Poetry Sampler

Posted 2010-04-14 05:16:18 by writeingredients

                                                      KRISTL’S POETRY SAMPLER

                                                                              or

                                                                        essamplair                                                                                                     

What is a poetry “sampler” (in french,  essamplair) –?

Most of us are familiar with the term “sampler” in connection with sewing.  Sewing samplers have been part of our history for centuries.

In fact, the first sewing samplers are recorded in a household expenses account for Elizabeth of York (wife of the English king Henry VII) in 1502.

Sewing samplers were originally a way for people to record different patterns which they found of interest - something which they could refer to later when producing large scale embroideries. The sewer would pull out their sampler and copy a small example of a pattern they liked, just like today you might make a note in a sketchbook or take a quick picture on your mobile phone! Over time, as cloth was very expensive, a single piece of material would gather more and more examples and begin to resemble more of what we think of a sampler today.

By the end of 19th century, plain sewing samplers, many from lessons taught in schools or in domestic science colleges, showcased the maker's needlework skills - such as hemming, gathering, darning, sewing on loops, patching and simple embroidery. 

So the sewing sampler started as a gathering place for admired work for study and inspiration until the student was able to create a sampler of their own work to display their learned skills.

We can apply this concept to poetry.  The first step is to create a “sampler” of poets and their work for study and inspiration.  Then we can create a sampler filled with our own work – this is called a chapbook.  We can make it plain or fancy, for just ourselves or to sell to others.  Hand crafted poetry chapbooks produced by the writer are respected in the writing world and thought of as “art.”   We can do that.  We can do art.  

In the following pages, I’ve begun my own poetry sampler.  These are some poems that I’ve collected.  I didn’t spend a lot of time to tell you the truth.  A quick look on the net resulted in poets galore.   I selected poems that had parts to which I could relate or phrases which I admired or liked.   I discovered that learning about the life and times of the poet also helped in understanding and appreciating the poems.   Another tip I’ve gathered is that reading the poem out loud makes a difference and will help you decide if it’s something you want for your sampler.  Hearing the sounds of the words made a big difference to me.   It also helped to pretend to be reading it to someone else.

Whether you decide to jump on the wagon with us and eventually make your own chapbook or not, I hope you enjoy reading the poems and poets I’ve presented.

If you wish to download my sampler model, please email me at jk.2writers@gmail.com and I'll send it to you.

Screen Play

Posted 2009-11-13 02:10:58 by writeingredients

Had some good news about one of my scripts.  But have been there before.

Stepping Out to Bog

Posted 2009-10-30 12:48:46 by writeingredients
Last edited 2009-11-04 07:42:06 by writeingredients

I'm still working on the whole blogging thing.  I love the ease of the Google blog.  WordPress has more options and can be customized more. 

Right now I have "Kristl with an "L" on WordPress and a new "Shelf Talk" on Google.  The Shelf Talk is an attempt at blogging a dedicated to writers blog.  I'm learning a lot and getting better at it.   I'm even getting the hang of webbing and am adding pictures!

New Contest

Posted 2009-09-18 08:37:56 by writeingredients
Last edited 2009-09-18 08:39:20 by writeingredients

Do you know about this contest?  It's on a fun site.  Check out http://www.thenovelette.com/.

Query letter checklists

Posted 2009-08-08 10:47:54 by writeingredients
Last edited 2009-08-08 10:48:50 by writeingredients

While browsing for agents I came across the following tips for writing query and cover letters.  Excellent checklists for any submission.  Thanks to LJK Literary Management, LLC

Cover Letter Requirements: Fiction
-Date
-Name
-Mailing address
-Email  address
-Phone number(s)
-Working title of manuscript
-Overview/summary (1-2 pages)
-Manuscript status (complete, initial stages, finished but requiring fact checking, etc.) and word count or estimated word count
-Short description of yourself
-Credentials that we should consider
-Previous publications
-A description of ways that you will help to promote your book, including any media contacts you may have

Cover Letter Requirements: Non-fiction
-Date
-Name
-Mailing address
-Email  address
-Phone number(s)
-Working title of manuscript
-Overview/summary (1-2 pages)
-Manuscript status (complete, initial stages, finished but requiring fact checking, etc.)
-Estimated word count when complete
-Chapter titles and brief summary of each chapter
-Target audience and why they will find this book compelling
-Books that would be considered competitors with your book and how your book differs from these—why will your book sell?
-Short description of yourself
-Credentials and recognition (e.g. awards) that qualify you to write about this topic
-Previous publication(s)
-A description of ways that you will help to promote your book, including any media contacts you may have

Hang ten, Kristl

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