BookRix Shares Dr.Wardha’s Poetic Secrets
A poet, storyteller, BookRix contest winner, moderator of the BookRix Poet Society group… these are all synonyms for BookRix community member, Dr.Wardha. Below she describes how she gets inspired to write her poetry.
Poetic Secrets shared by Dr.Wardha
There are these moments of trance-like brilliance when my awareness of all things real becomes, ever so slightly, vague. Generally, these happen during my long drives when I feel compelled to entertain myself with the ministrations of my own Mind and philosophise upon an Idea for poetic expression.
I talk to myself. Often. Yes, that’s my big secret, my most incriminating habit, if I were to be analysed by a psychiatrist. I do it even when in company (of course, not out loud, I mean THAT would be crazy). Many of my ideas for poems come from these mental monologues based on observations of the human psychology. Man, the phenomenon, the chemical, volatile being — oscillating rhythmically between deceit and faith — fascinates me.
Human nature — its failings and its strife, its inexhaustible desire to rise above and beyond the call of the hour, its fragile psyche, its strong passions — all serve as my Muse. I watch people with an eye, which I feel, is compassionate and nonjudgmental. I listen to their views with a mind, I feel, is ever interested in understanding the definition of “human.” I often deliberately don my trance to do a bit of role-playing where a certain set of circumstances I wish to write about prevail, and I imagine the emotional ague of the sufferer. Most of my cherished (by me mostly) verses have been written in such a way.
I find great inspiration in the works of renowned authors of the nineteenth century. Their mode of expression was, to me, an art in its very construction. I often find myself re-reading, and marveling at their acumen in sentences phrased like a sphinx, descriptions sculpted like a Madonna, brilliant-like gems, in their perfect use of the perfect word.
Yes, that is my wonderment at the art of writing, discovering the perfect word.
Dr.wardha was the winner of the BookRix Cowboy Contest with Kat and Sable and a finalist in the BookRix Drabbles Contest.
You can read her other work here:
"Shades of Grey" by dr.wardha
"Known Stranger" by dr.wardha
Writing Inspiration from Junk
Look around your home and garage – see that juicer your Uncle Gerard gave you that’s still in the box? How about that lovely Santa and reindeer sweater your co-worker made you last year for Christmas (even though she’s a horrible knitter)?
Now you can use those useless gifts for writing inspiration! Join our next BookRix writing challenge, Craigslist Classifieds, and post a real or fictional classified advertisement about the gifts you wish you could sell. Make it funny, sensational or persuasive… just make sure to post it between December 20 and January 3 in the I love BookRix Writing Contests group’s submissions thread when it opens. One of our fictional favorites on Craigslist? “World’s Most Uncomfortable Saddle,” posted on 01-01-2010. “Like a ghastly specter from your darkest nightmare, this saddle has returned from the grave seeking vengeance. Its previous master thought it had banished it to the blackness of the abyss for good, but nay, it was only for an epoch.” Check out Craigslist’s Best of list to see this and hundreds of others!
You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards… so you can buy what you really wanted this Christmas! Two lucky winners will receive a $50 Amazon gift card… will it be you? Get ready to write a compelling classified for this timely BookRix Writing Contest!
Need some inspiration to get started? Head on over to our Photo Story Games Forum on BookRix! What does this photo inspire you to write? One BookRixer wrote this: “Cat junk magnets! I’ve always wanted a magnetic cat!”
Guidelines:
*The classified can be about a real or fictional object, person or experience – just like the real classifieds in the above link on Craigslist. Have fun and be creative, but please remember: BookRix is a site with younger members too so try to keep it g-rated. Pornographic or sexually explicit content will be removed.
* Post your classified in a post in the thread in the I love BookRix Writing Contests group between December 20, 2010, to January 3, 2011, 12 noon EST, 5 pm London time/GMT.
* You can only create one classified so make it the best!
* Do not include any personal information in this classified – any contact information that looks too real will be edited out!
* Group members will vote on their favorite two classifieds to receive the Amazon $50 gift cards in the Voting thread. The Voting thread will be open January 4 to January 11, 12 noon EST, 5 pm London Time/GMT.
Good luck to all participants!
We can’t wait to see all the junk you want to get rid of!
BookRix Romance Writing Contest Starts December 16
Channel the classic queen of romance, Jane Austen, to create your special romance-related BookRix book for our next free writing contest with the theme, ROMANCE! But, why Jane Austen? Well, the BookRix Romance Writing Contest starts on December 16, which is Jane Austen’s birthday!
You can gear up for the BookRix Romance Writing Contest by uploading your book on to BookRix now. The contest goes from December 16, 2010, to January 7, 2011.
Both short stories and poetry are eligible to be entered and there is no page limit in this contest. You could win one of THREE $300 NORDSTROM gift cards!
Stuck for an idea? Check out the fun romance-related photo story game. Spin your own story from the photo posted in the BookRix Community Forum for Games.
Let the love shine through this holiday!
Looking for inspiration to write your romantic short story or poem? Review some of the most revered romance novels from the queen herself, Jane Austen! Check out some of Jane Austen’s classic novels for free on BookRix:
BookRix Frightening Fiction Contest Winners Announced!
The BookRix Frightening Fiction writing contest was difficult to judge, but our independent judges have selected their top three choices. As always, this BookRix contest was free-to-enter. BookRix community members voted for their favorite choices to determine the top 10 submissions and nominate a wildcard pick!
The following three frightening stories were chosen as the official winners and recipients for thrilling cash prizes for the Frightening Fiction writing contest:
1st place: $800
Matters of Mortology, which was the community Wildcard pick, written by tmcamp received the first place $800 cash prize!
Book Description: Alone in a crumbling manor, an aging undertaker recounts a horrifying episode from the early days of his career. When an unspeakable monster trespasses the border between life and death, the undertaker finds himself in a struggle to save the village he has sworn to serve — even if it means sacrificing his own family and faith in the process.
2nd place: $500
Quiet written by dalemoses won the second place $500 cash prize.
Book Description: Emily and her mother are hiding. What they are hiding from is more terrifying than she could ever imagine. All she knows for sure is that she must be quiet…
3rd place: $300
The Visitor by rebekahjennings received the third place $300 cash prize.
Book description: When Lily moves out, a visitor arrives. Daisy is receptive to the unknown having grown up with visions. It is no surprise when the hauntings begin. But, what do they want with her, and can she work it out in time.
Congratulations to all the winners! Learn more about current and future BookRix Contests by visiting the “Contests & More” section of www.BookRix.com.
It’s official: the BookRix “Get Published” Contest is going on NOW!
Think that holding your own published book in your hands is a dream off in the distance? Not true! BookRix wants to help you get published with our free-to-enter BookRix “Get Published” contest, going on now through January 17th, 2011.
This is a new style of contest for BookRix to host – at the end of this contest, one lucky winner will get to publish his or her book!
The grand prize, generously provided by CreateSpace, is a Total Design Freedom Advanced Publishing Solution, (valued at $2,567!) which will include a custom cover and interior design, comprehensive copyediting, promotional text creation, a press release with targeted distribution, a complimentary upgrade to their Pro Plan, and a free CreateSpace ISBN if the winner does not already have one.
Plus, the winner of the “Get Published” BookRix Contest can choose any of the following sales channels through which he or she would like to enable the book for sale: the Amazon.com website, a CreateSpace eStore, and the CreateSpace expanded distribution channel.
The second place winner will receive a prize of $500 cash, with third place winning $300!
Have you just completed a NaNoWriMo novel this past November? Upload your NaNo work before January 17, 2011, for a chance to see your name in print! Join our Facebook Get Published BookRix Event to receive updates and news pertaining to this fantastic FREE contest!
Specific Contest Guidelines:
The book you choose to upload for the contest must be at least 25 BookRix pages long, but must not be your complete work. That will come later. You may not upload the entire book on to BookRix to be eligible for this contest.
All books must have a cover during the contest. However, the author whose book wins the first place prize will receive a unique cover as part of the prize provided by CreateSpace. Therefore, the “Get Published” contest entry covers on BookRix should be considered temporary.
Only fiction and nonfiction work is allowed in this contest.
You cannot enter work that has taken part in previous BookRix writing contests.
If you make it into the top ten or wildcard pick(s), you will be notified by BookRix to your personal e-mail address. At this time, you must send BookRix your complete work. So have your entire work completed ahead of time, but do not upload it on to BookRix. You will only have seven (7) days from notification to send in your book to BookRix via e-mail.
The complete work must be at least 30,000 words long and sent in Word document (or similar text file) format to contact-en@bookrix.com after you receive official notification that you have made it into the top ten or wildcard pick(s) on BookRix.
If the chosen authors do not send their complete work within seven days, the next best-ranked author will be contacted and so on until ten best-rated books can be given to the jury for selection.
This contest is free-to-enter. Contestants must create a BookRix user profile to submit their works or to vote on contestants to participate.
Authors must register their stories for the contest by January 17, 2011, 6 pm (EST) / 9 am (PST)/ 11 pm (GMT).
