森の木琴 Listen to Bach in the Forest

& : 27th Part of the Alphabet

Johnson & Johnson, Barnes & Noble, Dolce & Gabbana: the ampersand today is used primarily in business names, but that small character was once the 27th part of the alphabet. Where did it come from though? The origin of its name is almost as bizarre as the name itself.

The shape of the character (&) predates the word ampersand by more than 1,500 years. In the first century, Roman scribes wrote in cursive, so when they wrote the Latin word et which means “and” they linked the e and t. Over time the combined letters came to signify the word “and” in English as well. Certain versions of the ampersand, like that in the font Caslon, clearly reveal the origin of the shape.

The word “ampersand” came many years later when “&” was actually part of the English alphabet. In the early 1800s, school childrenreciting their ABCs concluded the alphabet with the &. It would have been confusing to say “X, Y, Z, and.” Rather, the students said, “and per se and.” “Per se” means “by itself,” so the students were essentially saying, “X, Y, Z, and by itself and.” Over time, “and per se and” was slurred together into the word we use today: ampersand. When a word comes about from a mistaken pronunciation, it’s called amondegreen. Find out why here.

(The ampersand is also used in an unusual configuration where it appears as “&c” and means etc. The ampersand does double work as the e and t.)

The ampersand isn’t the only former member of the alphabet. Learn what led to the extinction of the thorn and the wynn.

AGE SLIDES UNDER THE DOOR AS OIL PAINTS by Kenneth Wolman

I needn't shave to see my future in the purple scream.
On TV between shows about predatory big cats
there's a commercial for a scooter chair,
the old fart motorchair for aggressive men sick of their lives
who race down the middle of the boulevard
in Long Branch, New Jersey, trying to stage
insurance collisions because they need a Medicare supplement
or maybe because they might just be killed and end it.

I awaken and, before my daily filter kicks in, I am in a scooter too
and (sing) Do You See What I See?--
I am a paint-by-numbers copy of Francis Bacon's
"Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X"
with the ghastly old dude seated on a scooter throne
looking to play bumper cars with Cardinal Borgia
because they both are waiting for death and it's been
years since Borgia, at least, can remember
what it feels like to get laid.

That makes me feel just a bit better
because if my dreams are not much fun,
at least Bacon's must have been rarer than overcooked dog.
For how else could anyone bear to face a day
with that inner face, truth telling, open to the world,
a purple splotch of skeleton, bleeding rage from every pore,
forcing some sucker priest to take him out in his scooter
to witness his final prayer, slamming at full force on the downgrade
into the back of a tractor trailer to end this holy farce
and send home the painter, his work done for the day.


- Kenneth Wolman
USA poet and friend

Gumboots

from writingWA ...

Novel Writing with OOTA Writers' Group Out of the Asylum Writers (OOTA) presents a new series of novel writing workshops with Helen Hagemann. The series runs each Friday fortnight, alternating with Shane McCauley’s Friday poetry class. Workshops run from 10am-noon, with the next session being on Friday 7 March. The emphasis is on writing chapters, or stand-alone work suitable for the short story. Beginners and developing writers catered for. Venue: Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty St. Fremantle; Room: 2 - Upstairs in the north wing. Cost: $20 (OOTA members), $25 others. No bookings required. For details click here. Peter Cowan 600 Short Story Competition The Peter Cowan Writers Centre is calling for entries for this annual competition. Submissions must be unpublished and not have won prior recognition. Max. 600 words per story; open theme. Prizes:1st $200; 2nd $100; 3rd $50; four x Highly Commended; four x Commended Certificates. $10 for one entry, $20/three, $30/five. Entries to be post-marked by 11 April. This year the centre has introduced a new category: the Julian Cowan Youth Award for ages 12-17 years. For details see "Young Writers", below. Entry form and guidelines available soon here.

Kenyon Review The Writers Workshops

Productive. Creative. Supportive. Intense. That’s how participants describe 

the Kenyon Review Writers Workshops.

Is a Kenyon Review Writers Workshop right for you? If you’re serious about writing, here’s what we offer:

• Workshop sessions that get you writing and keep you writing
• Inspiring instructors who coach you towards your best
• Collegial workshoppers as deeply engaged in writing as you are
• Invaluably constructive feedback and support
• A summer week on the stunning, literature-steeped Kenyon College campus

Whether you’ve been writing for years, have recently graduated from an MFA program, or have just now decided to take the leap out of your private notebooks and into a classroom, you’ll find a workshop here to help you accomplish your literary goals.

2014 Workshops

Session I: June 14-21, 2014	Session II:
Fiction Workshop	June 27-July 3, 2014
Literary Nonfiction Workshop	Novel Workshop
Poetry Workshop	June 28-July 3, 2014
Literary Hybrid/Book Arts Workshop	Writers Workshop for Teachers
Writing Online Workshop

Click on any of the links above to learn more about specific workshops.

Click here to learn more about the program.

Haiku on speed – Recycling an ancient tradition

The aim of this workshop is to generate new poems by combining the ancient Japanese haiku form with texts gleaned from our everyday world – contemporary Western Australia.

With found poems writers have to be alert to the world, hunting for words that are

 there already. What writers notice can be far more important than what they think.

-        Bill Manhire

Drawing on what we notice or borrow from the world can sometimes lead us to write in new and unexpected ways...avenues open up that we have never explored before, our poems speak in tongues...

This workshop is inspired by the Bill Manhire’s Mutes & Earthquakes (Wellington 1997) and Paul Janeczko,How to Write Haiku and Other Poems (U.S.A. 2004)

Sponsored by The Fellowship of Australian Writers WA

Sunday 9 March

1.30 – 4.30pm

Mattie Furphy House Clare Copse Swanbourne

$33 ($22 for members of FAWWA)

5 Best Punctuation Marks

Schulz: The 5 Best Punctuation Marks in Literature

• By Kathryn Schulz

   

The muse gets all the press, but here’s a fact: Good writing involves obsessing over punctuation marks.

Read on at http://www.vulture.com/2014/01/best-punctuation-marks-literature-nabokov-eliot-dickens-levi.html

Six Gallery Poets - Exhibition

Are crows the ultimate problem solvers? - Inside the Animal Mind: Episod...

WRITERS’ CAMP AT PHILLIP ISLAND: 23rd – 25th May 2014

Writers’ Workshops

What is a Writers’ Camp?

It’s a residential weekend for writers, where we run workshops (classes), readings and discussions. The program of workshops usually focuses on a mix of fiction and poetry writing. We will be running specialised camps in the future on picture books and masterclass poetry (including verse novels).

Phillip Island Writers’ Camp – May 2014 – Fiction and Poetry

Date: Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th May. Arrive and settle in after 3.00pm Friday. Last session will end with lunch on Sunday.

Place: The Island Accommodation, Newhaven, Phillip Island, Victoria. The Island’s website is HERE. The Island has a range of budget rooms. Rates for October will be $125 per night for a double/twin room, and $35-40 for shared rooms. We will provide more details when your booking is confirmed.

Who: Kristin Henry and Sherryl Clark will be teaching the workshops.

Email Sherryl at sherrylc1@optusnet.com.au for full details and an enrolment form!Or contact through http://www.sherrylclarkwritingcoach.com/contact-me/

PROGRAM
Friday evening, 6-8.30pm

Welcome, supper and activities.

Saturday, 9.30-12.30: Choose between

Short Stories – Does “what if” actually work in terms of generating story ideas? We’ll apply this question and a range of tools to come up with short stories you can write in the following week. Also suitable for short memoir pieces. (Kristin)

OR

That’s the Breaks! – One of the things poets wrestle with the most is line breaks, and then  with stanzas. To break or not? Why? What does a line break actually do? Why do you need to make this a key focus in your poem writing and revision? (Sherryl)

Saturday, 2.00-5.00: Choose between

Self-editing and Revision – Does your revision need a sledgehammer, a chisel or a teeny screwdriver? This workshop will show you tools to revise and self-edit your fiction to a much higher level. (Sherryl)

OR

Verse Novels and Sequences – Thinking of writing a series of poems or maybe venturing into a verse novel? We’ll look at what works and what you need to take into account, how to plan a cohesive group of poems. Also suitable for “life” poems. (Kristin)

5-6pm – Free time.

6-9.30pm – Dinner at a local venue and readings at The Island.

Sunday: 9-12: Show, Don’t Tell – How many times have you heard this rule? We’ll show you how to really tackle this issue in your writing via a series of examples and exercises, whether you write poetry, fiction or memoir. Come prepared to read critically and write with gusto.

Lunch and farewell.

COST: The weekend will cost you $209 (incl GST) – this includes Saturday and Sunday  workshops, breakfasts and lunches. It does not include accommodation (so you can choose a share option or not). We have chosen a hostel-type accommodation to help make it affordable for everyone.

THERE IS A STRICT LIMIT ON NUMBERS. We can take only 30 people. If you want to book a place, do it now! Payment will be required by the end of February. Yes, we will have a waiting list. You need to email Sherryl at sherrylc1@optusnet.com.au to book your spot. A full handout with more details will be sent when you enquire. 

For further enquiries, contact through http://www.sherrylclarkwritingcoach.com/contact-me/

Joni Mitchell on ABC's Poetica

Poetica: Enduring lyrics Joni Mitchell wrote poetry from an early age and with the aid of David Crosby found fame as a performer with her writing talent and unique voice. Katherine Monk, author of Joni: the Creative Odyssey of Joni Mitchell , talks to Poetica about Joni Mitchell’s life as a singer/songwriter and the beauty of her powerful lyrics. Saturday 22 February at 3.00pm and repeated Thursday 27 February at 9.00pm

Surfing Down South, published by Margaret River Press

Launch of 'Surfing Down South'                                                                                                                                                 Buy the book. Margaret River Press once again partnered with the Holmes à Court Gallery at Vasse Felix to celebrate the opening of the exhibition 'Coast' and launch our publication 'Surfing Down South'.  Janet Holmes à Court launched both the exhibition and book. In her launch speech she said she loved the book and bought six copies to give  away, one of which will be given to Richard Tognetti, Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra who a few years ago had presented 'The Reef'  a performance piece involving musicians and surfers.  She congratulated Sue-Lyn and the Press on the publication which she said was historically and culturally significant. Many pioneering surfers came along with family and friends some of who travelled from Perth for the event.  In keeping with tradition, they retired to Caves House to reminiscent about the good old days. Sue-Lyn in the middle surrounded by surfers and publisher Caroline on the far left. Janet Holmes à Court chatting to surfers. Kevin Merifield paid tribute to Sue-Lyn and the Press on the publication.

Audible Silence: Cy Twombly at Daros, 2002

'Cy Twombly is the painterly master of verbal silence.' John Berger

See more HERE

Kevin Larimer: Publishing 101 for Poets

Dorothy Porter Tribute at DYMOCKS Adelaide

• • Thursday, 20 February 2014
  • 

    18:00 in UTC+10:30
• 

  Chance of Rain 20°C / 13°C

• Welcome back to a new year of spoken word @ Dymocks Adelaide presented by Spoken Word SA. As promised we will be giving this event a 'proper' name (hopefully by the night of this event). So please join us as we pay tribute to well-loved Australian great: DOROTHY PORTER There is no space on this invitation to list the full impact that she has had on Australian (and international) poetry so please have a look atwww.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/porter-dorothy for a very nice bio. Our guest for the night will be none other than Jill Jones www.jilljones.com.au/ "poetry of unsettling mystery and beauty. ... passionate and parodic at once, as cool as all get out." The Australian And of course there will be the open mic. Come along and perform a Dorothy Porter and also (if you wish) one of your own original pieces. Books from Dorothy Porter and Jill Jones will be available on the night and we will again be running the RAFFLE. FREE ENTRY.

Master Class: Pierre Joris at The Chicago School of Poetics

Class Date: Saturday, April 26, 2014
Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CST
Duration: 1 day (class meets once, for 3 hrs.)
Instructor: Pierre Joris
Location: Online

Description: Study with poet Pierre Joris in a master class workshop at the Chicago School of Poetics. This one-day online class offers an intimate environment within which to work with one of the key figures of contemporary poetry. The class runs for 3 hours and will be held in our online, video-conferenced classroom, so you can attend from your own home, from anywhere in the world.

Class size is limited to 10 students.

Please note: after registering you will receive an email with instructions on how to log into the virtual classroom.

Tuition: $250

- See more at: http://www.chicagoschoolofpoetics.com/2014/master-class-pierre-joris/#sthash.7vkkAy5j.dpuf

BLUE ROSE - a 'good read' as they say

a novel by Andrew Burke

'Blue Rose is a gritty and confronting novel set in Western Australia’s conservative late Fifties and early Sixties. 

It follows the turbulent life of Rose, a young teenage runaway with resilience, innate intelligence - and a good singing voice. 

She tangles with a Hungarian boxer, a psychopath, a bikie gang and a recovering drug-addict/folksinger in her struggle to find her true self, while law enforcement and child welfare authorities press ever more strongly to gain custody of her child. 

This is a story which echoes the news stories of today, presenting a deeply emotional portrait of a young woman driven by a strong maternal instinct to provide for her daughter.'

Available http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/163072

Larf

REGIME 03 Now Available

Now Shipping: Regime 03 Magazine of New Writing Regime 03 is 186 pages of the best poetry, short stories and performance writing in the world. With forty six poems, seventeen short stories and an in-depth interview with the WA Art Gallery's Historical Curator, it's also the best value around.     The third issue of Regime Magazine is an impressive collection that is Australian in essence, but international in outlook.    Featuring new work by WA’s own Andrew Taylor, Gail Willems, Roland Leach, Shey Marque, Andrew Burke, Christopher Konrad, Peter Jeffery, Ian Nichols, Jude Bridge, Shane McCauley and many, many more.    East coast and international writers including Les Wicks, Rosalee Kiely, Robbie Coburn, Mark Roberts, Carly-Jay Metcalfe, Petri Ivalo Sinda and Serje Jones.    Cover artwork is by internationally renowned Western Australian artist, Guy Grey-Smith (see image above: ‘Torbay’, 1957, oil on canvas, 69.5 x 92 cm, State Art Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia, purchased 1957, © Susanna Grey-Smith and Mark Grey-Smith).    Copies of Regime 03 can be purchased (AUD$20 including postage to Australian addresses) directly from our website: regimebooks.com.au.   Quick, before it's too late!

Black Inc's The Best Australian Poems 2013 - now open

The deadline for submissions is 1 August 2014, but early submission would be appreciated. Please send a maximum of three poems – completed or published since 1 August 2013, to Geoff Page bestaustralianpoems@blackincbooks.com

Submissions should be able to be enjoyed by ‘general readers’ who don’t necessarily read much poetry — as well by those dedicated ones who do.

The editor will also be reading through the relevant journals and newspapers and collections published between 1 August  2013 and 1 August 2014.

Line count: Since the editor intends to represent Australian poetry widely, length is restricted to approximately 70 lines.

Format: Poems should be forwarded in a single .doc attachment. There is no official entry form. Please include your name and contact details as well as publication details for any poems already published (must have been later than 1 August 2013).

The editor’s selections will be announced on this website in October 2014.

Questions regarding submissions should be directed to assistant@blackincbooks.com

Geeks For Good - Bam Creative and WA Aids Council

HarperCollins Wants Your Love! SUBMIT WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday 19 February, HarperCollins Australia's online submission portal, The Wednesday Post, will be searching for fabulous Romance, Erotica and Women's Fiction manuscripts. 

They're looking for charming love stories that will keep readers hooked till the beautiful, or bitter end. 

Whether or not you’ve been previously published, this is the perfect opportunity to submit your work and have a chance to be published by an award-winning, international publishing house. 

All entries will be considered for both print and ebook publication as well as digital-only publication. 

General manuscript submissions reopen 26 February. For guidelines, click here.

For those who live in the UK north west....

This coming Saturday 15th at  8.30pm at the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester...

Peter Barlow's Cigarette - featuring Tim Allen, Peter Riley, Sarah Corbett and Alan Clemo. Free Entry.

This is the one that was postponed from December. 

Tim Allen will be launching 2 books as well.

Strokestown International Poetry Festival 2014   Dear Poets, The 2014 Strokestown International Poetry Festival is taking place this year from the 2nd. to 4th. May.  The closing date for entries is Friday February 28th. The 2014 Strokestown International Poetry Award, for poems in English on any subject not exceeding 70 lines is being judged by poets Paddy Bushe and Neil Astley, with a first prize fund of €2000. The Percy French Award for Comic Verse will be judged by the Strokestown Wit Committee.  The emphasis this year will be very much on fun and the judges will be looking out for comic and witty verse for which a prize fund of €1,000 is being offered. There will also be other activities over the weekend including the ‘world famous’ Strokestown Pub Poetry Competition. An entry form can be found on our website and the entry fee per poem is €5 euro/ £5 sterling/ $5 US dollars and you can enter online or by post.  Please visit www.strokestownpoetry.org for further details. We hope you will be able to be part of the festival this year & thank you for your support in the past. Our judges are eagerly awaiting your poems. Every good wish, Strokestown Poetry Committee

Chamber Poets #12 - Woodend, 8/2/2014

1) Myron Lysenko, MC, poet 

2) pete spence, poet, editor, publisher

3) Griffen from Boston, spoken word

4) Andrew Burke, poet, blogger

5) Cow - by Barnett

Just a small glimpse of the action at the monthly Chamber Poets reading at the Chamber Cafe & Gallery, 90 High Street, Woodend. This is the second year of its existence, and now it also features the Black Forest Smoke Band as house band.

Photographs by Jeanette Burke

Come along next month - I'll broadcast before then who the guests are and all the details. Entry by donation and a book raffle that's fun!