writing – Page 6 – Coffeehouse Junkie

Narrative Non-Fiction Comics: UPDATE

The Indie features part one of my creative non-fiction comic, Strange Familiar Place, this month. It has been a year of trying to find a place courageous enough to take the risk on a no-name amateur artist.

The Indie is available at: Malaprops, True Blue Arts, Pack Library, Woolworth Walk, Rosetta’s Kitchen, Mellow Mushroom, Hannah Flannagan’s, Fine Arts Theater, Early Girl Eatery, Port City Java, Burgermeisters, Lucky Otter, West End Bakery and many other locations.

Previous thoughts and intimations on creative non-fiction comics: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Narrative Non-Fiction Comics: UPDATE

The publisher received the first installment of my creative non-fiction comic this week. It has been almost a year since a posted about a creative non-fiction comic I’ve been illustrating and writing. Previous posts on creative non-fiction comics: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

The irony is that Drawn, an illustration and cartooning blog, posted this on Monday:”Goodbye one-page diary comics; everyone’s blogging now.”

It appears the one the inspirations for my work now has a blog (which isn’t bad) but he posted this: “In the old days i’d have made a one-page … but today we squander our narratives in a blog.”

The first installment is due to hit the streets in December and the medium is horribly dated. Another source of inspiration has a blog as well but hasn’t updated since 2003. However, Vertigo released a five-issue miniseries by him that began in September.

Maybe it’s not as bad as Drawn considered.

Write Stuff: Lit–the Drug

This week’s Write Stuff¹ post: Lit–the Drug.

Excerpt:

I’d rather be down at the Flood Gallery (in the River Arts District) listening to emerging writers… or sitting on the floor of the kitchen reading Soft Skull Press’s Tear Down the Mountain on a windy Saturday afternoon.

Tags: [writing, creative, writers, Write Stuff]

Write Stuff: My Father’s Promise

This week’s Write Stuff¹ poem is based on a writing prompt–write from a child’s perspective: My Father’s Promise.

Comments so far:

As usual … you’ve said a lot in just a few words.
This shows absolute trust – I hope the father doesn’t let him down.
—Karen

This is loaded! I love it.
—Tammi

“He saught tautness, compactness, the hard image that both conveyed and … was the meaning the poet was after,” wrote critic Thomas Lask (Nov. 2, 1972) in his obituary of Ezra Pound (reprinted in Alan Levy’s book Ezra Pound: The voice of Silence). “Every word that was not functional in the line was eliminated.”

That is what I am striving toward–“tautness, compactness, the hard image.”

Crafting the poem My Father’s Promise took more than a week. It was a process of subtracting or distilling toward a dense yet simple five lines or eight words.

My wife and I debated the last word; “wait.” Initially, I used “waited” to fit a two-syllable line, but I changed it after much discussion to “wait.” She helped me turn the line with a voiceless alveolar fricative stop–word ending with a “t.” Using “waited” added voiced alveolar fricative stop which, when read aloud, sounded like I ran over a speed bump. When the last line is read aloud, the “t” in “wait” explodes of the alveolar ridge and ends the poem with gravity and urgency.

Words mean things

As much as I wanted to, I just couldn’t bring myself to contribute a comment to a well intentioned post. You see, I am often irked by the misuse of language. The request was to “use three words to describe their philosophy.” Seems relatively simple, but philosophy literal means “love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means.” Though to accommodate connotation (i.e. secondary meaning) the word has also come to mean “a system of values by which one lives.” Still, to use three words to describe one’s love and pursuit of wisdom is quite a heady request. I suspect the writer meant to express three words that characterize lifestyle choices. For example, if I were to suggest that my philosophy of life is to eat well, live well and do good deeds that may sound well. But it is not philosophy. It is, however, a lifestyle strategy–even a personal precept. Ah, but you see, if I were to say that my life’s precept is to eat well, live well and do good deeds, you might think I am delivering a lifestyle doctrine. And that won’t do because doctrine has an emotional connotation that is not positive to most readers. So, I just can’t play along, because in our post-literate culture readers attribute emotional gravity to words rather than pursue truth by intellectual means.

Write Stuff: taking notes

This week’s Write Stuff¹ piece is directly related to the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival: Notes from a Poetry Workshop.

Write Stuff: Short story subject matter in the news

Weird. I wrote a first draft fictional story for Write Stuff¹ based on actual events. The working title is Career Mistake and relates a story about a civil rights attorney defending Native Americans in the 1970s.

So this morning I just heard Daniel Kraker’s report on NPR’s Morning Edition: Navajos Protest Violence Against Tribe.

September 12, 2006 · The Navajo Nation is concerned about three recent incidences of violence against Navajos in Farmington, N.M. The Navajo community is rallying to draw attention to the problem.

Woah. I thought I had picked an obscure subject matter; you know, not like newspaper headline story.

Write Stuff: First draft short fiction

This week Write Stuff¹ is publishing posts based on the writing prompt: making a mistake. I sat down and spent an hour and a half writing the following short short story: Career Mistake.² It is a first draft fictional account of actual events.

Write Stuff: A Greek Tragedy

This week Write Stuff’s¹ regular contributors are to write about “premonition.” The assignment was handed out a week or two ago.

For the last week I’ve been engaged in a lecture series on “Introduction to Greek Philosophy” from Boston University (via The Teaching Company). I was able to rent the 4 DVD set from the local library. That has lead me to examine texts on Alexander the Great as well as explore The Theogony.

With the writing prompt being premonition, my mind turned to the tragic Greek tale of Cassandra. I started out to write a formal sonnet with a twist. The twist being that I did not want to use a rhyming pattern nor did I want to use iambic pentameter; rather, I wanted to write iambic dimeter verse.

When I completed the initial drafts I realized it lacked the urgency and tragedy that I want to communicate. So I departed from the initial hybrid sonnet I attempted and completed the poem as four strophes of four lines each — total of sixteen lines. Let me know what you think of Cassandra’s Gift.²

Write Stuff: ‘Cause that’s what poets do

Proof positive that I can write under pressure with many children under the age of six (no, they are not all mine). Before you click the link and read this week’s Write Stuff¹ post, here is the backstory.

My wife and I invited a friend and her children to join us for a Bele Chere² excursion. My children were very excited to have guests and were acting accordingly by running from one end of our small cottage to the other end while loudly proclaiming their enthusiasm. I started writing the piece around 11 AM amid the din of my progeny, and guests arrived around 11:30 AM for an early lunch before we headed to Bele Chere. With double the children the beautiful chaos did increase. By 12:30 PM I had posted this week’s column while everyone else ate lunch.

For more than I month I had been reading and pondering the essence of this piece but had not committed it to paper. Inspired by the lyrics from the Steve Brooks’³ song Dead Poets Society (from his Purgatory Road album), I chose the title — “‘Cause that’s what poets do.”⁴ My outline for the piece was simple and I offered the question, “Why should I write poems if people are more interested in my activism?” Realizing the piece ended darker than I anticipated I added a sarcastic spin at the end àl a George Thorogood’s “One bourbon, one scotch, one beer.”

So here’s this week’s, “‘Cause that’s what poets do.”

By the way, Bele Chere was a hoot! The kids enjoyed it because they all received balloons that they could fight over and the parents enjoyed it because the children were very tired from all the walking and went to bed early. And that is what parents do.

NOTES:
1) Write Stuff, accessed April 9, 2009, http://www.take2max.com/writing/ (page no longer available, web site deactivated. Write Stuff published blog posts from 2006 to 2008. Write Stuff moved to Write Anything, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/)
2) Bele Chere, was the largest free festival in the Southeastern United States until 2013, accessed April 27, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bele_Chere
3) Steve Brooks, accessed April 27, 2026, https://stevebrooks.net/
4) Matthew Mulder, “‘Cause that’s what poets do”, July 30, 2006, Write Anything, accessed April 27, 2026, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/2006/07/30/cause-thats-what-poets-do/

Blind Date with Poetry

Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe

Tonight, July 27, 6:30 PM.
free to the public.

Blind Date with Poetry with host Matt Moon and featuring poet is Michael White.

Tags: [writing, poems, writers, poetry, Malaprop’s, Asheville, reading]

Write Stuff response

This week’s Write Stuff¹ piece brought the following comments.

“Wow! Something to think about . . .”-Michèle

“I love the taste and feel of words on my tongue and in my head. I love it when they come out when I am writing with feeling and I come “out of it” to read what I have written and I can’t believe that I have written what is on the screen or paper. It is a passion, a deep feeling of love for writing and the written word. I am only half way following my calling half way. I needed this kick in the butt, thank you very much.”-Shelli

“This is beautiful … I am twisting and turning but I’m afraid that my student loan payment has tasted more of my writing efforts than I have.”-Tammi

The column begins: “I used to think I needed a job that allows me to be a poet and writer. I think a lot of people believe this. I don’t think much of it anymore.”²

After making that statement I explore, in brief, some practices of distinguished poets like Anthony Hecht, W.S. Merwin, Ezra Pound and John Ashbery. It was meant to be a challenge more to myself than readers. However, if it got Michèle to “think about” it and gave Shelli a “kick in the butt” then I would consider that a bonus.

NOTES:
1) Write Stuff, accessed April 9, 2009, http://www.take2max.com/writing/ (page no longer available, web site deactivated. Write Stuff published blog posts from 2006 to 2008. Write Stuff moved to a new home Write Anything, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/)
2) Matthew Mulder, “So you think you have something to say?”, June 25, 2006, Write Anything, accessed April 27, 2026, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/2006/06/25/so-you-think-you-have-something-to-say/

Write Stuff: So you think you have something to say?

This week’s Write Stuff¹ column is “So you think you have something to say?”

NOTES:
1) Write Stuff, accessed April 9, 2009, http://www.take2max.com/writing/ (page no longer available, web site deactivated. Write Stuff published from 2006 to 2008. Write Stuff moved to Write Anything, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/)
2) Matthew Mulder, “So you think you have something to say?”, June 25, 2006, Write Anything, accessed April 27, 2026, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/2006/06/25/so-you-think-you-have-something-to-say/

Blind Date with Poetry

Tonight Blind Date with Poetry, hosted by Matt Moon featured poets published by Rapid River magazine. Featured poets included: Jillian Foster Knight, Corrie Woods, Britt Kaufmann, Joanna Knowles, Dahn Shaulis, Cheri L. Jones Wendy Kochenthal and myself.

Without exception, the poets presented over an hour of well crafted material from diverse perspectives. The open mic that followed was equally inspiring though a few of the regular open mic poets seemed absent.

My wife accompanied me tonight which is a special occasion for both of us. She enjoyed the night’s poetry and we were able to meet new friends, kindred spirits after the event.

The only regret I recall is that one open mic poet seemed to hang back from the congregation of poets. I caught her figure out of the corner of my eye as she stared at a book shelf. I’ve experienced that glazed look myself. Not sure how to introduce myself to other poets and equally intimidated by them. I think she said she was a student from ABTech. She wore a pink camisole and read a couple poems during the open mic portion of the event. I wanted to thank her for bravely sharing her work, but I got caught up in a discussion about Ezra Pound’s poetry and essays that I neglected such an important opportunity to include and encourage a young poet. My wife noticed her as well and advised me to encourage her if I see her again at another open mic. It is such a small gesture, but also so important.

Strider

This week’s Write Stuff column is Stride.

Measurable, meaningful, attainable

For this week’s Write Stuff column I cannibalized this post in order to offer Go Deep. It is something I have been considering all week.

If you are not familiar with Write Stuff, Karen offers a great column on the importance of establishing writing goals. For accountability, she lists Write Stuff contributors’ goals here.

I scanned the goals of the other writers and I am amazed with their organization. I’m a little jealous too. I submitted one item in my own ambiguous fashion but also to provide a “measurable, meaningful, and attainable” goal. I wish I could offer more goals, but simply have limited time and resources.

Epsicle episode

All weekly contributors to Write Stuff¹ present a piece based on a photo prompt. My contribution is a poem titled: Red Dye #40 Epsicle ice pop. Comments include:

“tasting heatwaves. great description.”
—Divine

“There is something eerie about the little note of trivia at the end that I can’t put my finger on but I like it. I also like the clean, concise language as well.”
—Tammi

“Normally I’m not a fan of Haiku, but I like this a great deal.”
—d.challener

Thanks Divine.

Thanks Tammi. I love studying the origin of words and their meaning. Recently inspired by Ezra Pound’s poetry, specifically In a Station of the Metro, I attempted to do likewise but in my own voice.

Thanks D. Challener. I was more influenced by Pound than by haiku. However, knowing that haiku is often used, abused from its honorable beginning; I picked it up, dusted it off and attempted to “make it new.”

What through yonder window do you spy?

I forgot to mention my weekly contribution to Write Stuff yesterday: Through Yonder Window.

I’m overwhelmed by the kind, warm reception to my contributions. Comments made include:

“That’s a beautiful analogy. The way you write hooks me and I can vividly see what you’re describing.” —Benjamin

“I loved this post. And it sure is a beautiful analogy, as already mentioned above. It’s heart warming! I really loved it! Hugs!” —Anele

“This a truly beautiful and insightful post. Do you think that we can often be “too” educated?

Nothing is more endearing than those innocent little babbles;) I guess balance is the key.” —Tammi

Thanks Benjamin.

Thanks Anele (and hugs).

Thanks Tammi and good question. I like how Kent Nerburn put it: “Education will not inform your spirit and make you full. So, along with knowledge, you must seek wisdom.” Education with out wisdom is simple mathematics. The more one learns the more one realizes there is much more to learm. Soon the pursuit of knowledge for the sake of itself becomes empty. Wisdom provides a balance and purpose by offering an individual how to apply knowledge to those “young unsteady” ones spoken of in the post.

Cover Story: Filling My Love Basket

Blue Sky Asheville is a new publication that offers a wide variety of articles and essays on spirituality. Blue Sky Asheville is a local magazine in the same vein as Utne magazine.

Let me illustrate the diversity of Blue Sky Asheville. Articles range from “Fitness Rising: Gain Muscle and Shed Fat as the Moon Waxes and Wanes” to “Living the Mystery: Exploring the Physics of Consciousness.”

That being said, I am humbled and honored that my submission, “Filling My Love Basket,” attained the coveted spot of cover story on the debut issue of Blue Sky Asheville. Actually, it shares the cover with another (much more talented) writer–Gaither Stewart–who submitted an excellent article: “Not By Bread Alone.”

Allow me to offer a warning. If you are easily offended by irreverent, profane or obscene language you may want to skip this article due to a few choice words (three or four). Those of you who are regular readers know I don’t offer a lot of salty language. Profane or obscene language is something I avoid in my writings because, more often than not, it “calls attention [to itself and distracts] from the work as a whole” to quote Flannery O’Connor. However, in “Filling My Love Basket” I wanted to juxtapose religion and spirituality by “let my thoughts flow freely”. My hope is that I present an authentic and relevant struggle that is common to all people of various faith groups.

So without further delay, read “Filling My Love Basket”.

Reading Write Stuff

Every week I write an article for Write Stuff¹. This Sunday I posted Under the Holly². Every Sunday I’ll contribute an article.

Read the Write Stuff?

By invitation, I’ve begun contributing to Write Stuff. I’ll post new articles every Sunday. Here’s my first piece: Below an Oak Tree.

NOTES:
1) Write Stuff, accessed April 2, 2009, http://www.take2max.com/writing/ (page no longer available, web site deactivated. Write Stuff published blog posts from March 2006 to September 2008. Write Stuff moved to a new home Write Anything on September 19, 2008, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/. Write Anything announced July 2011 that moved again to a new web site. The archived content is still active.)
2) Matthew Mulder, “Below an Oak Tree”, April 2, 2006, Write Anything, accessed April 24, 2026, https://writeanything.wordpress.com/2006/04/02/below-an-oak-tree/

Narrative Non-Fiction Comics: part 5

A while back, I mentioned that the first installment of my creative non-fiction comic is complete and pending publication. The first installment is titled “Higgins: Inside the Box.” Last weekend I completed half of the second installment (four strips or roughly 12 panels) which is the conclusion to the story arch, “Higgins: Inside the Box.” Then I began scripting a 5-part comic strip for a third installment which features a story line about this event. There isn’t an official title to this one. However, “Higgins: Outside the Box” seems like a logical progression.

Last Tuesday was the SECNCS meeting and fellow artists encouraged me regarding my inking techniques and suggested some tips on lettering comic strips. One artist, who is regularly featured in the Rapid River magazine, recommended that dialogue text be all caps and narrative text be upper and lower case. The recommendation is already being implemented beginning with the second installment.

This endeavor of combining illustration and creative non-fiction, have inspired me to study the poet William Blake. The illuminated text is not a new media; many ancient manuscripts were illuminated. For example, The Book of Kells is famously known for its illuminated text. Years ago, I studied under a calligrapher who taught me the secret of the Celtic knot work and spirals represented in the Book of Kells. The discipline of the knot-work has served me well, though not in my recent illustrations.

But William Blake illuminated his own poems and printed his own collections with the help of his wife. It helped that he was trained as an engraver and went on to apply his trade for book and magazine publishers. Being an innovator in his own right, he applied his trade to illuminate and print his own literature. Like William Blake, I studied graphic design (the modern day digital engravers if you will) and know how to produce books and magazines for clients. I wonder what William Blake would think of creative non-fiction comics?

Previous posts on creative non-fiction comics: [1] [2] [3] [4]

Flasheville

Flash fiction + Asheville = Flasheville.com

Flasheville published “Another Empty Glass” over the weekend.

Narrative Non-Fiction Comics: part 4

Last week I sent the first installment of a narrative non-fiction comic strip storyline to an editor. I just received an email from him this morning. He writes: “The comics are bitchin’ good. Excellent work.”

Previous posts on creative non-fiction comics: [1] [2] [3]

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