Crafting Poetry One Syllable at a Time
Posted on November 16, 2019 by Colleen M. Chesebro
We continue to explore the wit, wisdom and jumbled musings of Tallis Steelyard. In this invaluable publication Tallis Steelyard discusses the ways in which a writer can bring their work to the attention of the masses and more importantly, sell the book to them. As well as this, we have the importance of getting home under your own steam, music and decorum, brass knuckles for a lady, and of course, a few simple spices.
Surely this is the one essential book that every aspiring novelist should both purchase and study.
Amazon.com
This book contains a delightful collection of short stories that transported me into the world of the poet, Tallis Steelyard.
I would call Webster’s style of writing speculative historical fiction. It’s as if he stepped back into another time period just so he could channel these stories for our reading enjoyment.
I found there to be many British colloquialisms which added a sense of realism to his prose. Another thing I enjoyed was that the writing style was very British, leaving no doubt as to where these stories originated.
Written in the voice of Tallis Steelyard, he begins by sharing several anecdotal experiences with the publishing business and his knowledge of book promotions. For a reader, writer, and reviewer such as myself, the stories were humorous. I laughed when I learned that characters from the author’s own online writing community were portrayed in one section of the book.
The real beauty of these stories is the author’s acerbic wit. He has a gift for satire, which led to several startling revelations about the flaws in the publishing industry. And then get ready for Tallis’ bawdy stories of drunken debauchery featuring a few select ladies of his acquaintance. I guarantee you will chuckle over his predicament.
Webster is a prolific writer. He’s published over twenty novellas and I’m still counting. His theory is simple. He believes a good book should be like a holiday. When you finally close it, you feel you’ve been somewhere else for a while.
*I follow the Amazon Rating System*
“Jim Webster is probably still fifty something, his tastes in music are eclectic, and his dress sense is rarely discussed in polite society. In spite of this he has a wife and three daughters.
He has managed to make a living from a mixture of agriculture, consultancy, and freelance writing. Previously he has restricted himself to writing about agricultural and rural issues but including enough Ancient Military history to maintain his own sanity. But seemingly he has felt it necessary to branch out into writing fantasy and Sci-Fi novels.”
Amazon Author Page
Blog: Jim Webster: https://jandbvwebster.wordpress.com
Twitter: @JimWebster6
MeWe: @JimWebster
Facebook: Jim Webster
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Category: Book ReviewsTags: A guide for writers and other stories, Book Reviews, British Literature, fantasy, Jim Webster, speculative fiction, Tallis Steelyard
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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
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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.
A great review Colleen 💜
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Thanks Willow. ❤️
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A pleasure Colleen 💜
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Fantastic review 💜
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Thanks, Sis. I do enjoy Jim’s writing. ❤️
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Great review!
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Thanks, Rebecca. ❤️
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A wonderful review of this book, Colleen.
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It was a fun read, Robbie. Jim writes with a wonderful British tone. I really enjoy his stories. ❤
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Looks like I’m adding this one to my Zon list too. ❤
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