Lena Kovadlo's Creative Passion

Wandering Wounds by James L Finley

2026-06-01T14:09:40.005-04:00

Wandering Wounds is a must-have debut poetry book by the talented poet James L. Finley, whose poetry creations have won many awards and poetry contests on a wonderful writing community writing.com when he was still a part of it.

The poetry that lies within the book is very emotional and it also makes you think. There is much to draw from these written creations. I am proud to own a copy of this book, which the author personally autographed for me, and will treasure it for a life time.

James L. Finley’s poetry book Wandering Wounds sheds a light on topics of great importance that are widespread in today’s society. The topics include physical and sexual abuse, alcoholism, addiction, and illness. Other topics include life’s trials, relationships, heartbreak, and love that we have all experienced and can relate to. I have read this book from start to finish and I was not left disappointed. I was affected by the content and the writing in this book. James L. Finley is one talented poet and his book is definitely a book worth reading.

Poetry lovers out there will no doubt love this great book. It is worthy of praise, worthy of being in your collection, worthy of being discussed. So, if you happen to love and appreciate poetry check out Wandering Wounds and spread the word…

When I heard that James L. Finley was planning to publish a poetry book I was very excited. I couldn’t wait to hold his book in my hands. I couldn’t wait to dive inside and indulge in his poetry. I had read his poetry before and knew that he would not disappoint and he did not. His book is amazing!!!

I am amazed by his talent. Not only does he affect you with his words but he also leaves you thinking. You are left with a lasting impression after reading his poetry and you are left wanting more. He is the king of metaphor and allegory. Besides that, he is able to tackle any poetic form and nail it from start to finish. And it looks so effortless. He doesn’t overwhelm you with emotion. He has just enough of it to make you feel and bring forth your own emotions to the poetry you are reading.

A talent like that deserves to be in print and deserves to be heard around the world. His words are very effective and they leave us thinking. His poetry is not fluff. It’s got depth, it’s got meaning, it’s got soul—–everything great poetry should have.

Wandering Wounds is James L. Finley's first poetry book. He also has five chapbooks in his Chapbooks of Life poetry series, which is available on Amazon. They are written under the author name J. L. Finley.

Jailbait Novella by Barbara Kasey Smith

2026-06-01T13:59:14.556-04:00

I am always looking for new interesting books to read. When a writer and author by the name of Barbara Kasey Smith approached me to help her publish her novella Jailbait I ended up reading something new and immensely enjoyed every bit of it.

Reading Jailbait I was transported into the world of the main character and lived her story with her from beginning to end. There were times in the story where I smiled and times where I almost started crying. Never once did I get bored or want to put the book down. I highly recommend this book! Not only is it an interesting and enjoyable read but it also sheds light on what can happen to a younger person when he/she chooses to run away from home.

What is Jailbait novella about?

Jailbait, written by Barbara Kasey Smith, tells a story of Emily, a 15-year-old girl living in a coal mining town in West Virginia. Emily's family is poor and she is ashamed of it. She doesn't want this kind of life and wishes she could escape it.

One day after getting into a fight with her mother Emily decides to run away from home. This rash decision ends up changing her life and not for the better as she becomes someone's "jailbait." When this happens Emily finds herself in a world filled with constant physical and emotional cruelty and torture that greatly affects her life.

Emily wants nothing more than to go back to the comfort of her own family, her own home. The only way for that to happen is to escape but it doesn't seem possible. Will she find a way to set herself free and see her family again?

Jailbait will leave you on the edge of your seat. The story is full of suspense and thrills and is filled with emotional moments that will tear at your heartstrings. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down.

Jailbait is currently available in paperback and e-book formats. Be sure to check it out as this book is a must-read, especially for teens.

About the Author

Barbara Kasey Smith was born in the hills of West Virginia in a coal mining town. She currently lives in Manassas, Virginia. She is author of three books, her latest being her novella Jailbait.

When she is not writing novels and stories, Barbara enjoys writing poetry and lyrics, fishing, flower decorating, reading, traveling and arts and crafts.

Q&A with Barbara Kasey Smith

1. What inspired you to write Jailbait?

I was inspired to write Jailbait after reports of several teenagers missing in our area. I felt teen girls/boys needed to read/hear the things that can happen to a run-away person. Many times the innocent are not aware that when they have nowhere to go they become owned by another person and horrendous things happen to them.

2. How did you go about writing your novella? What was the process? Did you face any challenges along the way?

I wrote my book during my relaxed times. I'm blessed to be able to begin writing and pick up immediately where I stopped writing the book. I have a fantastic imagination and I build a story while I'm writing it. I didn't face any challenges writing he book since actually I live in the story as I write it.

3. What do you want readers to get out of this book?

I hope there will be teenage readers who will read the book and realize what can happen

to them when they're out on the street without a home.

4. Is any part of this book inspired by your own personal experiences or something you've witnessed happen to someone you know?

This book was not written from any experience I've ever had in my life but I have had knowledge of several friends whose teens left home and the terrible experiences that happened to their children.

5. What else have you written besides Jailbait?

I've written three other books: No Goodbyes (Romance), A Stranger's Visit (Mystery), and Whispers of Faith (Thriller, Suspense).

6. Are there any new books you are currently writing and if so what are they about?

I've got several books on the back-burner—a thriller and a murder mystery.

Writing My Own Birthday Greetings

2026-06-01T13:52:36.076-04:00

When someone's birthday rolls around it's nice to give someone a greeting card along with a present. And if you are giving money as a gift then it's definitely a must to buy a greeting card as you can't just hand that person money in an empty envelope.

You don't just want to get any greeting card however. It has to look beautiful and the text inside has to be meaningful, touching, and inspirational. It's hard to find cards like these nowadays as most of them have text with little to no value inside. So, the best thing to do is to buy a beautiful blank greeting card and write your own text inside it, be it prose or an actual birthday poem. Not only will you end up gifting a beautiful, heartfelt card but it will be even more personal.

That is exactly what I do. When someone's birthday rolls around, if I can't find a card that says exactly what I want to say to someone, I buy a nice blank card and write my own birthday poem or greeting inside it, sometimes even adding a bit of prose as well. I don't just write something quick and forget about it. I put thought into each birthday greeting that I write. It makes me happy to do this. And I feel good about gifting it to the person whose birthday it happens to be.

How to Write a Limerick

2026-05-27T14:43:53.197-04:00

We often hear people talk about limericks but the word seems foreign to us and we wonder what a limerick is.

Well, a limerick is a type of poem. Sometimes referred to as the "nonsense poem" a limerick is filled with humor and wit. While the poem is meant to cheer you up and make you laugh, it can also leave you thinking and inspire you too.

How to Write a Limerick

A limerick consists of five lines with a rhyme scheme of AABBA. Each of the lines has a specific meter measure. The 1st, 2nd, and 5th lines have three feet, three syllables each, while the 3rd and 4th lines have two feet, three syllables each.

There are two types of "feet" in a limerick: either anapestic (two short unstressed syllables and a long stressed syllable) or amphibrachic (one stressed syllable and two unstressed syllables.

An easier way to illustrate this is to think of a rhythm that sounds like DA-DUM. One "foot" of an anapestic meter will have a rhythm of DA-DA-DUM, while one "foot" of an amphibrachic meter will have a rhythm of DA-DUM-DA.

When you finish writing your limerick read it with the DA-DA-DUM or DA-DUM-DA sounding rhythm. Your 1st, 2nd, and 5th lines, which are three "feet," should have three sets of DA-DA-DUMs or DA-DUM-DAs each. Your 3rd and 4th lines, which are two "feet," should have two sets of DA-DA-DUMs or DA-DUM-DAs each. If the lines sound like this then you've nailed the form. If your lines don't sound like this you may have to tweak the poem a bit. I am not sure if it is a must for the lines to strictly follow this rhythm/meter pattern to still be considered a limerick but it is best to adhere to the rules.

While a limerick consists of five lines you can have a long limerick poem that consists of many stanzas each one its own limerick poem. In this case the poems will most likely be of a similar nature or of a similar theme. Writing limericks in this way is both interesting and fun and a little more challenging. Once you figure out what you want to write about, writing a limerick is not that difficult to master, regardless of what kind it is and how long you intend for it to be.

Even though limericks are meant to be humorous you can still use poetic techniques in the poem such as metaphor, simile, personification and alliteration. Do not hesitate with experimenting with poetic techniques when writing this type of poetry. It will be more creative and challenging and you will be able to expand yourself as a poet and writer.

Example of a Limerick

A fellow I know bought a suit
I think it was made out of jute
The colours were mellow
It was red, green, and yellow
He looked like a large bowl of fruit

This limerick is an excerpt from a long limerick poem "Get a Load of This" written by the talented poet Regis Auffray. He published his limericks on the AuthorsDen site and has published three limerick books.

Some interesting facts about Limericks

Edward Lear made this poetic form popular in this book Book of Nonsense, which he published in 1845. The origin of the name references the county of Limerick, which is located Ireland.
They were used during World Word II to gain higher priority when it came time to get new guns fitted to the Dutch sloop known as Soemba.
Poets tend to write limericks about a person or a place and they introduce that specific person or place in the first line of the poem.
Limerick poetry is a play on words.
Limericks can be turned into songs and it's been done in the past and present. Just add a refrain verse (chorus) between each five-line limerick and you got yourself a limerick song.
Some people write limericks using the required meter but refrain from using the required rhyme scheme of AABBA. These types of poems are referred to as "anti-limericks." People like W.S. Gilbert have written "anti-limericks."

I will admit that I wasn't a big fan of limericks at first. After helping my friend Regis Auffray with his limerick books I fell in love with limericks and have even written a few of my own. Now I am a limerick fan. Limericks are certainly an addictive form of poetry. So, I will definitely be writing them from now on. Thanks to Regis I have written many limericks and even published a limerick book of my own Scenes from a Quirky Life.

No Place Like Home: A Look at My Hometown

2026-05-26T15:10:35.669-04:00

I have lived in the United States for 23 years, so it is my new home now. My true home, however, is somewhere far away across the Atlantic Ocean in Eastern Europe, in my homeland of Minsk, Belarus. No matter where I go, I carry the memories of where I came from. The images, sounds, and aromas are still vivid in my mind. They make me feel as if Minsk is right here, just a grasp away. And sometimes I feel as if I am right there in the midst of all the action and adventure that this city has to offer.

Transportation

Minsk is the capital of Belarus. It is a busy city with lots of activity, yet it's never too crowded on the streets. No matter where people want to go they've got lots of ways of getting there. Among the modes of transportation are the bus, the subway, the trolley bus (the electric bus), and the tramway (runs on rails). With so many convenient and inexpensive ways of moving around and about the city, there are

many places to see and visit.

The Bazaar

One interesting and delicious place to visit is the bazaar, otherwise known as the food market. Every day it is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables so aromatic that your mouth starts to water and your stomach growls, and the smell of freshly butchered meat, and raw fish wafts through the air. The burst of activity and the crowd of curious, hungry shoppers is a scene one can never forget. Voices ring in the air as people scurry through aisles of nutritious treasure, hands occupied with grocery bags, buying the necessary ingredients for creating a feast.

When I was little, I loved going to the bazaar. Whenever my parents or grandparents went shopping to the bazaar I always went with them. It was an adventure for me. My mom even told that a few times she went to the bazaar on high heels with me in her arms carrying huge grocery bags. And actually there were plenty of women who went shopping for food in high heels.

Belarusians Love to Eat

Belarusians love to eat, and they consume a great deal of food, especially at dinnertime. The table is never empty when people come together for a celebration or just to enjoy a meal together. Come to think of it, the table has so much food on it that by the time people are done eating, their stomachs are so full that they can't get up.

To start of the meal, there are a variety of appetizers. The popular and also my favorite salads are olivye made from potatoes, carrots, pickles, canned peas and mayo; shuba, which is a layered salad of potatoes, carrots, onions, herring and beets topped with mayo, and carrot and mushroom salad. There are also a variety of freshly oven-baked breads, cold cuts, herring and red and black caviar, which is very popular. And this is just the beginning. Then comes soup.

The two popular soups are cabbage soup made from green cabbage, carrots, and potatoes, and beet soup made from beets and potatoes. And if that isn't enough there are also a number of main entrees that are served. Among them the popular ones are fried chicken cutlets with mashed potatoes, or fried pork chops with fried potatoes. As you can tell potatoes are very popular. Actually people love potatoes so much that they eat them mashed, fried, boiled, sautéed, or baked. They can even eat them for breakfast, dinner, or supper. You would think that this is the end of the meal. But finally, there are fruits and dessert with tea or coffee. This looks more like a royal feast than a regular dinner but this is the way that Belarusians eat when they get together.

Since bread and pastries are an important part of dinner, the bakery is another place that cannot be passed up. Walking along a street, even feet away, one can taste and inhale the rich aroma of baked goodies that leave one's taste buds hungry for more. Bakeries always draw in a huge crowd that sometimes it gets so big that a line forms on the sidewalk waiting to get that piece of wholesome goodness.

I remember when I was little I loved going to the bakery. Fortunately it was across the street from my apartment so I didn't have to go far. My favorite bread was Narachansky, which was made with molasses and dried mashed potatoes. It was so delicious that one slice was just not enough. Luckily I've found a bakery here in Brooklyn that bakes that bread so I always buy it. It brings me closer to home and reminds me of the bakery I always visited.

Popular Foods in Belarus:

Beet Salad with Prunes, Carrot Salad with Raisins,

Herring, Syrniki, Vinegret, Stuffed Bell Peppers,

Cabbage Soup, Okroshka, Cold Borscht

Mushroom Picking

One of the popular activities to do in Belarus is going to the forest for mushroom and berry picking. It might seem a bit weird to a foreigner but it is fun. When people go picking for berries and mushrooms they actually eat them afterwards. (The mushrooms are cooked of course before being consumed.) There is no fear of getting poisoned because people know what to look for and can tell the difference between something poisoned and something edible.

This of course was one of my favorite activities. Many times I went with my brother and parents to pick berries and mushrooms in the forest. The berries that we picked were blueberries, raspberries and wild strawberries (my favorite). Wild strawberries are so delicious that they melt in your mouth. Sadly they don't grow in America although I've found a few in upstate New York.

One time when I was in Latvia with my family we decided to go mushroom picking. We ended up collecting a big bucket of mushrooms, which we later brought to the restaurant where we had dinner and asked the chefs to fry them for us. The mushrooms were so good that we ate them all. That is an experience I will never forget.

The Weather

Oh and one can never forget about the weather. Each season carries with it wonder and surprise.

Winters can be rather brutal with temperatures falling way below freezing and the cold snow reaching heights of people's knees. But even this rather unpleasant work of Mother Nature is a beautiful, mesmerizing masterpiece. Bare streets and naked trees are blanketed in fluffy white sheets of snow, sparkled by the faint glow of the sun peeking from the light gray sky. The howling of the wind and the sting of the frost paints people's faces with pink dots, and fogs windows. With children playing in the snow and rows of snowmen, the streets are never lonely. Belarus stands for "white Russia" in the Belarussian language, so maybe the nation got its name from its white snowy winters.

Lasting through months of freezing cold the body craves for warmth and so spring brings with it warmer temperatures. Yet everything is not calm because sometimes, heavy rains storm into the city creating puddles that turn into small rivers. The air is fresh with each rainfall refreshing the body and soul.

Summer throws upon us hot temperatures but it is never too humid so the atmosphere is pleasant. It is a great time to bask in the sun and relax at the beach. So people don't have to be stuck indoors in front of an air conditioner to stay cool.

Autumn colors the streets with rainbows of fallen leaves rustling under moving feet. Cooler temperatures relieve us from the power of the heat.

So each season gives people something to look forward to. It unveils a beauty all its own. Sometimes it seems as though the scenery in front of one's eyes is not real but a painting. That is what makes the seasons in Minsk exhilarating and unforgettable.

Minsk, Belarus is an interesting place to visit. The experience is wonderful and mesmerizing. There is plenty to do and plenty to see. It's been a while since I left Minsk, Belarus, but unveiling these memories of my homeland make me want to say that there is no place like home.

My Trip to Ontario Canada

2026-05-26T14:55:50.744-04:00

One year, instead of spending Labor Day weekend at home my uncle decided to make a trip to Ontario Canada. He didn't want to stay at a hotel or a b&b and decided to rent a cottage. After doing a Google search he found a cottage in St. Catherines, Canada on Nokara Farms and that is where we went.

We left to Canada on Friday morning and returned back home late Monday night. We drove around St. Catherines and went sightseeing to Niagara-on-the-Lake during the day and to Niagara Falls at night, when everything is lit up.

It was a great, fun, and memorable trip and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I sure hope we return to this cottage and to this part of Canada soon.

Nokara Farms Cottage

The cottage we stayed at was located on Nokara Farms (St. Catherines, Ontario). It was a cozy two bedroom cottage with a large living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a roomy bathroom, and a large porch. The cottage overlooked Ontario Lake and the view was breathtaking.

I never thought that I'd be living on a farm, surrounded by fruits and vegetables, overlooking Ontario Lake, but it happened and I am so thrilled that it did.

Instead of sleeping in the bedroom I decided to sleep in a pullout couch in the living room. Why did I do that when I could have slept in a cozy bed? Well, I did it all for the view. Lying on the couch and looking straight out the window I could see Ontario Lake, the picturesque skies above, the rustling leaves of the trees and the birds flying overhead. Pure bliss and worth the discomfort of sleeping on a pullout couch. Actually, it wasn't that uncomfortable but of course a bed is always the better choice. In this case the view won me over and nothing else mattered. I wish I could wake up to this kind of view every morning...

The View from the Cottage

The view from the cottage was breathtaking. I am glad that I didn't forget to bring my camera along with me. I was able to take some amazing photographs of the lake and the sunset... Below are some of these photos.

Picking Fruits and Vegetables

There was no way we could have left Nokara Farms without going fruit and vegetable picking. The owner of the farm took us on a tour of the farm land and then allowed us to pick fruits and vegetables. By the time we were done we had baskets loaded with plums, peaches, pears, tomatoes, eggplants, onions, red peppers, and melons. We asked how much we owed for all these delicacies but the owner said we owed him nothing.

Visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town in Ontario Canada and we went to visit it on our trip. It had nice buildings and stores and a beautiful park. I also noticed that there were flower arrangements situated throughout the main street of the town. Even in the middle section of the road that divides the two-way street there flowers galore.

While walking along the main street I saw a couple that was dressed up like someone from the olden days, which was interesting to see. They were nice enough to let me take their picture. I didn't ask them. They just saw me taking pictures and posed for me.

I also came across a lady walking a poodle. I've never seen a dog like it. He was so unique, so beautiful that I had to take a picture. Another amazing thing that I saw was a monument of sorts that listed the names of the people who swam across Ontario Lake. It showed how old the people were when they made that swim, where they were from, and the length of the swim.

Visiting Niagara Falls

I have been to Niagara Falls in the past but I have never visited it in the evening when everything is lit up. This time I got to do just that. It was really a sight to see. So majestic, so magical, especially with the fireworks overhead.

I tried taking pictures but it was hard to get any great ones because it was so dark. I guess my Nikon camera is not designed for taking night pictures. I managed to take a few that weren't that bad though, which I am happy about.

I am not sure what the occasion was but there were too many people visiting Niagara Falls that night. It was way overcrowded. It gave me a feeling that something big was going to happen. And that's when the fireworks started. The downside was that the fireworks lasted for only a few minutes. I would have thought they'd be for at least twenty minutes, if not more. Oh well. Even the few minutes brought with them lasting memories.

My trip to Ontario Canada was an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. I definitely want to return there in the future, hopefully in the near future. And as far as where to spend the night, I'd prefer to stay at a cottage on Nokara Farms than at a hotel or a bed and breakfast.

Tips on How to Overcome Writer’s Block

2026-05-26T14:39:05.748-04:00

Writers, no matter how great they are, face writer's block at some point during their writing journey. Either they sit staring at an empty page not knowing what to write about; or they sit there writing and reject everything that makes it onto the empty page. Writer's block is not only annoying but it also prevents writers from from creating amazing pieces of writing and getting it done in time.

Being a writer, I know how annoying and frustrating it can be to be faced with writer's block, especially when you have a deadline for something that you have to write. And not being able to write when you really want to write is just as annoying and frustrating.

I decided to put together some tips on how to overcome writer's block. Perhaps you will find them useful. And if you have your own tips to share, please do. Writers should always help each other improve their craft...

If Writing Isn't Working Take a Break...

If you ever start writing something and end up hating or rejecting everything that you write STOP WRITING. I don't mean stop writing for the rest of your life. Just put the writing aside and come back to it at a later time. If you keep on at it and force yourself to continue writing (when it's clearly not working out for you) your work will suffer and so will you for that matter. There is nothing wrong with pausing, taking a breather, and returning to your creation at a later time. If you do that, if you return with a clearer head and a calmer being, you will see that your words will start to flow and you will accept what you write. You will begin to appreciate the words you lay onto the empty page. Things will fall into place...And before you know it an amazing piece of writing will emerge. How much time should you take off from working on that piece of writing is really up to you. You may take a break for a few minutes, or maybe a few hours or even days will be best. Try it out and see what works best for you.

Where to Draw Your Inspiration From...

Everything that surrounds you is a great source of inspiration. You just have to be open to it. You have to want to accept it and embrace it. Don't let anything pass you by. Always have a pen and paper ready to jot down those ideas. They will come in handy when you have writer's block. And they will also be useful because they may result in great pieces of writing. You don't necessarily need a pen and paper. You can use any other medium to record all the ideas that pop into your head. As long as you have a recording device that is all that matters.

Nature is a great source of inspiration and it is full of stories waiting to unfold, even if it is used metaphorically to tell a larger story. For example, you may be strolling through the park and notice an elderly man sitting on a bench with his young grandson feeding the birds, which may bring you back to a time when you were a kid and when you used to go to the park with your grandfather... Or you may spot a tree and it may trigger a memory of a time when you sat under it with your love...

Dreams can be a great source of inspiration. When you wake up in the morning, try to remember bits and pieces of the dreams you had and jot them down. It doesn't matter if they are vague. They can still help to give you ideas on what to write about. You never know what pieces of writing your dreams can inspire so pay attention to your dreams and if anything sticks in your head when you wake up put it on paper so you can later work on it and develop it into a complete body of work, be it short or long.

Where and How to Get Ideas For Your Writing...

If you are sitting there not sure of what to write about there's lots you can do... Think back on your recent or past experiences and write about those. Think about what matters to you, what touches your heart or moves you, what you are passionate about, your dreams and aspirations. Ponder about these things a little and ideas will start to emerge in your head.

Read on for more useful information on where and how to get ideas for your writing...

Ask Yourself a Series of Questions

You can ask yourself a serious of questions that will help get you on the track to starting your piece of writing. Here is a list of some of them that you'll hopefully find useful.

Have you seen a movie or show on TV, read an interesting book, or listened to a song that connected with you and spoke to you in some way?
Who is your idol and why is that person your idol?
What does friendship mean to you?
How would you describe unconditional love?
Is there anything that you are afraid of that keeps you (or kept you) from doing what you've always dreamed of?
Did you face any challenges in your life and how did you overcome them?
Have you ever felt like an outcast, like you didn't belong amongst a group of people?
What are your fondest childhood memories?
Are there any special moments in your life that you will never forget?
How did you cope with the loss of your loved one?

There are many more questions that you can ask yourself...So jot down a list of questions not worrying about their content and something will surely make you want to write and create something of great importance.

Come Up With a List of Titles

Come up with a list of potential titles for a piece of writing...

When you do that, something in that list will catch your eye, or ignite a spark, and ideas or even complete lines will emerge from your head...Before you know it a piece of writing will come together and one you will surely love.

When creating a list of potential titles keep in mind that the final titles for your work may change. So, don't dwell too much on the titles you come up with as they are there to spark your imagination, to get your mind working, to bring a story to life, no matter what style of writing it's in.

Besides coming up with your own titles you can also look at titles of movies, books, and songs, that have been released by others. That may inspire you as well. Even lines in books, songs, or movies can resonate with you and bring forth great ideas for writing or even complete works.

Some examples of titles:

The Sound of Good-Bye
A Moment in Time
Stains on My Heart
A Bed of Roses
Awakening
Keep on Running
Heart of the Ocean
Eternal Beast
Filling in the Rainbow
Eternal Changes
My Every Color
Pieces of Me

Come Up With a List of Words

If your goal is to write a poem or a lyric and you find yourself blocked go ahead and come up with a list of words. The list doesn't have to be long. Having six words in the list is a good enough number from personal experience. Once you've got your list together go ahead and open up that empty Word document, or take out a pen and paper, and start writing your poem or lyric making sure to include all the words from your list in there.

When you are creating your list the words don't have to be related to each other. They can be as far away from each other as you want. And that may actually be to your advantage because having a list of words (for example: bear, banana, dream, vacation, tongue, daisy) that are not related to each other in any way will get your creative juices flowing, in turn getting rid of that writer's block and helping you to write something and something you will actually like rather than reject. The piece will turn out to be an interesting one and may even result in you getting more writing ideas.

You can try using this technique/approach when writing prose as well. It can be just as effective. But I use it more for poetry and lyrics than anything else.

Take a Look at Pictures

Take a look at pictures in a magazine, book, newspaper, Internet or photo album and see what ideas come into your head from looking at those images and write about them. This will help you create the beginnings of stories (whether fiction or non-fiction) that you can later develop into full stories for others to enjoy.

Remember that the stories you write don't necessarily have to be about exactly what is depicted in the pictures you look at. Images can very well trigger something entirely different in your mind and memory and still help you bring to life works that will have meaning, depth, and emotion.

Set Up Five Minute Exercises

Another great thing you can do to help cure writer's block and get yourself to start writing is to set up five minute exercises. Simply set a timer for five minutes and start writing. Before setting a timer, however, first look at an image, think of a sound that speaks to you (roar, cry, boom, meow, laugh, trickle, bang, etc.), or a phrase that resonates with you (it can be a title) and then set the timer and write. You will be amazed at what you can come up with in those five minutes.

When you write, forget about everything that's running through your head and just let the words flow, let the pen glide across the paper without questioning anything you write at the moment. Don't pause and think. Just write. Doing this will make for a more meaningful, more effective body of work.

When the timer beeps signaling the end of five minutes put down your pen and read what you've written. Then go ahead and revise what you think needs to be improved or removed. You don't have to do it right away. You can set the work aside and come back to it at a later time. Of course, you may find that revision is not needed. Most likely though that is not the case.

A piece of writing can always use a little revision. Set it aside and come back to it at a later time. Doing so you will find that you'll want to change something in your piece, be it a few words, or a few sentences. You may even find that there is a lot more to tell in this story. If that is the case, go ahead and continue developing it. Just make sure you don't stray too far away from the original as it has the most energy in it. Also, be sure to keep the original version as you may need to go back to it at any moment.

Where to Tackle Writing?

Every writer works differently and writes best in different settings. Some prefer to write at a desk in a closed room; others outdoors or at an open space; others at a library; others with music in the background, etc.

I think one great place to write is when you are sitting on a bench, a light breeze is blowing, and you hear the waves as they hit the shore. This can bring forth lots of beautiful, moving, and amazing pieces of writing, regardless of what type of writing it is - poetry, lyrics, prose, etc.

I've done this many times and it has really helped me write. Not only is this setting inspiring but it also helps to clear your head, which improves writing and makes it easier to figure out what to write about as well.

Writing in your room (on a computer perhaps) can also work. Just make sure you have a window open or the AC on. If the room is hot and stuffy and it's hard to breathe your writing will suffer and so will you.

You might think it's funny but great pieces of writing can come about while you taking a shower or sitting on the toilet doing your business. They may not be complete works but at the very least they will be great ideas. I've written many pieces (poetry and lyrics) while taking a shower and while sitting on the toilet - some were lines or ideas while others were complete works. There is one downside however. If you are taking a shower, you can't take a pen and paper and write things down. You have to rely on your memory. So if you get ideas or even complete lines in your head, while taking a shower, you will have to repeat them over and over so they are committed to memory and will not vanish after you get out of the shower and can finally write them down. I hope this hub will be helpful in your writing journey. I hope it even inspires you in some way. Feel free to share your own tips for overcoming writer's block and for figuring out what to write about... As always, I look forward to hearing back from you.

The Story Behind "Nowhere to Be Found"

2026-05-26T14:21:39.914-04:00

On August 24th, 2011 at around 8:30 in the morning Adam Lambert's chorus from "If I Had You" (my ringtone at the time) started blasting from my cell phone. This is one of my favorite songs, yet hearing it then didn't bring a smile to my face, especially when I looked up the caller ID and saw that it was my paternal grandmother calling. I wondered why she was calling at such an early hour. Something just didn't seem right. She never called this early.

I picked up the phone expecting to hear my grandmother's voice. Instead I heard the voice of her home attendant telling me that she had come in to the house, so still and quiet, to find my grandmother unmoving in her bed, my grandfather lying beside her, his hand stroking her head. I managed to hold it together while she was on the phone with me - telling me the sad, shocking news and then complaining about how she couldn't get a hold of my parents for a long time. She had every right to complain because the body had been lying there for hours and needed to be moved to the funeral home. But that was not something I wanted to hear. I had to try to get a hold of my parents but more importantly I wanted to go and see my grandmother for the last time and say my good-bye.

After I hung up the phone the waterworks started. I was shaking and I couldn't stop crying. I could not believe she was gone...

It was hard for me to find out that my grandmother was no longer with us. It tore me up inside and for a long time I could not come to terms with her passing. For a while it felt as if she were still with us. More than once I had the urge to pick up the phone and call her, or stop by her house for a visit, but of course there was no one to call, no one to visit. She was gone and nothing would bring her back.

One day I came to the cemetery to visit my grandmother. I scanned for her grave, scanned for that little name tag (the monument was not up at the time) to let me know where she was peacefully dreaming, but it was nowhere to be found. I looked everywhere near where her grave site should be but it was all in vain. I started to panic; wondered about what happened to her, and why her grave was nowhere in sight. Then this thought came into my mind - why am I looking for her here in the cemetery when I should be visiting her in her own home? She isn't dead. She is in her bed peacefully dreaming...

With a burial taking place nearby I had no choice but to stop looking for her and go home. Before leaving I went into the management office and told them that I couldn't find my grandmother's grave. They took out a map of the grounds and showed me where it was. Turns out I didn't look far enough. I let out a sigh of relief that she was all right but then it dawned on me that I had come to the right place after all. She was not in her bed peacefully dreaming beside her husband. She was here, alone in this cold underground lair that has become her new home...

This incident inspired me to write an emotional poem about the loss of a loved one called "Nowhere To Be Found", which is featured in an e-magazine called In the Gesture of Words. I am very honored to have this poem be chosen to be a part of this magazine.

Below you will find this poem. I hope that it touches you in some way.

Nowhere To Be Found

I come to visit you
Amongst the tombstones and piles of dirt
To place some carnations and stones
Onto your new underground lair
To reminisce about the days that passed
And talk of days to come

I come to say hello
Come to say how much I miss you
How much I love you
My eyes scan for your name tag
But it is nowhere to be found

I wonder if you’ve been
Evicted from your new home
Or if I’ve simply come to the wrong address
Perhaps you’re still there in your old home
Lying beside your husband peacefully dreaming

Tips on Publishing and Promoting Books

2026-04-28T18:06:00.001-04:00

So you've spent a lot of time writing that interesting novel or a batch of short stories or perhaps those moving poems and lyrics, now what? Sure you can join a writing site or start a blog and post your work there but it is better to publish your collection of writing and/or your novel in a book. That is a huge achievement, gives you something to brag about and be proud of, and it can potentially bring you some income (regardless of how big or small it may be).

Two Ways to Get Your Book Published

There are two ways you can go about getting your book published. You can get an agent and have him/her submit your manuscript to traditional publishers until one of them finally decides to publish your book. You can try to submit your manuscript to traditional publishers without an agent too, but these days more of these kinds of publishers won't even look at your work unless you have an agent.

The downside to trying to get your book published with a traditional publisher is that you will most likely face rejection and lots of it. That doesn't mean that the book you have written is crap or of bad quality. It just means your book is not what the publishers are looking for at the moment, or perhaps they just fail to see how great it really is. In the end, all they care about is making money and if they feel that your book won't sell out, they won't bother with you.

Trying to get your book published with a traditional publisher is a very stressful and downing process and is something that you can avoid if you go the self-publishing route.

Going the self-publishing route will mean that your book will less likely get rejected, if at all. Your book will be published faster and available as POD (print on demand). POD books are printed only when they are ordered, which means you never have to worry about where to store your book and how many copies to order, and you never waste any money. If you want to order copies for yourself and your friends you do so whenever you want and as many times as you want and you only have to pay what it costs to manufacture the book.

When you do go the self-publishing route you have to be careful though. There are enough publishers ("vanity press" and such) who will offer to publish your book and they will charge a hefty fee for the service. And they may not even give you a hard copy of your book without charging you the full retail price for it.

You should not have to pay to publish your book. If anything, they should be the ones to pay you for having them publish your book. If it weren't for you they wouldn't have a new client or a new book to potentially earn from.

There are many self-publishing companies out there and those that are actually "vanity press" publishers. Some of these are Lulu, Kindle Direct Publishing (formerly Create Space), Xlibris, Publish America, Author House, and so on. I am not familiar with the publishing requirements and rules of any of them but Kindle Direct Publishing and Lulu are the only publishers that don't charge you a fee for publishing a book with them. It's great that it costs you nothing to publish a book with these two companies. And the fact that both are POD is a huge benefit.

How Do You Actually Get Paid For Your Books?

Traditional publishers pay you an advance. It can be in hundreds of dollars, or thousands, or even millions. Then once your book sales have reached the amount they paid you as an advance you will get a % of the book sales.

With self-publishing there is usually no advance (unless perhaps it is a "vanity press") and you get paid a percentage of each book sale. For example, with Lulu you get 80% for each book sale. So, if your book sells for $20 then you will get 80% of that when someone buys it. Others pay different percentages, so you have to check with them before you publish your book.

Can Your Self-Published Book Be Sold on Amazon and Other Online Retailers?

If you want your book available online on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other sites you can still self-publish your book. Your book will be distributed to these retailers if all the distribution requirements are met. Your book may even be submitted to a place from which physical bookstores can order your book if they so choose. The self-publishing company may charge a fee to have your book distributed outside of their website but it should not be a very high fee. If the fee is very high go for another publisher.

I have published my books with Lulu and distribution is free.

Is It Best to Self-Publish a Book or Go with a Traditional Publisher?

If you publish your book with a traditional publisher marketing and promotion for your book is done by them and at no cost to you. If you self-publish your book then all the marketing and promotion for your book falls on your shoulders. You can hire a marketing/book promotion expert (which will cost you probably hundreds of dollars) or you can do it yourself for free, or at the very least for a cheaper cost.

In my opinion it doesn't matter how you publish your book (publish with a traditional publisher or by self-publishing). What matters is how you market and promote it across the web and in the real world.

Just because a book is published by a traditional publisher doesn't mean it will sell out and just because a book is self-published doesn't mean it won't sell out. With the right marketing and book promotion plan and techniques any book can sell and sell well.

What Book Formats Should You Publish?

When you write and publish a book it is best to try to cater to everyone. Therefore, the best thing to do is to publish a paperback, a hardcover and an e-book version of your book. You can even try publishing a Large Print book if you'd like. The more formats your book is available in the better chances of increasing your sales.

If some people prefer to read only e-books and your book is only available as a physical book most likely they will not buy it and you will therefore miss out on new fans and new sales. The same thing goes for people that only read physical books. If your book is only available as an e-book you will again miss out on new fans and new sales.

You don't necessarily have to release all the formats at the exact same time, but best to have all of them available at some point.

It's a little bit trickier with e-books as there are kindle e-books, nook e-books, e-books that are just PDFs, etc. One format may not support another so you may have to have more than one e-book format of the same book.

Ways To Promote Your Book Online and Off

There are many ways to promote your book online and off. And you don't even have to lash out lots of money to do it.

Create a website for yourself where you will talk about yourself, your writing, your book and where to buy it. If you are not sure how to make a website no problem. You can create a Google blog and use that as your website. And there are probably sites that let you create a website for free and without the need to know HTML or any other programming languages.

Join social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok. Create profiles there with a link to your website and provide info on your books and where they can be bought.

Post links to your social networking pages on your website. Also post links on each of the social networking sites to the other social networking sites. For example on your Facebook page post links to your Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok and do the same with the other ones.

Start a blog and in your profile info let people know about your book and all its relevant info you want them to know. You can even add a signature to all your blog posts that will have the link to your books.

If you start a blog be sure to provide the link to your blog both on your website and on the social networking sites.

Join social bookmarking sites like Digg, Delicious, Reddit and mention in your profile that you are an author and that you have published a book and where people can find out more about it.

Join writing communities such as authorsden.com, and writing.com and post samples of your writing there, while also talking about your books and where they can be previewed and purchased.

If you join authorsden.com you can also create a book ad for your book that will be displayed on their website and visible for all to see. You will need to upgrade your membership to a Silver membership or higher to be able to create a book ad.

If you join writing.com you can add your book to the My In Print area and so whenever people visit your portfolio they will see an image of your book along with its price and when clicked on they will be taken to the book page on Amazon. When you add your book to the My In Print area you will need to know and provide the ASIN of your book for it to be displayed. ASIN is a 10/digit ISBN. You can locate it on your book's Amazon page under product details.

Join book sharing sites likes weread.com and goodreads.com, create your author page on these sites and talk about your book. If your book is not found on those websites you can manually add it to the site; that is add the title of the book and your author namer, the book cover, publishing info (year, publisher, isbn, etc.), number of pages, book description, and so on. You can even include links where to buy the book.

Print out bookmarks and flyers and hand them out to people. Be sure to include info about your book and about yourself and where the book can be bought.

Try to set up book signings/readings. If you can't do it yourself, or if you don't feel comfortable setting it up, ask a friend or someone you know who may be able to help you.

Attend book fairs and let people know about your book there. Ask if you can even set up a tent there and showcase copies of your book.

Let your friends know you have published a book and ask them to spread word about it to other people they know.

Add a signature to your email that will include links to your website and to where your books can be purchased. Every time you send an email to someone they will see the links and may go check out your book and even buy it.

Talk to your local library and see if maybe they will want to have a copy of your book. Maybe they will even allow you to have a reading or a book signing there.

Contact small bookstores and see if they may be interested in selling copies of your book. See if you can put up posters of your book anywhere around the neighborhood.

When you tell people about your book—if you self published it—don't tell them that it is self-published. When most people hear that a book is self-published they immediately think that the book is self-published because no one wanted to publish it, which means it is crap, boring, or of bad quality. They will not even want to glance at it or read a few pages. And that is a terrible thing.

Also if you self-publish a book (with a self-publishing company) be sure to include their name on the spine of the book and in the copyright page. Seeing a publisher's name will make these people think that the book may be worth browsing through or glancing at, if not reading. And chances are they won't even know that the company is a self-publishing company. Don't even tell them that it is. They don't need to know that.

I hope these tips will help you on your book publishing journey and I hope they will help you increase your sales and expand your fan base. I wish you much success in getting your book published and selling it to the world!

Writing as a Form of Therapy

2026-04-28T17:34:00.000-04:00

Writing can be a very useful and effective form of therapy when you are dealing with things in your life that are complex, hard to deal with, or are filled with pain and sorrow. No matter what you are going through at any given moment in time, writing it all down—whether in a journal or diary, in a blog, on a computer, or just on a piece of paper—can help you make sense of things. It can also help you cope and release all the emotion that is dying to come out. At times it can even help save your life.

Don't Just Write When Things Are Bad in Your Life

You don't have to turn to writing only when something bad happens in your life. You can also write about the positive things, the things and the moments that fill your life with joy, excitement, wonder and love. You can write about things that take you to the highest highs, that make you feel like you are on top of the world. That is also a form of therapy. It will make you realize that not everything will always be negative and filled with pain and heartbreak. It will reinforce that with the bits of negative there will always be bits of positive. That is the way the world works. That is how things are kept in balance. You can't always have the negative and you can't always have the positive. There has to be a bit of both.

Writing Is a Snapshot of Your Life

Writing is a snapshot of your life. It is a way for you to capture the things that you go through at any given moment in time, both physically and emotionally. It is a look back at everything that you've been through, both the good and the bad. It is your journey through life. You don't have to be an excellent writer to sit down and write. You don't have to be the most talented person out there or be at the top of your game when it comes to writing. All you have to do is pick up a pen and paper or sit down at a computer and let the words flow out of you. You'll be surprised at what you will bring to life.

There Is Nothing to Fear. Just Write!

You shouldn't have to be afraid to pick up a pen and write. You don't have to worry about people judging you or your writing. For the time being the only person who will get to read what you write is you. Yes, you may end up judging yourself, may end up being your own worst critic, but don't worry about that. Just pick up a pen and let your heart and mind do the talking. Don't think about anything else but what your heart and mind are filled with. Let it all out. Release everything that needs to be released.

Only when you are done writing for the moment should you even consider judging your work. If you do it while you are writing then your writing will suffer. Everything that needs to come out won't come out. And everything needs to come out because one thing will lead to another. What you write will trigger something else in your heart and mind, in your memory, and a new chain of writing will emerge. It is a never-ending process. And it is not only therapeutic but it is also creative and inspiring. It may even result in a published book or a published piece of work in some publication or even simply on a website.

It doesn't matter which style or form of writing you write in. Just write! You can write poetry, lyrics, prose, whatever it may be. It doesn't matter so long as you pick up that pen and write.

Don't Let the Negative Feedback Get You Down!

If you choose to share that which you have written with others and happen to get negative feedback don't get discouraged. Don't let the negative feedback get you down! I know it is hurtful and may cause you to stop writing, as I've been down this road, but don't let it get to you. Brush it off! It is only the opinion of a few people. Just because they give you negative feedback doesn't mean that what you wrote sucks. Your work can in fact be brilliant but those people just fail to see that.

If you do get negative feedback try to turn it into a positive. See if there is anything in the feedback that can be useful for you in your writing journey. Try to see if there is anything that can help you improve or steer you in a better direction. Don't ever tell yourself This is the end! I am done! It is not worth it. Writing is a part of you and it will be with you till your dying day.

You may think that writing is not your thing. You may even think that you hate writing! But if you get into it your perceptions and assumptions will change, if not right away then with time.

There Is a Writer in Each and Every One of Us

There is a writer deep within each and every one us that is dying to come out of hiding. It is up to you to decide whether you want that writer to come out or to stay hidden within you for the rest of your life. It is really up to you.

The best thing to do is to let that writer out. It will open up so many doors for you—doors to your emotional healing, to your physical well-being, to your spiritual journey, to the expansion of your thoughts, to the creation of new ideas and new discoveries. Writing can do so much, even when it seems like nothing can come out of it. Writing is and always will be a form of therapy, whether you realize it or not.

My Experiences Singing and Performing

2026-04-28T17:31:00.002-04:00

While I was in college I joined Chorus, which is similar to a Choir or a Glee Club. We spent the semester learning songs and then at the end of it we put on a show. It was the one "class" that I looked forward to the most. And it gave me an easy A. But I didn't join the Chorus for the grade or the boost in my GPA for the semester. I joined because singing is a huge passion of mine and I love every minute of it.

It was a thrill being up on that stage, singing my heart out with the rest of my Chorus members. We only got to perform about 4 or 5 songs (with the exception of a solo or two) so my time on stage sadly was very short. Still, it was an experience I will never forget. Unfortunately, I only got to take Chorus for four semesters - my junior and seniors years - as I didn't know about it the first two years of my college career. But at least I got to be a part of it for a short while, which to me is a blessing.

Me singing at a cruise talen show

Me behind the piano (wasn't actually playing)

Dancing, Singing, Performing

I love singing and I love performing. Besides, being part of Chorus I have performed a few times in talent shows on cruise ships and have done karaoke too. It was a lot of fun and definitely created lasting memories.

I also love dancing. And when I hit the dance floor at parties and dance the night away I always sing at the same time. When I do this I feel like I am performing, like I am putting on a show for people, especially when there aren't that many people on the dance floor at the moment. I don't mind people watching me. I actually welcome it. And it feeds me with energy to keep on doing it.

Once I get on the dance floor it is hard for me to stop dancing and leave the dance floor. I am that passionate. I am that hooked. Usually the only thing that will get me off the dance floor is if a slow song comes on and no one offers to dance with me, or I am so tired that I feel like I will collapse at any moment.

Dancing makes me so energized and full of life. It also sets me free and lifts my spirits. Not that long ago, I had joined a Latin dance class (Latin Dances: Joyful, Healing and Empowering) that deals with energy. Whenever I had left that class I always felt so energized. Sadly it was only a five session class. I had enjoyed this class so much that it was bittersweet when the last class came to an end. I would love to have an on-going class like this, sadly the place where I took it doesn't have classes like this anymore.

I wish I could dance every day... And maybe I can. I don't need a dance class to dance. I can do it at home... So what if am dancing alone? I will still enjoy it a lot. And it would make for great exercise and will leave me energized too.

Singing and Writing Songs

Singing is a huge part of my life. I sing every day whether aloud or to myself, sometimes without even realizing it. Sometimes I sing songs written and recorded by others, but sometimes I sing the songs I've written myself.

Sometimes I may burst into song out of the blue, singing whatever pops into my head. When that happens a new song will come to emerge. I have written many songs in this way and they turned out great in the end.

That's probably the most fun thing to do. Not to sit at the computer and think about what song to write... but to actually start singing whatever comes into my head at the moment and have a song emerge from it...

I wish the songs I have written actually had music set to them. Unfortunately, I don't play any musical instruments for that to happen. But I do have melodies in my head for these songs and sing them whenever I feel like it. I have written over 350 songs to-date. With so many songs written I decided to publish them in a book. So now I have three lyric books published (Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 1, Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 2, and Melodies of the Heart). I am very proud of these accomplishments and it would be a huge honor if some of the songs would get recorded by others and made into hits. That would really be a dream come true.

My Trip to Fallingwater

2026-04-28T17:25:00.003-04:00

Fallingwater

This summer my aunt and uncle took me and my parents to see Fallingwater. It is an experience that I will never forget. Since driving to Fallingwater takes many hours we dedicated two whole days to the trip. On the first day we went to see the famous city of Bethlehem, located in Pennsylvania. Then we stopped to have some fun at the nearby casino, after which we headed to our motel.

Our drive to the motel was quite an adventure and one that I will never forget. We were driving there in the evening and the weather was fine but then all of a sudden things changed. It started raining very hard, the thunder began to roar, and flashes of lighting covered the sky. It was very hard to see and I was praying that nothing would happen to us on the way to the motel. The weather was that brutal.

The highway we drove on (somewhere in Pennsylvania) had three long tunnels going through it and it was amazing how we would leave the rain and thunder behind when ducking into the tunnel and then it would all return once we exited the tunnel. And it happened three times as there were three tunnels that we had to pass through.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole ride to the motel. When we finally got to our destination for the night I gave a sigh of relief. We had made it safely to our destination. We went to get some food and then got together in my motel room to have supper and watch the women's gymnastics Olympics qualifying round. It was also my dad's birthday so we made a few toasts to him. Then we headed off to bed as we had to get up early the next day to head to Fallingwater - our main destination.

We went there in the morning and spend a few hours sightseeing, after which we headed on home. The weather behaved itself this time and the trip wasn't stressful for me at all.

What is Fallingwater?

Fallingwater is a house that was built for the Kaufmann family by a famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. This house - which was meant to be a summer home for the family - is considered to be one of the best architectural creations of the 20th century and is Wright's finest work.

Millions of people come from all over the country (and maybe even the world) to see this architectural masterpiece. And that is not surprising in the least.

Fallingwater is built on a waterfall and is in perfect harmony with nature as it's surrounded by it on all its sides. Lush greenery, rich trees, and beautiful flowers grace the surroundings of Fallingwater and its territory.

Even inside the house you can feel the presence of nature as it's incorporated in the interior design of the house. And the view from the house is breathtaking.

Imagine waking up in the morning and looking out the window... You are surrounded by trees stretching far and wide, the skies are a clear blue, the birds are chirping away beautiful melodies, you see a waterfall down below and its sound along with the gentle breeze blowing through the open window soothes you all over. It is nature paradise, nature heaven. I am sure that is what the Kaufmanns experienced every morning, and even throughout the day.

I love nature and wish I could experience all this every morning that I wake up, every night before I head to bed, and every time I look out the window or head out the door. That would be a dream come true.

Pictures of Fallingwater

Below you will find some pictures that I took while visiting Fallingwater.

I really wanted to take some pictures from inside the house so I could capture its interior but sadly photography inside the home was not allowed. You will have to visit Fallingwater yourself to see what wonders lie inside. So the next time you are thinking of having a sightseeing adventure consider going to Fallingwater. I am glad that my aunt and uncle took us there. It was an experience I will never forget.

Location of Fallingwater

Fallingwater is located in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, on PA Route 381, between the Mill Run and Ohiopyle villages. It is only ninety minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. Since millions of people visit Fallingwater you should purchase your tickets before heading out to this magnificent place. That is what my uncle did. This will ensure that you will be able to come and see the house and its surrounding territory and that the place actually will be open for visiting.

You can find out more about Fallingwater, how to get there, and how to purchase tickets by visiting their website - fallingwater.org.

How to Write an Unforgettable Song Without a Musical Instrument

2026-04-28T17:04:00.000-04:00

You don't need to know how to write music or how to play a musical instrument for you to write an unforgettable song. All you need is a pen and paper (or a computer) and your voice.

Here is a breakdown of how to write an unforgettable song that will hopefully get stuck in your head and in the heads of others.

Coming Up With a Topic

Before you start writing a song make sure that there are no distractions around you and that the atmosphere is not chaotic - be it a television or a radio turned on high volume, kids running around, arguments among people, appliances turned on, etc. Make sure there is nothing to distract from your song writing project. When you've found yourself some peace and quiet you can begin to craft that unforgettable song.

Before you start writing think about the things you have gone through or witnessed with your very own eyes. Writing from your own personal experiences will make you more connected to the song and will make it connect with others as chances are they have gone through similar things or can picture themselves going through similar things. Think about what it is that you want to express in your song, what story you want to tell. Try to be as specific as possible as being too general can throw you off track.

For example, don't just say you want to write a love song, as that's too general...Think about what aspect of love you want to dive into and what scenario you want to bring to life. Maybe you want to talk about the first time you fell in love with someone and how hard it was for you to let that person know how you felt. Maybe you were scared that if you spilled out your feelings to the person that you would find out he doesn't feel the same and you would lose that person forever.

Coming Up With an Initial Melody/Beat

Once you have come up with the specific topic you plan to write about, spend some time coming up with a melody or a beat or both. If you don't play a musical instrument or own one, or if you don't know how to write music just use your voice. Hum a melody aloud or in your head. And for the beat simply bang your hands (or a pencil or chopsticks) against your legs, a kitchen counter, a shelf, a book, a pot/pan, a glass, etc. Anything that you can hit against will do the trick.

When you have a sense of a potential beat and melody for your song, writing the actual lyrics will become a bit easier.

Feel free hum or sing songs that you've listened to on the radio to give you ideas on potential melodies and beats. Remember, the final melodies and beats may change after you've written your lyrics.

Writing the Lyrics

As you write the lyrics don't worry about getting the words perfect. Focus on spilling your emotions and your experiences onto the paper. Bring that story that you want to share with the world to life. You will get the chance to edit it once you've finished telling the story.

As you are writing keep in mind of the format of a song. Usually a song has two verses and a bridge with a repeating chorus in between each one - verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus, bridge, chorus. But there are many other formats to use. You can start out with a chorus, or instead with a few spoken or maybe even sung lines before diving into the actual verse. The chorus can be slightly different after each verse but with the same melody. There can be a pre-chorus before the chorus. The bridge can be turned into a rap verse rather than one that will be sung. The possibilities are endless.

When writing the lyrics you don't have to rhyme the verses, chorus, or bridge. When you do use rhyme, however, especially in the chorus, it makes the song catchier and easier to remember. I love using rhyme in my songs (lyrics). They are more fun to write and actually get stuck in my head faster.

Here's an example of a (song) lyric that I wrote...

Won't Stop (Till I Rise to the Top)

[Verse 1]

I want to reach that door

I want to grab that key

I want to walk right through

Rewrite my history

I know it can be done

And so I'll never stop

Oh no I'll never stop

Until I reach the top

[Chorus]

I'm gonna shine like the stars in the sky

I'm gonna soar like a bird flying high

I'm gonna climb to the mountain top

And I won't stop till I rise to the top

[Verse 2]

There is so much that I

Have yet to bring to life

So much in store for me

So much I've yet to write

I know it can be done

And so I'll never stop

Oh no I'll never stop

Until I reach the top

[Chorus]

I'm gonna shine like the stars in the sky

I'm gonna soar like a bird flying high

I'm gonna climb to the mountain top

And I won't stop till I rise to the top

[Bridge]

There's so much that I want accomplish

There's so much that I've yet to do here

And no matter what happens I'm not gonna stop

Till I reach to the top

[Chorus]

I'm gonna shine like the stars in the sky

I'm gonna soar like a bird flying high

I'm gonna climb to the mountain top

And I won't stop till I rise to the top

Tips on Writing the Lyrics

I would start the lyric writing process by first writing the chorus. The chorus is very important as that is the part of the song that keeps repeating and is one that people remember and are attracted to the most. Make sure people won't be able to get it out of their heads and want to sing it over and over. Once you come up with a great chorus then you can build the rest of the song around it. Write the verses next and then the bridge. Remember the bridge should have a slightly different feel and melody than the verses.

One good thing you can do, while keeping in mind the melody and beat you came up with earlier, is to just start singing whatever comes into your head related to what you want to write about. Make sure to record yourself so the words don't vanish from memory after you are done singing, so you can later transcribe them on paper. Don't worry about the notes and whether you are on correct pitch. Just focus on getting those words out. If you don't want to do that you can just let the words flow onto that piece of paper, keeping in mind the melody, and not worrying about typos or flow. You can fix that later.

After you have written your song be sure to sing every line to make sure there are no flow issues. The flow has to be smooth throughout. Once you start singing the words you may find that the melody you originally came up with is a bit different. That is okay and is common as words bring a vibe and a melody all their own. You may even find that you want to change some words or lines in the lyric. That is okay as well.

When you write a song it may not be perfect from the first try. Don't get discouraged. Keep on working on it until you feel it is the best it can be. Don't be afraid to show your lyrics to others to get their opinion as there can be something in the song that you've missed that should be altered. You can even sing the song to those people and see what they think.

How to Record the Song You've Written

With the lyric written, the story told in the best possible way, and a melody for the lyrics (a way to sing them) brought to life it's time to record the song. You can use the sound recorder that comes installed on your computer or you can download software that lets you record. I have used audacity for recording my songs, but there are plenty of others. When recording make sure that it's very quiet in the room as any unwanted noise will also appear in the recording. You may want to close the door and the windows in the room before proceeding.

We all know that having music to go along with those lyrics is much better than just singing a capella. What can you do about the music if you don't play any musical instruments? Well, you don't actually need musical instruments to make music or to accompany your vocals. You can use objects around you to create a musical accompaniment. One thing you can do is just bang a beat using either your hands, or chopsticks, etc. like I've talked about before. For different sounding beats you can use pots and pans, wine glasses, cutting boards, cheese graters, etc. You may even tap your feet against the floor or snap your fingers. You can even make the faucet drip a little or a lot and keep turning it on and off as needed. Or you can just run the faucet or the shower without turning it off. This will create a great special effect. Be as creative as you want to be when creating musical accompaniment and you'll invent something fun and original to go along with your vocals.

Be sure to practice all the beats and sounds (and their patterns and rhythms) before recording the actual song to make sure you are getting it right and that it sounds good to the ear and actually goes along with the lyrics you've written. You may want to first record yourself "drumming" and creating "musical" sounds and giving the recording a listen before doing the actual song recording. This way you will see if anything needs to be improved in any way.

My Songwriting Experiences

I started writing lyrics back in 2001 while I was waiting for the laundry cycle to come to an end. I wrote my first song "Don't Tell Me" with the washing machine spinning in the background. Since then I have written hundreds of lyrics and have published and released three lyric books: Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 1, Soundtrack of My Life: Volume 2, and Melodies of the Heart. I have definitely evolved as a lyricist or as a songwriter, as I call myself. One doesn't have to play actual instruments to be a songwriter. Coming up with a melody, a way to sing the lyric is a songwriter in my book.

I have always wanted to turn my lyrics (the words I've written) into actual songs and record them. I've done that with a few of my lyrics and while I am not a pro I am still proud of what I've been able to accomplish, especially since I don't own or know how to play any musical instruments, and my voice is the only instrument I use. No matter what happens in my life, I will never stop writing lyrics or singing them. That is my ultimate passion and something I can't live without.

How to Write Shape Poetry

2026-04-28T16:48:00.000-04:00

Writing Poetry and Turning It into Shapes

Writing poetry allows you to spill your emotions on paper, to capture moments in your life that you will want to remember always. It is a creative medium for dealing with and recording all the happenings in your life whether they are external or internal. Why not take this to the next level by turning your poetry into shape poetry?

Shape poetry is poetry whose words and lines take the shape of a certain thing or object. For example: an apple, a house, a tree, etc. Usually, the poetry itself is either completely about that thing or object it takes shape of, or is at least in some way related to it.

Writing shape poetry can be easy but it can prove to be challenging as well. It all depends on the kind of shape you intend for your poem to have. Also, there are different ways to write shape poetry and I go into detail about this in this hub.

How to Write Shape Poetry

There are different ways to write shape poetry... One is to simply draw an image of an object or insert it into MS Word (if on the computer) and then write the poem about that object inside the drawn image (using a text box if in MS Word).

For example, insert an image of a sun into MS Word and then write a poem about the sun inside the image by right clicking on that image, selecting the Add Text option and pasting the poem into it. If your version of MS Word doesn't have that option simply insert a text box over the image and then make the border of the text box have no color so it is invisible to the eye and doesn't cover the image of the sun. Insert the poem into the text box (making sure the text doesn't go outside the border of the image) and you are done. You may of course need to adjust the size of the image of the sun, the text box and the text itself to make it fit inside the image, but this is fairly simple to do.

Of course, doing all this doesn't technically make this shape poetry, as the poem is simply placed onto the image without actually taking shape of that image. Also, it's something a kid in elementary school would do. Still, doing this does make the poem more presentable, which is always a plus. Below is an example of this.

If you want to challenge yourself and have more fun while being more creative then consider a different approach of writing and creating shape poetry. Write your poem about a house, for example, and then format the lines so they take the shape of a house.

To make it easier, first insert the image of a house into MS Word (best thing would be to insert a triangle shape and then a rectangle shape underneath), then insert a text box over it and paste the poem text inside it. Then format the text (via tabbing, spacing or changing of font size) so that it looks like a house. Make sure to delete the image of the house afterwards and you are all set.

Below is an example of this shape poem along with another example of a different shape... On the left side you see the shape and on the right you see the poem that resembles that shape. If the poem were to be published in a book or even online the image of the shape would of course not be shown. I just presented it here for better understanding of shape poetry and how to go about writing it.

The content of the poem somewhat if not fully relates to the shape depicted. The content of the poem and its message become more effective here than if I were to just left or center align the poem on a page.

More on How to Write Shape Poetry

Most likely, you won't think of an object (shape) first and then write about it. Instead you will spill your emotions onto the paper or the computer screen without holding back, not focusing on what the topic you are writing about really is. So how do you turn those types of poems into shapes?

Start off by reading the poem and see what it is about and if there are any words or phrases in the poem that resemble shapes or moods or themes. Then format your lines either by using tabs, the space bar, font sizing or by copying and pasting and arrange them on the page in such a way that they resemble that particular shape or mood or theme. Your poem doesn't have to depict a particular shape 100%. The lines can be aligned in such a way as to create a theme of some sort. For example, torn lines, holes, chaos, etc.

Let's say your poem is about being torn apart. You can format your stanzas to resemble a checkerboard or to make it seem as if something is being torn. Below is an example of this in two variations; same poem but two different layouts.

Poets and Authors Who Write Shape Poetry

There are poets and authors who write shape poetry. I've done this for my poetry books but I am unfortunately not a famous poet and author (yet).

A widely known famous author who writes shape poetry is Ellen Hopkins. She writes novels in verse and many of her verses resemble some sort of a shape. The shape always relates in some way to what the topic or theme of the verse is. This makes the verses stand out more in my opinion. I am not sure if she is the one that actually formats her poetry into shapes, or she has someone do it for her, but nevertheless it is a clever thing and something to think about if you are planning to publish a poetry book.

Every poem in your book doesn't need to be a shape poem but having a bunch of them presented in that way would be great. It would make you a more talented and creative poet and may gain you more readers and fans. You may even inspire others to follow your lead and create their own shape poetry...You never know.

How I Overcame Obstacles of Learning English

2026-04-27T15:40:00.000-04:00

Back in Minsk, Belarus, where I was born, I used to go to a school that was considered an English school. While all the classes were taught in Russian and everyone spoke Russian as well, we were given a class where we learned English. I had no idea why I would need English in a Russian speaking country, but I did not have a choice, so I went to the class.

A year or so later, I found out that I would be leaving my homeland behind to move to America. I was not thrilled that I was leaving to an unknown new place, but it seemed that now what I learned in English class would come in handy. Of course when I came to America, I realized that whatever I learned back in Belarus had vanished and the only word I remembered was no. Yes no does come in handy but clearly that is not enough to communicate with other people.

When it was time to go to school I was old age-wise to go to 4th grade so I was placed into 5th. I was only in 5th grade for a few months, however, since I enrolled there toward the second part of the year. I was unsure how I would communicate with other people, but it turned out that I was placed into a Russian class. Everyone there was Russian, even the teacher. I thought that would make it easier to communicate and even understand the lessons being taught, but it turned out that everyone spoke English amongst themselves, and that the classes were taught in English as well. It was clearly a challenge for me, but I was fortunate enough to make friends with a few classmates who were nice enough to help me translate and fill me in on what was happening in class and what we were learning.

While attending 5th grade, I excelled in some classes, like math, where I didn’t really need to know much English, and struggled in those where knowledge of English was a necessity. I remember on graduation day I got an award for being so well behaved in class, and while I am usually a well behaved person, the reason I was so well behaved and quiet during class was because I didn’t know English. I could not really participate in class discussions as such because of my lack of English.

I was unsure how I would be able to master English, and if I would even be able to accomplish this task at all, but that is something that had to be done. In 6th grade my grades were still not high due to my lack of English. I would take time doing my homework assignments, and often enough had to use the dictionary so that I could do the homework correctly. Using the dictionary was not something that thrilled me but I had no choice. I had to learn English, even if it meant not going outside to play with my friends. So, I spent my afternoons after school not only doing my homework but also doing other things, like watching TV programs, and reading easy English books and English study guides, that would help me learn English once and for all.

Little by little I began to get accustomed to the English language and was able to read, write, speak, and understand it. While I wasn’t a master yet, it was enough to get by at the moment. It took a number of years to get really good, and, while I have a full grasp of the language now, there are still things left to learn…

Having nailed a new language like English, I ended up falling in love with writing. I remember taking ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, where the second part of regular class exams was an essay. I would always be the last one to leave the class on those days. I was not struggling with the essay. I loved writing so much and was so into it that I found it hard to stop writing. My ESL teacher was very proud of me, and told my mom and me, at a Thanksgiving Dinner gathering at the school, that I should go into journalism. I did take a journalism class in junior high school and even wrote an article for the school paper but for some reason I did not pursue journalism later in life. I did not stop writing, however, and have not stopped since.

While I do not have a career in journalism, I have a lot of writing under my belt—poetry, lyrics, prose, short stories, and other writing. On top of that I have published twelve books, and two poetry anthologies, which I put together featuring poets from around the world.

Ever since I fell in love with writing, I have dreamed of being a published author one day and have my books be read by people all over the world. I am very proud to be a published author and am very grateful to have been presented with the opportunity to share my gift with the world and to be able to touch people’s lives with the written creations I bring to life. My dream has become a reality, to a degree, and I am very proud of myself for it. English was an obstacle for me for a while, but with determination and hard work I have mastered it. This goes to show that anything is possible, so long as we have the drive to achieve it.

Being a published author is not a career but a side project at the moment. In focusing on a career, I hope to be able to put my writing talents to use somehow. But no matter which career path I am taken on, and no matter where life takes me, I will never stop writing. So long as I can write and publish books I will. And who knows, maybe someday I will be a famous author, known and read, all over the world.

How to Write a Villanelle

2026-04-02T15:22:00.001-04:00

There are different poetic forms and styles that you can write in. One of them is a villanelle.

What is a Villanelle?

A villanelle is a poetic form may hold some similarities to a sonnet, but it is much more difficult to master, and may be confusing when learning this poetic form for the first time.

A villanelle is usually written in iambic pentameter though trimeter and tetrameter have also been used. It is comprised of six stanzas – the first five of which are made up of three lines, while the last is made up of four lines.

Breakdown of a Villanelle

The first and third lines (refrains) of the first stanza are repeated throughout the poem in the five stanzas. But they are not just repeated any which way. The first refrain is repeated in last line of the 2nd and 4th stanzas, while the second refrain is repeated in the last line of the 3rd and 5th stanzas. In the sixth stanza the two refrains are together again, except that now they make up the last two lines of the poem, with the first refrain being in line 3 and the second refrain being in line 4.

Rhyme Scheme of a Villanelle

A villanelle has a rhyme scheme that needs to be followed. In the first five stanzas the first and third lines must have the same rhyme, while the second line has its own rhyme throughout each of the first five stanzas. In the last stanza the second line has the same rhyme as the second line of the other five stanzas, while lines 1, 3, and 4 have the same rhyme as the first and third lines of the other stanzas.

Breakdown of a Villanelle by Stanza, Line, and Rhyme Scheme

Here is a simpler breakdown of the villanelle structure:

Stanza 1:

Line 1 (Refrain1) – rhyme a1
Line 2 – rhyme b
Line 3 (Refrain 2) – rhyme a2

Stanza 2:

Line 1 – rhyme a
Line 2 – rhyme b
Line 3 (Refrain 1) – rhyme a1

Stanza 3:

Line 1 – rhyme a
Line 2 – rhyme b
Line 3 (Refrain 2) – rhyme a2

Stanza 4:
Line 1 – rhyme a
Line 2 – rhyme b
Line 3 (Refrain 1) – rhyme a1

Stanza 5:

Line 1 – rhyme a
Line 2 – rhyme b
Line 3 (Refrain 2) – rhyme a2

Stanza 6:

Line 1 – rhyme a
Line 2 – rhyme b
Line 3 (Refrain 1) – rhyme a1
Line 4 (Refrain 2) – rhyme a 2

A Sample Villanelle

Here is a sample poem of a villanelle. I wrote it for my poetry class years ago and it is my first and only villanelle. Perhaps reading it will make it even clearer as to how this poetic form is structured and needs to be written.

“SPRING”

Spring has awakened and opened its wings.
Streets once blanketed with snow are now bare.
The birds’ sweet echoing melody rings.

Naked branches are covered with seedlings.
Green grass slowly peeks, scent wafts in midair.
Spring has awakened and opened its wings.

The cool breeze sifts and serenity lingers,
The threads of music serenade the air.
The birds’ sweet echoing melody rings.

Burning sun warms bodies and hearts’ cravings,
From winter that has left us in despair.
Spring has awakened and opened its wings.

On shores, waves smash against the rocks like springs.
The boats, whose bells ring in the morning air.
The birds’ sweet echoing melody rings.

Flowers’ rich aroma crafts us greetings,
For months to come and savor this affair.
Spring has awakened and opened its wings.
The birds’ sweet echoing melody rings.

How to Write a Shakespearean Sonnet

2026-04-02T15:18:00.002-04:00

Writing poetry is easy when you don't have to follow any rules, structures, patterns, rhyme schemes, etc. But when you tackle writing a traditional form of poetry such as a Shakespearean sonnet it becomes more of a challenge, especially when you start out on this creative endeavor for the very first time.

There are different types of sonnets that exist out there: Shakespearean (English), Spenserian, Petrarchan (Italian), Occitan, Urdu sonnet and others. Each is slightly different than the other though there are similarities between them all. All the sonnets use iambic pentameter and have some kind of a rhyme scheme that needs to be followed. They also have the same number of lines - fourteen.

What is iambic pentameter?

Iambic pentameter is a measure of a line in a traditional verse poem. It describes the rhythm of that particular line that is created by the words you write. The rhythm is measured in syllables, which are referred to as "feet". In iambic pentameter there are five of these "feet" in each line of the poem and each "foot" consists of an unstressed syllable and a stressed syllable.

It's not that easy to understand this the first time around but it gets easier as you write more and more poetry in iambic pentameter.

To make things a bit easier you can think of each line in an iambic pentameter poem sounding like this: DA-DUM, DA-DUM, DA-DUM, DA-DUM, DA-DUM. When you write your lines read them in the DA-DUM style and if your line has five DA-DUMs that means your line is written in iambic pentameter.

How to Write a Shakespearean Sonnet?

Before you write a Shakespearean sonnet you have to become familiar with its structure and form.

A Shakespearean sonnet uses iambic pentameter. It consists of fourteen lines and follows a specific rhyme scheme. The first twelve lines in a Shakespearean sonnet have a rhyme scheme where every other line rhymes - abab, cdcd...etc. The last two lines are a couplet and therefore rhyme with each other - gg.

Line 1 - rhyme a
Line 2 - rhyme b
Line 3 - rhyme a
Line 4 - rhyme b
Line 5 - rhyme c
Line 6 - rhyme d
Line 7 - rhyme c
Line 8 - rhyme d
Line 9 - rhyme e
Line 10 - rhyme f
Line 11 - rhyme e
Line 12 - rhyme f
Line 13 - rhyme g
Line 14 - rhyme g

Now if your first four lines have a rhyme scheme of abab doesn't mean that you can't use that rhyme sound in other lines of the poem. Just make sure that every other line rhymes, with the exception of the last two lines that have their own rhyme scheme. Of course, if your poem started with a first rhyme sound of cat for example doesn't mean you can't use that same sound in the last two lines of the poem. You can... But you don't have to! Doing all this however may not classify your poem as a full Shakespearean sonnet .But I think there is nothing wrong with that as there are many variations of a sonnet.

An example of a Shakespearean Sonnet

Below is a Shakespearean sonnet that I wrote for my poetry class back when I was in college. It may not be the best sonnet I could have written but it will help you to better visualize and understand how to write a Shakespearean Sonnet.

"Photos"

A sea of photos scrambled on the floor,
Pieces of life once lived in distant past.
Flashing before my eyes an open door,
It’s like a movie that is being cast
About me when I was only a child,
Going to camp, wandering through the forest,
Picking mushrooms and berries, free and wild,
Running, in flight my body will not rest.
The tape has STOPPED, and now this life is gone.
Wish I could PAUSE it and just press REWIND.
Life’s full of work, no time to have much fun.
Can’t fall asleep with nightmares so unkind.
Glad the photos are in my possession.
They’re a memory of past expression.

How to Write an Acrostic Poem

2026-04-02T15:10:00.002-04:00

Before you find out how to write an acrostic poem let's take a look at what it is.

What is an Acrostic Poem?

An acrostic poem is a poem with a hidden word, phrase, or name spelled out by either letters, syllables, or words in each line of them poem.

The most common variation of this poem is when the first letter or first syllable of the first word of each line in the poem, or the first word itself, spells out a word, a phrase, or a name. There are other variations of this poetic style however.

Variations of an Acrostic Poem

Here are the variations of an acrostic poem:

1. Have last letter, last syllable, or last word of each line spell something out.

2. Have a combination of first and last letter, syllable or word spell something out.

3. Have the first letter of a middle word in each line spell something out.

4. Have the middle word of each line spell something out.

5. Have something spelled out diagonally. For example, start from the first letter of the first word in the first line followed by the first letter of the second word in the second line followed by the first letter of the third word in the third line, and so on...

Line 1 - Word 1 - First letter

Line 2 - Word 2 - First letter

Line 3 - Word 3 - First letter

....

Line n - Word n - First letter

6. Have a variation of the format described in 4th bullet but instead of the first letter make it the first word.

Line 1 - Word 1

Line 2 - Word 2

Line 3 - Word 3

....

Line n - Word n

7. There are many more variations you can create here. Get as creative and as complex as you'd like.

How to Write an Acrostic Poem

Writing an acrostic poem is simple but can be a challenge. The easiest acrostic poem to write is one where the first letter of each line spells something out - be it a word, a phrase, or a name.

When writing this easiest type of acrostic poem simply first write out the word, phrase, or name by having each letter on its own line and making it bold. Then write your poem so that each line begins with the letters you have laid out on the page.

For example: if you were to write a poem that will spell out the word APPLE you will first write each letter of the word APPLE on its own line, in bold:

A
P
P
L
E

And then you will write your poem so that the first word of the first line starts with the letter A, the first word of the second line with the letter P ... and the first word of the fifth line with the letter E.

Now you can also have the word APPLE spelled out by last letter of each line, by the first letter of a middle word in each line, or diagonally.

Look at the picture below for better understanding.

Tips on Writing an Acrostic Poem

When writing an acrostic poem, no matter what variation it is, it is better to first spell out that word, phrase, or name and bold it before you start writing the poem. This will ensure that you will not make a mistake and leave out a letter or letters from whatever it is you want to spell out. And you will be able to check yourself once the poem is finished because each required letter will be in bold and easily found.

Also, when writing an acrostic poem it is better to have the poem be about that specific word, phrase, or name that you are spelling out. Of course you don't have to do that, if you don't want to.

Having said that, you can use an acrostic poem to write a hidden message that you only want certain people to know. In that case, you may decide not to bold the letters that spell out that special message and ask those certain people to figure out the message you want to relay to them.

An example of an Acrostic Poem

“ACROSTIC POEM”

(2005)

Across

Countries

Running

Over

Spheres

This

Inspiring

Concept

Penetrates

Our

Emotional

Minds

An example of an Acrostic Poem

“LIFE JOURNEY”

(Spring 2005)

Listen to the song

Inside your playful heart

Find nothing wrong

Enjoy life from the start

Journey to a place

Of beauty and of peace

Unlock your jailed face

Release yourself to bliss

Never let bad take over

Even when it’s near

You can make it sober

So make it disappear

An acrostic poem is a fun and creative poem that can also challenge your brain when you decide to spell something out in a complicated way.

If you haven't tried writing this type of poem I urge you to give it a try. You will enjoy this poetic form and will grow to love it over time, if not right away.

If you find yourself struggling with writing your first acrostic, don't worry and most importantly don't give up and surrender. It gets easier with time. The more acrostics you write the better at it you'll get...

Being in a Relationship

2026-03-29T12:05:04.743-04:00

Here are the things I learned being in a relationship for a bit over a decade:

1. Communication is key. If you can’t share things—good or bad—with your significant other the relationship will not work or evolve.

2. If something is bothering you about the other person or about what’s going on with you as a couple you have to speak up and let your partner know about it. Without you speaking up things cannot get fixed.

3. The other person should accept you for who you are and not expect you to change. However, if your habits or actions hurt the other person that should be worked on. The same holds true for you. You should accept the other person for who they are and not expect them to change. But if their habits or actions hurt you they should work on that.

4. If your relationship has problems you don’t just walk away from the relationship. You should have an open and honest discussion about it and try to fix things, either on your own or with the help of a counselor or therapist. After that if both of you feel that it is best to part ways then do so but not until you gave it your all to fix things and make it work. Especially if the relationship is important to you.

5. When your partner shares something with you listen and don’t judge or criticize. Make your partner feel comfortable sharing things with you. When you reply don’t raise your voice or talk back in a nasty tone. That will only hurt your partner and make them hesitate to share things with you in the future.

6. Your partner’s feelings are important. Before you do something think about how that will affect your partner. Don’t repeatedly do something that hurts them.

7. Don’t lie to them or make up excuses about something. If you do it will make it harder for them trust you.

8. If your partner cannot do something for whatever reason, don’t judge or criticize them. Find out what’s going on and help them out by doing it for them, if possible.

9. Major decisions should be made by both people. One can finalize things but both have to participate in the planning and solving of whatever it is. One person cannot expect the other to do everything from start to finish and then just go along with it. It takes two people to make things work.

10. It’s ok to have some alone time but when two people spend most of their time apart from each other then the time they can spend together should be spent together and not alone or separately with other people.

How I Wrote and Published My Debut Novel

2026-03-27T18:26:00.001-04:00

Ever since I mastered the English language it was my dream to be a published author with many books to my name. I didn't want to publish just poetry and lyric books. I wanted to write and publish my own novel. It took a while but finally I made that dream a reality. I have brought to life my debut novel called The Secret Life of Ashley Miles, which is now available on lulu.com, Amazon, and barnesandnoble.com.

I wanted to share with you my journey of bringing The Secret Life of Ashley Miles to life. What led me to write the novel, the process of writing it, which involved editing, and finally getting it published into a paperback book. Hopefully, you will find what I share with you useful and will be able to apply it if you are thinking of writing and publishing a novel yourself.

What Led Me to Write The Secret Life of Ashley Miles

Sometimes stories are born from a title or a phrase that pops into a writer's head. That is what happened to me and how my debut novel The Secret Life of Ashley Miles came to life.

A few years ago, as I was walking home from the library one day, the title The Secret Life of Ashley Miles came into my head. I have no idea why it happened, and why that particular title appeared as opposed to another one, but I am sure glad it did because after this title came to me a story idea was beginning to come together in my head. The main character would be Ashley Miles and the story would be about her life after graduating high school. It would include struggles of finding work, moving out on your own, falling in love and establishing a lasting relationship, and making your dreams a reality... something that many teens face and what I had faced as well and was actually facing still at the moment of writing the novel...

Food for Thought

Let me tell you that while writing the story may be hard, editing the story is even harder. In this step you not only have to make sure that all your grammar, punctuation and spelling is correct, but you also have to make sure that everything flows smoothly and that there are no flaws in the story. You have to sit there reading every chapter, not only with your head but with your eyes and edit it as you read. Then when you are done you have to read the novel again from start to finish and most likely edit some more. It seems like a never-ending process and it is hard to tell yourself that you are finally done and that no more editing is required. You want the novel to be perfect and it can be hard to decide if you got there or if there are still minor things that need to be altered. To help you with all this it is a good idea to get other people to read the novel and offer their feedback. This can help you fix any issues you may have overlooked and improve the story.

When you get negative feedback for your novel do not get discouraged. If your novel is published don't unpublish it. And if you were planning to publish it don't stop. That negative feedback is just the opinion of that person and does not mean that your novel is of a poor quality and that the story is not good enough to be published and shared with the world. You can't please everyone. There will always be haters. See if you can get something positive out of that negative feedback and then push it aside!

My Journey Writing The Secret Life of Ashley Miles

As soon as I came home that day, I opened up a blank MS Word document and wrote down the title, jotting down the story ideas that had come to me. They included things happening to Ashley and other characters that would be in the story. Doing that I realized that the things I was writing down resembled my own personal experiences. The things that the main character (Ashley Miles) was going to go through were things that I had gone through and experienced in my own life. Now the story would take on a whole new meaning for me because it would be based on what I had gone through and experienced in my own life. I would essentially be sharing a part of myself with the world.

After getting those ideas down on paper I began to write the story. I didn't care about grammar, punctuation, spelling or formatting. All I cared about was bringing the story to life. So, while writing, I focused solely on getting the story on paper and nothing else. The thorough editing would come once I finished writing the story. I will admit though that there were moments where I had written some lines and then rewrote them as I had slightly different ideas or different wording pop into my head right after the original thought. For the most part though I didn't really edit as that wasn't my goal at that moment. Starting and finishing the story was.

Little by little the story began to unfold. Since it was based on my own personal experiences writing the story came naturally and with ease. I was happy with the way things were turning out and how the story was coming together. Unfortunately, about midway through writing the novel I hit a roadblock, which was quite unexpected for me.

It was time to write a new chapter in the story but my mind drew a blank and I had no idea how to proceed further. Whenever I managed to come up with something I ended up rejecting it. I was left with a blank page and had to start all over again. I didn't want to force anything so I put the novel aside and didn't work on it any further for a while. It was after that hiatus, which lasted probably at least a few months, that things started to progress in the story. The words just started coming to me. A new chapter was born and the story continued. After that it was smooth sailing in terms of writing the story until its ending. There were no more roadblocks like that to face.

I am not sure how long it actually took me to write the novel from start to finish, but it doesn't really matter. The important thing was that it was brought to life. All that was left to do was edit it and then I would be ready to share the novel with the world.

Having edited the novel many times I thought the novel was ready to be shared with the world so I chose to publish it with Lulu. I started the book project and was ready to upload the file, get an ISBN for my book, create the book cover, and then complete the rest of the process to get my book published... Before proceeding though I decided it would be best to get some people to read the novel first and let me know their thoughts on it. This way, in the event that I had missed something, whether it'd be typos or minor flaws in the storyline or the flow of the story, I'd be able to get it fixed before publishing the novel.

I didn't want to email people my manuscript, for fear of it being intercepted, so I published the novel on writing.com, made it a private item, and set a passkey for it so it could be accessed by those to whom I sent the link. No one else would have access to the novel but those few people.

The few people (people I knew) that I had asked to read my novel and provide feedback for it gave positive feedback. They told me that they loved the story, enjoyed reading it from start to finish, and that they would not change anything in the story. That made me feel great about the novel and I was ready to get back to my book project on Lulu and proceed to upload the manuscript, create my book cover, and finally publish the book.

Then things suddenly came to a stop when I received feedback from one writing.com member (someone I didn't know whom I had asked to read and comment on my novel). That person gave me negative feedback, which greatly affected me and not in a good way. It made me feel that my novel was not good enough, and not worthy of being published and shared with others. This led me to push the novel aside and delete the book project from Lulu. I almost deleted the actual manuscript from my computer. Thankfully I never went through with it and I am glad I didn't because, now that the negative feedback no longer affects me and I realize that that person's opinion is just one opinion and doesn't mean the novel is bad, I chose to finally publish the novel. It is now available on Lulu, Amazon, and barnesandnoble.com to share with the world.

My Journey Publishing The Secret Life of Ashley Miles

Once the editing of The Secret Life of Ashley Miles was complete I now had to ready the file for publication. I had to turn the MS Word document into an actual manuscript. I needed to have a title page, a copyright page, and an author bio. Then I needed to number the pages, include the title of the novel and author name in the header, set the page size to 6x9 (as my book would be 6x9 size), set the margins and choose the font for the novel. And since I was publishing the novel with Lulu I also had to make sure that the page count was divisible by four and that the last page of the manuscript was left completely blank.

I wasn't done there. Since I was planning to sell the book outside of Lulu, in places like Amazon and barnesandnoble.com, I needed to get an ISBN for my book. (Just selling the book on Lulu doesn't require an ISBN). I didn't want to deal with trying to obtain an ISBN for my book on my own, and didn't even know where to get one, so I opted to get an ISBN directly from Lulu, which was free. All I had to do was start a new book project on Lulu and select the option to obtain an ISBN for the book directly from Lulu. I got an ISBN for the book right away and was able to insert it into the copyright page of the manuscript. This ISBN can only be used with Lulu but it doesn't matter to me. I am not planning on finding another publisher for it.

After getting the ISBN into the manuscript I saved the file as a PDF and uploaded it into my book project. It was then that I had to move on to the next step, which was to create a book cover for my novel. I could have used one of the images and/or backgrounds that were available on Lulu but I didn't want to do that as I wanted the book cover to be unique and not contain images that others may use in their books. So, I had to come with something on my own.

I knew that I wanted a diary on the front cover but I didn't want it to take up the entire page. This meant that I also needed a background image for the front cover and for the back cover as well. I didn't want the background to be plain solid color, so I had to create the background images myself. I didn't have any pictures of my own to use and didn't want to use anything from the Internet as I may have ended up with an image that I wasn't allowed to use or that was used by someone else. That's where my creativity kicked in.

For the diary I took an image of my own leather diary that had a lock and a key hanging from it. And for the background I took a picture of one of my couch pillows. I changed the color of the pillow picture so it was brighter and matched the diary more color-wise. Then I uploaded all the images into Lulu's cover creator and tweaked them until I was pleased with what I saw. Then I added the title and author name to the front cover and the spine, the Lulu logo to the spine, and the book description to the back cover, along with a photo of me and a few words about me. I was done. I clicked to make the cover into a PDF and save it and then proceeded to include relevant book information, choose the price of the book, and hit the button to publish the project. My book was now published an available for sale on Lulu. It is also available on Amazon, and barnesandnoble.com thanks to Lulu's distribution service, which I opted for.

Why I Chose to Publish My Novel With Lulu

I have total control over how my book cover looks, how my interior looks, and how the story unfolds... There is no one to tell me what to do!
I can make changes to the manuscript and re-upload the manuscript and fix the book cover, if needed, even after the book has been published and available for sale.
I get a free ISBN for my book and I don't have to pay to get my book published as it's free to publish a book with Lulu.
I decide how much I make per each book sale and what the price of the book will be.
When I buy my own book I pay what it costs to manufacture the book not the retail price of the book, which means that I save money.
When someone buys my book I can see when it was bought, where it was bought from, and how much I made for that book.
I need to earn as little as $5 to get paid my royalties, which are sent to my PayPal account. The payments are made monthly, not quarterly or longer than that. I don't have to go through the following: search for an agent, suffer through writing a query letter, find a publisher for my book, and face rejection after rejection until hopefully finally finding a publisher who will want to publish my novel into a book.

Writing and Publishing My Poetic Tale Treasure

2026-03-27T17:36:00.000-04:00

I am a huge fan of poetry and love when a poem tells a story or a tale, especially one that takes a reader on an emotional and even adventurous journey.

One day I decided to write a poetic tale. I had no idea if I would be able to pull it off, had no idea what would come out of it, but I took a shot. I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

It wasn't easy writing this poetic tale because I wanted it to have four line stanzas and I wanted them all to rhyme and in a certain way. I also wanted the tale to be engaging, moving and enjoyable for the reader and I didn't want any part of it to sound forced, especially because of the rhyme scheme that I had to follow.

At one point I even faced writer's block. I didn't give up though. I just took a short break from it and then got back to it with a fresh mind. In the end I managed to pull it off. I had written my poetic tale.

I will admit that it wasn't perfect. My first stanza turned out to be more than four lines and not all the rhymes are perfect rhymes. But all that is not as important as the story itself. It turned out great and the people that had read the story told me positive things about it and that is what is important here.

I was very proud of myself for setting a writing goal and actually achieving it. It also made me feel good inside knowing that I had created something that people were responding to in a positive way. It was an incredible feeling.

I wanted to share my poetic tale not just with these few people but with the world... That's when I decided to publish my poetic tale, not just online on a writing website but as an actual book. I used Lulu to make that happen. I now have a poetic tale published called Treasure that is available in a pocket size paperback and an e-book. It's available on Lulu and on Amazon in both formats. I am very proud of this accomplishment and can't wait to write and publish another poetic tale in the future. Maybe it will even be a sequel to Treasure. I already have a little bit written for it. I just have to pick up where I had left off.

My poetic tale Treasure is about a guy named Fin who sets out to find a land that others deem to not exist. When he finds it it is there that he comes upon a girl lying on the shore. Not knowing her name he calls her Angel. After bringing Angel back to life they set out on many adventures together and she becomes his true love. Of course everything is not perfect. Obstacles come upon them, obstacles that try to tear them apart... Will they be able to rise above and stay together, keeping their love alive? Or will everything crumble and lead them to be apart from each other forever...?

Writing a story or a tale may prove to be a difficult task. Writing one that is in the form of poetry may prove to be even harder.

No matter how hard it may be we should get out of our comfort zones and try new things; we should challenge ourselves by writing and creating something in a different style than we are used to. In this way we can not only become better writers but we can also discover things about ourselves that we didn't know existed, things we never thought we were capable of.

Poetry Anthology Voices of the World

2026-03-27T17:24:00.000-04:00

One of the things that I always wanted to do was put together a poetry anthology that featured poets from different parts of the world who wanted to be heard and dreamed of having their work in print. It was always on the back of my mind, yet I never got around to actually going through with it.

I finally decided it was actually time to put together and publish my first poetry anthology. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get enough poets interested to be able to publish a book. With the help of a friend and fellow poet I succeeded and Voices of the World was born.

Since I did not want to have a specific theme for this anthology I left it up to the poets to decide what they wanted to write about and in what poetic style their work would be. This resulted in a diverse anthology of poetry with something for everyone to enjoy.

Voices of the World is a wonderful collection of poetry featuring forty-six poets from around the world (me being one of them). These poets come from such countries as United States, Canada, Ireland, France, Romania, India, and Russia, among others. They showcase their work to the world by sharing two of their poems written in their own unique voices and writing styles.

The poets that are featured in Voices of the World are very passionate in their craft. When they write they leave themselves on the page and it shows through in their work. I think their poetry leaves a lasting impression and leaves us with something to think about.

Every poet deserves the chance to be heard, to be in the spotlight, and my poetry anthology lets them do just that.

I am very proud of this anthology and am happy that I brought the book to life. I will treasure it for a lifetime. I got my own copy and have read it many times. I enjoy the book each time I read it. There is always something new that I discover when I dive into the book. I can't wait for people to get their own copy so they can enjoy all the treasures that lie inside.

For those interested in obtaining a copy of Voices of the World, the poetry anthology is available in paperback format on lulu.com, amazon, barnesandnoble.com, and in other online retailers. Happy reading!

Poetry Anthology Whispers in the Wind

2026-03-27T17:09:00.003-04:00

Giving poets the chance to be published in print and among other talented poets is a great feeling. Having put together and published the first poetry anthology called Voices of the World I decided to do another anthology.

While I chose to have the first anthology contain poems on any topic the poets chose to write about, I wanted the second one to have a theme. Nature was the first thing that came to mind as I love nature so much, and write nature poetry myself on many occasions. And that is how Whispers in the Wind was born.

I feel that nature poems can be very captivating with lots of beautiful imagery that readers can vividly picture in their mind. It's like looking at a painting without actually having it in front of you. It lets people, with their unique imagination and visualization, bring the poetry to life in their mind, interpreting what is being described in their own unique way. Nature poems can also prove to be inspiring, refreshing, and can lift the spirits of people too...

Just like the Voices of the World, Whispers in the Wind also has poets from different countries around the world. In this poetry anthology, the poets showcase two nature poems a piece for the enjoyment of readers, sharing their experiences, visions, and connection to nature in their own unique way. With each poetic creation, they paint memorable images with their distinctive vision and creativity, in turn bringing to life enjoyable treats that will engage at least some of the five senses of readers, as well as make readers feel and perhaps be inspired and uplifted in the process.

For poetry lovers and those that enjoy nature this poetry anthology is a great addition to your poetry collection. Reading this book once you will surely want to pick up the book again for another read time and time again. I am proud to have put together and published this wonderful anthology, and to have shared two of my own nature poems in it as well.

Every time I read this anthology I feel my emotions soar, which to me is very important. I also am able to get lost in the words and picture in my mind what the poets bring to life with their words. My creativity soars, and I feel inspired, having a burning desire to write more nature poetry, and poetry in general.

For those interested in obtaining a copy of Whispers in the Wind, the poetry anthology is available in paperback format on lulu.com, amazon, barnesandnoble.com, and in other online retailers. Happy reading!

Time to Get Back into My New Poetry Book

2025-11-11T12:53:00.009-05:00

Back in 2021 I had this idea for a new poetry book to be titled Seasonal Memories. It would include four sections, one for each season. The poetry in each section would include nature with memories of the past or something that happened in the past mixed in.

I’ve stopped working on this book but I don’t want to leave it unfinished. I will have to go back to my manuscript and see how many poems I have left to write. I was aiming for ten poems per section. Seems like a good enough number. If I really feel inspired I may add more poems to the manuscript. Each section doesn’t necessarily need to have the same number of poems in it but I’d prefer it to be the same.

I don’t want to force anything but I do want to make progress so any ideas I may have I will jot them down. I can always edit something or get rid of it altogether if I don’t like what I’ve come up with.

I think it starts with opening the manuscript, going to a blank page, and seeing where that takes me. Just waiting for ideas or inspiration to come may not lead to anything. I’ve got to give myself a push. Perhaps the passing and memory of a fellow poet this summer can help steer me on the path of progress.

Once I finish writing, I’ll need to proofread and edit. Then I’ll need to format the manuscript and think about the book cover. I will start working on it once I come up with what I want the cover to be. The book will be published with Lulu just like my previous books. Once it’s out there it will become my 13th book, not including the two poetry anthologies I put together and published, featuring poems from around the world.

What Inspired My New Poem

2025-07-01T13:59:00.007-04:00

Last week, I was shocked to learn that a fellow poet—someone I met on AuthorsDen and have known for many years—had passed away. I went to his profile on Facebook to see what his last post was about. I knew most likely it would be a poem of his and it was. It was not a happy one however. “I would die for you” was the last line of the sad piece.

That inspired me to bring a new poem to life. I wrote it June 27, 2025. I chose to title it with the same words he ended his poem with. I’d like to share it with you. Here it is: I Would Die for You