PoetryPlus

At night I usually put my laptop on my lap and surf for interesting stuff about writing, books, poetry, and politics, while watching the Yankees or a political program. I don’t like multi-tasking, but at my age I do it all the time. Why? Because I feel like I am running out of time to publish a runaway popular book. (One of my writing heroes died not so long ago, John Updike. So I know that I am not going to live forever.)

I am choosey about how I spend my time. And I love to run off and play 9-holes of golf—sun, sky, trees, and green carpeted grass. What more could you ask for? Maybe a Joe Clone. Joe Clone could do all the mundane things that I strive to avoid. Just ask my wife about my avoidance tactics.

Anyway, I don’t blog very much and I should. If I did, I might have a little audience of readers which would encourage me more to write on a more regular basis. What is there to write about? Everything! And that’s the problem. It seems like all those bloggers out there in Blogger Land, which is bigger than Alaska, are already writing about everything. How can I come up with a special voice and slant?

Guess what? I found out today how I can be special—or at least more interesting in my writing. And I am going to share that source with you now. You will find 21 ideas that encourage you to be a more interesting writer, and each one is explained in a simple, succinct paragraph with marvelous examples.

This is the site… http://www.copyblogger.com/how-to-be-interesting.

I think that I used numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11?, and 13 in writing this. It came naturally. But knowing about them ahead of time helps. Please let me know what you think about the coppyblogger site.

I may blog and share more often.

Need a laugh? One of the following is bound to make you laugh out loud. They came to me via the Internet…

When Insults Had Class

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor:
She said, “If you were my husband I’d give you poison.”
He said, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”

A member of Parliament to Disraeli: “Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.”

“That depends, Sir,” said Disraeli, “whether I embrace your policies or your mistress.”

“He had delusions of adequacy.”
Walter Kerr

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.”
Winston Churchill

“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”
Clarence Darrow

“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.”
William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).

“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.”
Moses Hadas

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”
Mark Twain

“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends..”
Oscar Wilde

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend…. if you have one. George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
“Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… if there is one.”
Winston Churchill, in response.

“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.”
Stephen Bishop

“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.”
John Bright

“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.”
Irvin S. Cobb

“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.”
Samuel Johnson

“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.”
Paul Keating

“In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily.”
Charles, Count Talleyrand

“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.”
Forrest Tucker

“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?”
Mark Twain

“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.”
Mae West

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”
Oscar Wilde

“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… for support rather than illumination.”
Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

“He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.”
Billy Wilder

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.”
Groucho Marx

Donna McDine is a special lady. She has a passion for writing and sharing what she knows about writing. I had the pleasure of meeting her at a writing conference a few years ago. She is offering a FREE newsletter, “Write What Inspires You”. It contains interviews, a book reviews, writers’ accomplishments, testimonials, and a writing contest.

According to Donna McDine’s website, she “…is a native of Rockland County, New York and lives with her husband and two daughters. She writes, moms, and is a personal assistant from her home in Tappan. Donna is a 2007 graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature, Writing for Children and Teenagers program and as of January 1, 2009, Donna is the Marketing Manager at Stories for Children Magazine. She is also a member of the Our Children Group.”

Go sign up for your FREE newsletter at http://www.donnamcdine.com. You will enjoy this publication!

“The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.” ~William Hazlitt

Okay, the title of this little blog sounds like a play on Hamlet’s dilemma. (No pun intended.) I was thinking about writing nine reasons for not writing and one for writing. Does that sound unfair or unbalanced? On second thought, it did to me. Writers usually write because they feel compelled to write for one reason or another.

Maybe it’s to pay the rent or see themselves in print once again.

While talking to Charlie Rose a week or so ago, John Updike admitted that he writes because he enjoys seeing himself in print, whether it be his latest novel or a book review for the New Yorker. It is all the same bowl of cherries.

Maybe you have to be a little fruity to be a writer. They sure endure a lot, and most of their joys, as a writer, are short-lived. The ripening of a book can be incredible long. Sometimes it never blossoms for a variety of reasons from agents that don’t seal the deal to an editor that abandons your publishing house for a more prosperous residency.Then your book withers from lack of sunlight and water.

And, for heaven’s sake, if you decide to self-publish your book, you instantly take on the roles of finance backer, chief editor, book designer, book packager, printer, worldwide distributor, storage facilitator, ongoing publicist, market manager, number one go-fer, and everlasting watchdog. These are all challenging roles to play, and you might not be able to afford as much help along the way as you had imagined.

However, Helen Keller wrote that “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.” And the creation of your own book seems totally worth it when you get your first fan letter that says, “I loved your whole book! Do you have any more?”

According to Einstein, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

At Rochester’s 12th Annual Children’s Book Festival I sold a significant number of books. That was a small miracle. My cult group of readers is expanding. I had an excellent turn out in the Brighton Room for my show. I can’t wait to post those photos next month on my site. A former student teacher of mine showed up at my table. She seemed pleased to meet again.

A former parent of mine showed up in the audience. Her daughter, Donna, became a teacher and has two boys. Donna moved to another school district so that she could find a better school and teachers like “Mr. Sottile” who gave out warm fuzzies and really cared about kids. That heartfelt story made my day even brighter.

At the signing tables there was a steady flow of people all day from 10 am to 4 pm that walked in from the cold and raindrops. There was an array of activities and people to meet—44 authors and illustrators were gathered at Monroe Community College with stories and pictures that they had put a piece of themselves into. They shared what they hoped others would enjoy and appreciate. And everyone went home a little richer and, perhaps, wiser.

Carol Johmann, Festival Director and Media Contact, creates this miracle every November with help from her literary buddies and sponsors. All I can say is Bravo! Bravo! We probably had about 7,000 people attend. That’s no exaggeration.

Thank you, Carol, for making it all possible.

I have been on a long hiatus. Where have I been? I started corresponding with my brother more frequently. I found this very satisfying to share my inner world him. My letters mounted and my blogs bogged down. And then I got into golf big time. My goal was to hit the ball long and far. Now it is to break below 50 for 9 holes. Meanwhile, my mind and body have gotten in better shape.

Like writing, golf is exhilarating and exhausting–a wonderful game. How wonderful? Here is some e-mail that came my way. I don’t know the author’s name, but I like what it says about golf. Soon I will be blogging more…

So why is golf so popular? A friend recently shared a clever email, which shed some light on what makes golf great…

* Golf is an honorable game with the overwhelming
majority of players being honorable people who don’t
need referees.

* Professional golfers are paid in direct proportion to
how well they play.

* Golfers don’t hold out for more money or demand new
contracts because of another player’s deal.

* When golfers make a mistake, no one is there to cover
for them or back them.

* Golf doesn’t change its rules to attract fans. Golfers
have to adapt to an entirely new playing area each
week.

* Tiger Woods hits a golf ball twice as far as the best
home run hitters, even with a broken leg.

Moral: Any way you slice it, golf suits business to a tee. Get out there and have a ball!

Swing and write on,
Joe

I hope many people watched the “Prime Time” show about professor Randy Pausch’s last lecture. I watched it on video sometime after September 18, 2007. In the eyes of the media it wasn’t a big deal at that time. But it was a big deal with me. I told friends and family about it.

I found Randy’s beliefs about how to live life inspirational. Okay, it’s easy to feel that way when you hear a speaker say things that you already believe in. Yes, for the most part, he was talking to the choir. But it is always wonderful to have what we already believe in validated by a dynamic teacher and man.

There were things that I could not help but like about him–his energy, his work ethic, his passion for teaching, sense of humor, and cheerfulness, while walking in the valley of death. Moreover, his childhood dreams were always important to him–from winning large stuffed animals at the carnival to playing a professional sport.

My teenage dreams were to play professional baseball, marry a beautiful woman, have kids, live in a nice house, drive a decent car, and give back to society in a positive way beyond baseball. Later, the baseball dream gave way to becoming a teacher who tried to make within the four walls of a classroom, while wielding a solid piece of chalk, not a bat. I also wanted to write the Great American Novel, just like J.D. Salinger.

All of my dreams came true, except I became a children’s poet along the way, and my name isn’t a household name like Salinger. But I do get out and about and visit schools and libraries with my poetry.

One of the teachers, Mary Lou Beaudoin (at Seton Cahtolic School), said this month that, “Silly Sottile was wonderful with 1st graders. They loved his poems, his hat, and his April Fool’s joke.” Another teacher said “Silly Sottile had the class mesmerized.”

I also told the class that they had to become something in life that would make themselves and the world better. (That’s exactly what Randy Pausch did.) I said “Your dream my change along the way, but the important thing is to have the dream and follow it–just like my father did, whose dream was to send all of his kids to college. He did. And my dreams came true too.”

That’s when I realized that whenever I walk into a school and share poetry, it’s a “head-fake.” It’s really not about poetry. I am giving my last lecture about living a meaningful life to kids with vivid childhood dreams.

What’s your “Last Lecture” about?

“Mindwalk” isn’t a movie for everyone, but if you like to think “deep” thoughts now and then, this movie may be for you. A poet, politician, and a physicist discuss the state of the world and their own lives, while in the French isle. This is a talkfest of the highest order, and it has been described by some reviewers as “pretentious.” I would like to have more friends that occasionally talked like these three individuals.

IF you liked “Dinner with Andre”, you probably will like this movie which is available for free on the Internet. What did I learn from the movie? That would be difficult to boil down in a few sentences, and you might laugh at how basic they sound. But here goes…

• Scientists don’t really have a handle on what “matter” is. The sub-atomic world is very elusive, nothing like the tinker toy models we saw in high school.

• Our environment is only going to be saved in the long run if people come together from all walks of life, professions, politics, belief systems, and countries.

• We are all inter-connected in more ways than we can even imagine.

• The “systems” way of thinking is rather fascinating.

• Philosophers and scientists aren’t that far apart in how they think about the world.

Those are my random thoughts about “Mindwalk.” Although Charlie Rose isn’t in the movie, this is an interesting stroll for Charlie Rose fans.

Do you ever wonder who cares? Who cares about what you write? Do you blog? Do you write for profit? I think they are honest questions? So honest that just for a moment I’ll digress and tell you about the cartoon in today’s tabloid that I saw at Hess Express, as I ate my Bluffin, and drank my any size coffee for $2.15, tax included. I was reading this New York paper, and there was a cartoon of a husband and wife watching TV. A politician on TV says, “If elected, I’ll do it with a prostitute.” Then the wife says to her husband, “Finally an honest politician.”

Getting back to my self-introspective questions, I know that my family cares about my writing in a general way, but they don’t check out my Web site very frequently for changes. That I know from my grandkids. They don’t ask about what I am working on. They are used to me cornering them to look at what I’ve done on my den computer. I think they just take it for granted that I will blab about whatever is on my mind—not that I tend to be a big talker. I am more introverted than extroverted. And, unfortunately, none of my three siblings have easy access to computers.

In the second part of my life I am striving to make a difference one poem or poetry performance at a time. It’s what excites and scares me. It excites me because it’s fun and exciting to see kids laugh and light up with glee, as I share poems and illustrations from my book, Waiting to See the Principal and Other Poems. The scary part is that I want my poetry performance to go over well—lots of laughs and fun for the kids, and a pleasant break for the teachers in the audience; maybe even some poetry ideas that they can build on with their classes.

The right chemistry is usually there, but not always. Sometimes I get wonderful letters and recommendations from teachers and kids. Sometimes I don’t. Was she too busy to write or was my humor not her humor? I don’t know. I don’t want to be so popular that I am bound to my Blueberry or my cell phone. But I would like a larger audience for my poetry and performances. Yes, my goal is to make a bigger splash in the Media World and make many readers laugh.

As for profit, making kids laugh and a tired teacher smile is priceless.

If you email me and ask for an excerpt from my latest children’s book, I’ll send you a copy of Chapter One, containing 17 poems and illustrations about school. Some will make you LOL. And for me, that’s what life is all about.

My email address is jsottile@frontiernet.net.

Ah, this is Poetry Friday where you can read wonderful poem and comments by readers and authors. As the snow melts in Rochester, New York, and we all wait for spring, this is what I am thinking about from the book Waiting to See the Principal and Other Poems…

FOUR SEASONS?

Mommy says there are four seasons:
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter

Grandma says there are four seasons:
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter

Daddy says there are two seasons:
Winter
and
Road Construction
What is Road Construction?

Author: Joe Sottile

The reason that I haven’t been blogging is that I have been away at the beach in North Carolina sports-car driving, ferry hopping, turtle trailing, crocodile teasing, octopus ogling, fossil hunting, history exploring, and poetry performing, according to the lead in to this month’s photos at my Web site. [If you see the page before “bird watching” was removed, then you were an early visitor to the site.]

Pictures of me golfing aren’t there either—no fan club. I played seven times on six different courses, and hit bags of golf balls into the sky on seven other days. As I slowly get better at the game, it increases my joy of playing golf. By the end of the Summer of 2008, I hope to break 100. You got to have goals!

I also enjoyed performing poetry in five classes of 3rd graders at Southport Elementary School. The performances went well—kids are kids, no matter what state they come from or what accent they have. Here’s a review that I just received in the mail. It made my day—maybe my week. I’ll end my blog with it.

“I really enjoyed your program! The students did as well. I loved your outfit. The way you interacted with the kids was great! One thing that really struck me was the way you had them tell you their names. [They all shouted out their names in unison three times, and they then knew this program was going to be fun.] The poems you showed were great, especially “Bathroom Vacation”. I plan on using the poem the next time I have to chase the boys out of the bathroom. I really enjoyed your program, and I want to thank you very much for sharing your talent with our school.”

In the best of times, life is a challenge with personal victories sprinkled in here and there. On that note, I have two little stories to tell, both are personal victories. A week ago a friend, Jim, gave me a book about growing up in the 50s and 60. It’s filled with family photos and famous people of those days like Hoppy and Howdy. Jim, an engineer, spent the last 10 years of his Saturday mornings writing it. It’s not for sale—just for family and a few friends—20 copies in all. He wanted his grown kids to know what it was like growing up during those decades. The book looks totally professional.

Although he had no intentions of releasing it to the public, I was hoping that I could tell him two things: it’s well-crafted and worthy of mass publication where it will become a best seller. Again, the latter was not Jim’s goal, nor was it the reason I was given the book to “review.” The autobiography is well-crafted, but it has a number of copyrighted photos and inspirational lyrics at the beginning of each chapter. So he couldn’t sell it as is. But Jim accomplished his goal of sharing his childhood with all those that love him. And I am happy that I now know him even better.

Secondly, today I had a superb time doing a poetry presentation in a third grade classroom—lots of laughs and fun. And at the end of the performance, one student came up to me and hugged me. I don’t know exactly why. But it was certainly brave of her. Maybe I reminded her of her grandfather. Maybe she thought it was the best way she could thank me for the visit. It worked. I felt appreciated all the way home by everyone there, especially her, the Brave One.

How true this is only the poet knows…

Just a Moment

While carrying copies of our latest poetry book
to my illustrator and former colleague,
I race down the hall to the back of the school,
hoping that she’s eating lunch in her room.

My heart is pounding with delight,
my visitor tag is flapping in the breeze.
Sweat is beading on my forehead,
and rolling into my left eye. It burns.

I cannot wait to show this gifted artist
how well her illustrations turned out
in our third poetry book for kids.
I know that she will be ecstatic.

But I slow down as I approach her room
and peek into another teacher’s room—
one whom I admired for her teaching ideas,
zest in teaching, and sensitivity to others.

Some would call her a “mover and shaker.”
I call her passionate, professional, and perky.
Some kids near the door are chanting repeatedly,
“Someone is at the door. Someone is at the door.”

As I open the door and stroll through,
I say, “Someone silly is here”—hoping the kids
will laugh and enjoy the moment.
And I take a close look at Ms. Perky.

I see this former cheerleader, valedictorian,
and 3rd grade team member hunched over her desk,
looking shorter than I used to remember her.
Retirement is not too far off for her.

Suddenly I am blinded by the reasons I left
teaching public school—teaching for the test,
test mandates, district goals, building goals, and
personal goals that were not that personal.

I stumble toward Ms. Perky who is rooted
at her desk with one student seated nearby,
while the rest of the class pretends to do math,
as they eyeball me clutching ten poetry books.

She tells me that her son’s college roommate
had me in elementary school as a teacher
(in this same room that we are in now),
and he discovered the love of writing here.

I am surprised by this wonderful compliment
that seems to have come out of leftfield.
So I simply say, “Invite me in to do poetry.”
Winking I add, “Give yourself a poetry break.”

I don’t hear cheers for a poetry visit
from a tired and gray Ms. Perky,
but the boy at the table says,
“How much is your book?”

Ms. Perky launches instant dart eyes at him,
yet they bounce off of his rubber face
and he says, “I have money in my lunch bag.”
Ms. Perky ignores the outspoken student.

She says, “Yes, I should.” But she won’t.
Poetry is a marginal activity.
And there are tests to be taken,
and benchmarks to be met.

WAITING TO SEE THE PRINCIPAL AND OTHER POEMS is number 8 on the Top Ten at Booklocker for print books. Being on the Top Ten makes me very happy—a dream come true.

Some guidelines for blogs suggest that you make them short, sweet, but don’t blow your horn. It’s not a brag board.

I don’t agree with the last part. Good news is always good news among friends. And that’s exactly what I consider people that read my blog–a friend of the written word and whatever is on my mind. So here’s some good news.

I’m in the eBook: “I Wish Someone Had Told Me That! 64 Successful Children’s Authors Give You the Advice They Wish Someone Had Given Them.” In this book, authors tell their greatest mistakes, most important lessons, and their sources for inspiration. It’s published by www.write4kids.com.

I hope you purchase it and read it.

I am in my writing place. I mean that in a physical sense. It’s a real place in the house downstairs–carpeted, wall lined with family pictures, and it’s warm.

It wasn’t always a warm place. A long heat runner goes into the room. But the heat runner used to get tired of “running” and fall fast asleep along the way with the heat. So we finally installed a gas stove that looks like an old wood burning stove. Now my “writing place” is toasty warm in winter and cool in the summer. A writer definitely needs a comfortable place to write.

Of course, “comfortable” is a state of the mind. I have a friend who loves to write in the cafe section of “Borders.” She likes the noise mixed with talk and people coming and going. It stimulates her fingers on her laptop.

I am sure there are some people that like to write poetry in trees. I am more down to earth myself. I just thought that you might like to know that, although I do wear a propeller hat I am not completely airborne.

The bottom line is: Don’t just a person by his or her hat.