Hello from a new member Options

[vessq]

Good evening,

I am new to this site and am impressed. It seems well designed and well operated.

I have been writing poems since confined with polio in 1951. I do not think of what I do as creative writing since nearly all of what I write is, as an old cowboy poet I once knew said, "all my poems are based on a slim foundation of fact".

I think of what I do as more creative reporting. Years ago, someone suggested I write the stories behind my poems as short prose pieces. I will offer those pieces for comment and criticism.

I will follow the rules and offer my comments on other writers work. I know how valuable comments from other writers are. I am sometimes surprised when others often read something in my poems that were never intended by me. It is always interesting and enlightening to learn how people can hear things I never said.

Thank you all in advance.

vessq

[Psyche]

Welcome to MM, vessq!

Please step in and post whatever pieces you please. I don't believe anybody has a "handle on creative writing", so just do your own thing. That's usually what one feels happiest at, and therefore writes best.

It's nearly midnight in my country -Argentina- so I shan't bore you with any special advice. I'm tired, so you're lucky! Your last paragraph says it all. Crits & comments are enlightening, as well as encouraging... even some harsh ones! (members are not usually harsh here, but one has to be ready for anything...LOL....).

I'll be looking forward to your poetry or prose very much indeed. A lot of people here write prose poetry, including myself. Or whatever!!!

All the best,
Sylvia***

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello vessq and welcome to MM!

Thank you for both your kind comments about our forum and for your donation. I'm certain you will like it here, as there are many different writing styles of our members to read and comment on.

I like your definition of what creative writing is not. LOL! I always say, write what you feel. Whatever that may be, it's always intriguing to me to see those expressions put in writing, through the use of the many various poetic devices. It's writing on a blank canvas, where you dab in the colors and the critters add the potential for various hues and tones.

I admit, I too, find it surprising and enlightening when someone finds a different meaning to my own work, one I hadn't intended.

Here at MM, we offer honest, yet friendly feedback in our workshopping forums. The level of critque varies by member and what their individual goals are. It can take some time to get to know each other and what is being sought. Please do wander our halls, take in our colorful 'tiles' and join in the fun.

If you would be so kind, would you care to share a bit of your writing goals with us? What can we do to help? What style of writing to you fancy and what level of critique would you like to receive? Where are you located and how did you hear about our site?

Please let us know if you need any guidance navigating or with our participation rules.

Welcome!
~Cleo/Lori

[vessq]

Thank you Sylvia and Cleo/Lori for your welcome notes.

I am located in a high (8000 feet elevation) mountain valley in Southern Colorado. Just 8 miles north of the New Mexico border in The San Luis Valley. I started married life living on cowboy wages ($185 per month, a house, half a beef each year and a fresh milk cow).
I Eventually found a fellow with some money and we partnered up on a hardscrabble outfit raising cattle, sheep, and alfalfa hay. We have been here since the fall of 1970. Retired now. We still live on the place but another owns and operates the ranch. Arla and I will be married 50 years on Sept 6, 2009.
My goals are,hopefully, realistic. I am like the young fellow who got himself elected to congress from South Dakota with the intention of saving the world. After a few years he decided to just save the western hemisphere, then only the US, Canada, and Mexico. And then only the US, then only the western states, then only North and South Dakota. Then he decided those in North Dakota would have to forage for themselves and he would save South Dakota.
After 30 years in Congress the young fellow, now old, introduced a bill at his retirement to save a bit of The Black Hills by creating a national park.
Finally realistic, his bill passed by a large margin.

My goals are, hopefully, realistic. I seek to polish this small stone of talent I am blessed with. Criticism is the abrasive needed to polish small stones of talent.

Thank you again, I will post a short piece in free verse shortly.

vessq

p.s.
I need to know how to post an attachment from my files containing some slice of life pieces that are the stories behind my poems.

[Guest_ohsteve_*]

Welcome Vess,

To answer your PS most everyone uses cut and paste, when you click on new topic in the forum you wish to post in. When the little box opens just paste you piece there and then scroll down and click on the button that says post. I am sure you will find it fairly easy. Hope you enjoy our company here and that we will enjoy yours.
Steve

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hello Vess,

Sounds like you have a great place there in Colorado. One of Pete's sisters lives out there. I've always had a love for horses, and if I didn't go down this path in life (Finance supervisor working for the same corporation for most of my adult life, still there too), I would love to have done something with horses, but not in Massachusetts. I realize ranching and farming is not easy by any stretch, lots of long days and little rest, so I applaud you.

Saving the world - as you guessed, our goals must be realistic and achievable. Every journey is taken one step at a time. We don't want to trip on the way, but sometimes it's a necessary evil. Baby steps will get us all there.

Criticism is the abrasive needed to polish small stones of talent.

Well stated!

To answer your p.s. (attachments must be graphical, i.e. jpg, jpeg, bmp etc.):
In your case, once a post has already been completed, to add an attachment after the fact, you'd need to go back up to your original post and click the 'edit' (full edit) button to re-open the posting box. In addition to editing anything in that window, you can also add attachments (though the 'file types' are restricted). You should a box beneath the post window that says Attachments, select a file. To the right you'll see a pull down menu titled 'Manage Current Attachments'. Below it, a Browse button. Click it and find your attachment on your PC. Once you've clicked your attachment and then chose 'Open', click Upload. You should see a message that says 'Upload successful and is available from the 'Manage Current Attachments' menu', and the 'Manage Current Attachment pull down menu should know reflect (1) attachment. Click 'submit modified post'.

It's pretty much the same process for adding attachment to new posts as well. You can also delete the attachment too by going into that pull down menu adn clicking on the red x icon., or using the green x icon to move the attachment around in the post (must put cursor where you want it first though).

Cheers
Lori

[AMETHYST]

Welcome to Mosaic Musings Vessq -

(is that q pronounced when spoken aloud or is it just Vess?) Welcome to MM and I anticipate your posts. I think it is a very interesting and fresh way to highlight your poetry as well. The stories behind the poems - A sort of twist, as usually I've seen poems that are inspired or born from short stories. :) I look forward to reading the stories and the associated poetry for each.

Best Wishes and may good things come to you this New Year! Liz

[vessq]

Hello Liz,

It is just Vess.

The poems came from the stories. I was fortunate enough to grow up in an isolated culture that produced storytellers. There was no television, intermitant radio from one station in Denver during the day and those across the border in Mexico at night. Long evenings were usually spent listening to adults tell stories during card games.

Some of the poems came from my own experiences and others from stories told by my grandfather, grandmother, dad, uncles, and other world war one vintage characters I grew up around.

It was an interesting but very different world.

Thanks for the welcome.

Vess

[Guest_poetexpress_*]

Welcome Vess! I just started today myself... see you on the "posts" - Frank

[Peterpan]

Welcome to MM - from across the sea! I have been here for years and it is a cozy, comfortable family of many words...

Peterpan (Bev)

[Eisa]

Welcome to MM - it is so good to meet you. I am looking forward to reading your work. I hope your visits here will be enjoyable.

Snow