The following lines stick in my mind like acid coated skewers:
"Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft...."
"....the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output."
"You will be writing a lot of crap."
Now I'm having flashbacks to the semester I was required to read one of Trollope's abominable quota-written novels, Barchester Towers.
Acid coated skewers of schlock notwithstanding, I know how to force myself to write intensely.
Can you think of anything more antithetical to the concept of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days than the discipline of coming up with one 31-syllable poetic gem a day?
Here's the concept - because I suspect some of my readers will want to jump on the old ox cart too:
Since I got this idea and posted this very late on November 1, one may opt to do a double entry to bring your total to thirty for the month, or you may skip November 1 with no penalty. This is the only date you get to double dip or skip on. The spirit of this poetic form being the impermanence of this dewdrop life, no other make-ups are permitted. If you miss a day, you miss a day and as in real life, you can never get it back. (You're on the honor system here....)
No limits on subject matter other than any you chose to impose upon yourself. Hopefully, some moment in your day will inspire you to write about it.
If you write more than one tanka a day, fine. However, you may not carry over tanka to other days except for the November 1 grace tanka. You have to write a poem on each day.
(If you are inspired to "answer" someone else's poem, great. Personally, if I do so, I am not going to count it toward my daily assignment. The idea is to come up with something myself each day. What you do is up to you.)
Adherence to the 5-7-5-7-7 line/syllable count is required, otherwise it's not a tanka.
It's poetry, not stereo instructions. It should say something and it should make sense.
No rewrites.
A thousand raindrops Dance madly against the roof, Teasing and taunting. Within there is no dancing, Only one with memories. (11/1/08).
さ .......... Ei. Wa. Chi. (Honor. Harmony. Knowledge.) - Some guy I know. い お .......... Life is short. Eat dessert first. - Fujimaki Tosaburou Hidetora ん じ .......... What would Sei Shonagon do? Chronicle all your shortcomings for posterity. は な ..........
Re: Tanka challenge « Reply #2 on Nov 2, 2008, 10:14am »
Noble Cousins!
Greetings from Solveig! I suppose that if you are really ambitious, you can undertake something akin to Ise Monogatari. Basically, write a prose "introduction" before each tanka. Ideally, the whole thing becomes a connected story with interspersed poetry.
さ .......... Ei. Wa. Chi. (Honor. Harmony. Knowledge.) - Some guy I know. い お .......... Life is short. Eat dessert first. - Fujimaki Tosaburou Hidetora ん じ .......... What would Sei Shonagon do? Chronicle all your shortcomings for posterity. は な ..........
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Joined: Sept 2004 Gender: Female Posts: 5,264 Location: Bay Area, CA
Re: Tanka challenge - day two « Reply #4 on Nov 2, 2008, 12:54pm »
Is she in mourning In sleeves of grey upon grey Tinged with blue and white? To the east, the sky's sad hems Drag themselves across the hills. - Saionji no Hanae (11/2/08)
さ .......... Ei. Wa. Chi. (Honor. Harmony. Knowledge.) - Some guy I know. い お .......... Life is short. Eat dessert first. - Fujimaki Tosaburou Hidetora ん じ .......... What would Sei Shonagon do? Chronicle all your shortcomings for posterity. は な ..........
さ .......... Ei. Wa. Chi. (Honor. Harmony. Knowledge.) - Some guy I know. い お .......... Life is short. Eat dessert first. - Fujimaki Tosaburou Hidetora ん じ .......... What would Sei Shonagon do? Chronicle all your shortcomings for posterity. は な ..........
If you read Makiwara-hime's post I think you will find that she does, in fact, NOT support NaNoWriMo.
She says "Can you think of anything more antithetical to the concept of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days than the discipline of coming up with one 31-syllable poetic gem a day?"
Personally, I will do my best to rise to her challenge, to create clever nuggets instead of "an abominable quota-written novel".
Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Female Posts: 158 Location: East Kingdom
Re: Tanka challenge « Reply #12 on Nov 2, 2008, 6:38pm »
Nov 1 (backlog)
Warming soup smells sweet Of beans, of herbs, of fresh squash. Community joins In a cold warehouse for love To help those less fortunate.
This evening I and my in-laws went to a fundraiser held by a local potter and a community activist. For a $15 donation, you could pick out a hand-made bowl (made and donated by the potters at the studio) and eat soups provided by several local caterer and restaurants. All donations went to the Crispus Attucks Soup Kitchen.
If you read Makiwara-hime's post I think you will find that she does, in fact, NOT support NaNoWriMo.
She says "Can you think of anything more antithetical to the concept of writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days than the discipline of coming up with one 31-syllable poetic gem a day?"
Personally, I will do my best to rise to her challenge, to create clever nuggets instead of "an abominable quota-written novel".
oh, i suppose you are correct, but we are all supporting the holiday in our own way. as for me an my novel writing i just use NaNoWriMo to motivate me to work on my own series, Accurate Inaccuracy. because having a good reason to write will motivate me to. i usually get about a quarter-of-a-book done per year.
Re: Tanka challenge « Reply #14 on Nov 2, 2008, 7:27pm »
*hides* I never post, I'm such a chicken...and I'm not sure I counted the syllables right, and not sure if they are supposed to be titled or not *winces*...*Deep breath*...
Visions of Fall
Sun, shining brightly. Clouds, running across blue skies. Wind, weaving a web of grace through a leaf filled maze. Visions of a playful Fall.
![[Home]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/home.gif "[Home]")
![[Help]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/help.gif "[Help]")
![[Search]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/search.gif "[Search]")
![[Calendar]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/calendar.gif "[Calendar]")
![[Login]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/login.gif "[Login]")
![[Register]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/register.gif "[Register]")
![[Search This Thread]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/search2.gif "[Search This Thread]")
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif "[Send Topic To Friend]")
![[Print]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif "[Print]")
Author![[avatar]](http://www.wodefordhall.com/mysca.jpg "[avatar]")
![[homepage]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/www_sm.gif "[homepage]")
Logged![[avatar]](http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/watertengu/puppet01.gif "[avatar]")
![[aim]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/aim.gif "[aim]")
![[avatar]](http://www.yamakaminari.com/discussion_forum/images/avatars/115286920345da128859a6c.gif "[avatar]")
![[avatar]](http://www.kabutographics.com/images/datekamon48x48.gif "[avatar]"){kind=small}
![[yim]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/yim.gif "[yim]")
![[avatar]](http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b55/danabren/P1010477.jpg "[avatar]")