The Raven

I suppose it never has come up in our conversations!
I haven't seen the movie, no. My dad and I were going to watch it together, but didn't get the chance!
Thanks for the comment, Nathan :).

Well besides some of the violence, it is true to Edgar Allen Poe's poem. John Cusack is superb. And no problem

We actually read Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" last year in English class. I do enjoy his work!
Also, I'll be posting a few more poems later today, if you're interested. I have quite a few written, so it's just a matter of picking and choosing....
Thank you for your comment :).

Thanks, I will look for more. I'm trying to post more stuff today, but am having trouble with my PC. One of my favorites from Poe is the "Tell-tale Heart". That one made me claustrophobic. :)

I'll keep an eye out as well, then! I hope you work out the problems... Technology. It's such a curse at times!
I like that one too! :) Of his poems, I haven't found many that I HAVEN'T liked, though! His writing style... I don't know, there's just something about it that I really enjoy.

Poe's writing came from a dark place. He had his share of failure and self-image issues and dealt with the grip of addiction. His genius was in translating his somber moods and disturbed thoughts into imaginative stories and imagery. I like him very much. Keep writing. Stephen King, another genius story-teller wrote stories as a kid and through 10 years of teaching HS English. He submitted stories for publication for many years and was constantly rejected. His family lived in a single-wide trailer and was quite poor. He was on the verge of giving it all up when a publisher read his story, "Carrie". With that story, which had been rejected by others, he was propelled to literary stardom and finally able to earn a livelihood as a writer. You're off to a good start! Persevere.

I know of Poe's background. I think that's the reason why I admire him so much... I can relate to him. Stephen King though, I didn't know all that about him! I read his books all the time. His writing style is rather unique as well as Poe's.... Both are two men I look up to when it comes to writing. Also, King's book, "Carrie," is one I've been wanting to read for quite some time! Especially now that it's being remade again into a movie, coming out very soon, actually!
Again, thank you so much for the encouragement! :)

I saw Stephen Kings story on the Biography channel. You should be able to get that DVD through your library. Same for Poe, I'm sure. What I like about Stephen King is the range of imagination that he applies to his stories. "Carrie" is about a girl with the supernatural power to exact revenge upon her tormentors. "Misery" is about a crazy and loveless woman who "keeps" the male object of her desire. "Cujo" is about a scary huge dog and "Christine" about a scary car on autopilot. He has the ability to take the everyday people and things around us and inject them with terror. That's imaginative!

It definitely is imaginative! And not only does he inject "everyday people and things" with terror, but he also adds in love, laughter, and a variety of other aspects to his stories that truly make his work inimitable.

I agree. I think that's an impirtant part if story telling in horror. You have to humanize your characters to build empathy for them from your reader. That increases the reader's anxiety and tension when they are endangered or their shock when they turn evil. And humor is necessary to draw the reader in, setting him up for the unexpected and scary. Humor also serves to ease the tension enough to allow the reader to breathe easy again, enjoying a needed break, before he is jacked out of his seat again.

Ever tried your hand at writing stories? You seem to understand the concept very well. You know the essential parts and such, I think you'd do well, as long as you've got a good plot!

Yes, I am an aspiring writer. I've posted some stories and poems to my profile. Some are erotic. The stories have a measure of truth in them, but much of the substance is fantasy. Erotica is easier to write about because it illicits emotions that are common to us all. But I write about everything to include commentary on geo-political affairs. I'm a retired Army Infantry officer so I care a lot about the world around us. Im hoping to use some of my GI Bill to pay for some writing classes and workshops.

That's an excellent thing to pursue in retirement, in my opinion :). And I'm sure you have many experiences that you could turn into a wonderful story! And I would love to read some of your work, but I'm unable to view your profile, sadly.

I have no idea how the censorship works. Not all of my stuff is mature content. For instance, I posted a poem called, "My Sleepy Baby". That's pretty tame. Anyway, I'll check your other poems. Have you written stories, also?

I have no idea either.... It's quite confusing!
Yes, I have written stories... or tried to. I get a few pages/chapters into one, then lose all commitment to it, or all my ideas for it, and move onto another. Very short stories though, as in a few pages long, I have a few of.

Well, there's nothing wrong with that habit. I have a spiral notebook full of poems and story ideas. The majority are unfinished works in progress that I periodically revisit. Same thing on my computer in a writing file. I don't want to post anything that's half-*** just for the sake of getting something online. I take my time to get it to my satisfaction, scrutinizing every word, sentence or stanza. Even despite that effort at quality control, I still edit. I posted a poem last night, and after I saw the first comment to it from a very bright friend, I took it down to rework it because my intent wasn't coming through clearly. When I re-post it, I will be happier with it. The thing about writing is it is at its base level, communicating. And if you as an author are not successful in getting your message across, then you have failed as a communicator. That's also why its important to have a good vocabulary. Word power is crucial when writing, and even moreso when writing poetry. You have to be able to express the same things, love for instance, in so many different ways. Otherwise, you'll bore your reader, and yourself, as one thing sounds like another.
As for posting stories, begin with a personal anecdote, which is easy to write and familiar subject matter, and limit it to just one page. Same thing with fiction. Challenge yourself to write something short. Many jokes are like that. The writer creates a setting, defines the central characters, details the exchange between them, and closes with a punchline. As you become more comfortable, you'll be able to expand the length of your stories. Have you posted any stories to EP, yet?

That was all wonderful advice, I thank you for it! I often take things down and re-edit them as well.... Sometimes, without the comments of others. I simply go back after a week or so, re-read, and don't like it anymore.
That truly is what writing is, communicating. Whether it's facts, fiction, educational, whatever it may be, writing is simply about getting the information out to the audience. It can be hard to portray it the way you want it, but I think that's better sometimes.... Having something where the reader can relate to it in their own way, and take what they want from it can sometimes be a good thing. Not always though. And yes, wording is very crucial indeed!
I have no posted any stories on EP yet. I may or may not in the near future. I'm never satisfied with any... The only story I have ever posted online went on a different site, and got some pretty good feedback. I've been thinking of transferring it to here....

You should do that, cut and paste. Just make sure there were no restrictions that you agreed to when you joined there. Some sites insist that all stories submitted become their sole property. If that's not the case there, then post it here, also. Don't worry about any anxiety. Get used to criticism. Besides, its bound to be more good than not after the reception you got on that other site. I'll watch for it. I really enjoyed talking to you today. You're a very talented and articulate girl with a bright future. And I appreciate all your positive and encouraging comments. :)

Glad you liked it!