I Wish I Were A Fish

I wish, I wish

I were a fish

A flounder

Half pounder

A snapper

How dapper

A yellowfin

With a grin

A permit

No hermit

A halibut

Not a mutt

A flying fish

What a dish

A grouper

How super

A salmon

How jammin’

A trout

That’s stout

I wish, I wish

I were a fish

In the sea

Safe and free

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I try to be strong

I try to be brave

I try not to cry

I try to behave

I try not to shake

I try to be tough

I try to smile through

But it’s not enough

I cannot stop crying

I cannot stop shaking

I cannot start smiling

My insides are quaking

I cannot see clearly

I cannot break through

I cannot stop yearning

Because there’s no you

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When you’re feeling the darkest

And the sun just won’t shine

When you’re lower than low

Just put your hand in mine

My light will chase the clouds

And bring back your glow

I’ll lift your spirits higher

And save you from below

You never have to worry

I’ll be hovering near

Whenever you need me

I’ll be here

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Francencense fills the air

The room is still and bright

A baby cries, a cat meows

A small child screams in fright

Downstairs, the torture chamber

Waits for some new flesh

Metal gleaming, gears gnashing

Figures wrapped in mesh

Silently the henchmen lead

The victim to the table

Straps are tightened, buckles buckled

Movement barely able

Confessions screamed into the dark

Or whispered in the light

Hot coals, bamboo shoots

Cat-o-nines that bite

Bloody tears trickle down

Wounds gape like smiles

Lucky ones who died quick deaths

Lying grouped in piles

Silence echoes through the chamber

Whimpers fade away

Henchmen leave, blood dries

Straps await another day

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Well I’m headed into foot surgery this morning and I’m a little scared.  I had bunion surgery on both feet when I was sixteen and it was so excruciating that I was miserable for weeks.  Now I’ve got hammertoes on my left foot.  What kind of a word is that?  When I tell people it makes me feel like I have the ugliest feet in the world.  I’ve never considered my feet to be beautiful, but I’ve never thought them ugly either, but after today they may be!  I’m really not sure how this is going to turn out, but at least I won’t be in pain.  I haven’t been able to go for long walks or run or do strenuous exercise without my foot hurting and it’s really put a cramp in my physical fitness and also a damper on my mood.

Well, root for me and I’ll see you on the flipside!

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Thoughts screaming

Consciousness streaming

Fevered dreaming

Never silent

Feelings thunder

Over and under

Emotions blunder

Always frenzied

Senses reeling

Hurt but healing

Layers peeling

Constantly raw

Sounds abate

Hearts hesitate

Love won’t wait

Forever yearning

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Your mind yearns for normalcy

While your body longs for rest

Your heart cries out for comfort

It’s been weakened by this test

The daily struggles lessen

Never fast enough for you

Weekly tests are reminders

You’d like to bid them adieu

I hold you in my embrace

And feel your frailty and strength

Each day sees you much stronger

You will go to any length

Soon you will hold me once more

And squeeze me as a new man

You’ll dance me around the floor

You’ve had so much time to plan

Here’s a kiss for tomorrow

Forget about yesterday

Put our smiles toward the future

And look toward a nice long stay

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The foundation of a freelance writer’s repertoire is a well-crafted feature article. The market for good features is vast and varied, and you can make an excellent living specializing in this genre. What follows is a fool-proof process for the right way to write a feature article.

Choose a Topic

Start with an idea. Is there something you have a burning desire to write about or a particular publication you want to write for? Once you have decided on your subject, the next step is to establish your premise. What is the point of your article, your working theme? You should be able to sum it up in a sentence or two. For example, here is my working hypothesis for an article on law firm marketing: To compete in an increasing complex, changing environment, many law firms across the country are exploring a revolutionary new strategy — marketing their services.

Research

Research has three purposes:

• It reaffirms and expands your hypothesis, or it reveals that you are on the wrong track and need to start over.
• In its early stages, research provides enough information to help you block out the article and write a coherent, convincing query letter.
• Finally, it fills in the meat of your article. Information is gathered through interviews, reading, and making expert use of the resources on the Web. No writer can survive today without understanding how search engines work.

Draft a Query Letter

Unless you are on assignment, the idea is to sell your article to an editor, and a good query letter is key to doing so. A query letter parallels a sales call. It should have five parts, and, ideally, each is only one paragraph long. (Editors are bleary eyed from the amount of reading material in their in-boxes.)

• The first paragraph is your introduction. It tells the editor who you are, why you’re writing, and the subject of your proposed article.
• The second paragraph focuses on the editor’s needs, and to write it you must know the general editorial policy of the publication and the audience to whom it is directed.
• Paragraph three briefly describes the content and appropriateness of your article and why the publication’s readers would want this information.
• The fourth paragraph explains why you are uniquely qualified to write this piece. What are your credentials? How much do you know about this subject? How well do you understand the aims of the publication?
• The final paragraph is very short. It is your close, your action statement, in which you state what you will do next. Will you wait to hear from the editor (risky), or will you call to follow up and, if so, when? If you say you’ll call at a certain time, do so.

Do More Research

Don’t sit around waiting for a response. Go back to researching, this time in much more depth. Immerse yourself in your subject. Gather every bit of information you can find. Talk to as many experts or sources as possible. Keep at it until you are filled to the point of overflowing. When you feel that one more fact will be a fact too many, you’ll know it’s time to stop.

“Feed the Computer”

Now it’s time to input all the data you have gathered into the computer that is your own mind. Many writers just skip this step because it requires time to read, highlight, make notes, and organize every piece of information you have gathered and self-discipline to walk away and do something unrelated to your article. You’ve put the data in; the “computer” will do the rest. Believe me, it works!

Write

This is what all that preparation has been leading to — the moment when everything comes together into a coherent whole. If you’ve followed the first five steps, you will find that you’re more than ready to write. Obviously, the intricacies of how

The moray moved

Through the sea of blue

Just like a bright ribbon of green

Slithering slow

Gliding back and forth

The coolest thing I’d ever seen

It’s gaping mouth

Showed me lots of teeth

Threatening me to keep away

I followed it

To it’s hiding place

Hoping to see it catch some prey

A fish swam close

To where it waited

The moray nowhere to be seen

Then it attacked

Like a lightening flash

And nabbed him an angelfish queen

Looking back now

I’ll never forget

Watching a predator and prey

Such beauty there

But also danger

Will stick with me all of my days

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Eight arms wriggled in the deep

Coming out of blackest sleep

Tentacles of darkest red

Ending in a bulbous head

Mary Lou she called herself

As she sat upon her shelf

Painting all her pretty nails

With the slime of seven snails

With some bones found underneath

Mary Lou cleaned out her teeth

Creeping out her darkened lair

Stealthily with suckers bare

She scanned the dark sea for fish

Fulfilling her every wish

With tentacles long and tough

She gathered food, just enough

Sneaking back into her lair

She spun about with some flair

Ate her food and drank some brine

Glad that everything was fine

Slipping onto seaweed bed

Resting her soft rounded head

Into slumber she did go

As the waters ebb and flow

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By John Kremer

Eileen Flanagan, author of The Wisdom to Know the Difference, wrote a blog post about a year ago telling friends of book authors how they could help the author sell more books. You can read her blog post here: http://bit.ly/9v5TgA.

I thought I’d include some of the highlights of her help list, add my own comments, and provide a few more ways that friends can help book authors to sell more books.

If you have a friend who is a book author, please use these suggestions to help them out. If you are a book author, please share this page with your friends (so they can help you out).

1. Buy your friend’s book. Encourage other friends to buy the book. Go to your local library or bookstore and encourage them to buy the book. Buy books as gifts.

2. Don’t put off buying the book. Don’t wait for the holidays to buy the book as a gift. First, the sooner you buy, the more confidence you’ll inspire in your friend. Second, media and other decision makers pick up on a book based on the momentum the book inspires. The more sales at the beginning of the book’s life, the more attention it will get from key decision makers, the media, and consumers.

3. Where should you buy the book? First choice: the indie bookstore nearest you (that will help your friend get her book into that store on a regular basis). Second choice: a chain bookstore like Borders or Barnes & Noble (if they start selling the book locally, they might buy books for more stores in the chain). Third choice: the author’s website (the author makes the most money when selling direct). Fourth choice: buy direct from the author. Fifth choice: Buy from Amazon.com (preferably from the link on the author’s website).

4. Recommend your friend’s book. If you like the book, recommend it to friends. Blog about it. Tweet a review or mention. Share a note on Facebook. Recommend the book to your book group. Review her book on Amazon.com, BN.com, GoodReads, Library Thing, and other reader social networks.

5. Tell your friend what you like about the book. Provide your friend with support by telling him something you like about his book. Was it a good read? Did it move you to tears or laughter? Did you learn something new?

6. Help your friend get speaking engagements. If your friend is comfortable speaking, recommend your friend to your Rotary Club, Jaycees, church, Friends of the Library, bookseller, garden club, school, etc.

7. Recommend your friend’s website. Link to it from your website, blog, Facebook page, etc. Tweet about it. When your friend writes a blog post, link to it. If your friend tweets something great, retweet it. Feature a quote from your friend’s book on your website. Or tweet the quote.

8. Create a Wikipedia page for your friend. While authors can’t create their own Wikipedia page, other people can. Every book author deserves a Wikipedia page, since a published book grants the author at least a modicum of fame. On the Wikipedia page, feature a short bio, a bibliography, a link to the author’s website.

9. Help your friend with the media. If you know of any newspaper editors or reporters, magazine editors, radio producers or hosts, TV show hosts or producers, columnists, bloggers, etc., send them a copy of the book or a note about the author. Or tell your friend about your connection, and introduce her to your contacts.

10. Pray. Prayer always helps. Pray for your friend and his book. If you’re not into prayer, ask your favorite tree to help.

11. Ask. Ask your friend how you can help her. You may have some talent, connection, specialized knowledge, etc. that might be just the thing she needs. Or they might just need some of your time to help pack and ship some books or make a few phone calls.

12. Do a video review of the book and post it on YouTube and other video sharing websites.

13. Help your friend make some videos for the book. Every author needs a camerapers

Galloping through forests

Of many shades of green

Were the smallest horses

That anyone had seen

Tiny little beings

In all the shades of brown

Some were green and purple

With others to be found

They danced throughout the grass

With an elegant ease

Floating in the current

And buoyed by the seas

Tails wrapped around branches

They slowly, softly sway

And feed upon plankton

As night turns into day

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I saw this crazy man
Walking down the main street
He’s been called Stinky Joe
But his name once was Pete

The flies they buzz ‘round him
Like a thunderstorm cloud
He talks in a whisper
Or else shouts really loud

He shuffles dirty feet
Over steamy cement
With his hair hanging down
And his back always bent

He once was a hero
Or that’s what some folks say
He once had a family
‘til that one fateful day

A war came a callin’
And it took them away
And left Pete all alone
And so now to this day

He walks and he mumbles
Through rain and through heat
In a world all his own
All alone on the street

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Depression’s seeping into you

I can see it in your eyes

Your smile has lost its sparkle

Like you’re wearing a disguise

I’m looking toward tomorrow

You’re fixed inside the present

I continue to urge forward

A trait that you resent

Hopefully you’ll finally see

The light at the tunnel’s end

You will soon return to health

No need to try and pretend

Look toward a bright tomorrow

See the hope within my eyes

We will not be beaten

As long as the sun does rise

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Looking at my life

I’ve taken you for granted

Examining all the love an

All the seeds you’ve planted

Selfishly I’ve taken from you

All you’ve had to give

And given none of myself

Kind of like a sieve

Your tenderness and joy

I gobble greedily

Reveling in your kindness

I’ve no humility

“Sorry” doesn’t cut it

“Forgive me” seems trite

“I love you” is a given

But doesn’t have much bite

My eyes have fluttered open

No longer do I cringe

Change I am embracing

No further on the fringe

My heart is brimming over

My eyes are seeking yours

My ears are fully open

I’ve unlocked all my doors

No more stuck in sorrow

Or hindered by the pain

Unburdened by the hopeless

I’ve got too much to gain

Bring me close and hole me

I finally am free

My heart is yours forever

Until eternity

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I see your struggles

And watch your pain

I try to comfort

Most times in vain

Your life is in turmoil

And you’re in misery

I’m right there with you

You’re sheltering tree

My hands hold your head

While cradling your heart

My arms engulf you

And never will part

I’ll be your shoulder

And support all your weight

I’ll dry all your tears

And hold all your hate

We’ll overcome this together

And fight to the end

We’ll come through smiling

My lover, my friend

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I will hold your hand tight

So let your worries and fears take flight

Your cares are safely on my shoulder

My arms will warm you when you’re colder

I’ll be the keeper of your heart

And we will make a fresh new start

One free of anxiety and of pain

I’ll be your pink umbrella in the rain

I will stand up tall and straight

And chase the enemies from your gate

My light will conquer any darkness

And bring the color back to starkness

No matter the terrors of your mind

I’ll never go or leave you behind

Your life and mine forever entwined

Your rock I’ll be till the end of time

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Have you ever heard

Of a carnivorous plant

One that eats some flys

And also species of ants?

They live in the bogs

And the dampness of marshes

Where things are gloomy

And conditions the harshest

They snap up their prey

Like in the shell of a clam

Or lead them to death

By sticking them in some jam

They’ll close their soft lids

And trap them deep down inside

Or snap them up tight

Where there is no where to hide

Beware these strange plants

If you’re smaller than a bee

But I think they’re cool

Cuz they won’t harm you and me

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Illustration by Paul Gueye

I once had a teacher

Who liked many things

Like big books and boxes

And test tubes and string

He liked to teach science

And evolution

Telling students about

Earth’s revolution

He taught me so much more

Because he was fun

He made learning some things

Like games being won

I learned about the world

In such a great way

That I finished school

And teach to this day!

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Illustrated by Madison Kauffman

Francis Von Prances de la Vander Boon

Flew through the sky in a hot air balloon

Over the mountains with snow caps so white

Through bright shiny days and darkest of nights

The balloon was dark blue with shiny stars

And cup holders for his many food jars

He snacked as he flew up over the trees

On gummy worms and chocolate chip cookies

Said his companion Sir Rodney of Nool

I think I would rather be in my pool

Splashing about in the cool summer spray

Instead of up here, it’s cloudy and gray

Francis Von Prances de la Vander Boon

Assured his friend they would be back home soon

“We have to see the Pyramid of Giza

And the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa”

Said silly Sir Rodney while eating some chips

That really seems like some awfully long trips

I want to be home, have afternoon tea

Mum’s serving biscuits with peach jam you see

Francis looked down at the box they were in

The pieces of cardboard covered with tin

He smiled at Rodney and cleaned up his mess

We can just do it tomorrow I guess

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Somehow my writing went from the incoherent scribblings of my youth to the more concise and cogent ramblings of my here and now.  I’m not sure exactly when that happened but it wasn’t a fast process and it could have been as recently as last year.  I have been working on quite a few projects lately and among them have been with non-profit organizations.  I have turned my penchant for writing children’s poetry into a marketable commodity so that the non-profit organizations can make money.  So far I have That Place You Go When You Dream for a local school and Summer Daze for the Southernmost Boys and Girls Club.  The children illustrate them, which turns them into not just something fun to read but something fun to look at as well.  It’s a win/win situation.

            But here I am rambling again.  I have decided it’s high time I gave away copies of my vampire book A Stranger Feast.  With the hubbub out there about vampires in the movies and on television, I thought now was the ideal time.  I’ll give away three copies of my book to the first three people who tell me what professions three of my vampires had in the past.  Please post this link on your blog, website or any of the social networks and then let me know where you posted it and also the vampire’s job titles.  As soon as I find the winners I will contact them and get the books out in the mail!

            Thank you for your participation and I will be giving away other items in the coming months so stay tuned!

Melissa Kesead

www.melissakeseadpublishing.com

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Flying so low

Skimming the trees

The dragon soared

With grace and ease

Looping around

A church’s spire

He flapped his wings

And soared higher

Through fluffy clouds

Of white and gold

He knew he would

Never get old

A breath of fire

And things alight

It’s kind of cool

To do in flight

He was lonely

The last dragon

His soul was tired

His spirits flaggin’

Then one bright day

He saw a sight

That made him soar

Made all things right

A dragon girl

Came into view

And loop-de-looped

She saw him too

They danced the dance

As dragons do

Up in the air

One became two

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Sandcastles built

With growing hands

Making magic

In the wet sands

Chasing seagulls

Making them fly

Finding shapes in

Clouds in the sky

Braving the sea

One step by one

Sharing laughter

Under the sun

Making new friends

Sharing your toys

New memories

With girls and boys

Splashing about

In the cool spray

Hoping to come

Back the next day

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Our planet needs our help

It’s spinning all it’s wheels

Are you listening now?

Do you know how it feels?

Its lakes are polluted

And fish are in trouble

The air is all dirty

Needs help on the double

If we band together

And do all the right things

We might save the tree frogs

And some parrots that sing

We can save all the whales

And help the dolphins too

Don’t forget crocodiles

Or the cute kangaroo

We’ve got to stop building

And cutting down the trees

Be kinder to nature

And each other too please

It’s up to us kids now

And to do what is right

We must all take a stand

Put our hands up and fight

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Batter up!

The crack of the bat

Is heard through the crowd

The cheering of parents

Roaring so loud

The batters feet thumping

Can barely be heard

As the ball makes its flight

Like some kind of bird

A home run! is chanted

Throughout the stand

The bases are loaded

Well isn’t it grand?

The team claps together

Victory is theirs

Hands are all shaken

Together in pairs

The game is now over

The season is done

Til this time next year

And new one begun

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