3 Questions and a Poem–in which one of my favorite poets is interviewed and shares a poem. Question 1 What do you consider the three most important elements of a poem? I think the three most important elements of a poem are unique metaphor, specificity, and word choice. Metaphor is important because it helps the…
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b.read.crumbs : Reckoning
jus·tice /ˈjəstəs/ n. the quality of being just; the principle or practice of dealing justly with others, fairness; From just, adj. impartial, fair, honest in dealing with others About the Tarot card Justice, Key 11 Key words. Fairness, truth, accountability, honesty, balance, consequences. In the White Light Chakra cards, Key 11 Justice is associated with…
b.read.crumbs: Wheel of Fortune
This is a repost of Julie Herman‘s most recent b.read.crumbs post. Long before Pat Sajak and Vanna White spun their wheel to squeals of glee, there was the Wheel of Fortune card of the Tarot. Coming in the midst of the major arcana cards at number X, it signals a change in direction. A midpoint, as it were….
Matthew K. Perkins – 3 Questions & a Cover
A short interview wherein one of my favorite authors answers three questions about the writing life. Set in a world that is dominated by a vast desert, two friends are caught in the middle of a civil war. She’s a warrior. He’s a musician. When they discover that the crux of the war is a…
Jo Gatford – 3 Questions About Writing
A short interview wherein one of my favorite authors answers three questions about the writing life. Question 1 What’s your Go-To source when you need inspiration? I try to collect little sparks of inspiration wherever I can. I have a notes app folder that has hundreds of random one-liners and story ideas and weird observations…
Janisse Ray – 3 Questions & a Cover
A short interview wherein one of my favorite authors answers three questions about the writing life. Question 1 So much of your work is rooted in family. Despite the love for them that is obvious in your writing, have any of your family members insisted that you delete portions about them? Members of my family…
b.read.crumbs : Hermiting
hermit ~ noun – her·mit ˈhər-mət : one that retires from society and lives in solitude About the Hermit card Posssible meaning of Key 9: The Hermit : A teacher or counselor or guide, someone who shines a light to lead you home; someone who aids you in self-study (not self-involvement) and the exploration of consciousness; the…
Pro Tip: dissecting rejection
I’ve just finished sending notes to people whose work I declined. I do not like it, Sam. I am on the receiving end of rejections so often, and I know how those things can take the air right out of you. Being a sender of rejection gives me some insight into the process, but it…
Pro Tip: My secret submission success strategy
I’ve been an editor at a small press, where the most important part of my job was reading submitted book manuscripts. These days I read short prose submissions for a literary journal. I’m also an author, with a decent publication record. (You can find links to some of the most recent pieces on the Read…
b.read.crumbs: Might Energy Force Power?
This is a repost of Julie Herman‘s most recent b.read.crumbs post. I’ll be following her lead (as I so often do) in my b.read.crumbs post next week. We might have a theme running through the year. Let me know if you can spot it. It’s a bit of an awkward title this month, and I put that down to one…