Lady Red made it in first this week. Make certain to click through and show her you like her Haiku.
Writing
It’s a NoNo not to NaNo! @NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month begins today. Have a book you’re working on and want to finish it? Have one you want to do the second draft of? Then now is the time to do it.
If you can write a blog post you can do NaNoWriMo. It’s a rough draft, not a polished book. No research required. Just right.
Go to NaNoWriMo.org to sign up.
Then look me up and add me as your Buddy at
http://nanowrimo.org/participants/ronovan
I WON LAST YEAR! My first time doing it.
Working title and book cover. A book from an idea by my son and me.
Perseverance-Or is it love?
“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”-Thomas Carlyle
I’ve moved away from talking about my health issues in the specifics in recent months. I felt as though my health was becoming me. And honestly I thought I had talked it to death. Well, I wish we could talk our ailments to death. If that were the case I would have been healthy a long time ago. But anyway, I wanted to be more positive in my writing I shared. However, at times I realize one should open up and share to let others know what can be done. Things don’t HAVE to stop you.
I’ve never given much thought to perseverance as a word to describe myself. It’s been said by others but I’ve always put it off as a kind thing to say. I don’t mean to say they were being dishonest and lying just to make me feel better by saying it, but being kind in how they viewed my situation.
Many don’t know what Fibromyalgia is, but it’s a health situation that umbrellas a great many things including Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue. Much more goes in to it than that, but those two cane be easily identifiable with. Combine that with Osteoarthritis throughout the spine, including the neck, herniated discs in the spine and neck, and various other ailments, life can be such a joy at times.
But then you add the concussion I suffered two years ago, a Grade 3 Concussion that led to Retrograde Amnesia, short term memory loss, migraines that never cease, yes I mean I have migraines 24/7, sound and light sensitivity, and something else I can’t remember, and you end up with a very interesting life situation.
I know of the concussion because it is a habit to know now. A journal I kept around that time, barely legible as I was writing with either hand depending on the moment, tells me what was going on. I’ve slowly begun to let it go, the specifics of things, I’m not a dweller. I’ve truly decided to move on and not allow man made guilt hold me back from enjoying life.
Why tell all of this?
I have a book tentatively set to come out in December. A second book in the final draft stage before proofing and editing, that will then be shopped around to agents/publishers. I have a fairly successful blog, a group of online friends, and much more.
No, I don’t remember my family. I remember my son. I make an effort to remember history of my life as I am told in order to fit in, or at least act as though I am normal enough in my son’s eyes so he an have a normal father. I don’t wear my sunglasses like I should, nor my earplugs to avoid looking like an oddity around him. Seeing me put into an ambulance and then following it, only to see it disappear was upsetting enough for him not to have to be reminded of it every time he looks at me.
With the very odd life I have, I still push forward. I never gave it thought as being perseverance. I wanted to write a book and have my son something in the world to say, “My Daddy did that.”
People write a book for a lot of reasons. Yes, I love writing, but I mainly want something left behind for my son to be able to hold up and always look to. I want to be able to contribute to his life in many ways.
Maybe what I’m talking about isn’t perseverance. Maybe it’s simply being a father. Maybe it’s love. Whatever it is, it has brought me this far, and I intend to keep going.
I still have to write that book he helped come up with.
Check the comments for other #BeWoW posts and SilverThreading.com for more Writer’s Quote Wednesday offerings.
Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer through his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
Make the Most of Your Post.
Yesterday was #BeWoW day here on Ronovan Writes.
What does that #BeWoW mean? Be Writing on Wednesday to Be Wonderful on Wednesday and make the world a better place to visit. That means no negativity, inflammatory, or derogatory writing.
A long time ago I began a focused effort to write positive posts of encouragement and inspiration. I used #BeWoW as the hashtag that day and thus was born #BeWoW day.
If you have something you’ve written, be that a poem, flash fiction, advice, or some other kind of post I haven’t mentioned and it isn’t something negative or derogatory then share by linking back to the #BeWoW post of that day here on Ronovan Writes or Pasting your link into the comments of that post, and use the #BeWoW hashtag on Twitter.
Are you liking the idea? Are you worried you’ll forget? I am thinking of going back to putting out my reminders on Tuesday with a possible Prompt to get the juices flowing, just like I used to do in the beginning.
If you don’t already participate in my Haiku Challenge, you could use that as your inspiration for something to write and all it would take is a poem three lines long and you might end up with a few more friends than before. (The Challenge has at least 40 Bloggers each week join in.)
Wednesday is a slow day for blogging. A great many people put a lot of energy into Mondays or Fridays. I wanted all that time ago when I thought of my positive posts to have a way of helping to boost some traffic to blogs on Wednesdays. For me it’s not about how many Views I get, I like how many People show up. If I have 1 more person show up than did last Wednesday to my blog, I am a happy person, even if I have 20 fewer views.
Why am I doing this? No it’s not so I have more visitors to my blog. You can ask those who participate in my Haiku Challenge why I do that link share. It’s not for me. It’s a way for people to grow a community. The Haiku Challenge has done so great at community building I would like to see #BeWoW do the same.
Join in. And see you next Wednesday. I’ll be writing something about comfort food and using a quote from an Author to tie in with Colleen Chesebro’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday on SilverThreading.com. See, I do two in one that way.
And THAT is the secret to make the most out of your post. Sharing it, take advantage of communities that WANT to see your work you’re already doing anyway, and including multiple communities in one post. And make sure to give it time. A community doesn’t build in one week or even one month. It takes time, but it will grow.
We have a group page on facebook, just creator as this post was created. We truly want this to succeed and be something positive. Click here to go there. It’s a place to join and share links as well.
To paraphrase a famous movie life, “Link it, and they will come.”
NOTE: The #BeWoW badge above is transparent around the image itself.
Much Respect, Much Admiration, and Much Love
Ronovan
Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer through his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
Silence is a Writer’s Friend.
My quote today may seem somewhat one-sided when take at face value and purely at the word God. My being a Christian might even make you think of reasons I chose this verse today, but no.
I enjoy silence. Silence is one of my best friends. With the often times chattering mind of a person who has suffered a Grade 3 Concussion, by which I mean my brain does not stop for days at a time and keeps thinking and thinking without sleep, when I can find silence, I embrace it.
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.”-Mother Teresa
You may look at this quote as Mother Teresa apparently intended it or you may take it a step further, as you may with a great many spiritual sayings and scripture. I’m taking it a step further for writers today.
Take a look at that last line. “We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
There are times when you are writing and chaos is around you. That chaos might end up in your writing of a scene that requires a delicate touch. In silence I am able to quietly and calmly sink myself into a character, become a character, and bring out the inner heart, the soul of that character.
I close my eyes and type. Errors in spelling don’t bother me at this point. I type what my mind sees and what my heart feels during this silence. Those moments where I am successful at this I have found to be the ones beta readers connect with most. Or readers of certain poems connect with.
We see a great deal of advice about listening to music while writing, and at times I do like to create a mood with a play list. But my most successful moments are when I listen to the silence in my heart and mind and simply type. Silence is my friend, and one of the best I have.
And that silence isn’t just for writing, it’s for life. We need that time to give our minds, our emotions, and our bodies an chance to rest and heal.
For more#BeWoW articles, check the comments possible links and ping backs or Twitter for the hashtag. For more Writer’s Quote Wednesday articles, visit Colleen Chesebro at SilverThreading.com for her post sometime today.
Much Respect, Much Admiration, and Much Love
Ronovan
Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer through his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
#BeWoW & Writer’s Quote Wednesday are Tomorrow. Get Ready!
Tomorrow is #BeWoW and Writer’s Quote Wednesday. The first hosted by Me and that other thing hosted by Colleen over at SilverThreading.com.
I combine the two in my #BeWoW post each Wednesday and tweet under #BeWoW.
Normally the hashtag has been for positive posts, motivating posts and things of that nature and stood for Be Wonderful on Wednesday, but I’m going to also make it stand for Be Writing on Wednesday. As long as it’s not negative or derogatory share your post, either on my #BeWoW post on Wednesday, the only post that will go out that day, and/or tweet it with the hashtag #BeWoW so all of us with Twitter accounts can share those posts. Also a ping back to my Wednesday post, which goes out at 00:05 New York City time on Wednesday’s for your convenience, will show in my comments for us to visit, and also tell your readers about what we’re doing.
For the Writer’s Quote Wednesday, go to SilverThreading.com on Wednesday and leave your link in her comments on her post, Tag your post with Writer’s Quote Wednesday, and even do a link back/ping back.
Get ’em ready. It’s time to build up the #BeWoW hashtag to be a force. Be A Writer on Wednesday, #BeWoW.
Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer through his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
Reputations crumble with but one lie. #BeWoW & #WritersQuoteWednesday
Having memory problems one needs to consider many things. For one, it is impossible to keep things straight in your mind. That being said, tell the truth. Telling a lie creates more lies to be told to cover the first. We’ve all heard that before, but it is true. At some point you will be asked something about that lie, and you will need to m
ake a decision to continue with it or to be honest.
Writing is a practice in honesty. That sounds unusual for a storytelling art form. What I mean by honesty is honesty to the story, characters and the readers. I’ve written novels where I intended for one character to be one of the likable ones. But for some reason she didn’t want to let me make her that way. I tried, failed, and decided to go with her being one of those annoying types that you want to like but can’t find it in your heart to do it.
But honesty goes with life as well. I teach my boy “B” that as well. Either speak the truth or don’t speak. It’s amazing how many times a person speaks when they don’t need to. I’m not certain he is learning this little bit of advice yet, but I keep working on it. He is only 11. But he does speak the truth. Almost to a fault. Sometimes when your dad makes you Cookie Crisp cereal with Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies instead of the cereal itself, since we don’t buy sugary cereal, he somehow thinks he has to confess this fact to everyone.
This has been written in response to the #BeWoW (Be Wonderful on Wednesday share hosted by me, and the Writer’s Quote Wednesday hosted by Colleen Chesebro of SilverThreading.com. You can find Colleen’s post at the link above, click on her post for 9/23 and either ping back to it or copy and paste your link in the comments of the post to share with others participating and reading.
Much Respect
Ronovan
Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer though his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by LitWorldInterviews.wordpress.com 2015
Writing while young. (And any other time as well.)
I have recently begun encouraging young people to write. They should write about their now in order to later be able to write about what it was like then.
“Always write your ideas down however silly or trivial they might seem. Keep a notebook with you at all times.”
We try to recapture the feelings we had when we were a certain age or in a certain place, but we so often rarely achieve that goal. Staring at the sentences we don’t feel them. They describe everything but relay nothing of what they speak of. I believe this is the one thing that keeps writers from submitting their work and becoming published authors.
Great masterpieces have been set aside in spiral bound notebooks to collect yellowed pages and dust. All for the simple fact the writer did not feel what they wrote.
Oddly, they may have conveyed more than they realized. Even if not capturing the moment for themselves fully, to others the paint on the canvas is three dimensional with smells of the ocean and heat on their skin from the setting sun.
The problem is they have no confidence in what they have done.
“Encouraging young people to believe in themselves and find their own voice whether it’s through writing, drama or art is so important in giving young people a sense of self-worth.”
Starting early in a person’s creative life helps build a creative confidence. And I believe there is no such thing as failure in creativity. You have created something, even if not what you set out to create. How many times has what any of us begun ended up exactly as we had planned?
“It is really important that focusing on things such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting doesn’t inhibit the creative flow. When I was at school there was a huge focus on copying and testing and it put me off words and stories for years.”
Today’s education doesn’t encourage so much creativity as much as it does scores to be nations. “Our nation beat your nation.” It doesn’t matter what it is, each nation is in competition. Even our children have been drawn into it, and not for the better.
But I believe we should rid our children of a great deal of the restraints early on and give them the freedom to create. Show them how to trust who they are and what they are. Give them free rein to explore and express.
“Write because you love it and not because it is something that you think you should do. Always write about something or somebody you know about – something that you feel deeply and passionately about. Never try and force it.”
Today’s quotes are from Michael Morpurgo, English author, poet, playwright, and librettist.
This has been part of Colleen’s, of SilverThreading, Writers’ Quote Wednesday blog share. Click the link to visit her quote for today, and join in.
Much Respect-Much Love
Ronovan
Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer though his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
Submissions to Rivet Journal. Experimental is a good thing. @RedBridgePress
Article from RivetJournal.com @RedBridgePress
Rivet: The Journal of Writing That Risks publishes new literary work that breaks from the confines of mainstream realism to surprise, delight, and challenge readers.
We seek writing that crosses boundaries of form, content, and style — either subtly or radically. Send us works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction that are too fabulist, surrealist, or experimental for traditional publishers. We are glad to consider work that uses genre elements in interesting ways (e.g. an urban noir fairy tale), but we are not looking for work that is primarily aimed at a genre audience (e.g. high fantasy or hard science fiction). To get a feel for the range of writing that interests us, check out the anthology Writing That Risks: New Work from Beyond the Mainstream.
General Guidelines:
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All submissions must be previously unpublished in print or electronically. Author must be the sole rights holder of the submission.
For the rest of the Guidelines, what they are looking for and the remainder of the article, click here.
The dream of a writer; the reality of an author.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”~C. S. Lewis
I believe every person passes through numerous dreams and down many roads on the way to what they will finally become. For some of us we find the roadblocks, the forks in the road, the detours, and at times a dead end. I’ll be using several quotes from famous individuals today, as I am prone to do , however I also enjoy using quotes of my own.
“There is no such thing as being lost. We’re simply taking a more scenic route.”~Ronovan
I have taken many forks in the road in my life on the road to becoming an author. I’ve even sat stalled on the side of that road, but I always find my way back. Those moments of “adventure” add to the experiences my characters are able to struggle through or joy through.
“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” ~Ayn Rand
Not having a good memory after the concussion, I’m not certain if I ever wanted to rule the world of writing. These days I like the sense of accomplishment when completing a novel and submitting it. Even those form rejections are okay these days. Rejections means I tried. Lots of rejections means I tried a lot.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”~Confucius
Having that memory problem and other health problems means it takes me a bit of time to complete things. I’ve had to re-read chapters to know what I was writing to begin with…short term memory problems can be a bear for a writer. But just as time takes care of many things, makes many things better, and adds flavor, it also adds to what you can put into a project you are working on.
“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”~Norman Vincent Peale
When I wrote my romance, as a challenge to myself to write outside my comfort zone shortly after my accident, I didn’t know what I would do with it. I fussed over it for a time. Then recently with the downfall of my laptop I returned to reading that romance after some encouragement.
Not halfway through, I discovered I was an author. I read on the kindle screen a book. Not only a book, but a very good book. I was smiling and feeling along with the characters.
I am now working on that book and will not stop until it is in a state of submission, either through the mail or by headlock.
Time. There is nothing that can be successful without time. Even a race is won after hours and years of practice.
“Write what you know, but show what you feel.”~Ronovan
Much Respect
Ronovan
Ronovan is an author, and blogger who shares his life as an amnesiac and Chronic Pain sufferer though his blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com. His love of poetry, authors and community through his online world has lead to a growing Weekly Haiku Challenge and the creation of a site dedicated to book reviews, interviews and author resources known as LitWorldInterviews.WordPress.com.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku Challenge Recap of sorts.
As most of you know I’m using a tablet to read, reblog, and tweet since my laptop crashed. Florence of Meanings and Musings fortunately had permissions to my blog and can put out things as I need them done in emergency cases.
Instead of a review or roundup this week I tweeted each entry to the #SundayBlogShare. It’s very popular and hopefully will get everyone a few extra visits. The link below will take you to the challenge post where in the comments are links to each haiku. The duplicates have been deleted so that those wishing to visit will only visit a haiku once.
The fundraising Florence started, without my knowledge, will be ending at the end of Tuesday, at my request. I want to get back to blogging and my friends soon. My laptop is not a game tool for me, it is how a chronic pain sufferer and retroamnesia person with PTSD and issues with crowds since the grade 3 concussion keeps in touch with the world. That’s all of you, my blog friends and family.
Never try to type all of this on tablet with fibromyalgia and arthritis and migraines, it’s a bear.
Much Respect
Ronovan
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
The Haiku Challenge Explained 4: Review and Ronovan’s Choices.
What many people who read the Challenge Post don’t realize is there is a Review or Roundup each Sunday. You see the Challenge runs from 9:00 AM EST Monday until Sunday Noon EST. Shortly after Noon on Sunday I post goes out that includes the names, blog names, and Haiku names and links and Twitter Handles of all those who participated.
If 5 people participate a post goes out, if 50 participate a post goes out.
The difference between a Review and Roundup
A Review includes my comments of either opinions, feelings, or fun teases about the Haiku. I have no shame and enjoy being goofy with this and being very honest and serious as well.
A Roundup does not have the comments due to time or health. Yes, I have health problems that interfere with do all I would like.
The Review Post Structure
First Timers will appear at the top of the post with information from their About Page to introduce them to the community.
First to Enter for the Week and appear in the comment section on the Challenge Post will be right below the New Participants in a prominent manner AND will be reblogged onto my own blog to be shared with my readers and thus my Twitter followers.
From there each person is listed in order of entry.
Authors have it mentioned they are authors and links are provided to their Amazon pages. Etsy Shop pages are linked to as well as any other blogs of the participant like one lady has a photography business.
Ronovan’s Choices
I pick one Serious Haiku and one Humor Haiku each week that grabbed me for some reason. My humor has a broad range and as always with any type of award this is an opinion. Sometimes the choice comes down to proper Haiku structure, it gets that close. And yes, I do at times have ties.
My Closing Haiku
Just as I give an Example Haiku with the Challenge Prompts, I also do a Closing Haiku with them.
Sharing the Review
I then share the Review on Twitter and Google+ on Sunday and Monday.
Courtesy in the Community
Every member of the Challenge should pay a courtesy visit to the other members. I notice some do this. Yes, it takes time, but it is nice to see how others think and to support others with some views, and likes and comments if you do actually like the Haiku and want to comment. Notice I did say SHOULD. You don’t have to visit, but it is nice, and no one knows if you don’t. If you do like it a lot, share it wherever you like to, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, wherever.
Much Love, Success, and Respect
Ronovan
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
Rhythm by @SCVincent
Swifty Sue Vincent comes in first this week with Rhythm. A good writer’s Haiku.
Writing Tip: Using Youtube.
You ever wanted to make a song or video on youtube loop or repeat and play over and over? Maybe you found a full length album or a movie or something?
I received my email notice of Jen’s Pen Den’s Music Monday about Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood song. I didn’t have a chance to visit the post at the time but I was on youtube for something and Taylor Swift’s name came up and that made me think of the email so I looked up the song. I’ve read the post now. 🙂 (If you want to see the video, click the blue link above and visit Jen’s blog post. Saw no reason to mention her post and then put the video here. Kind of would seem like a jerk thing, you know?)
Awesome song and even better video. Even if you are like a total Swiftie Hater you will love the video to this and the song itself has an attitude. I read the story behind it on wikipedia and oh yeah. Awesome. The video also has a lot of stars in it like Selena Gomez, Zendeya, and Cindy Crawford. No, not a modeling thing, a serious action movie.
I’ve been working on a short story and needed a song to capture a certain feel, well this one was it. But having to stop and make the song start over again each time sort of breaks the train of thought, the flow of my writing. Thus, the search for how to make the song loop.
Here is the YouTube Tip for Tuesday.
When you look at the URL for the song, let’s make up something like
http://www.youtube.com/taytayswiftkickbuttie (which is not a real link so don’t click it.)
To make that loop you would simply type the word repeat after youtube.
That means it would now look like
http://www.youtuberepeat.com/taytayswiftkickbuttie
That will take you to listenonrepeat.com. The song/video will then play on loop until you make it stop.
Simple, easy, and now you can write and keep grooving or jazzercise to your favorite 80s song over and over again.
That’s it for the day.
Much Respect
Ronovan
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
A writer with class is who influences me.
A lot of people influence us in many ways. Some are good ways, some bad. These days I hope I’ve gotten past allowing people to be bad influences. At some point you know better. Then if you are honest with yourself, the only influence on you is you because you should be mature enough to know what to allow into your world of decision making and judgment making or not.
Who have I allowed into my world to be a good source to draw upon?
I suppose it all depends on what aspect of my life I am considering. I’ve been doing a lot of research on artists and writers in the world of what I call Graphic Literature. I have found one that has shown to me he is a class act.
His writing is world class. He can write any form from the comic book to the novel and sell millions of copies of either. But that talent is not what I look at for inspiration.
I’ve watched several videos of him speaking in different venues and audience situations. And in every instance he remains a class act. He is always helpful and engaging with the audience. He never acts as though he is anything special, although he must know his talent is or he would not do it.
His sense of humor in various social media is entertaining and he likes to poke fun at himself at times.
His most famous comic creation is a title his boss told him one day to go and create a new version of this comic with this name anyway you like.
Sandman made Neil Gaiman a sensation. He has not stopped since that day. No matter the number of sales, the amount of fame, he stays the same. When meeting a comic book legend who created Spider-Man, a man named Steve Ditko, he came out of the building like a fan boy in awe and giddy. It was the coolest thing I had seen.
Talent? Yes, but others have talent. Gaiman has class.
Let’s connect.
https://twitter.com/RonovanWrites
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ronovan-Writes/630347477034132
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RonovanWrites/about
© Copyright-All rights reserved by ronovanwrites.wordpress.com 2015
L is for Lithuania. From Painters to Peanuts.
I find it interesting how world events, and politics can shape the creativity of a society.
I am reminded somewhat of the old Martin & Lewis movie Artists and 
Models1 every time I do one of these articles when there is a long history of graphic artist interpretations of literature. In the movie these types of books are seen as a detriment to society through their influence on the young. Personally, I learned how to be a great reader through the form.
Graphic interpretation of writing goes back a ways in Lithuania, and there was even satire leading up to WWII. Something we might find surprising with our thoughts colored by the Cold War and Soviet Block since then.
The Early Years.
A man named Jonas Martinaitis was one of those early satire painters and writers. He also did work for publications where he would use satire in the text of his work and often in rhyme.2 This sounds much like types of things we do here in a Haiku Challenge I host each week.
During the research for this series, I found comics in the form we know them today isn’t how they’ve always appeared. Early on, the text appeared in spaces beneath the images. In a way that makes sense in that you get to see a full piece of art. And understand, these were and can be works of art. Try to draw or paint some of what you see. Many people don’t realize that many comics are painted. But back then, those text balloons get in the way. These days the art is laid out in such a way as to account for the balloons.
Following WWII things were a bit more strict, much like what happened here in the US in the 1950s, with the publications being somewhat dictated to and any artistic images and wit were spun toward propaganda, not like here in the US in the 1950s. Fortunate or not, Martinaitis didn’t have to suffer this creative death. He passed away in 1947.
Creativity Grows Cold.
Imagine if for decades I were to tell you when creating Haiku here on my site, the only place you could write Haiku and that was the only way you had to make money, that your words and images had to support something or be against something, regardless of what you believed. If you fought against me I would make sure you didn’t work anywhere else, because I had control there as well or possibly I could have you thrown into prison.
For Lithuania it was like that. Artists were subject to their work needing to meet the guidelines of Socialist realism as regulated by the government.3
It wasn’t until 1990 that Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare its independence after being occupied in WWII by the Soviets and the Nazis.4 I am trying to imagine the kind of things I would create under that atmosphere.
The Yoke Loosens.
In the 1960s the loosening feel, the I am free to be me feel, that seemed to be in the air must have stretched to Lithuania in some way. Artistry and creativity in literary aspects changed slightly.
A painter named Aleksandras Vitulskis created what would be called the greatest of all Lithuanian comics 
work in 1968 and 1969.5 The work was compared to that of Alex Raymond6, creator of Flash Gordon7 in 1934. Considering the impact Raymond’s Flash Gordon had on US society in graphic interpretation and cinema I can only imagine what Vitulskis did for Lithuania. Here are samples of his work, not his comics work. I was unable to find any of that at this time. But will update this article when I do.
A Touch of Humor and a Touch of Simplicity.
But not all Lithuanian creators were painters and detailed artists. Some went with simplicity and touching the pulse of a society. Enter Fridrikas Jonas Samukas and Miko Ridiko.Samukas focused using his wit and showing human flaws, something everyone could associate with.8 His art was simple and to the point, uncluttered so as to give a quick 
impression. For me, if I were looking at the painting above by Vitulskis, I might spend more time looking at each part rather than taking in the message. You need to look at your balance to achieve your goal. If you click on the image to the left you will see there are no words needed to relay the message. That message is universal in every society.
Samukas did that, and did it very well. Mikko Ridiko has been published since 1968 if that tells you how successful his method worked. It still goes on today although under other artists since his death in 2003.
Artists of Today.
First there is Andrius Zaksauskas. I love the images he comes up with. Some are a bit to the point. All very well done, very painter like with one I picked today that gives me a Charlie Brown feel, not so much in the style but in the feel of the words and yes, even in perhaps the style a bit with the size of the heads of the children. But the words spoken by the character in front reminds me a bit of Charlie Brown. I translates I can.
Forces you did not seek to be more than a person then you will be less than a human.
That is how Google Translate does it. I get the meaning but am having difficulties expressing it here. Can you put it into words that make better sense for me? Leave a comment below. Seriously.
The next is Herta Matulionytė-Burbienė. I love this one. I so wish these 
were in English, but if you are a blogger or someone who Tweets or FBs things, you will get this image meaning easily. That’s the talent of this creator.
Cats Anonymous Slave Society
Prisipazjstu, that I am powerless over my cat, and humbly To be completed by all his wishes.
That’s it for today. I enjoyed researching for the article. Loving history and comics and art and writing, this series has been a lot of fun for me. I hope you enjoyed it. Tomorrow is some place beginning with M. I have no idea yet. I best get on that.
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References
Return Artists and Models
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists_and_Models
Return to The to Early Years
2 http://www.ljudmila.org/stripcore/burek/lithuan.htm
Return to Creativity Grows Cold
3 http://vddb.laba.lt/fedora/get/LT-eLABa-0001:E.02~2011~D_20110615_101047-35146/DS.005.0.02.ETD
4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuania
Return to Aleksandras Vitulskis
5 http://www.ljudmila.org/stripcore/burek/lithuan.htm
6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Raymond
7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordon
Return to Fridrikas Jonas Samukas
8 http://www.respublika.lt/lt/naujienos/pramogos/zvaigzdes_ir_zmones/kaip_fsamukas_atrado_legendini_mika_ridika/
Return to Artists of Today
Hong Kong from Oriental Heroes to Mcdull. Comics abound. #AtoZChallenge
Today’s article is brought to you by the letter H by way of the A to Z Challenge1 challenge. You can visit them with a list of almost 1800 bloggers from around the world participating in the challenge this month. Click the little 1 and it will take you down to the link.
Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the serious business of comic book creators. Many people don’t understand what comic books or graphic novels are. I am not speaking of Archie or Bugs Bunny. Those may come up at some point but I am looking for books in the form of images and text balloons.
Some of the first exposure to long words can be found in my early days of reading the Fantastic Four with the scientific jargon used. No, not POW! BiFF! BAM!
We’re headed to a land where the comics are called manhua or impromptu sketches. The third largest comic book market in the world, Hong Kong2. I had five countries or regions that operate as separate entities and are recognized as such. I didn’t go to the Holy See, as you can, well as you can see.
Having said that I am not into, for the purpose of these article, Bugs Bunny type comics, let’s begin by talking about a pig.
Alice Mak3 & Brian Tse4
This artist and writing, respectively, duo brings us Mcmug5, a pig’s tale. Those last three words are mine. As well as Mcdull6. Mcmug is one of the most popular characters in Hong Kong and isn’t really a child’s figure. The comic speaks about social concerns in a way that likely can only be gotten away with through this particular style. The series has 
been running since 1991.
“Drawing is a language to me,” said Ms Mak. “If I don’t know how to say something to you, I will draw it instead.”
Alice Mak and Brian Tse are actually married.7 The 
formal training Ms. Mak received was from the former Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute8 where she took a design course. Otherwise she watched her elder brother while he took his drawing classes and sought at foreign illustrators for critiques.
Mr. Tse’s influence in regards to his writing is Raymond Briggs9, an illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist and author from England. Tse became influenced while studying at the University of Sydney. He and Mak met when he asked her to draw the images for his writings.
Let’s go a little more old school now, and really more where I belong.
Wong Jan-lung10
You might know him better as Wong Yuk-long or Tony Wong, Mr. Hong Kong comics himself. He brought us what was originally titled Little Rascals but is now called Oriental Heroes11. Why, mentioned? This was apparently the first based on 
action and fighting. The graphic nature of the early editions lead to the Indecent Publication Law in 197512. The book involves the story of members of a Kungfu school Dragon Tiger Gate. They fight against injustice.
Perhaps the longevity of the series can be attributed to Wong’s willingness and his recognition in regards to changing art style and writing style. As times ha
ve changed, so has he. The two covers above are the same series decades apart, both by Wong.
I am happy to notice DC Comics took note of who they called “superstar artist” for their Batman: Hong Kong13 hardcover graphic novel.
I wanted to do something on Theresa Lee Wai-chun of Miss 13 Dot but I couldn’t find information enough to do anything with. Great art out there though.
I would have also included Old Master Q but the creator, Alfonso Wong was not born in Hong Kong.
Click the link below or the letter to go to Greece.
Greece from Arkas to Papadatos.
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References
1 http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/a-to-z-challenge-sign-uplist-2015.html
2 http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1559058/hong-kongs-comics-artists-find-new-perspective
Return to Alice Mak & Brian Tse
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Mak_%28cartoonist%29
4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Tse
5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMug
6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDull
7 http://english.cntv.cn/program/cultureexpress/20120620/108374.shtml
8 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Polytechnic_University
9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Briggs
Return to Wong Yuk-long
10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Yuk-long
11 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Heroes
12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Hong_Kong
Success will follow happiness. #BeWoW
Being positive is a difficult thing to do at times. Even with a lot of practice, you still have to practice some more. A week or so ago I was in the hospital and I will be honest, blogging wasn’t on my mind. Now, I’ve added a blog.
Writing is my life. I can’t sit around feeling sorry for myself even when dealing with Fibromyalgia or a white cell count double the normal. While in the hospital I was thinking of how to do a new beginning to my novel. I wasn’t happy the previous 3 or 4 versions.
Sitting and dwelling in misery only increases the misery. Now I have been back a week and am busier than before. Three websites, four if you count one I don’t post on unless I am moved to do so. It’s that kind of site. I don’t force it. I am also posting daily, Monday-Friday, writing tips on my Facebook page.
Why? I have lots of reasons.
- The more I write the better I get.
- Leaving a paper trail of memories.
- Supporting authors.
- Making friends.
- Supporting bloggers.
- Inspiring people to try new writing styles.
- Hosting a Challenge where people have met and become friends.
- Writing to leave something for my son to be proud of some day.
I noticed as I finished I never mentioned wanting to be famous. Even as an author I don’t really want the fame associated with the success. I just want to be a success as a writer, an author.
I look at writing the way I look at blogging. Do your best, ignore statistics. Get the job done. Be happy doing it. Success will follow.
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Breaking out of your comfort zone. Be fearless to find your writing voice.
Do you ever get in a rut with your writing and creativity? That’s what I’ve felt with my poetry of late. My long form has been pretty much the same old same old. Even when it’s lyric poetry it gets a little old to me.
Every now and then I like to experiment. Some of you may have noticed my experimenting the past few days. With this being National Poetry Month, I decided to change things up. Yes, I am doing the A to Z Blogging Challenge this month but I am also writing a poem each day. Some may not be as experimental in the rhyming scheme that I am currently working with, but you’ll see something each day.
I believe different styles of poetry can bring out different emotions and attitude. For creatives, as I call them, there is never just one creative aspect. We may focus on one but there are usually many facets. As one facet’s edges become worn and dull, turn your creativity and work on a different one. As you work that one, the other facet’s edges become sharper.
The more you write the more you discover what you can do and then use that new experience with what came before. Never be afraid to try something new. Even if it is for your eyes only, you will learn something from it. It’s like Haiku. I can’t tell you how many people tell me they never tried it before, were afraid of it, thought it was too hard, but now are addicted to it.
My writing tip today is to experiment. Get out of that comfort zone and find out something you never knew you could do before. That’s how I found my writer’s voice for a novel I am working on. I wrote and wrote and wrote, anything and everything and then one day, there it was.
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Be Original (A Poem)
You want a poem, that’s not the norm?
You came to the right place to be slapped in the face.
Here are the words that go down as they come.
Today it’s the Lost Mind which they are from.
You say you got game but all you do is blame.
Bring on a word, something I haven’t heard.
Cry me a river is a song of tears, it’s the one Britney’s PR team fears.
The girl gone cheating, now whose albums are beating?
Old hat, my mind’s a ding bat, I like my cat, but you done known that.
Is it life, of strife, a back stabbed knife, I will keep to survive?
I ain’t rhyming, to keep the timing, for the pale faced miming, the poetic climbing.
Stay in your cave, behave, don’t be a slave to the rave or you lose to the suck-up tidal wave.
Stretch yourself to the limit so you know you are here to stay and are in it to win it.
Staying in one place, keeps you perplexed and vexed with a smirk on their face.
You’re scratching your head, wondering what it is I said, cause you can’t understand the way the words you’ve been fed.
It’s okay that you don’t know, because I ain’t here to put on a show, I love to put words down that flow.
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