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limejuicer1862 · 5 years

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Wombwell Rainbow Interviews

I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me. I gave the writers two options: an emailed list of questions or a more fluid interview via messenger.

The usual ground is covered about motivation, daily routines and work ethic, but some surprises too. Some of these poets you may know, others may be new to you. I hope you enjoy the experience as much as I do.

Stuart Buck

is a poet and artist living in North Wales. When he is not writing or reading poetry, he likes to cook, juggle and listen to music. He suffers terribly from tsundoku – the art of buying copious amounts of books that he will never read.

The Interview

1. What inspired you to write poetry?

I started writing poetry after a particularly troubling time in my life. I was working as a chef and had what the doctor called a ‘not insignificant nervous breakdown’ so had to stop working. Until that point I can honestly say, other than at school, I had never read or been interested in poetry at all. But I had a lot of spare time after I finished work and decided to write haiku as I had heard from somewhere or other that the practise was very calming. I guess that’s where the addiction started.

2. Who introduced you to poetry?

Myself I suppose. The first poet I properly fell for was Basho and his wonderful haiku. So much can be said in just three lines. For me, that is mastery of the craft. From there I picked up some of Kerouac’s books of poetry, then fell in to the Beats – Ginsberg, Burroughs etc. Nothing too in depth, I was just dabbling.

3. How aware were you of the dominating presence of older poets?

Massively aware since that was what I was reading. It is only once you scratch the surface that you realise that the majority of the quality work that is produced is coming from the younger poets. At school you only ever learn about the old white guys, maybe a bit of Maya Angelou. But poetry is so much more isn’t it?

4. What is your daily writing routine?

Honestly, I don’t have one. I can go days and weeks without writing. But then I get this feeling in my throat and my stomach and it’s telling me I need to write. That I need to create something. So I do. I have a huge, fantastic imagination and a lot of my poems are vignettes, little scenes that I have dreamt up and stories that I feel need to be told. I open Word Online, write it down and that’s it. I NEVER edit my work (unless it is a commission) so once something is out its out. I tend to post most of my work on Twitter and don’t submit much to places anymore. I used to but I realised I was looking for validation from people through submitting work. I think even if your work is good the acceptance rate is pretty low, so it can be disheartening for a lot of writers. But in reality, you are trying to get 5000 poems down to 50 and people are going to miss the cut.

5. What motivates you to write?

Because I have to. That’s the short answer. I have an awful lot inside me and if you have a lot of things turning around your mind and don’t have anywhere to put them, they can pickle and turn bad. That’s why poetry is so important.

I also love it when someone connects with my words. It’s like a neural-link. I think any poet who says they aren’t interested in validation is lying. We crave acceptance and love, especially from fellow writers. I am not going to sit here and tell you otherwise. I’m like a sponge. A good comment can see me through a bad day. And that’s why I write.

6. What is your work ethic?

Poor! I read a lot of poetry but I write very little compared to a few years back. I was churning out one or two pieces a day back then whereas now it’s one or two a month. But I feel like the quality is there with my work now. Or at least, its somewhere near where I would like it to be. I have struck a decent balance I think although I do procrastinate like an absolute champion.

7. How do the writers you read when you were young influence you today?

They don’t! Because the only thing I ever read when I was young was the Doctor Who novels and as far as I know they haven’t influenced me at all. I am not a massively academic person and I only really fell for poetry/literature in general in the last few years. I got a good degree and qualifications etc but they were not to do with english/the classics/poetry. Sometimes when I sit in on a conversation and people are being overtly academic I get a bit bored to be honest. I am all about passion and grit, not what some dead guy wrote about orchards.

8. Who of today’s writers do you admire the most and why?

Andrew McMillan is my favourite living poet. He deals with some really stark issues but writes beautifully and his poetry never fails to engage with me. But I read endless poetry now and so much of it is of a good quality. I don’t think poetry has ever been in a stronger position in terms of standards. That’s a lot to do with the internet I think which has allowed writers who would otherwise not stand a chance of being read to get their work out there.

9. Why do you write, as opposed to doing anything else?

I think words are the perfect medium. You can paint with words, sculpt with words, make music with words. I want people to understand what is going on in my head and while a painting or a song could tell them half of the story, words can tell the whole sordid tale.

10. What would you say to someone who asked you “How do you become a writer?”

Write something! Honestly, I don’t subscribe to this ‘everyone is a poet’ aesthetic. It’s hard work to create something that is good enough to be classed as poetry. But if you start writing things then you are a writer. Then I would say read. You CANNOT possibly create good art if you don’t indulge in the art that surrounds you.

11. Tell me about the writing projects you have on at the moment.

I have just finished recording a poetry podcast called ‘Bedtime Stories for the End of the World’ where I was asked to update a piece of ancient folklore and adapt it to the modern world.

My second book ‘Become Something Frail’ has just been reprinted as we sold out so that is wonderful. I am working on a third book but I also create visual art so some of my time is spent designing book covers etc for other people.

I sound busy but don’t worry I mainly spend my days on Twitter @stuartmbuck or playing pointless games.

Wombwell Rainbow Interviews: Stu Buck Wombwell Rainbow Interviews I am honoured and privileged that the following writers local, national and international have agreed to be interviewed by me.

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filosofablogger · 7 years

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Welcome, yet again, to another Jolly Monday! Hope you all had a lovely Easter spent with family, friends, or cute baby owls. Now this Monday is kind of special. First, and from my perspective as a CPA this is important, it is the day before your taxes are due. So if, like so many, you have procrastinated and are now in a fizz to get them done by midnight tomorrow, let me just say this: DO NOT CALL ME. I am done for this year. The ‘gone fishing’ sign is on the door.

But in addition, today has the distinction of being:

National Bat Appreciation Day (I wonder if they mean cute furry critters or the kind you can knock someone over the head with???)

National Cheeseball Day

National Haiku Poetry Day

National Poem in your Pocket Day

I appreciate bats – both kinds, and I make a superb cheeseball. But the last two … poetry, unless quite simple, is far beyond my ability to comprehend, let alone write. And what the heck is a ‘poem in your pocket’??? Anyway … go appreciate something today, even if it isn’t on the ‘official’ list! Meanwhile, let us start this day off with some fun, shall we?

The Avondale Police Department in Arizona swore in a new member last week. Not a big deal, you say? Well, this new member has a beard. So what, you ask? The big deal is that this new member is a drug-sniffing bearded dragon!!! Yes, you heard right …

“Research has shown that reptiles possess a strong sense of smell making their ability to detect certain illicit drugs possibly more accurate than K9s. Our pilot program drug sniffing bearded dragon will be assisting Officers in the City. Please help us welcome Iroh!”

Iroh has been working with the department for about a year as part of a pilot program, but proved his worth and has now been promoted, and even given a badge, though not a uniform on which to pin it.

“Iroh has turned out to be a valuable member of the Avondale Police family. His skill set is so extensive that we have cross trained him in many areas.” He has been trained in dispatch, running radar, and even spent some time on paperwork with Assistant Chief Lynn Parkin. “Iroh has a keen eye for typos.”

The unthinkable has happened in Japan. It is a disaster and is likely to have a severe effect on the Japanese people for years to come. The country is currently facing shortages of … wait for it … potato chips! You laugh? Think if you went to your local grocery store the day before a big football game on television, only to find this …

One of Japan’s largest snack-makers, Calbee, announced this week it is temporarily halting production of 15 of its most popular brands. People panicked and ran out to buy as many potato chips as they could, and now the shelves are bare.

What happened is that that last August, four separate typhoons hit Hokkaido, the nation’s largest potato-producing region, ruining this year’s crop. Calbee has imported some potatoes from the U.S., but Japanese law strictly limits the amount that can be imported. Another company, Koikeya, does not import potatoes and has also announced a temporary suspension of their operations.

Some people have resorted to buying their chips from online auction sites where they pay 1,250 yen ($12 USD) per bag. One newspaper, Nikkei, is referring to the shortage as the “potato crisis”. Among the flavours that are currently unavailable are: French Salad Dressing chips, Rich Consomme, and Plum chips. Okay, well … ’nuff said.

I don’t chop wood these days, as we have only a gas furnace for heat. But back in the day … we used a wood-burning stove for heat for at least a decade, back in the 1970s – 1980s, and while we bought most of our wood already cut, I did my fair share of splitting wood for kindling, and stacking wood into some semblance of order once it was delivered. It wasn’t a bad chore, except on those rare occasions that a rodent who had been snoozing on a log startled awake and scurried up my arm! But my stacks of wood were noticeably boring compared to some. Take a look at the creative ways some of these people found to make their woodpiles more intriguing.

To see the rest, go to Bored Panda’s website.

Beware of changing your last name, ladies! In St. Petersburg, Russia, a woman who works at a supermarket changed her last name to that of the store, Veniy, because the store was offering nearly $1,200 to anyone who would do so. Heck, I would change my last name for $1,200! Well, this woman’s husband didn’t like it too much … men are funny creatures sometimes … and he took revenge.

He had a cement-mixer truck (I don’t know how he convinced the driver of the truck to do this) back up to his wife’s car, and placed the chute into one of the open windows, filling the car with cement! Somebody captured the moment on video and you can see it here.

No word on the wife’s reaction, whether charges were filed, or whether the man remains alive!

Two men and a woman robbed the Chick-fil-A in Folsom, California last week, but they did not get any cash. However, Matt Crane, owner of the franchise restaurant, says they got something of even greater value … cow costumes! “I just want my cows back,” Crane said. “No plans to press charges, so if they show back up, we would just be incredibly grateful.”

Okay friends, that’s a wrap for this Monday morning. I hope something brought a bit of light into your spirit, a smile to your face, and most of all I hope you have a wonderful week! Share that smile with someone today … make someone’s day just a little brighter.

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, MONDAY! Welcome, yet again, to another Jolly Monday! Hope you all had a lovely Easter spent with family, friends, or cute baby owls.

#bearded dragon becomes police officer #Bored Panda #Chick-fil-A cows #day before tax day #Filosofa&039;s Word #log-stacking art #Potato chip shortage in Japan

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