A Review: And it All Came Tumbling Down
review by Patricia Thrushart Most people in the United States, when they think of the nation’s oil and gas industry, immediately picture the refineries outside of Houston, Texas, or the…
Should You Strive To Be A “Prolific” Writer?
by writer Patricia Thrushart The words ‘prolific’ and ‘writer’ are used together as often as ‘rough’ and ‘draft' or ‘copy’ and ‘editor.’ The assumption is that writing a lot is…
Three Challenges of a Book Project in Particular
by Jo Scheier Bugay All writing shares certain inalienable challenges. Regardless of our chosen genre, who among us hasn’t struggled with writer’s block, imposter syndrome, rejection woes, or an existential…
Local NW PA Literary Publications
Writers in the Northwestern Pennsylvania area are very fortunate to have three literary Journals interested in local voices. This fact is astonishing— how many regions can boast of having such a treasure-trove of publications that prefer the work of the area’s writers? While they each have different missions, they share a focus on our region and our storytellers.
When A Poet Goes Long
Switching genres may make one a better writer— eventually— but it can play havoc with one’s confidence. There are many times I sit back and ask myself what I’m doing. Is this project worth the time and effort? Is it meaningful? It’s one thing when a single poem goes nowhere, but two years of work? That’s quite an investment to ultimately see fall flat.
Local Writer’s Groups
With these three active and dedicated groups, the writers of Northwestern Pennsylvania enjoy a myriad of opportunities to share their work and get feedback, perform their pieces and grow in their craft and creativity. No wonder the area’s water tastes so delicious!
Elements of Poetry
We ended the workshop with examples of these techniques by poets such as Robert Frost, Robert Burns, Elizabeth Bishop, Mary Oliver, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and others. For me as the presenter, the discussion reinvigorated my awareness of these tools and the power they give the poet to touch the reader at a fundamental, emotional level.
The Poet Policeman
As if being a veteran, a boxing coach, a philanthropist and a narcotics detective weren’t enough, Jimmy Cvetic published four books containing his hard-hitting, humorous and street-wise poems. His style has been likened to that of Charles Bukowski, an acknowledged influence. Stories from his Catholic childhood in Garfield in the early 1950s, his observations of human nature, and his experiences in the military and in law enforcement dominate his writing.
Ralph’s True Stories
This feeling only grew when I bought a used copy of Ralph’s book – an autographed copy, it turned out— and began reading. Ralph’s True Stories is a lovely compilation of articles that reminisce about a life lived fully, mixed in with folksy observations and no small amount of humor. Even more wonderfully, these vignettes are accompanied by photographs infused with the vintage charm of old-fashioned cars, clothing and past traditions. There’s Ralph in a gaggle of school boys in front of the old school house, 1930. There he is in a bobsled pulled by the family’s horses, 1931. He and his wife as a young couple, 1948. His mom holding their first-born in front of the chicken coop, 1950. The 300+ page book had one homey, sweet, candid photograph after another.