Art to do or not to do? (From A Pocket Full of Poesy)

Who really gives a crap about art, anyway?
The artist slaves away,
All day,
In solitude and self annihilation,
For the hope of some acylation,
Which may or may not eventuate,
It may be after they’re dead, too late.
Writing a poem, song or book,
Painting a picture to hang in a nook.

But art is undervalued
And maybe it should be,
It doesn’t provide survival for me,
Except for our souls, it speaks to a deeper part
Of the human heart.
It should be seen as essential
And a link to the spiritual
Instead of relegated and delegated
To a place of marginalization,
Or condescension
Because it cannot be measure by the money you make,
Or the time it can take,
It cannot be measured in a laboratory,
Or simplified in its glory.

It takes its place in life,
Amidst all our strife,
Never to go away,
Heaven forbid the day,
That we ignore the beauty and vulnerability,
Of artistic expressions,
Or let science, progress or materialism bull doze our inner artistic impressions.

Art, to do or not to do?
What would I have if I didn’t have you?
It’s not really a question that a real artist entertains,
For what else would they do with their brains?
They are wired to create,
Something thought provoking, and hopefully, great,
That can cause people to pause or sigh
Or even to cry,
That can call us deeper into the question of why?
That may simply provide a space to reflect,
In parts that we often neglect,
And allow us enjoyment,
Meaning replacing bewilderment,
Love instead of despair,
Hope, and sometimes, someone to care.
An artist, to be or not to be?
It is not a choice I make, it is who I am-me.

My book in the library...

Hello again,

I haven't blogged for a while, a lot is going on in my life.

My book A Pocket Full of Poesy is now in my local library, in the local author section and in the Non Fiction Poetry section of the shelves in two libraries. It is nice to see my book on the shelves.

I know a lot of people do not respect self publishing and I never did either. It was when I discovered a literary journal who published on lulu.com that I started to look into it further. Then I realised how I could publish work that was not accepted elsewhere and see if people enjoyed reading it as well as feeling like I had accomplished something. I first published my short stories and people really liked them. I also discovered that a number of bookshops (independent) will take books on consignment. These have been all good discoveries to make through this process.

It is a confidence boost to publish your own work. A number of famous authors have self published their books at some point in their careers, some of these include; Margaret Atwood, William Blake, Lord Byron, Willa Cather, Stephen Crane, e.e. cummings, W.E.B. DuBois, Alexander Dumas, T.S. Eliot, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Benjamin Franklin, Zane Grey, Thomas Hardy, E. Lynn Harris, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ernest Hemingway, Robinson Jeffers, Spencer Johnson, Stephen King, Rudyard Kipling, Louis L'Amour, D.H. Lawrence, Anais Nin, Thomas Paine, Tom Peters, Edgar Allen Poe, Alexander Pope, Beatrix Potter, Ezra Pound, Marcel Proust, Irma Rombauer, Carl Sandburg, Robert Service, George Bernard Shaw, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Upton Sinclair, Gertrude Stein, William Strunk, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Henry David Thoreau, Leo Tolstoi, Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, and Virginia Woolf.

I find this heartening. There is a stigma towards self publishing but it does not mean that a writer is not good at their craft, as we can see with the list above. (It does not mean it will be great writing either, I am just saying the format doesn't dictate the quality of the work.)

Having been around the band scene for a long time and having two partners who were in bands and produced their own CDs and sold them, I began to wonder why authors could not try to do the same thing. In the music world on Myspace there are a number of talented musicians who write really good songs and produce and market the cds themselves and sell to a small but devoted fan base. I believe there are some people who self publish who are quality writers. Maybe they haven't found a publisher who wants what they write (JK Rowling took ten years to find a publisher willing to publish her Harry Potter books) why we are so scared to take matters into our own hands?

Self publishing means you can write what you want and if you are serious you will make it the best piece of work possible. The stigma against self publishing is still real and though the standard of self published work can be low, it can also have gems within its range. I simply wanted to move forward in my work and expose it to as many people as possible, through my own means. All I would like to say is don't right people off who publish on the web or who self publish, it does not mean they are good or bad. Read their work and see for yourself.

I would recommend self publishing- it gives an author a sense of accomplishment, whilst you are writing the novel or waiting the many months before you receive the rejection letters. In this process you can achieve something and keep the book forever. Those of us who choose to self publish are in good company shown by the author list above. And for those of us who wish to put our art out into the world and not wait for someone to discover us, self publishing is a perfect and acceptable way to do this.

Everyone creates art so that others can see, read, touch, hear and experience their work. Self publishing for authors is like an exhibition for a painter, maybe someone important will notice your abilities, but even if they don't you will be communicating with people through your work.
The great thing is people will get to read your work which is what we want. I have people who have read my stories and poetry from all over the world and around Australia. Internet story websites are also really good for exposure as well. Anyway, enough of my ranting. Thanks for reading. All the best for your creative endeavours whatever they may be.

Getting away...

I managed to get away for a couple of days recently. It was extremely peaceful and relaxing. What is it about mounds of green mountainous rock and deep green broccoli trees standing beside running streams through lime green grass, that draws us deeper and to more tranquil parts of our soul?

The romantics talked about it, beauty and truth. Beauty stimulates in me a longing for something more than our physical life. I took a few photos of the trip. I think beauty reflects who we are and reminds us we have a soul. Beautiful poetry, glorious music, rich paintings, pristine beaches, the immaculate white of daisies and the intricate tiny world of perfectly designed flower petals and the minute insect communities that inhabit these areas.

I went away to Northern New South Wales, an exquisite part of the country. It looks like England probably because the English planted oaks and pine trees and other stunning greenery when they came over two hundred years ago.

When I am surrounded by beauty and I am exploring or getting away or traveling I find my mind opens up and I am inspired. Travel is a deep experience for me. It is experiencing the world, seeing new things, taking on an adventure or a challenge, encountering new people and cultures, finding out about Others around the world. It is about learning, exploring; yourself, the geographical and philosophical world and other people's societies, history and culture. It provides perspective for me, insight, it stimulates change in my life, enlightens me, inspires me, opens my world up instead of closing it down (as so many other things do in life).

Of course, traveling is fun for goodness sake! Downright, freaking good fun. I don't see the point of living and not experiencing the world around me. I don't have a desire to have a pristine lawn and the latest BMW four wheel drive, or children with straight, white teeth, give me a mountain track and an untouched river, a cultural and physical journey any day of the week. Show me something about life, living, myself, how the world works, the world's history, its ugliness and shining glory. To me travel, has two levels the physical and the internal.

When I traveled in Nepal it was striking, edifying, enriching, educational and wonderful all at the same time. I put some demons to rest in Nepal and most importantly, I put to rest certain things in relationships and felt freed from the control of my past.

Anyway, I have rambled enough. I would like to post some photos. Feel free to share your views on traveling or getting away. I love to receive comments. Thanks for reading.

New Poetry Book

Hello

I have recently been writing poetry and I have just published a collection called A Pocket Full of Poesy. If you want to check it out or purchase it click on the below link.

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=877719

Thanks a lot for your visit, it is good to see you.
Suzanne

Reviews:

a good voice 7 Mar 2008

by Julie Powell

I happened to notice A Pocket Full of Poesy by Suzanne Strong and thought it a good idea to comment on something other than novels.

Beauty Divine, the first poem of the collection, had so many levels but I will only talk of my immediate response. My first impression was that it wasn't about a plant at all but a person whose harsh life had moved to an even harsher death. 'Down to a solitary green stem' brought to mind someone who was in the last stages of cancer - such sadness.

Still, the poem had hope, as if in death (whether a plant or person) there is life around the corner, though to me it was filled with hurt.

I don't read that much poetry so I may be completely off track but I will say it was a powerful and emotional string of words.

Constant, the second poem made me smile though I still feel there was an aura of sadness about it. Poetry of course is like music, helping us dance with those difficult emotions that roll around inside waiting for release.

Poignant indeed but well constructed and certainly something to think about.

Julie Elizabeth Powell, author of Gone

Shamelessly brilliant 20 Feb 2008

by Aleksander Granger

It has a very special way of being human, which so much poetry seems to lose, and I love the down to earth voice it has. It's brilliance is really in its simplicity.

Colourful and lively. 23 Jan 2008

by jadzia1994

Suzanne's poetry book has a great start to it. The poems I have read are colourful and lively and bode well for more of the same. Her style is jaunty and playful full of fun and joy of life. I love her poetry it's just my cup of tea, and I'm sure it will be yours too.

Regards Anne Rogers

Author of The Shift Worker (Poetry)

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Goodwill to all this Christmas

Hello

Something major has happened this Christmas, to myself and my family. This has changed our lives forever, as things sometimes do. I am always amazed at how a few moments and certain choices made by people can change the course of the rest of our lives.

This is in my mind this Christmas. I have always loved Christmas because of Christ's birth. I know most people hate Christmas, but I think they hate the shopping centres, the fake carols over the loud speaker, the endless consumerism and the cheesy platitudes that abound at this time. I don't think people despise the story of Christmas, a humble baby born into the world, parents, angels, animals, wise men from the east, shepherds.

I want to wish everyone who stumbles upon my blog, a thoughtful, divine-searching Christmas, one where we all look upwards instead of towards each other or downwards.

That is what I am going to seek to do. There was a little baby in a manger and he was the picture of humility and serenity (no matter what you believe about him).

May this Christmas be special for you.

Mini Manuscript Assessment

Hello again

Today my mini manuscript assessment from Vignette Press arrived. It was about some of my short stories included in Daisy Chains the collection I sold earlier this year. The assessment was very good. It contains a lot of encouraging information about your writing as well as the problems and areas that need to be addressed.

There was some very valuable feedback set out in detail for me. I would recommend getting a mini assessment from Vignette or other organisations that do them. I have not had any from other companies so I cannot compare but I did think what I got was profitible for me to move forward as an artist.

What I have taken away from this assessment is that I need to keep working on my novel. I am definitely taking the comments and advice on board and will be implementing these elements in future pieces. Overall, I am really glad I got this assessment done. It helped me to see some of my strengths and weaknesses and has caused me to focus my efforts a little more in certain areas of my work.

To write or not to write...

Hello again

I think every writer questions whether they are doing the right thing in devoting their time to writing. It is probably the same with any artistic field, as there are little or slow rewards for creating art. In the ABC short story competition I participated in recently, one of the winners talked about how she felt torn between her family, working and writing. I have heard other authors say the same thing, they questioned what they were doing constantly. Writing can present so many frustrations, but if you have an overwhelming urge to create you will not be able to give it up.

When you start to take your art more seriously it becomes more obvious that there is a lot of work and pain involved. Tangible results may or may not eventuate. One never knows. You always hope, but in art you can never guarantee it. No one really knows if they will ever be recognised by anyone or indeed if they should be.

The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Thanks for reading.