Welcome readers, writers, authors, and bloggers!
We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday of the month, when we celebrate IWSG Day as a blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we record our journeys. Check out the April newsletter here.
The awesome co-hosts for this month’s posting of the IWSG are: Melissa Maygrove, Cathrina Constantine, Kate Larkinsdale, and Rebecca Douglass!
Today’s entirely optional question: If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?
Happy April, everyone! I love music. I think it narrates the feelings of our souls, even as we sometimes tap our pen to paper, waiting for words to drip out. Since we’re all about writing here, it’s a good time to remember it’s National Poetry Month. Do you write poetry or have a favorite poet?
I have two favorite poets. My first favorite is Robert Frost. Do you know he’s the only poet to date to win four (4!) Pulitzer prizes? I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.”
My other favorite poet is Sinclair Lewis, and his poem “The Road Not Taken.” Do you know he’s the first person to ever refuse a Pulitzer prize? The award was for his novel Arrowsmith, which Lewis didn’t feel quite met the criteria, which was at that time work that “best represents the wholesome atmosphere of American Life.” Nonetheless, the “powers that were” declared that his award would stand in perpetuity. And so it has.
My two favorite poets, walking in the woods and such, always call to mind songs by John Denver, or Bad Company (Seagull), or James Taylor. I was listening to Chris Rea this afternoon.
Happy writing in April!
I'm not a poetry fan, but I like both those poets too. I had no idea Robert Frost won four Pulitzer prizes.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie!
DeleteI didn't know either ;-)
Music moves the soul. Forgot all about Poetry Month!
ReplyDeleteIt sure does.
DeleteI love the atmospheric concepts of old poetry.
I have some older poets (including Robert Frost) that I've long liked. I'm trying to learn to read and understand more contemporary poetry, even if I don't always like it.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Rebecca. I was beginning to think I'm one of the few remaining fans of the "old stuff" ;-)
DeleteI need to read more of the classics, including poetry.
ReplyDeleteI have a list of classics I want to read. However, I tend to go through my regular TBR list a lot faster ;-)
DeleteI'm not really a poetry person most of the time. It's just not what I choose to read, even though I appreciate it as an art form.
ReplyDeleteI think of Poetry as concise, ornate precursors to the more driven prose of a novel’s deeper story.
DeleteHappy April!
I love poetry! Robert Frost is one of my favorites. I just discovered A Minor Bird last week as I was looking for one of his poems to post for his birthday. When I was teaching, I loved introducing my students to poetry--reluctant readers and writers love it. :)
ReplyDeleteI can very much identify with "A Minor Bird" thanks to a pesky woodpecker who dearly loves my hummingbird feeders ;-)
DeleteYou must have been a wonderful teacher!
What I really enjoy about poetry is how it swings my imagination in different directions.
ReplyDeleteI love it for the same reason - no matter how many times I read a poem ;-)
DeleteI grew up with books of poetry on the shelves in my living room like A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES , also A RAINBOW IN THE SKY. As a teen I gravitated to Poe's writing that matched my moods. I used to write a lot of poetry, but slowed down throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteI loved A Rainbow in the Sky! Funny how teens seems to gravitate to Poe, providing they are properly introduced, of course.
ReplyDeleteHappy April!
Hey Deidre, Fun facts on the poets. My husband is currently in a 'write a poem a day this month' challenge. Happy Easter. Happy April.
ReplyDeleteNow, that's a tempting challenge! Best wishes his way. Hope your weekend was wonderful!
DeletedEAR dIEDRE ~
ReplyDeleteAnonymous mentioned 'A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES'. When I was a child, my Ma used to read poems to me from that book. And to this day, I have a copy of it on one of my bookshelves.
My Ma was instrumental in igniting my love of reading at a young age.
~ D-FensDogG
Hi, Stephen T.!
DeleteI guess my mom was as well, since I found our copy of "A Child's Garden" in her library. One of my very favorite poems by Stevenson is "My Shadow"