Imagist – Fiction / Poetry / Photography
the .410 bore was perfectfull choked for partridgeeither perched or flyinghe’d dropped another one onto the small pond getting his feet wet when he’d stepped through the icehe dressed it – wings tucked then yanked quickly -and placed the breast in waxed cardboard the carcass tossed aside for any hungry vixenwalking the path that ribboned … Continue reading A Little Ways Up North
The beauty of online communities, networks, publications, is the abundance of information available. We can learn anything, from anyone, at any time. However wonderful this is, there are too many traps to fall into: Learn from the Teachers A lot of advice–a lot–comes from novices, learners, students. This may seem fantastic, a fresh pool of … Continue reading Of Sycophants & Haters
Whenever an artist, a craftsperson, a chef creates something identifiable as his or her own, the underlying differentiator is the story. Forget the words, brush strokes, hammer marks, tool grinds, ingredients; the only thing—the only quality—that matters is the story. What remains from the creation is not only ‘object,’ but ‘narrative’ of why that object … Continue reading There is nothing but a story
We have always been told to learn from our mistakes. It’s a simple enough concept: don’t repeat things that don’t work or things that are bad for you. Wear shoes when you walk on gravel. Don’t stick your tongue to the pole in the schoolyard in winter. Simple. When it comes to writing, the concept … Continue reading Never Erase
(especially in the war against ai) The most important aspect of writing is voice: that feel, sound, or signature thing that makes a piece identifiable as a particular writer’s work. Inevitably a writer just starting out will copy a mentor’s voice—subconsciously or not—to start understanding what makes it interesting. Then, through craft, experience, more reading, … Continue reading Voice over everything
they watched & abetted…
R L Raymond 