Guest

Xylophone

April 1, 2015 By Guest

The length of the bars determine the sound
Vibrations ring out as hammer comes down

Melodic music of depth and of tone
That strange little instrument…the Xy-o-lo-phone!

One note struck…or sometimes two
At the same time, as we players will do

Beautiful harmony, sings out through the air
At home football game or State country fair

I stand at the back, of the orchestra pit
Or right up in front…I sometimes will sit

Playing my chimes, with dings and with dongs
Adding so much, to the orchestra’s songs

As kids we all got one, on Christmas tree morn
We banged on its bars, till Dad’s ears were torn

The one in the orchestra, sounds much better now
The chimes are in tune, with the conductor’s deep bow

Now I don’t have to play, in my room all alone
The crowd they all love…my XY-O-LA-PHONE!

—David Kettler

WOK National Poetry Month Project 2015

March 22, 2015 By Guest

April is National Poetry Month.

Many groups are hosting poetry challenges during the month. If you are engaged in one of these Writers of Kern celebrates your participation.

Writers of Kern invites its members to celebrate locally by submitting original poems to the WOK Blog. In that way, you can share your poetry and receive comments from fellow members.

Here’s how it works:

Send your poem(s) to [email protected] between April 1-30, 2015. Send one, five, or more poems as the spirit moves you.
Important: Include a headshot so we know who you are. “Hey, I know that poet.”
Be sure to visit the blog to read and comment on poetry by others. Repeat often.
If you are posting to another poetry site or participating in a poetry challenge, feel free to share your poems with WOK as well.
Always remember, poetry is for fun, for expressing the soul, for sharing with others.
No grand prizes, just poetry from the heart to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Please check out Portia Choi’s post on National Poetry Month events around Bakersfield.

4 Can’t-Miss Reasons to join the WOK Blog Challenge

September 8, 2014 By Guest

wokheader

Where do you get your ideas?

Writers hear this too often. Yet faced with blog challenges, ideas dry up faster than Justin Bieber’s fan base.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

First, here are a few reasons to join the Writers of Kern “A to Z” Blog Challenge.

Inspiration

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to read your challengers’ blogs. This isn’t competition. It’s inspiration. What your fellow WOKians write will inspire your posts.

So when Dan McGuire reminds you that 1950s America was no place for women, you can blog about that time you rigged your husband’s computer to autocorrect all instances of “feminism” to “men are superior” so that he cried when he printed his essay for feminism class because it looked like a misogynistic hate crime. (Sorry, honey. I’m not sorry.)

Or you can write about that time you were excited to make Jasmine Lowe’s kiwi avocado smoothie, and it exploded over the ceiling like a green frost firebomb because you forgot to secure the blender. (The smoothie turned out awesome, if she asks.)

Authority

Once upon a time, publishers were the gate keepers. They had the printers, the distributors, and the marketing connections. But that was when writing had to be on paper. And that era is dead.

Now, the only barrier between you and readers is a mouse click. On sites like WordPress, it’s even free.

This is the age of not needing permission, writer. No longer can gate keepers imprison your prose. Authority is yours.

Credibility

Writers write, right?

Your blog is your platform. It builds your credibility as a writer who writes. It’s a sneak peek into your perspective, your style, your skilled turn of phrase.

But most of all, it proves you’re a writer.

Networking

Get to know your fellow WOKians.

Who can help you improve characterization? You’ll know after the challenge. Who can edit grammar? You’ll know after the challenge. You’ll know each WOKian’s talents better because you joined the challenge.

Now, a Hundred Things to Write About

51 Types of Blog Posts by Regina Anaejionu
50 Can’t-Fail Techniques for Finding Great Blog Topics by Carol Tice

Are you part of the WOK Blog Challenge?

Mandy Wallace is a writing coach by day and blogger by night. See what she’s made of during the WOK Blog Challenge, where she’ll blog through literary terms. It’ll be cooler than it sounds. Probably.

Pitch Session

February 4, 2014 By Guest

I’d flown 3,000 miles to New York City for one thing – the Writer’s Digest Pitch Slam. For three minutes at a time, I would have an agent’s undivided attention. I could pitch as many agents as the 90-minute session would allow.

For weeks, I had devoured “how-to” books on publishing. I’d even spoken a few times with David Sterry, co-founder of The Book Doctors. He, like so many other resources, told me the fate of my novel and writing career lay in a 250-word script called the pitch. David explained that a pitch was the back cover of a novel, the hook that tempts us to dive into the story.

A man with an official WD badge chuckled as he opened the doors and started the clock. I stood petrified. The terror of impending rejection froze me firmly in place. Kristin Nelson, owner of Nelson Literary Agency, smiled widely and waved us into the room. I walked slowly to the chair opposite her.

Without so much as an introduction, I vomited the words I had memorized, “Unsanctioned love is punishable by death…”

I delivered the pitch in one breathless rant and now waited for Kristin’s response. She smiled, and slid a card with her query instructions across the table. “Nicely done, I’m interested. Query me with the first fifty pages and the synopsis.”

“Really?” I asked, clearly shocked.

A ginormous line had formed behind me while I received a coveted query card. Kristin chuckled and nodded her head as an official came to move me along.

I collected nine more cards, receiving no rejections. Later that night at the closing social, I spoke with Kristin again. She confessed that too many authors were unprepared. They hadn’t honed the craft of pitching. Being nervous or shy was forgiven so long as the pitch was stimulating.

Today, with a polished manuscript, I am now querying the Pitch Slam agents. This next year I will be traveling to other conferences in hopes to receive more query invitations.

Wish me luck.

Homage to My Critique Sisterhood

January 20, 2014 By Guest

I was welcomed first by Annis then one by one so many others. Had I been a shy person I know that Annis gentle yet encouraging hug would had pushed my fears aside. As it was, my extrovert self said: I am where I need to be.

Our critique group was formed that first meeting. Nan, our group leader, and I laughed because Nan and Nancy were the first members. The sense of comeraderie was prophetic, had we but known. Bethanne and Dawna joined and then Mikie. And so we began. First we shared our stories, then ourselves. Nan opened her home for the Tuesday meetings and Dawna opened her home for our critique meeting/lunch after the Sat. WOK meeting, for you see one of our sisters came from Tahachapi and we felt we should make her trip down the mountain a major accomplishment. Jacque joined us and we were complete. Then Fate stepped in when Nan announced that she was moving to the East Coast, because Mikie had a friend and neighbor, Sharon, who wanted to join WOK and our group. So as we sadly loose one member we joyfully embrace another.

Our group, in my humble opinion, can be compared to a master chefs menu. Did I say humble?

Sharon and Mikie are the appetizer. Appealing, complimentary, leaving you wanting more of their company.

Bethanne is my perfect foil for the main course. She sits so quietly, speaks so softly, that I try so hard not to be so acerbic and blunt (maybe not that hard). And so she softens my excess spice.

Jacque and Dawna are our dessert. They sweeten the palate at the end of the meal.

In truth, we have no leader. While I have been chosen to represent us at the Jan. leaders meeting, we all take turns starting the meeting, depending on who’s present, and once it starts, it develops it’s own momentum. While we are all grown women, each at a different place in our lives, when we come together we’re like a well practiced team, each stepping up to fill whatever position needed.

At our last meeting, our sister Dawna said: “I feel like I really belong.” As she opened her arms to figuratively embrace us all, knowing I was a part of the reason for her feelings was in truth humbling.

I came to WOK and the critique group to become a better writer, to learn how to get my work published, to learn more about the writing business. There was always the expectation that I would read something by someone that would move me. I did not expect to join a writing group that would touch my heart, as I keep it well guarded. Is our connection because we’re all women? Possibly. I like to think that there is a reason why I was guided to read the paper that day and joined with Nan to start our group. I was blessed that day and hope you are all as lucky in your writing critique groups.