Welcome to another monthly post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group.
If you would like to know more about this very encouraging and supportive writing group
Anyone can join, budding writer, published or unpublished, writer of poetry, short stories, novels, essays ... So give it a go and visit the other members , read their contributions and don't hesitate to leave comments.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!!!
Remember, the question is optional!!!
August 5 question - Quote: "Although I have written a short story collection, the form found me and not the other way around. Don't write short stories, novels or poems. Just write your truth and your stories will mold into the shapes they need to be."
Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?
Have you ever written a piece that became a form, or even a genre, you hadn't planned on writing in? Or do you choose a form/genre in advance?
The awesome co-hosts for the August 5 posting of the IWSG are Susan Baury Rouchard, Nancy Gideon, Jennifer Lane, Jennifer Hawes, Chemist Ken, and Chrys Fey!
Thanks for this topic. Before replying, I have a question of my own : who is the quote from ?
As I write mostly poetry and short fiction, the form takes over almost immediately. However a poem can start as a prose poem, then become a flash fiction, sometimes even a short story if inspiration hits that way. Or it can evolve into verse, as a narrative poem.
I can't see how a novel can be anything but a novel from the onset, as this form, I think, needs a very strong idea which grows over time, and careful planning. Personally, my novel in progress firstly formed in my head: the main idea, the characters and the plot line; and came together over several years before I set upon writing it in earnest.
The short story is I suppose the most malleable of forms, content- and lengthwise. It may create enough material for a novel if written in the form of a series, maybe too I suppose.
Poetry, however brings with it a whole different universe: form in verse or prose; vocabulary more to do with ideas, feelings, atmosphere, descriptions than events except in the case of a narrative poem. I enjoy its concise, gem-like matter. When I write Poetry, I feel that the creative process is heightened and that is when, also, I feel most like an artist.
Thank you for visiting. Wishing you an inspiring August and a fun IWSG's day.
In the field, neighbouring our hotel in Leiketio, Spanish Basque Country.
On the road through the Tour de France passes in the Pyrenees. (Cols des crêtes, Col du Tourmalet)
I love poetry too. Much that I try, I cannot stay away from it. It chooses me before I choose it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting Susan!
Thanks Sonia for visiting. Love your poem-answer to the question too.
DeleteIt was such a pleasure to see these pictures! I agree with you about short stories being the most malleable.
ReplyDeletewww.nooranandchawla.com
Thanks Lady. Photography is a passion which often inspires poem. Happy IWSG day.
DeleteBeautiful pictures! Have a wonderful August. Thank you for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Catarina.
DeleteThat's interesting you feel more creative when writing poetry.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
I know it’s not your cup of tea, but maybe you should try your hand at it again ...
DeleteI agree a novel takes planning, although regardless of the result the “story” needs to be there...at least vaguely, first. When I write poems, I do think they are one of my most pure forms of writing, coming from the heart first...
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Liza. Happy IWSG blog hop.
DeleteBreathtaking views. I hope you are using these locations to supercharge your writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting IWSG this month!
Always Ken. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteLovely photos, Susan. Thanks for co-hosting. It was nice getting to know you better.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joylene for stopping by. Likewise.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoy reading your poetry. It is as if the words are actually breathing on the paper. Maybe that's why you feel that is you are most artistic with poetry.
Thanks for co-hosting and all the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Thank you Pat for your praise. Have a wonderful IWSG blog hop.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting with me this month and for the phenomenal photos! Personally, I think a short story is the most difficult to write. I always see novels in my minds eye. Creating in a limiting capacity is truly terrifying! You do it well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy for visiting and commenting and co-hosting this August post.
DeleteWishing you an inspiring summer.
Gorgeous photos! Thank you for co-hosting. I like how you mentioned that a poem can begin one way and then morph into something else. That's how I began writing back in my early teens, although I had no clue that's what I was doing. LOL
ReplyDeleteGlad you stopped by SA. Yes poetry can sometimes offer limitless freedom , writing or musically.
DeleteGreat to meet you and see your beautiful blog. I enjoyed reading your answer to the question and how you addressed the poetry form. I like to write short stories, but honestly I think they take more effort than a 90K novel. Thanks for hosting today!
ReplyDeleteThanks CLee, glad you enjoyed it. We have met on WEP, through my Wordpress blog, susanbauryrouchard .... same photo avatar.
DeleteHi Susan, I don't write poetry (other than song lyrics in some of my books) but I could see how it's the most creative of narratives. Happy August!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer. Poetry brings so much freedom and the opportunity to express whims on the spur of the moment. You should try again.
DeleteIt certainly helps to know from the outset if you're writing a short story or series of novels!
ReplyDeleteYes Patsy. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteLovely pictures! It's been awhile since I did freeverse poetry, but I always enjoyed it, and I love novels in verse. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you Carrie Anne for stopping by. I enjoyed your blog too. Happy IWSG August blog hop.
DeleteThank you for the lovely pictures! And thank you also for co-hosting this month. Happy IWSG day :)
ReplyDeleteThanks SE for visiting. Happy IWSG blog hop.
DeleteUntil you connected the dots I never thought of poetry as an artistic expression. Now that you mention it, it makes perfect sense. Thank you for co-hosting our August blog hop.
ReplyDeleteLynn La Vita blog: Writers Supporting Writers
Thanks Lynn for commenting. Happy IWSG blog hop.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting. Love your pictures. I admire you for being able to write poetry. Word choices are so important.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nathalie for visiting. Poetry is such an enjoyable medium. Try it, you might be good at it. Nothing daunting about it.
DeleteGreat photos.
ReplyDeleteOne of my regrets, writing-wise, is that I can't write poetry, never could. I'm strictly a prose person, but I love poetry and respect poets for their ability to put emotions into a written format.
Thanks Olga for your comment. Such a pity, poetry is such fun. Nothing intrinsically difficult about it, you should give it another go.
DeleteI know short stories can turn into novels, but you're right, I've not seen it the other way round.
ReplyDeleteThanks for cohosting today, and I love the pictures too!
Thank you for stopping by . Happy IWSG August blog hop.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting today, Susan! I hope you have lots of fun. I'm always a little in awe of poets, because that's a genre I struggle with. Thanks for your photos of the Pyrenees. I drove through them a long time ago, and they were lovely. And I also loved to see the lily of the valley. That was a favorite in my Nana's garden when I was a child. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments FBlue. Glad you enjoyed the photos and they brought back fond memories.
DeleteI can relate when you say writing poetry makes you feel like an artist. Beautiful photos. I love the Lily of the Valley in the first one. One of my favorite scents.
ReplyDeleteThanks Leigh for visiting. Fellow poet ? Have an inspiring month of creativity.
DeleteThanks for posting the pictures that inspire your poetry and your life!
ReplyDeleteThanks PJ. These are photographs from my last holidays. I love to travel, walk about and take pictures. My poetry comes more from the memories in my mind’s eye and imagination, like watching a scene unfold on a screen.
DeleteThis was lovely, Susan. A pleasure to meet you. Thanks for co-hosting ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Dierdre, likewise. Wishing you an inspiring month of writing.
DeleteI love the photos!
ReplyDeleteMy current work in progress started as a short story that I'm now turning it into a longer form, exploring the ideas more thoroughly.
Thank you Lynda for stopping by. Wishing you all the best on your current story.
DeleteInteresting post. I used to write a little poetry but haven't done so in a long time. Something to think about. Thanks for co-hosting today. You have a lovely blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beverly for commenting. My blog is also on Wordpress, if you like.
DeleteWishing you a creative August.
Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG. You're so right about a novel - it cannot be anything but a Novel because it takes such careful planning. I suppose the genre of the novel could be optional or blossom along the way. But no, not really.
ReplyDeleteI loved the photos, such a treat.
Thank you Kalpana for visiting. See you on WEP ?
DeleteWishing you inspiration for Long Shadow.
It's interesting how ideas can change, isn't it? I've had song lyrics become poems (after I wrote the song). :)
ReplyDeleteChrys, interesting. I try to write poems into songs, but a musician once told me that they were very difficult to put into music ... Thanks for co-hosting and for your blog-hop Sparks.
DeleteBeautiful photos and trip! I had no idea there were so many different forms of poetry. Or even literary. I just write what I know - travel articles, opinion pieces, blog posts, and memoir, so my path has always been pretty straightforward. :-) Thank you for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteThank you Liesbeth for visiting. I am sure there are many different forms still waiting to be discovered .... Creativity has no limits. Wishing you inspiration in your writing field.
DeleteI think the type of writing chooses us as much as we choose it. Sounds like poetry is where you're happiest.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Shannon. But I love writing stories too and escape into a different reality. The novel is more ambitious but will get there eventually.
DeleteBeautiful pictures! Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you Debra for commenting. Pleased to meet you.
DeleteLovely country, Susan. I'm really late, but appreciate you hosting this month. I seldom write poetry. Don't know why. My first publication was a poem sent to a high anthology and it was published. Surprise. Have a great week.
ReplyDelete