lens is the Canon 50mm. He is a shallow depth of field addict; usually shoots almost wide open at f/2.0.

Thanks Terence

Just like One Shot Wednesday, we are trying to create a community of photographers with One Shoot. There is diverse talent out there. I enjoy each day of discovery. Please feel free to link a favorite piece and/or comment. Maybe you will feel challenged to enter your own 365 day photo project. I am thinking about it.

Adam Dustus will return next week for another One Shoot Sunday.

Cheers - Moondustwriter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terence_s_jones