“A Pocketful of Poems” and “Poems for Pickin’” by Craig Pugh

1/29/2023

A Pocketful of Poems by Craig Pugh
Multi-volume and multi-genre poet and author Craig Pugh introduces us to a volume of his poetry, “A Pocketful of Poems”:
Craig Pugh's poetry ranges from the silly to the sublime, the cosmic to the comedic, and the tragic to the absurd. His work and images never get too far away from readers because he deals with things we all see every day. This makes him accessible and comfortable to read since he doesn't deal in abstractions. So we see poems about coffee, cats and love "in all its messy glory," as the author likes to say. Incredibly, twenty-five of his poems are about poems and poets. He does adhere to rhyme and structure, but works new ground by incorporating contemporary images and situations into his poems. Mirth and intensity are two of his defining characteristics; "Sex Slave" and "A River of Stars" demonstrate this. These are poems about living. The author knows how to laugh, and he knows how to cry. He ranges so far and wide that readers of all ages will find something to chuckle at, wonder about, or just plain shake their heads at.

I loved these poems! They are fun and a pleasure to read. Craig seems like the funny guy who lives just down the block and he can bring laughter and mirth to the dourest face.
I enjoyed these poems so much and recommend them without reservation.
5 stars from me!

You can buy this book in paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Pocketful-Poems-Craig-Pugh/paperback
https://www.goodreads.com/book/-a-pocketful-of-poems-by-craig-pugh/paperback
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/a-pocketful-of-poems-craig-pugh/paperback
https://www.bookwormomaha.com/pocketful-of-poems/paperback
https://www.booksamillion.com/Pocketful-Poems/Craig-Pugh/paperback

see below to follow the author

Poems for Pickin’ by Craig Pugh

Multi-volume and multi-genre poet and author Craig Pugh introduces us to a volume of his poetry, “Poems for Pickin’”:
These pure prairie poems range from the silly to the sublime, the cosmic to the comedic, and the tragic to the absurd. The author's interests in astronomy, astrology and mythology make much of his poetry particularly colorful. While the volume starts out invoking pleasant scenes of bygone eras and neighborhood bars, it ends up with poetry on world events that is frighteningly real: January 6, guns, democracy, and dictators. And of course, Ukraine. Replete through all of these verses are deep insights into human relationships, and a quest for spirituality.

Some of these poems are funny and lighthearted, while others are serious and penned with a heavy heart! There is more than one theme running across the pages, divorce, death, despondency with politics and more. Craig brings it all out for a good airing.
4.9 stars from me.

You can buy this paperback:
https://www.amazon.com/Poems-Pickin-Craig-Pugh/paperback
https://www.goodreads.com/poems-for-pickin/paperback
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/poems-for-pickin-craig-pugh/paperback
https://www.bookwormomaha.com/poems-for-pickin/paperback
https://www.booksamillion.com/Poems-for-Pickin/Craig-Pugh/paperback

You can follow the poet/author:
https://twitter.com/craigr25
https://thewritingdog.com
https://www.facebook.com/william.c.pugh

Copyright @ 2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introductions

67 Comments

Craig Pugh link

1/30/2023 08:28:18 am

Thank you for the time you took reviewing my poetry volumes. The ugliness of the world needs the beauty of poetry now more than ever, it seems to me, so I'm trying to bring poetry back -- one poem at a time. I appreciate your help!

Mark

1/30/2023 08:33:27 am

You are welcome, Craig.

I agree, there is an ever-present need for more beauty in this world and poetry is a good place to work from.

First question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

William Craig Pugh link

1/30/2023 09:40:02 am

I try to work with music and color when I write. In poetry in particular, the vowel sounds are musical keys to me: A, B, C, D and E, and so on. As for color, that comes from the emotional charge I'm working on. Emotional charges are extremely vibrant -- bright blue, blazing red, brilliant orange; and of course dark sometimes. So I think about music and color when I write. When I'm really in the zone, I feel like I'm painting with words.

1/30/2023 10:47:33 am

That is interesting. You sound like you might have synesthesia. That is a fascinating neurological condition that seems to express itself differently in different people.

New questions.

Do you paint or do some other kind of visual art?

How else does music fit into your life?

1/30/2023 10:58:31 am

I'd love to paint but don't and haven't. But I've always studied painters. As for music, i can't let it play much of a part in my life because I'm always trying to get in an emotional writing space, and music is way too emotional for me to listen to. Songs remind me of people, places and events. I don't need that when I'm trying to be creative. Plus, being a wordsmith, I pick the words in songs apart; I'm too analytical.

1/30/2023 01:08:29 pm

I prefer to not listen to music when I am reading or proofreading also. Though at a young age I learned to block out all extraneous noise when I was reading a good book. Like you, the lyrics can be their own distraction also. It can be emotional, no doubt.

New questions.

So, no music when writing poetry. How about prose? Do you listen or use music to stimulate your fiction impulses?

William Pugh link

1/30/2023 01:16:12 pm

No, my ideas are all interior, that is to say they come from inside my head where I spend way too much time. So I would have to say music doesn't stimulate my fiction impulses: the experiences of life and living do.

1/30/2023 04:06:38 pm

That sounds good. Experience is a wonderful teacher as long as you learn the lesson the first time. If you don't you get to repeat the class no matter how much it costs.

New questions.

What is your favorite genre to read?

What genre of fiction are you writing now?

1/30/2023 04:22:52 pm

I've been geeking out on the Russians for many decades and Leo Tolstoy in particular the past year with his short stories and then War and Peace, which I finally picked up six months ago. I also never stop reading Gogol's Dead Souls, Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, and the Yiddish masterpiece, The Family Mashber, by Pinhas Kahanovitch. I'm writing short story fiction at the moment, so reading the Russians is serving me well. They are the best.

1/30/2023 06:32:15 pm

When I was 10 or 11, I looked at all the books in our smalltown library and thought how great it would be if I could read all of the books. Later, I found out about university libraries and the Library of Congress. I realized how impossible my dream was.

There are a lot of books, including the classics, whatever they are, I have not read. That list includes Russian authors. I am sure I would enjoy them, though.

New questions.

Do you write your poetry in a particular style or format consistently?

How has writing changed your life?

1/30/2023 06:59:34 pm

I do some rhyming but not classical style. Same with lines. I like some structure. This is why poetry today is hard to write. It goes all over the place, yet it must have some structure to it, or you're just creating word chaos and annoying people. How has writing changed my life? It has made me poor in the material world but rich in the spiritual one.

1/31/2023 07:08:02 am

The limitations of the format are challenging no doubt. But the results can be entertaining, enlightening or invigorating in turn.

I like your answer to my last question it's quite honest.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your books? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

At first glance, the covers seem obvious, but I frequently miss a detail or two. What do the elements on the covers represent?

1/31/2023 08:46:11 am

I designed, arranged and shot the picture on the Pocketful of Poems cover. My wife drew my pen-and-ink- sketch on the whiskey jug on the back. And I always do all the words. I also designed the Poems for Pickin' cover with the Platte River wrapping around the back. Kate Loz of Kiev, Ukraine, painted it. As for elements on the covers, I like the notion of a broken down old poet walking around a busted down town on the prairie with a pocketful of poems. On Poems for Pickin', I wanted a cover that would mirror a Grandma Moses painting, circa 1890, on the Platte River towards Scottsbluff. Kate did a wonderful job, in my view. I love that cover.

1/31/2023 11:24:26 am

I like both covers for their differences. The apple orchard and people are my favorite, a lovely bucolic setting. I grew up on small farms and orchards most of my early life. Our Christmas tree farm in Oregon has only two apple trees left that are over 100 years old. Gravenstein apples. I loved climbing those trees and picking apples for my mom.

New questions.

Was it hard to come up with the titles?

What was the process? Do you think of a title first or last?

1/31/2023 12:04:41 pm

I am happy Kate's apple orchard takes you back to a childhood memory. It wasn't hard coming up with the titles; what was hard was coming up with the poems to match them. For example, "Poetry Pickin' Time" took me at least two weeks to write, and I work at least 50 hours a week, so that's 100 hours for one poem. That thing beat me up! But my longest poem is "I'm Going to Heal You From Omaha." That took me a month to write -- 200 hours. That was an important poem to me. I wrote it for a loved one dying of cancer. She was worth every hour I put into it.

1/31/2023 12:59:11 pm

That does seem like a lot of time, but the results prove the worth. I imagine the loved one and family appreciated the poem you created.

New question.

Do you have a favorite poem between these two books?

Why is it your favorite?

1/31/2023 01:15:25 pm

My poems are like my children. I don't have a favorite. Each one is special to me: each one was a world I lived in for days and days. Some are so painful I can't read them; others I cried hard over in the composition, trying to get above the emotion in order to craft some lines and finish them. Not one of them was easy. They are all bone chips, the dues one pays at the writing table. On a light-hearted note, I totally dig "I Am Water to You" in A Pocketful of Poems.

1/31/2023 05:56:13 pm

I had a hunch you might say something like that. With the time you put in to craft them it makes sense to me.

New questions.

What other books and genres have you written?

Have you done any public speaking? If so, will you be doing more in the future?

1/31/2023 06:08:58 pm

I've written the only cannabis short-story fiction that exists, actually, My Ganja Tales volume is 23 years old. I'm also finishing up a 2nd volume of short story fiction that has nothing to do with cannabis. I've also written three screenplays I occasionally try and sell. As for public speaking, I was a college English instructor for 20 years, so yes, I've done my share of public speaking in front of thousands of students over the years.

1/31/2023 09:23:48 pm

Screenplays also! Fantastic.

That is public speaking in my book. The most I ever spoke to was close to a thousand.

I had a severe stammer growing up and it really hampered my ability to communicate. My employer paid for a Dale Carnegie course in public speaking, and I learned a good secret. Make sure that you are an expert in whatever topic you choose. Don't try to become an expert in a week or two. When people know that you know what you are talking about, they hang on every word, even with an occasional stammer.

New questions.

Did writing poetry help you to write novels or screenplays?

Have you entered any writing contests?

2/1/2023 09:11:59 am

Poetry is a wonderful device that forces writers to condense and concentrate, which is vital to good writing.. We must remember our ABC's: accuracy, brevity, and clarity. So with poetry we're talking about lessons in brevity. Those are good lessons for me because I am by nature a long writer. Poetry keeps me in a tight ring. Same goes for screenplays. Those things are really hard! Before parting this conversation I must say that both screenplay and poetry teach writers to have a beginning, a middle, and an end; and that your story/poem must wrap up at the finish, i.e. deliver the goods. I've entered screenplay contests but not writing contests..

2/1/2023 10:06:32 am

That is good advice. I like the ABCs you laid out. I have mentioned to many authors that learning to write screenplays would help improve their writing. A screenplay is merely another way to tell a story and each format has its limitations. I have to admit that I didn't see the same value in poetry. Thank you for teaching me about that.

New questions.

Have you won awards of any kind for your screenplays?

I noticed that your books are not in Kindle Unlimited. Is there a reason for that?

2/1/2023 07:50:37 pm

Some minor ones but no big ones. As for Kindle, I simply haven't gotten around to it.

2/1/2023 08:45:48 pm

Something is better than nothing. Congratulations on that.

Some authors make decent money with their books in Kindle Unlimited and some don't. You are likely not going to want to place a book in KU because they require an exclusive listing, the last time I heard. Meaning you can't have the book on any other platform. Plus, the book has to be in an electronic form. I think MOBI is the new requirement, Amazon is getting away from EPUB.

New questions.

Have you ever gone through the query process?

Were you seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers and why did you choose that path?

2/2/2023 08:38:18 am

I spent 2013-20017 writing and pitching three screenplays: a drama and two comedies, and came away with nothing. You can buy 8-minute pitches to movie execs and producers on Stage32.com, and you can pay someone $150 for a half-hour conversation on your screenplay or you can pay them $300 and book an hour-long talk. I probably spent $2,000 or $3,000 there.and ultimately felt like they were just taking my money. Bear in mind the scripts I sent were reviewed by professionals in the industry to whom I paid $150 a pop to read and review. And there were more than a few rejections and rewrites until one person said I'd done it: I'd written a decent screenplay. Sorta. Long story short, screenplay beat me up badly. I started writing poetry in 2017.

2/2/2023 10:34:44 am

That was an expensive journey. Every expert will most likely have a different opinion of what is good and acceptable regardless of the field. That is one of the issues in literature. The longer I am involved in writing and publishing the more I think that if you are widely read in your genre and understand the basic structure of a story you should publish and promote. Keep doing that over multiple volumes and listen to what readers are saying in reviews. You will become someone's favorite author and with a little bit of luck you will become the favorite author of many someones.

This is not to say that you shouldn't use beta readers, editors and proofreaders. You should use every available tool to make the best book, poem, screenplay you can. If it doesn't flow well and read easy, then the readers will be few. It is not easy in any case.

New questions.

In terms of your poetry. Have you ever gone through the query process?

Were you seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers and why did you choose that path?

2/2/2023 10:51:58 am

I have not gone through queries with poetry. I find the research and time involved exhausting. All that energy just takes me away from the writing table. I try and avoid things that do that. I struggle to make myself work like everyone else at times, and it's easy to get distracted, especially today with so much electronica and social media. I don't know how anyone finds the time to read, write, and market themselves and live in the real world simultaneously. Fortunately I have a wife who takes care of real-world things for me. On a closing note, it's hard to sell volumes of poetry when people have stopped reading it long ago. Sigh . . . I am in the wrong age.

2/2/2023 12:12:54 pm

I don't blame you a bit for not wanting to query your poetry after the experience with your screenplays. You have a wonderful wife who is willing to handle a lot of business side of writing. That stuff does take a lot of time and so many authors struggle to balance all of that and a work/family life.

It doesn't surprise me that so many authors want a traditional publishing contract. They think the publisher will take care of them and handle all of the messy stuff like covers and publicity. That might have been the case several decades ago but not anymore. Now, traditional publishers are barely scrapping by. That industry has undergone such a dramatic decrease in the last 20 years that they can no longer afford to take a chance on anything that won't be a hit.

New questions.

Why are your books not available in an electronic format? That seems to be where most of the eyes are these days.

After rejecting traditional publishing, did you consider an independent or hybrid publisher?

Or did you choose self-publishing as the best way and why?

2/2/2023 12:25:59 pm

Electronic formats mangle poetry lines. Can't figure out a way to get around that. As for my Ganja Tales book of short stories, yes, I agree, my wife should get that on electronic format! lol. I like self publishing because it gives me control over my books. For Example, in 2019 I wrote three cannabis stories and added them to my Ganja Tales book, which I published in 2000 with nine stories. So in 2020 I came out with Vol. II of Ganja Tales, featuring a full dozen short stories.

2/2/2023 01:56:54 pm

I did not know that but I am not surprised. The electronic formats are probably optimized for prose. However, someone has figured out how to work around that problem. I have seen books of poetry in an ebook form. Someone knows how. A call to Kindle might be in order. You will probably see more sales if you publish the ebook versions.

New questions.

There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?

2/2/2023 02:05:19 pm

Thank you for the good tip! I honestly don't have thoughts on unethical publishers, but I have read many books many times. Some I never stop reading once every year or five years or decade. Honestly, they range from Steven King's It to The Stand and go to the Christian Bible, and of course, Russians! Some of which I've listed previously. For short stories, Eric Ambler and Dash Hammett, of course for short story, as well as T.C. Boyle. And I've been reading astrology for 50 years now. And I haven't even talked about my favorite poets! I am a book moth, a reading omnivore.

2/2/2023 03:32:28 pm

I hope that works out for you, getting your books into an electronic format. I can't help thinking you might increase your sales.

When I was young, I read many books more than once. But that was due to not having new books to read. Now, there are books I would like to reread but there are too many new books waiting to be read.

I read only science fiction and fantasy for many years. Now, I am reading books in many different genres and loving it. There is good writing in pretty much every genre. I am glad I have spread my wings.

New questions.

Did you have a favorite book as a child?

If you could ask every person, who has read one of your books, only one question what would you ask them?

2/2/2023 04:47:10 pm

I read everything as a child. No favorites. I was an air base kid, so I spent a lot of solo time at base libraries in various places. I read some great kid books -- Buffalo Bill, Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickock. Western stuff. American history. Robert E. Howard came out with the Conan books in the '30s and 40's, and I read all of those in the '60s. I read all the James Bond books when they came out in the '60s. And I've always read military history, war history, and biographies of generals. And I know everything there is to know (ha!) about Nazi Germany, more than I should. Whether fiction or poetry, the one question I would ask readers is "Which story/poem moved you the most on the emotional scale?"

2/2/2023 05:53:00 pm

Growing up on a small, non-working farm left me with lots of time to read also. I read everything in the house including the magazines that my parents subscribed to. We have read some similar books, I have no doubt.

That is a good question.

New questions.

How do you handle bad reviews?

Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

2/2/2023 06:07:04 pm

Well really. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all! lol. Plus, for everyone who may give you a bad review, plenty others say they love the way you see things. There's always someone in the room who's not buying what you're selling. You press on anyway. Can't let them stop you and your purpose. Perhaps they're jealous. Who knows? You can't drink their poison. That just makes them happy. Stay positive. Work hard. Good question about writing. It both heals me and beats me up. I wish I could let some of my things go. I thought writing them down, like in a poem, would do that -- be the equivalent of writing down your feelings then burning the paper and you expunge them. No, I don't think it works for me like that at all. You have to be a Phoenix to write. You flare up each day in a new emotion, which kills you, and you die, and at night you re-energize, waking up fresh in the morning, thinking of new stories to tell.

2/3/2023 08:09:37 am

I like your attitude about bad reviews. There are people out there who get their kicks getting other people riled up with their putdowns and insults. So many authors perseverate over the bad reviews. If there is a grain of truth in a bad review examine the grain carefully and forget the rest. I have told many authors that a bad review validates the good reviews. The bad review proves the good ones are not all coming from your mom and your siblings. Throw a party to a bad review.

With all of the time you put in on your writing that makes sense. I love the image of the phoenix. Renewal when sleeping is perfect.

New questions.

Why is it important for poets to tap into their emotions?

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo, National November Writing Month?

2/3/2023 09:37:27 am

All people experience life through a multiplicity of emotions. When we read about other people loving, suffering, hurting, or feeling joyous -- any of the human emotions -- this validates our experience. So now we get into the job of the poet, which is to work the emotional field without being maudlin, sentimental or cliche-ish; by stating the same old emotions with the same old words but somehow being original about it. That's tough work. Say something original about love. Right. It's been done. So good luck if you go there. On a final note, I would say get out of the first person POV. I can't stand reading about someone's broken heart. You have to make your poetry more universal and less personal. This is how you connect with readers. I haven't done the writing month. I've written for so many years for so many people that I am reluctant nowadays to put myself under some type of writing stress. When I was the city hall reporter for the Longview, Texas, News-Journal, I had to have one story written before I went to lunch and another one done before I went home that night, five days a week, plus a Saturday feature. That got old in a hurry, not being able to polish anything. But sort of exciting -- train wrecks, oil well blowouts, tornadoes, car wrecks. cops, fire dept., mayor's office, etc.

2/3/2023 11:33:22 am

We are emotional creatures whether we admit it or not. Emotions form the foundation and lens through which we observe and participate in the great adventure called life. A poet has a tough job! Searching for a universal way to convey something very old is much harder than I ever thought about.

You did learn to write fast in the newspaper business. That reminds me of one of my first real jobs as a printer's devil at our small-town newspaper. The editor asked me to write articles about the high school sports and take a polaroid or two. I recall that he didn't seem too happy with my writing. I was not a sports fan. He moved me on to another job pretty quick.

New questions.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?

When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

2/3/2023 02:04:32 pm

I overwrite. And whether poetry or fiction, I usually need five drafts to be done. My first draft is a lot of wet paint.

2/3/2023 03:43:15 pm

Paint always goes on wet or it stays in the can. The first draft has only one reason to exist, and that is to get the story or poem out of your head. No one can edit a blank page. Over writing or under writing, it doesn't matter as long as it is written down.

New questions.

Which is more important to a story pace or flow?

How do you control it?

2/3/2023 03:46:29 pm

I would say one is the other. If you're pacing a story out right, it's flowing. Like playing music in key. I would also think of it as pace dancing with flow. They go very well together.

2/3/2023 05:33:41 pm

That might be the shortest answer to that question in well over 150 interviews. Yes, it is a bit of a trick question but some think of them separately. So I ask.

New questions.

What do you do to launch a new book when it is first published?

Have you ever participated in a book blog tour, why or why not?

2/3/2023 06:21:39 pm

For a new book, I just post it to my social media. That doesn't do much good, but I do it anyway. I don't know what a book blog tour is.

2/3/2023 08:02:33 pm

With around a million books being published every year it is very hard to get a book noticed. Book promotion and marketing needs to be done consistently and regularly. It is not a set-it-and-forget-it proposition.
One of my favorite blogs is about pursuing the local author angle. How to be a marketing star right where you live. Another copy-and-paste link or search the title in the box below: https://annerallen.com/2019/08/hometown-book-marketing/

I would add a few tips, seek out literature teachers at the high school and college level to share in their class and there might be a club in the school. Local newspapers are a good resource for an interview as well as local cable access. There might also be a broadcast arts curriculum and/or a club at the high school and college level. Have some questions ready to hand the interviewer if they seem uncertain.

If there are tourist destinations try and place your books with the local author angle. Museums, gift stores, motels, hotels, tourist attractions are all possibilities. Keep a box of books in your trunk. Get a counter-top holder for a few books, paste a picture of the cover on the holder behind the books and put re-ordering information on the back of the holder.

Consider renting a table at a comic convention, county fair, farmer's market or a flea market. Have free swag to hand out such as a bookmark and sell mugs or posters. There are so many ways to be the 'local author' I doubt I have exhausted the list of possibilities.

Here is another copy-and-paste link about book blog tours:
Do This, Not That – Blog Tours https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/06/do-this-not-that-blog-tours or hit the search box below.

New questions.

What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for this book?

Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

2/4/2023 09:40:32 am

I just do the social media stuff: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. I picked you for marketing help because I've watched you grow your business over the years and know you to be a real wordsmith kind of guy. So in my view, you have good credibility. Thanks!

2/4/2023 10:56:46 am

Thank you, William. I didn't know you were watching. There were times when I didn't think anyone was watching. I persevered and kept doing what I thought I should. It's the same with marketing and selling books. I tell writers that marketing and selling is far more like an ultra-marathon than a sprint.

There are a lot more blogs on that topic than I have referred you to. If you put those terms in the search block below you will find many of what I think is the cream of the crop.

New questions.

What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

2/4/2023 11:29:34 am

Great question! I hope my poems take readers to a special place where they feel all the joys and sorrows life can bring, yet still find ways to love and endure. Put another way, I hope readers find my poems to be the honey on the thorn of life. For publishing, I use Word converted to PDF and sent to IngramSpark

2/4/2023 12:28:48 pm

Thank you. I appreciate that.

I love how you worded that. Succinct and meaningful. One sentence!

Almost everyone uses MS Word. It has such a large installed user base. Many other programs will convert to it also. It is very powerful and I use the "comment" feature extensively in my proofreading. I don't like to change the words of an author.

New questions.

Is it hard to decide which order to place your poems in a book?

Is it difficult to decide whether poems should go in a book or be saved for another book?

2/4/2023 02:28:18 pm

It's just plain awful. You can't control which poems you write and which ones you don't. You get an idea, you work it into a poem, you move on. So after a number of months you have a lot of different poems about a lot of different subjects. How to categorize them? What I did with my first volume, Pocketful of Poems, was to realize I had about seven poems on coffee, seven on cats and about twenty-five on poets. Then I had that many more poems on love and being married. So those were my four categories. The second volume, Poems for Pickin', was a little trickier. The first two poems fit the cover theme of apples. Those are followed by a dozen poems on my neighborhood. Then I get into what you could call life issues: addiction, overeating, regrets at love, a poem told from a scorpion's viewpoint. Craziness. I end up with war and guns and January 6 and dictators who kill poets. Dark shadows at the end. I even wrote my epitaph in the last poem: "I leave this earth, this vale of tears, to join to the gods among the stars." I have another 60 poems keyed up for a third volume. Half are done and half are works in progress. I've been in short story the past year, coming out with a second volume of fiction this spring.

2/4/2023 04:14:03 pm

To paraphrase a poet I know, "that sounds awful!" That sounds like what some pantsters say about writing their novels, they want to see how the story ends. At least it's not boring. I am reminded of the old Chinese curse, may you live in interesting times. We certainly do.

New questions about your fiction.

Are you a plotter, a pantster, or a hybrid?

How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your fiction books?

2/4/2023 05:24:43 pm

I was somewhat of a plotter before I met screenplay, but afterwards I became a stringent plotter. Maybe with a little bit of hybrid:) But plotting is screenplay's great gift if you take the time to learn it, rewrite through rewrite! As for keeping track of characters, that's easy enough to do in short story. I write a novel 20 years ago and spent a year trying to sell it and couldn't. I've no desire to return to the form. I'd be happy just to sell a screenplay.

2/4/2023 07:13:33 pm

If I was a writer, I would be a plotter also. It fits my temperament. I might also invest in Scrivner, It is writing software that works with Word and allows for plotting out a story in as much detail as needed. I have heard it has a steep learning curve but those that master it love the program.

Perhaps you should dust off that novel and try to self-publish it.

New questions.

Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog in the beginning, perhaps with sticky notes or note cards?

2/4/2023 07:37:00 pm

That interesting about Scrivner. Somewhat in short story but more so in poetry, which frequently surprises me, especially endings, which I don't always see coming. "I Am Water To You" is a good example. It's a lofty, metaphysical love poem about a man being water to a woman, i.e. necessary to her survival, and in the end he's water gushing out of the faucet as she takes a bath. No way I planned that. It just happened. But it was funny, so I kept it. Very surprising. I have a notebook and my trusty black Cross ballpoint pen for most all initial work. I still enjoy the tactile aspects of writing, the feel of ink on paper as my pen glides across, guided by my racing mind. It's a fun game when it works:) Alas, my mind doesn't always race -- sometimes it just slogs along:)

2/5/2023 12:30:57 pm

I am somewhat surprised that you experience unknown parts of your poem, as you write them. And after thinking about it, it does make sense to me. Because the poem is merely another form of a story. And I think it’s the best stories that surprise us sometimes.

I agree with you about the tactile sensation of writing. It can be quite lovely and becomes a part of the process. In my early life, I experimented with fountain pens and cartridge pens, and when I was a drafter for a firm of engineers, I had to hand print very carefully on the blueprints, so that every note was very legible. It all looked the same. This was in the early seventies before AutoCAD and computers.

New questions.

Do you have a defined space for writing at home, or do you prefer to write in a coffee-shop?

Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

2/5/2023 01:08:52 pm

I wish I had a defined space at home but as is we live in a bedroom upstairs and a kitchen/living room downstairs. I don't even have a door to close. It's madness. Yet I persevere. I could never write at a coffee shop. Writing for me is a solo journey, deep immersion into the world of storytelling. I don't listen to music. I shut out everything. And then I cast my creative net. Sight for sure is easiest to write. Just describe what's going on in front of you for the viewer. Taste is rough if you're not writing about food; touch can be hard also. Smell's pretty easy. To circle back on the unknown parts of a poem conversation, Carl Sandburg said "No surprise to the poet, no surprise to the reader." He speaks there of surrendering to the direction or flow or feel or current that the poem is pulling you in, almost like it's helping you create part of itself, if that makes sense. We're talking intuition at this point, wispy clouds and cotton candy. And you try and make something solid from it, something with form and shape and substance and beauty.

2/5/2023 02:41:40 pm

I understand, my small desk sits in a corner of our living room area in our one-bedroom apartment. I am about 5 feet from my wife as she watches TV or does needlecraft. The TV is behind me. We are alike in that we both have much to concentrate against as we work our craft.

Most authors give me a similar answer about the senses.

I like Carl's perspective. It makes sense to me. Many authors personify the direction or unknown flow as the muse. Some mention hearing from their muse regularly.

New questions.

Do you hear from the muse on a regular basis or are you two barely speaking?

Is there a certain time or place that you are most likely to hear from your muse?

2/5/2023 03:03:50 pm

I almost always hear from the muse in the morning during my morning routine where I combine prayer, yoga, and working out. I never pray without a flashlight, note pad and pen on the floor beside me. Most mornings I get two or three poetry ideas. Sometimes I get story ideas, but usually they're poems. Just pieces. Never anything whole. Maybe just a title. Then I have to figure out if it can be a complete poem.

2/5/2023 04:56:02 pm

Brilliant. Being prepared saves a lot of grief. One author told me that she heard from her muse almost every night about 2:30 am. She had a pad and a pen on her nightstand. Sometimes she could even read her early-morning scribbles. Another author lamented that her muse invariably showed up when she was in the shower and more often than not the idea would evaporate before she could get out of the shower to write it down. I suggested she get a pad of waterproof paper and a Fisher Space pen because the pen can write underwater. She was pleased with the results.

You are quite the writer then, working only from a concept or title sometimes. No wonder you work so hard to develop each idea!

New questions.

You mentioned earlier that you were familiar with screenwriting. Has that experience helped you in writing your books?

Have you ever participated in theater in any other way?

2/5/2023 05:17:38 pm

Screenwriting is such a great teacher because you learn dramatic structure. I wish I had picked up screenplay much earlier in life, but I was in corporate and daily journalism because the kids needed shoes! I had to earn a living, not dream of being a movie writer. Besides, I liked print. I always would choose a book over a movie or TV. Interesting theater question. No, I haven't, although as a Leo I'm supposed to be dramatic. Again, being a creative type, I would rather create the character and put lines in their mouths, not be the actor portraying them. What fun is it being someone else?

2/5/2023 06:54:57 pm

Earning a living trumps dreams, so many times. I have had the same experience. First working nearly 20 years in retail, then another 20 years in construction as a sheet metal worker and an HVAV technician. I was quite good as a tinner, not nearly as good as a tech.

I have made the same choice many times, a book instead of a movie. I do that a lot now.

I don't know much about Leos or actors, but there are a lot of people who want to be famous for something.

New questions.

Do you think you will write anymore screenplays?

Is there a genre of book or screenplay you would like to write if you knew you couldn't fail?

2/5/2023 07:17:05 pm

Yes, I've long had Act I done on a Crazy Horse screenplay, a guy I studied extensively. And I have an Act I on a story about a wrongfully disgraced, alcoholic homeless cop who saves herself. Plus, I want to write something set in the land of the pharaohs, something ancient Egyptian, with lots of color. That sounds really nice. The trouble with Crazy Horse and the Egyptian movie is they'd be too expensive to shoot, so you have to find a way to write them cheap. I hate that. Big movie, small set. No fun. Limited expression. Understandable. The damn things cost so much to make. Big gamble. No guarantees. I am happy writing what I feel I can. I'm not a science fiction or fantasy guy. Head not screwed on that way. I always feel like I will succeed at whatever I write. I just stay at it.

2/6/2023 07:58:49 am

Maybe writing the novel to go with the screenplay will be useful. At least you will have something you can point to and say I wrote that. it could help bring attention to the screenplay also.

You are right, they are big gambles.

Some authors feel locked into one genre, while others write all over the map. I congratulate you on being one of the latter.

New questions.

What kind of marketing are you planning on doing for your books next?

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?

2/6/2023 08:27:50 am

I'm hoping to land an agent or manager for my second volume of fiction I'll have done sometime this spring. At that point in time I'll have two volumes of fiction and two volumes of poetry, as well as three screenplays. And when I get done with my short stories in a few months, I've got to pivot back to poetry and spend nine months getting another volume out. Half the poems for that are already written, some others half-written. So I hope to be lucrative bait for an agent, i.e., a working writing in his prime with mastery over a number of genres. Did I always do creative writing even as a kid? Poetry.

2/6/2023 11:04:25 am

I hope those plans work out for you. Getting an agent or a traditional publishing contract is so hard these days. If you are one of the lucky ones don't expect a big advance, those have shrunk dramatically just like their profit margins. For many authors, it seems to take a year or more to get an agent or a contract, then it might be another year before your book is actually published. Every publisher has an idea of how they can make the most money from your book. They might want it rewritten or a new cover or just wait for what they deem to be the right moment.

You will need to be careful when querying, too. Use a query tracking app, and watch out for bogus agents, they are plentiful. Hit the search box below and search for scam and agent. Lots of good information.

I love your poetry production.

Last questions.

A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.

Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

If you do, how did you find them?

2/6/2023 11:18:24 am

I actually don't have any readers. I got in the business in 1975 when I was assigned as editor of the 6940th Security Wing base newspaper in San Angelo, Texas, Goodfellow AFB. I've been editing, writing, or teaching writing ever since. That's 48 years. That said, my wife reads my stuff and is an excellent editor. P.S. You were able to catch a few things that really surprised me! So I'm not perfect. I should also say I like the pressure of relying on myself, of operating without a backup. That's how it was in daily journalism -- you better know what you're doing because the boss is waiting on your story:)

2/6/2023 11:57:01 am

You might be the only writer I have chatted with who doesn't have beta readers. I am not certain. With your wife at your side you have done pretty well.

Yes, I am very good at finding the spelling errors. It seems that my brain is wired differently. It is also due in part to reading something for the first time. Our brain picks up on the errors the first time through for most people.

I want to thank you for being a fabulous guest. I have enjoyed getting to know about your writing and publishing journey. I have another promotion starting tomorrow so I must bring this one to a close. Thanks again for spending time with me on the Word Refiner channel.

Until next time, keep on writing.

2/6/2023 12:08:27 pm

It's been truly enjoyable talking with a fellow wordsmith and print geek. You ask the best questions, and I have tried to answer them as thoroughly as possible, learning something about myself in the process. Sincerely, Craig.

“A Pocketful of Poems” and “Poems for Pickin’” by Craig Pugh

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