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I love to write! As long as I can remember I have written in journals, written short stories, and written poetry. Most of it is probably not any good. But in high school I was on the Newspaper team and had many of my articles published. I was also the anonymous gossip columnist, which I had an absolute ball with, revealing my identity in the last paper of my senior year. Many years later when I finally made it to college, my professor took me over to the newspaper department as soon as he read my first English paper. Again, I had many articles published in the newspaper. I entered the Literary competition and got paid for my first piece when I won third place in the short story competition. Over the years I had several poems accepted and published here and there; but unfortunately I didn't keep track of them. |
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In 1995, I wrote my domestic violence story to present in speeches and seminars against Domestic Violence. I self-published it on the web in 1997, helping many women to see the truth of their situations and get out. In the early 2000's I worked with the Louisiana Attorney General's Coalition Against Domestic Violence in the Workplace. I allowed them to tape me for a training tape and I have spoken to over 200 CEO's and numerous other management staff in the state of Louisiana; telling my story and educating them on the victim's side of Domestic Violence and what employers can do to help them. After all they definitely can't get out if they can't keep their job because of their abuser. In February of 2004, I had a close friend and co-worker die unexpectedly. I wrote a poem in tribute to her. I showed it to another friend and co-worker who had it professionally printed on pretty paper and laminated. It was distributed to all Vicky's friends and family. In March, another co-worker died and I was asked to write a poem for him. Again I wrote a poem of tribute that was then distributed to Jim's friends and family. There is no telling where those poems are now. |
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All my life, like many people, I have said over and over again that I was going to write a book. I have boxes of diaries, journals, and notes with some great stuff I intend to use for material. But somehow I never completed the goal of actually sitting down and writing a book. In 2004, I was introduced to online journaling and then to Nanowrimo --- National Novel Writing Month; a contest/competition which takes place on the web every November to encourage would be writers to actually complete that novel they've always said they were going to write. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel between Nov 1 and Nov 30th. There is no prize except for the finished work and the pride of knowing you completed your goal. I accepted the challenge. |
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| I wrote a somewhat fictionalized, autobiographical novel about a non-smoker who selfishly doesn't understand why anyone would participate in such a nasty habit and not just set them down and walk away. Then, because she is the only non-smoker in the group, gradually begins to pick one up here and there thinking she will not get hooked. Of course she does and then smokes for years. The rest of the book is about her struggle to then quit smoking. The thought behind it was that it may let non-smokers see how smokers come to be addicted even if they had strong anti-smoking feelings prior to becoming addicted and then what a tremendous struggle it takes to quit. But of course I know the majority of non-smokers do not care how smokers came to be addicted or what it takes to quit. I never expected the book to be marketable (although the people who actually read it had very good things to say about it). I was just trying to get those 50,000 words written in the space of 30 days which was very challenging! I sent it to an online editor who offered to look at it; and sent it back a couple of months later with all of her edits and suggestions for changes. I haven't taken the time yet to go over all her comments and recommended changes. I'll eventually get to it. But like I said, I never expected my first foray into novel writing to be marketable. |
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| Amid much personal adversity I managed to make my 50,000 words again this year. I can not explain how exciting and what a good feeling that is! My novel is a mystery about someone who has gone missing. I have not finished it yet. It is probably about halfway done. But finishing the novel is not a Nano requirement. Sitting down and pumping out those 50k words is the requirement. I am very happy with how my novel is going and now it will just be the self control to get it finished. May end up being another Nano project for another year. This novel should have a broader appeal and I may get brave enough to submit it somewhere. Woohoo! I love my winner icon! |
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Another experience from 2005 --- On a whim I entered one of Poetry.com's contests. I totally forgot about it and was somewhat surprised when I was notified in April, 2005 that I made semi-finalist. My letter said they received thousands of entries and my poem was chosen "because it exhibits a unique perspective and artistic vision". I'm sure everyone's letter probably said the same thing but all the semi-finalists are being published in a book with each poem featured on a page by itself. I retain my copyright. At the beginning of June, I received a certificate from the International Library of Poetry and was notified that I won an award on that poem . . . "I am delighted to inform you that your poem, Our Song, has been awarded our prestigious Editor's Choice Award because it displays a unique perspective and original creativity -- judged to be the qualities most found in exceptional poetry. Congratulations on your achievement." In November, I was excited when I finally got my book and my poem was the first one in the book. Then my mom went to the poetry.com site and found that no one could order a book unless they were one of the authors in it. I thought that was strange and started researching. I found out other people got the same book I did, but 'their' poem was first in the book. Guess we all have one of a kind books then. They say it is a scam on the part of poetry.com. I don't understand how it is cheaper to print each book individually to put that person's poem first than it is to just mass print the books with everyone's poem in it wherever they land. They say there is no poem too bad to get the semi-finalist award. In fact, they've tried coming up with a poem that DOESN'T get accepted as semi-finalist and no one has been able to do it yet. I was terribly upset at first, but eventually I had to laugh it off. It's not like I've never had things published before. I just feel like a fool for buying the book. Amazing how the complimentary copy I was promised hasn't arrived. Unlike most people I guess, I now don't care for the book with my poem in it. Poetry.com plays on the fact that would be writers want to see themselves in print. I've seen myself in print lots of times and I don't care for a book that tells everyone they are fantastic and have talent whether they do or not. I warn others if you want something printed, go on to poetry.com. You are guaranteed to get printed. If you truly want to know if you have talent and only be printed if you actually have talent then have nothing to do with poetry.com. So with that being said, here is my poem that I am no longer proud to say was printed in the book: |
| Almost every couple has a song they call their own. It commemorates a special time in their relationship, usually somewhere near the beginning, when their love for each other was strong. Then the relationship falls apart. The song that used to bring joy now brings twinges of pain or sadness when it plays unexpectedly from a speaker somewhere. Never will the song be heard again without causing thoughts of the other person. No matter how far apart, in distance or time, the threads of the musical notes continue to connect two souls. "Babe" by Styx inspired this poem. |
What do you think when you hear that song?
Do any memories linger on?
Do you regret what we once had?
What was so good and then went bad.
What could've been but will never be
Will always come back to haunt me
The scary thing I must admit
Is now my new husband does seem to fit.
Copyright ©2005 Elizabeth B. Fisher
Published in:
A Surrender to the Moon
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| This year was especially tough as we were in the middle of cleaning the military house we live in and getting ready to outprocess for our transfer from New Mexico. Trying to write 50,000 words while preparing for a move and a white glove inspection on the house was extremely challenging. Therefore my novel this year is about the Horrors of the Military Move. This is another book that would probably never be marketable as no one would really care what a military family is put through in order to move their family from one base to another. But still, I completed the contest and once again, I love my winner icon. |
| In 2007, for the first time in three years I did not participate in National Novel Writing Month. My mother, the sysop and webmaster of On-Ramp BBS & Webserver was hospitalized in August for her worsening emphysema. She came home in September and my sister and I began fulltime caregiving for her. My mother's care was much more important to me than pumping out 50,000 words in one month to earn the icon for this year. |
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