A E M - Poetry for Writers

a P ply y O ur p E ncil word M aker Other books by AEM: ~Fiction~ Endeavor Series Phoenix Incandescent Malignant Transfiguration Apex Transcendence Opalescent Immersion Fervent Desolation (coming March 2019) ~Non-fiction~ Booby Trapped Poetry for Writers Poetry for Writers by AEM Copyright 2016 by AEM
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Printed in the United States of America First Printing 2016 Cover: by AEM with thanks to Pixabay artists For: All the Lovers of Words Table of Contents Magic Midwif e Character Creatio n Nobody and Everybod y The Nature of the Jo b The Pat h The Writers Wan d When Visiting a Write r The Proces s The Writers Nightmar e Fill the Spac e Magic Carpets Are Rea l My Imaginary Friend s Party o n How Many Cups Will It Be ? Sentence Woe s Friends of Writer s Be the Master not the Mastered . Where Have All My Words Gone ? Writing Bu g The Writing Implements Wa r The Ink That Bleed s Write Bravel y Da Rul z WRITE R The Character Who Couldn t A Readers Ple a Crick Crick Crac k Its Alive ! The Agony of Not Writin g The Midnight Whispe r Oh, Adverb ! The Nou n The Adjectiv e The Ver b The Next On e The Wrong Way to Writ e The Magic of Word s The Vampire and the Early Bir d All the Same, Yet Differen t The One In Charg e Characte r The Sharers Dilemm a Magic in the Ai r The Perky Plo t The Nicest Serial Kille r The Handle r Damn that Draf t Fight for your Stor y Author-correc t Shut Up and Writ e Head Implosio n Head Explosio n Writers Rag e The Evil Plotte r Edit Thi s Top Your Erase r Addicted to Word s Rebel Write r Write Bravel y Hot Mess Write r Magic Midwife I am a writer. A speaker of tales. I write of adventure, and sometimes of toenails.

Some call me crazy. Some call me a brute. Some call me a skydiver without parachute. I write what they say. I write what they do. I swear that Im their leader and they are my crew.

My research is fun. Though it may appall. So my browser history is off limits, yall. I am a writer. This is my life. In the world of words, I am a magic midwife.

Character Creation I wrote a story, but have to admit I forgot to do the characterization bit. I didnt file personalities. I didnt fill out graphs. I didnt look up their birth order, Or measure the size of their calves. The way it worked for me was a huge mess. My characters showed up and handed me their requests.

I hurried to get names and ages. I tried to line them up. They wouldnt stop talking all at once, I finally yelled, Hey, Shut Up! It doesnt matter how it works for you. Each writer has a unique process they must go through. Characters form in different ways. When they fall on paper.

But they are the ones you always want When you must go on a caper. Nobody and Everybody Nobody asked me to write a book. Nobody cheered me along the way. Nobody asked me to read my words. Nobody thought my passion would stay. Everybody told me my hobby was cute.

Everybody suggested books to read. Everybody said I should write a different way. Everybody thought I was strange, indeed. But what do I care about what Nobody does? And why should I care about Everybodys aim? Because there isnt a book written by Nobody. And Everybodys problem is the same. The Nature of the Job There was a book inside my head.

It woke me when I went to bed. It was demanding. It was proud. It was needy and pouty and loud. I got up and started to write. The characters began to fight.

Stop that now! I said. Not a peep. Or I will just go back to my sleep. They laughed and giggled hard at me. You think we will let you free? Three hours later. Here I type.

This job is more hard work than hype. The Path Im no artist! I used to shout while I laughed and looked away. My drawings stink, my writings on the brink, and Im never going to get paid! Im no artist! I rolled my eyes and covered up my ideas. I would know if I were, others would concur, and I would make it my biz. Im no artist! I whispered as I continued to learn and enjoy. Theres no room for me, my results are ugly, and I cant get rid of them for free! Im an artist.

I said one day and realized I had no doubts. It is what it is, it cant be undone, and I wouldnt have it any other way. The Writers Wand Once I had a magic wand, That made me quite the writer. Whatever I dreamed up in my head, I could swish out just like that. Id watch as the books formed neatly, No editing or revising needed. Perfectly composed every time, The details always perfect.

There was no need to strain over genre, Audience, or trends. I never had to stay up cutting out The things that later didnt make sense. Oh, yes, I had a magic wand, My career was shiny and grand. That is, until the wand caught on, And now hes the one getting paid. When Visiting a Writer If you ever come to visit me, There are some important things you should know. How to find my cups and couch And where the bathroom is.

Feel free to turn the music up, But watch out for the toys on the floor. But the most important thing to know Is that Im one of those creatures they call writers. You should probably not use my computer. Im seriously not trying to be rude. Its just that youll want to keep away from my folder of random ideas, And you should never look at my browser history. We can talk about architecture and history, And the weather patterns of most countries.

Afterwards we can chat weapons and transportation Before we discuss the implications of clothing and hairstyles. Then there are the ways to kill someone, Or the detailed anatomy of a sea creature. Waitwhere are you going? I thought we were having fun! The Process Write. Write. Write. Wrrrrrite. Write. Revise. Reword. Cute. Reorder. Trim. Exclaim. Trash. Panic. Hope. Dismay. Delight. Adjust. Destroy. Rearrange. Craft. Shift. Lift. Expand. Discover. Deny. Defend. Revise. Edit. Inhale. Exhale. Edit. Inhale. Exhale. Edit. Edit.

The Writers Nightmare Last night I had a bad dream. Bad sentences were after me. They chased me through the dark, empty streets. I dodged and ducked and tripped and ran. At last I managed to wake and rise. And blink away the night.

I was sweaty, pale, and tired. But glad to be free of the dream. Later I sat at my desk. I stared at my unfinished novel. Or maybe it was staring at me. I realized that my problem was back.

The sentences laughed and ran through my brain. I hadnt escaped at all. I had merely shifted positions. Started a new leg of the race. The question a writer faces each day is: When am I awake? And when am I asleep? Fill the Space The blank page waits. Right now. Right now.

Fill the space with your words. Tell the story bottled within. Write. Right now. Pop the cork and let it loose. Write. Right now. Right now.

Take them to the place only you can. Press the pencil to the paper. Write. Right Now. Fill the space with your words. Magic Carpets Are Real I used to want a magic carpet When I was very small.

I planned on keeping it beside my bed To catch me in case of a fall. I hoped to ride it every day By moonlight and by sun. I planned to go all kinds of places But only if they were fun. Today I still have a magic carpet Though it has changed shape. Its called a piece of paper. I use it like a superhero cape.

It takes me to all kinds of places. Its the best kind of deal. I wish that I had known as a kid that Magic Carpets really are real. My Imaginary Friends My Imaginary Friends are Lazy. No, no, you heard me right. They do not want to go on adventures.

They do not want to fight. I told them wed have all kinds of fun. I told them thered be food. They replied that they were too busy. Or maybe they werent in the mood. I cant believe theyd treat me like this! How dare they gripe and whine! Dont they understand that Im in charge? Dont they know that they are mine? My imaginary Friends are Lazy.