Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Posted on January 31, 2019 by Colleen M. Chesebro
Hello everyone! This week I’m thrilled to bring you an author I met through my participation in the flash fiction challenges at the Carrot Ranch Literary Community (carrotranch.com). Her name is D. Avery, and I just call her D. because I think it suits her.
When I asked D. to pick three or four questions from my huge list HERE she was ready to jump into the world of becoming a published author, once again. We all aspire to be successful authors and the best way to learn some of the tricks of the trade is to ask questions. I knew D. would share her experiences.
First, please meet my guest, D. Avery.
D. Avery (196?-20??) has long been a compulsive poet. Despite a very important day job educating public school children, she is often distracted by this compulsion, as well as by life’s great questions, such as “Kayak, or bike?” Though she has come to realize that nothing difficult is ever easy, she believes that it’s all good.
Amazon Author Page
Hi, Colleen. Thanks so much for this interview. I’m really looking forward to our chat.
I would never do that! But I have noticed that beer and bars show up in a few of my short stories and even in some of the “ChickenShift” poems. Bars are more than a place to indulge a habit; there is usually a cast of characters there and some good storytelling going on.
If anything, I need to be careful that my characters don’t project onto me. Marge and Ernest are not based on anyone in particular but they, like me, enjoy beer, though we do not enjoy the same kinds of beer. However, I have found myself lately having a beer with my husband, us sitting in camp chairs in the garage as those two are often found doing. Hmm…
The hardest thing about writing is publishing, and yet, I always do so too impulsively. Formatting was a nightmare; I am not good with computers anyway so there was a lot of frustration and time-sucking mistakes and inefficiencies.
And, I learned a lot. I probably should have paid an expert but then I wouldn’t have learned anything. I did pay for the cover and I love it.
The other great difficulty with publishing, besides formatting the book, is putting myself out there. I want people to read my work and hope they appreciate it, even as I desire privacy and quiet. I have yet to come up with a decent explanation for going through with actually publishing. I am pretty sure it’s not for the money.
I should probably let everything stew longer, but-squirrel! (Or was it a dust bunny, forgotten and neglected?)
I have only three books, two books of poetry and now a collection of flash and short fiction. “After Ever” is largely comprised of fairly recent flash fiction pieces, but there are some other short stories in it that began years and years ago.
Writing flash fiction helped me build skills for revising those older, longer pieces. I am learning that what I might think of as finished and pretty good really isn’t.
When writing for a prompt just having come up with an idea and making a deadline is sometimes so satisfying that it blinds me to the fact that it was rushed and is still a raw and flawed piece.
I’m slowly learning that maybe all of my writing needs to have some time out before I have the right eyes for it. If I ever stop chasing squirrels I might have a better routine for writing and revising and considering the difference between a product and a process.
Thanks, Colleen. I had a great time.
Blog: https://shiftnshake.wordpress.com/my-books/
Twitter: ShiftnShake @daveryshiftn
Category: author interviewsTags: After Ever, author interviews, Author Interviews, Chicken Shift, D. Avery, flash fiction, Poerty, trials and tribulations of self publishing
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“A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone’s knowledge of himself and the world around him.”
—Dylan Thomas
Click: What is a Rhyme Scheme?
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Colleen M. Chesebro is an American Poet who loves crafting paranormal fantasy and magical realism, cross-genre flash fiction, syllabic poetry, and creative nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly syllabic poetry challenge, called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of haiku, senryu, haiga, tanka, gogyohka, tanka prose, renga, solo-renga, haibun, cinquain, Etheree, nonet, and shadorma poetry. Colleen's syllabic poetry has appeared in the Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal, and in “Hedgerow, a journal of small poems.” She’s won numerous awards from participating in the Carrot Ranch Rodeo, a yearly flash fiction contest sponsored by carrotranch.com. In 2020, she won first place in the Carrot Ranch Folk Tale or Fable category, with her story called “Why Wolf Howls at the Moon.” Colleen is a Sister of the Fey, where she pursues a pagan path through her writing. When she is not writing, she is reading. She also loves gardening and crocheting old-fashioned doilies into works of art.
Delightful little talk girls.Thank you Colleen for this chance to get to know D. a little better, And D. See you on your Six!!
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Thanks! And did I see you at the Ranch too? Write on!
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You did this was my first week there.. fun traveling in the same circles….
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I have learned a tremendous amount at Carrot Ranch. I can’t seem to be as quick with a poem as a flash, but I have enjoyed intermittent participation here for Colleen’s poetry challenge too. Great place to learn forms.
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I just love to write, any genre any amount of words. I love it. So nice to know we run in some of the same circles…
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Lovely interview with D!
I get that whole not publishing for the money, especially for my poetry book.
I did that all myself too apart from the cover!
But deep down we all want out words read, don’t we!?
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Well said, Ritu. ❤
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Thanks Ritu.
To be clear, I would accept money, wouldn’t mind at all sales were…
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😂 No, I totally know what you mean. The money would be a much appreciated bonus!
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Hi D! Lovely to learn more about you. I love the title of your book, “After Ever”! 😊 Great interview, ladies ❤️
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Hi, Dorinda. Thanks for popping in. I’ve got D’s book on my list! ❤
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Sounds like a plan to me! ❤
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Thanks Dorinda. This was a lot of fun.
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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A wonderful interview. Love your sense of humor, D. All the best.
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Hugs for popping in, Darlene. I love D’s sense of humor too. ❤
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Thanks. My humor has gotten me into trouble in about an equal amount to the times it has gotten me out of trouble. But I seriously appreciate you coming by for this interview.
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thanks for sharing, Jaye. I know D. will appreciate it. ❤
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Really enjoyed January’s photo prompt. Can’t wait to see what’s coming next!
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I know… Tomorrow’s the day. 😀
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I hear it will be really different?
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Thank you very much. I do appreciate the reblog.
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Great to meet D. and I know where she’s coming from. Thanks, Colleen.
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You’re welcome, Olga. She’s a fabulous flash fiction writer. ❤
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Thank you Olga. Your comment is comforting. Um, would you happen to know where I’m going?
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Nice to learn more about D Avery. An interesting post.
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D. sounds fun! I always get a chuckle from her flash fiction. It’s a real gift to be able to write with humor. ❤
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(sounds fun? weren’t you there, interviewing me? we did have fun- still are)
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You sound fun! Wait until you read my other comment about my crazy dream. LOL!
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Hello Robbie. This was a fun interview. I am so glad you enjoyed it too.
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Leaving things in the fermenter for a few weeks is so important. Lovely to meet you and I wish you all the best.
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Hi, Craig. The fermenter… hmmm, sounds like a cool name for a horror story!
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Ha! Could be. I picked up that word from making sourdough bread. It reflects the time involved to get it right.
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Ah, yes… my hubby’s favorite. 😀
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OMG! I recently started working with sourdough. I even posted about it. Do you talk to your starter?
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I talk to everything D. I need to get a starter going again. My hubs would love that!
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No, but I’m always willing to listen to her. Tutuba is about 30 years old now, and makes great bread.
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How cool! You have to get a starter from someone don’t you? I’ll have to look that up. ❤
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No, just a rumor. I started mine from scratch, rejuvenated it once with some brown ale yeast and Champaign yeast. It’s a deep topic, but eventually it all converts over to the wild yeast in your area.
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Hmmm… I need a gluten free version! I’ll investigate this. ❤
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Don’t know anything about that, sorry.
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Not sure if I am replying in the right spot but how cool is Tutuba?! My starter is from a friend and is only a couple years old or maybe older, the friend is older and can’t remember. I also want to start my own strain without yeast just for fun. Yes, I am already finding that you must listen to the starter. It’s a character who has their own ideas of where they’re headed. Sourdough johnny cake? Ok. I’ll try it.
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It’s almost a lifetime journey. Enjoy the trip. I think I’ll bake this weekend.
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I know I’ll be baking. It told me so.
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https://shiftnshake.wordpress.com/2019/01/19/am-i-blogging-now-wonder-bread/
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You are right. I’m a slow learner though.
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Great conversation Colleen and D…. thanks xxx♥
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Hugs, Sally! ❤
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Hi! Thank you!
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Enjoyed the fun interview, D. Great seeing you on Colleen’s wonderful blog ❤
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Thanks, Jacquie. She’s really a gem and a fab writer. ❤
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It is a wonderful blog and a real treat to be here. Thank you for your kind comments.
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A lovely interview, D and Colleen. I always enjoyed your flash fiction, D. Thank you for being helpful when I had questions, you jumped in to answer before Charli read my questions. Nice to get to know you a little bit more.
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Thank you, you’re very kind. I’ve enjoyed your writing too and wish you success with your recent publication.
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Thank you so much, D. We keep each other company.
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Yep!
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❤ ❤
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Where have you been Miriam? I miss you! ❤
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I just came back from our Hong Kong/Japan trip. It took me 4 days to get over the jet lag. We went to Hong Kong for my nephew’s wedding. The unexpected passing of my sister was overwhelming to me. I’m still processing it.
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2019/01/29/january-24-flash-fiction-challenge-shes-made-whole-again/
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Oh, no, Miriam! I’m so very sorry. Hugs and love to you. ❤️
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Thank you, Colleen. She left not too early, not too late, just in time to have all the family there to say goodbye to her. ❤
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It’s all so hard. I lost a sister I never knew well when she was 55 and I was in my late 30’s. Surprisingly, I’ve felt her presence when I really needed her many years later. Sister love is always there. ❤️❤️❤️
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It’s so true, that blood connection. I’m glad you felt her presence. It’s surprising, isn’t it? I have many sisters. No matter how many years not seeing each other, when we do, it’s like we just saw each other yesterday. I made that connection with Yolanda on the same day I arrived Hong Kong. ❤ ❤
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That’s amazing. ❤️
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Sometimes it’s also true with your best friends or people we’re close to. ❤
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Now that I’ve experienced. ❤
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It’s a wonderful, supernatural experience you have!! ❤
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You just have to be awake to the possibilities. ❤
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Yes, that’s how we know that it’s real and never forget that. ❤
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Yes, ma’am. I promise. ❤
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❤ ❤ ❤
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I requested to switch back to the classic editor for WordPress. The agent showed me how to use old or new editor for different posts.
I then went on my trip. When I came back, my blog is now switched to the classic editor. I’ll leave it like that for a while. ❤ ❤
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LOL! I’ve been using the new editor. It has issues but I don’t mind it. ❤️
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I had been using it also. Now I have an option to go back and forth. ❤
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Thank you Colleen, for the interview and the airtime. What fun! You have a vibrant blog and a wonderful group here. Thank you all for checking this interview out.
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You are so welcome. So… I had this strange dream the other night. You, me, and Charli Mills and many others from Carrot Ranch all bought a Burger King… I have no idea what lunacy brews in my brain. What a hoot! ❤
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I am speechless.
What do you suppose was being represented for you? The burger, or the king? Or a branded franchise? Was Anne Godwin there?
We good transform the franchise; from fast food to flash fiction- special orders, write on time.
Charli?
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LOL!! I think it was the kinship! But, burgers? I don’t even eat fast food. It’s the retreat, I think. A really funny flash should come out of this! 🤣🤣🤣
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Ever notice that people who say they are speechless are liars?
Are you retreating with us? Coming east to my wee green mountains?
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I wish! LOL! I’m holding out for a Charli retreat in Colorado next year. Fingers crossed! ❤️
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Reblogged this on ShiftnShake and commented:
I have arrived! Colleen Chesebro let me onto her site!
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LOL! That’s funny! So glad you stopped by. ❤
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What a fun chat, Colleen. Thanks for introducing D’s work here and I love her humor. I can relate to the pop up chairs and beer only for me, it’s wine. LOL. Will be looking into her books.
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Hi, Lisa. D is such a sweetie. Lots of laughs with that lady! LOL. ❤
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Woohoo! A book looker!
The beer drinkers have their own page at my blog. Look for Ernest & Marge. Tell them Colleen sent you.
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LOL! Hey, I know beer! I’m from Milwaukee after all. 😀 Cheers!
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Ah, from one introvert to another, wonderful interview. Nice to get to know you. And as usual, Colleen, you did a great job hosting.
And I love the conversation with Craig about sourdough bread. 🍞
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LOL! We sure talk about different stuff don’t we? 😂
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I love to bake, so I’m always happy to read about that kind of thing. 🙂
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Hello. Thank you for reading my interview. I’d chat more but it’s time to see what the sourdough has in mind.
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LOL! 😀
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D. Avery and a chicken walked into a bar…
Actually, D ‘s sense of humor is no joke. She’s worry and prolific and chases down all her chickens. Every week she writes Ranch Yarns, personifying the real people who gather at the imaginary campfire to tell stories. She’s one author I’d love to sit down and have a beer with!
Great questions, Colleen. Great answers, D.
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Oh, me too, Charli. It would be great fun. My sides ache just thinking about all the laughter… 😀 ❤
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I’m looking forward to her campfire in Vermont come July! Lots of aching sides. Lots of squirrel-led conversations.
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You must take a video of everyone so we can see you all in action. ❤
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We will do a campfireside chat!
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Ohhhh… that will be awesome. Just like the women of old, conjuring their magic around a campfire. I’m so jealous!! ❤
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Well, hey there Charli Mills. (psst… I’m worry? is that an act of error?)
Ok, I’ll have a beer with you. Just remember, all things in moderation, that’s what they say. But what do they know?
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Lovely to eavesdrop on your conversation, D and Colleen. As for revisions, i find it’s an unending process, even beyond publication, as each time we come back to our text it’s as a ‘new’ person.
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Great read, thanks!
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Thanks. Appreciate your comments. ❤️
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