POETRY ON THE WEB * WRITERS ON THE WEB * NEWSLETTER
Wed, 28 Aug 1996
"Out flew the web and floated wide
The mirror cracked from side to
side"
.... Tennyson
Newsletters: The Typewriter available from The.Typewriter@sfnet.com
Announcements:
POET'S PARK #5 is up and running. 138 poems by 50 of your favorite authors! http://www.soos.com/poetpark The guestbook has also been updated. Come by and visit! -Rich
Will Inman is giving a reading with Walker Thomas Sept 1 at 5 PM. Blue Willow Restaurant 2616 N. Campbell, Tucson, AZ FREE More info available from Roberta 908-0927
Bisbee Poetry Festival Sept 24-28 Bizbee, AZ
Frankfurt Book Fair (Germany) Oct 2-7, 1996
International Poetry Directory: http://www.soos.com/mall/dustbooks.html
Web Sites not yet listed on Poetry On The Web:
Review:
Dramatica Pro 2.0: The Ultimate Writing Partner
When I first heard of software to aid a writer, I laughed. I had in mind
pre-outlined plots, perhaps a thesaurus. Fill in a few adjectives and follow a
pre-arranged outline. Put your action here, fight there, chase scene here, clue
there. Well, I was wrong. What Dramatica Pro offers is more information about
what makes a character than anything I learned to get my Masters. I took every
writing class I could while in college, and none came close to the information
offered in what I would call more a course than just a "writing partner".
For those of you who are teaching future writers, I highly recommend this tool.
I have been reviewing the software for three weeks, and feel like I have barely scratched the surface. This is not software that guides you through the writing process. What I can see so far is that it guides you through the outline process. A huge strength of this material, in my opinion, is that it helps the writer define and flesh out a character. Imagine that - a full dimensional character instead of the one dimensional type we're used to in much writing. The only problem the author would have I suppose, is finding readers who could read a book about a character with more than one dimension.
Fully defining this software would be impossible in this short review. As I learn more about it in the coming weeks, I will share more about it, if any of you express interest. I was asked to review this by a reader, and have become a fan. I admit going into the experience skeptical - would Steinbeck have used software to write a book? Well, the truth is, the software does not write the book. All the words in the finished product belong to the writer. The software is a great aid in outlining and plotting a book (or screenplay); and has many many hints to help define and build characters.
So, you're wondering - what good is this for a poet? I know many of you are like me, poetry fiends. But I also now most of you are harboring the sincere hope of writing "The Great Novel" someday. This software will not write it for you, but it will certainly help you learn to flesh out your writing. As poets, we learn to condense for sense. That's great for poetry readers. But most readers - as we all know - simply do not read poetry. After you've spent 15-20 years concentrating on your poet's craft, it becomes difficult to free yourself to actually write a novel. This software course may help free you. As you develop your characters, you can print out reports so you have material to keep by your side as you actually write the Novel or Screenplay Of The Year.
The book that comes with this "Course" is "A New Theory of Story" by Phillips & Huntley. While it would not be a very good main textbook in a writing course, I do think it would be a great required 2nd text. There are charts and definitions here I have never seen elsewhere. Also included is a sample notebook that a writer could use to help develop material off-line. The third book is a tutorial in using the software. Windows and Macintosh versions are available.
You can send a postcard to receive sales material from 150 East Olive Ave, Suite 203 Burbank, CA 91502-1849 or call 1-(818)843-6557. Fax 1-(818)843-8364. The web site is located at http://www.well.com/user/dramatic
Question: I would like to have information about posting poetry in the www. Thank you, chnpt@ibm.net
News:
The new issue of TapRoot Reviews (#9/10) is out--over 300 zine & chap reviews, plus feature articles & etc... $5.00 from Burning Press, PO Box 585, Lakewood OH 44107
This is a request for original, non-published poetry written in French by American citizens or persons currently living in the United States. Please send any contributions to one of the following email addresses, complete with the poem's title and date of composition, your full name, and, if possible, your citizenship, city of residence, age and occupation: tolmie@fas.harvard.edu or nstn2735@fox.nstn.ca If you wish, you may supply your own translation. Submissions will be accepted until September 12, 1996.
You can alert your readers that PBW does accept email contributions. Dick Freeman (RIANCA@AOL.COM)
21ST INTERNATIONAL OPEN POETRY COMPETITION First Prize: £200 plus publication of the winning collection; Second Prize: publication of the collection. CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 15 th NOVEMBER 1996. Entry fee £10. The competition is for A COLLECTION OF between 12 and 24 pages of poems in English on any subject. Poetry Competition, Redditch Library 15 Market Place Redditch, Worcestershire B98 8AR, UK
LAUGHING BOY REVIEW 1st issue. 40 pages packed with poetry from previously published poets as well as newcomers. Copies are $3.00. Also accepting submissions for the 2nd issue which is slated for January 1997. The deadline is Nov. 30. (NO EMAIL SUBMISSIONS - SORRY) Laughing Boy Review, 910 Minnesota Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI 53172 Nikki Morawski, Editor
SEAN MORRISON, OC ranter/poet, has a chapbook available from TIF Press called "120 BPM"... it is limited to 100 copies, cost is $3 including postage... email to instagon@netcom.com , to reserve a copy or mail to TIF / pob 894 / Huntington Bch, CA 92648-0894
To send press releases, etc: send an e-mail with the words "news powwow" in the subject area to powwow@soos.com
Thanks! -Rich
Poet's Park #5, edited by Rich Soos has been released complete with 2 full on-line chapbooks. 138 poems by 50 of today's best writers. Selected from over 3700 submissions, you'll find some of the best writing available here. Online Chapbooks: Special Eyes by Hans Ebner and Seeking A Pattern by Don MacQueen
William F. Lantry Doug Squires Ben Ohmart Deb Powers janet kuypers Sean Curtis-Brendan Brown Ray Heinrich Lorah McLean Mike Fladlien James Snydal David Chorlton John Grey Ron Androla Christine Schmidtz Will Inman Tami Regula C. Dianne Long Liz Craig Gretchin Lair Helen Mirkil Deborah Castellano J. Kopfinger Ellie Kondy Bob Perlongo Stan Wotring Andrea D Middleton Ann O. Nimus Charlene Ann Folkner Peter Horn Chuck Huckaby Cheryl Townsend John Amato Ceil Louie Crew Michael Estabrook Tony Moffeit Tim Gavin Beth Stern Maggie Jaffe David Hunter Sutherland Mindi Englart Kurt Nimmo Molly Wade Rachel Sent Roderick Vesper Ruth Daigon Terry Adams Dave Delaney AND our guestbook
Questions? soos
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1996 by SOOS. All Rights Reserved.