Writing Fiction: An Introduction

Picture from publicdomainreview.org 

Fiction is any literary work that is invented using the imagination instead of factual events. It includes novels, short stories, plays, and literature. Some fiction, like historical fiction, has some background in fact, but the overall story is imaginary.

Elements of Fiction

Plot: the interaction within a story.

Setting: where the story takes place (time, location).

Character: the people, animals, or things in a story, including the protagonist (hero), the antagonist (villain), and supporting characters.

Conflict: the struggle between two opposing forces.

Point of View: the perspective in which the story is being told.

Theme: the main idea of a story.

Symbolism: the representation of an idea or a concept.

Cause and Effect: the logical pattern of action in a story.

Show versus tell: describing the story instead of telling a sequence of events.

Limericks!

Picture of a clover from publicdomainpictures.net

Limericks are fun poems that often contain figurative devices like puns, hyperbole, idioms, etc. They are meant to be funny and, sometimes, a little bawdy. They are also easy poems to write, especially for beginning poets and children (and those of us who love a fun rhyme).

The origin of Limericks is unknown but seems to be centuries old (some time between the 12th and 14th century) in Ireland. The first published Limericks were in 1765 in Mother Goose's Melodies, and then became a widespread poetic form adopted by many poets of the 1800s including Edward Lear, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Rudyard Kipling, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Form of a Limerick

The Limerick has five lines with one of my favorite rhyming, meter, and syllable patterns:

The rhyming pattern: AABBA
The meter pattern: 33223
The syllable pattern: 88558

A good Limerick is clever and unexpected, not pointless or trite. It is funny and witty with amusing word play. The last line of a Limerick is the most important line. It is usually the funniest/bawdiest part of the poem and contains the main joke of the Limerick.

Limericks by Regina Horne Beard

The Limerick about Mollie is a true story. She had EIGHT sweet kittens -
seven survived to adulthood. You can find out more about them at
The Cat Farm blog.

There once was a cat named Mollie
Who never had such a folly
Until she doubled in size
And could not disguise
Eight kittens who came out squally.


There once was a girl so groovy
Who did nothing but watch movies.
Twenty hours went by
Without batting an eye,
Which made her a little loony.

Book Trailer for Expectations by Regina Horne Beard

Expectations

filmed in Arkansas at

Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area

and

Camp Charlton

This eclectic collection of poetry explores love, rejection, abuse, loneliness, and history with an eye on the expectations we place on each of them. Expectations is a life journey, experiences familiar to every human soul - the feelings of loss, confusion, and heartbreak. It is a story of emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth set to prose with a unique blend of free verse and free rhyme. $2.99

Purchase your copy of Expectations from one of the following vendors:

Amazon.com

Baker & Taylor

Book Tango

Cinquain

View from the Lake Ouachita Vista on Hickory Nut Mountain in Mount Ida, Arkansas

Cinquain poems (pronounced sin-cane) are often used to refer to any five-line stanza. It was created by American poet, Adelaide Crapsey, while translating Japanese poetry during the early twentieth century. Although she died at the early age of 36 years old, she wrote many Cinquains that were published posthumously. The Cinquain is great for beginning poets because it is short and there are no rhyming patterns, only a fitted 2-4-6-8-2 syllabic pattern. 

Things to keep in mind when writing a Cinquain poem:

1. Consider the subject matter that you wish to address in your poem.
2. Keep in mind that the Cinquain is a fairly short form. You will have to address your subject in a very limited amount of space.
3. The poem should build to a climax and end strongly.
4. Use more nouns than adjectives.
5. Do not write a complete sentence for each line. Let the lines flow over and continue with more than one line.
6. Revise as needed.

Example:

“November Night”

Listen...

With faint dry sound,

Like steps of passing ghosts,

The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees

And fall.

by Adelaide Crapsey

Writing Your Own Cinquain Poem

Steps:

• Line one is a one-word title.
• Line two is two words describing the title.
• Line three is three words expressing action related to the title.
• Line four is four words conveying an emotion about the title.
• Line five is a synonym for the title.

Are you ready to try your own Cinquain? Here's a free worksheet.

Example:

Summer...

Happy, warm,

Playing, and swimming.

Loving the sunny freedom-

Vacation.

by Regina Horne Beard

Giving and Receiving Feedback

Giving and receiving feedback is a crucial part of writing. Before you can give feedback, you need to know how to read a poem. Always read a poem more than once. A good poem always needs two or more readings to understand the full meaning and to grasp the artistry of the poem. You should also keep a dictionary and/or thesaurus at hand. There are many free ones that can be downloaded to your device or computer. You can also find them on the Internet with a simple Google search.

When reading a poem, always pay attention to what the poem is saying. On my first reading, I always determine the subject and verb, grasping the overall meaning and message being said.

During my second reading of the poem, I read it as though I can hear each word in my mind. After all, poetry is written to be heard. There is much meaning in the sound of a poem, not just the words written on a page so read the poem slowly, annunciating each syllable.  

Practice reading poetry aloud. When you find a poem you really enjoy, read it to your friends and family. Do not just read the poem - read the poem with emotion. Express the poem the way it was meant to be read. Try to avoid reading it in a sing-song fashion and do not exaggerate the rhyme and meter. The more you practice reading a poem, the better you will become.

When you give feedback about someone’s writing, you want to give it the attention you would want with your own work. Read the poem more than once and look for specific aspects of the poem to comment on. For example, look at the idea, the language used, and the organization of the poem. If you see areas that need revision, then suggest where there is a need for a rewrite. Be specific and avoid giving vague comments like “this is good.” If it’s good, tell them why it is good and what you liked about it. Try to end with a positive comment and always structure your suggestions in a positive way. Above all, be courteous and respectful.

Receiving feedback can sometimes be traumatic, but it does not have to be. Try to be open to suggestions. Listen and do not take suggestions personally. You will be surprised at the inspiration that can come when you are open to new ideas.

Components and Elements of Poetry

Poetry contains specific components (line, stanza, meter) as well as important elements (rhythm, rhyme, form, and diction). Each of these components and elements define and organize poetry into something tangible. This post is by no means an exhaustive look at the components and elements of poetry but a simple look at how a poem functions.

Components

The important components of poetry are line, stanza, and meter. A line in a poem is the basic structure of a poem. It is not necessarily a complete sentence and can be arranged in various different ways depending on the poem. For instance, one of my favorite poets is E.E. Cummings. The lines of his poems can start at any position on the page, and he uses this visual impact to enhance his poetry. A line should work as a unit of speech and should begin and end with strong words. The first line should not only introduce your poem, but it should also grab the attention of the reader so avoid too many pronouns and definite articles like a, an, and the. The length of a line may help express feelings or evoke moods. If you want to create a sense of drama in a poem, then use shorter lines. If you want to create intense emotion, then use longer lines. The last line of a poem should be as powerful as the first because you want to leave the reader satisfied, startled, or with questions.

Stanzas are a group of one or more lines that make up a poem and act much like a paragraph with a main idea and a consistent theme. Stanzas signal a shift in the scene, a shift in focus, a shift in mood, a shift in time, or a pause. The pattern of stanzas can vary, and it must be both pleasing to the ear and to the eyes. Some poetry have only one stanza while others can go on and on in epic form. Depending on the kind of poem you are writing (like a couplet, a triplet, or a quatrain) will often determine the number of lines in a stanzas. For example, a Cinquain and a Limerick traditionally have five lines.

Meter is the emphasis in a line. It is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry. Meter is essential and gives regularity to a poem. The most common types of meter are iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic. 

Examples of meter:

Iambic has an emphasis on the second syllable foot. An iambic tetrameter has four iambic feet per line giving it eight syllables per line.

Example: to DAY, a DAY

Trochaic (pronounced Tro-CHEE) has an emphasis on the first syllable of a two syllable foot. A trochaic tetrameter has four two syllable feet giving it a total of eight syllables per line. 

Example: TIMing, TIME me

Anapestic has an emphasis on the third syllable in a three syllable foot. An anapestic tetrameter has four feet with three syllables with a total of twelve syllables per line.

Example: in a FORM

Dactylic has an emphasis on the first syllable of a three syllable foot. A dactyllic tetrameter has four feet containing three syllables each giving it twelve syllables per line.

Dactyl: CAL endar

Elements

The elements of poetry include rhythm, rhyme, form, and diction. Rhythm is the movement, repetition, and pattern of sound in a poem. It is the part of the poem that is easily discerned by ear and often heightens the emotional intensity. Rhythm is the heartbeat of a poem. It is what we sing and dance to. It is the defining element that separates poetry from prose.

Rhyme is the sound that similar vowels make and where the final consonant sound is in agreement. Rhyming is one of those elements I dare to experiment with in many of my poetry. I have a great appreciation for perfect rhymes, but I also take delight in free rhyme, where there is a close similarity in sound but not exact. It not only gives my poetry distinction, but also challenges some of the traditional notions of rhyming and gives a different impact to the emotion in the poetry.

Form is all of the structural components of a poem. It includes the rhythms, rhymes, stanzas, meter, and repetition found in the poem. In a way, it is the shape of the poem. The form of a poem determines the kind of poem it is. For example, an acrostic is a poem that uses the first letter of each line to spell out a word or phrase. It is this form that defines it as an acrostic.

Diction is the word choice and the order of the words in a poem. It is a combination of vocabulary and syntax. In a poem, language is used in a way that ordinary language can become complicated because there are so many different meanings to consider.

Verbs in Poetry

One way to improve a poem is to make the verbs more active. An active verb is a verb with more depth, more punch, and is more visual. If you have a problem poem that you are working on that does not seem to have the impact you desire, simply change the verbs. I usually use a thesaurus to look for verbs (and words) that have the meaning and impact needed. Below is a link to a worksheet I have used many times over the years to enhance the verbs in my poetry. It is a simple table where, on the left side, I list the problem verbs found in the poem I'm working on and, on the right side, I list more active verbs that will make a better substitute. Then I change the verbs in the poem until I have the result I'm looking for.

Download a free interactive and printable .pdf form to practice active verbs by clicking on this link.

Getting Started: Writing Poetry

Perhaps the most difficult part of writing is getting the first sentence, sometimes the first words, committed to paper. You must keep in mind that anything that you write can be rewritten and edited. The important thing is to begin writing, so be creative and do not be afraid to write something terrible. Remember: you can change what you have written once the writing begins to flow.

When you are writing poetry, you want to keep the imagination open. Do not limit yourself and your writing. Before you begin writing, you should set the mood for writing. Do you have a place where you can go with limited interruptions? Are you more comfortable indoors or outdoors? Some writers have told me that they light fragrant candles and play music while they write. Do not be afraid to experiment. When I write, I sit in the quiet of my den with my laptop and a few cats. I always meditate on a project for a while before I do any actual writing. Sometimes I jot a few words or phrases down over several days and work with them while writing the poem – often changing the vocabulary after much thought about the selection of words chosen.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been giving about poetry is to keep a log of ideas for poems. This works for fiction and nonfiction ideas as well. There are times when I have a flood of ideas, but then there are those times that I am uninspired and inarticulate. I use to keep an index card holder of my ideas, but now I keep them in a file on my laptop and iPhone. There are several apps that can help keep your ideas organized. Two that I use often are Writer Lists and A Novel Idea. Writers List is a paid app and contains lists that can inspire ideas for writing, including ideas on characters, plot, and setting. It also includes information about animals, foods, colors, etc. A Novel Idea is a free app that organizes my writing ideas as well as details about current books I am working on and ideas for books I want to write. Some of the notes are brief while others are more detailed inspirations. When I need an idea, I often refer to this file.

Over the years, I have received great advice from many friends and colleagues about writing. Listed below are some of the most useful tips I’ve been given:

Tips on Writing Poetry

1. Write a paragraph about an idea for a poem. A paragraph usually contains four or more sentences of a collective idea. This step will help you to organize your thoughts. Take note of the key elements in your paragraph. What are some of the key words used? What is the tone? Then take some time and think about the poem and try to hold back from writing it. Take your idea and discuss it with others. There is great value in having a network of honest friends you can ask advice and receive encouragement. I am often surprised by the input and advice people share with me.

2. Poetry is not self-indulgent. Poetry is for the reader, not the writer. Poetry is about people, not abstracts. Use words that describe people and their experiences but avoid sentimentality. This helps the reader to empathize with the poem.

3. Use images. Remember Plutarch from my last blog entry? Poets paint with words. Poetry should stimulate the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, and motion.

4. Use metaphor and similes. According to the Oxford American Dictionary, a metaphor is “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.”

Examples of metaphors: “a sea of troubles,” “life is a journey.”

A simile is “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.”

Examples of similes: “cute as a kitten,”’ “strong as an ox.”

5. Avoid clichés. According to the American Oxford Dictionary, a cliché is “a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.”

Examples of clichés are “live and learn,” “busy as a bee,” “avoid like the plague,” “what goes around comes around.”

You should always try to avoid clichés unless you are being ironic. I think that the best poetry is informed by ironic vision. When using irony, words can take on different meanings. The best poets use these different meanings to give further detail to the poem, so be aware of some of the contradictory possibilities.

6. Poetry is efficient. Words are not wasted. Adjectives are fun but watch over-using them. If a noun stands alone, then let it.

7. Poetry moves from specific to general. Poetry should begin with the particular and broaden.

8. There is a difference between truth and fact. Poetry is about truth, and truth is universal.

9. A poem lives partly in its silence. A poem is best when it leaves us with questions it has not asked. It makes the reader look for meaning.

10. A poem does not stop - it closes, it resolves. Other lines raise expectations of another, but the last line does not.

Here is a short video to help inspire creativity:

Video taken by Regina Horne Beard at Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area in Arkansas (November 2013).

What is Poetry?

What is poetry? Poetry is an art form that predates the written word. It was used as a means of recording oral history and may have had its origins in song. The oldest surviving poems, like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, were meant to be recited along with music. These poems were long narratives, known as epic poetry, and usually centered on heroic deeds. For example, the Iliad was an epic account of the Trojan War. According to Greek mythology, the Greeks laid siege to Troy for ten years after the Trojan prince, Paris, kidnapped the Spartan queen, Helen. In the Iliad, the story centered on the heroic deeds of both the Greeks and the Trojans during the war. In the Odyssey, the story follows the hero Odysseus on his way home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.

Since the ancient period, defining exactly what poetry is and what determines good poetry has been debated. Plutarch described poetry as “painting that speaks.” Poetry uses language and prose that conveys a meaning and a purpose but can also be interpreted differently by different readers. Vocabulary is used to “paint” a story or express a particular emotion. For the ancients, the study of poetry revealed that it is a distinctive form of art, and they struggled for a definition that completely encompassed the aesthetics of poetry. Throughout the following centuries to the modern era, the definition of poetry continued to be elusive and interpreted as an art form that uses words as a creative means of expression. In general, poets are very careful about choosing words for a poem. Poets consider the clarity of the word, the emotional value, the spacing, and the spatial relationship of the word to the page. There is a beauty and significance when using the right word. In short, vocabulary can make or break a poem.

Determining what makes a good poem versus a bad poem is even more elusive than defining poetry. Poetry can be historical, fantasy, comical, tragic. Poets have a gift of communicating a thought with vocabulary and verse. By comparing great works of poetry over the centuries, we can get an impression of what makes a poem great. It is no coincidence that the best poetry stirs the emotions and can influence an entire culture, but the truest test of what makes a poem great is if it can stand the test of time. To be a good poet, you must first understand the mechanics behind poetry. Vocabulary plays a significant role, but poetry also contains many elements (rhythm, rhyme, form, and diction) as well as specific components (line, stanza, and meter), each of which will be discussed in future blog posts.

Readers’ Review of Expectations

There is really nothing more encouraging for a writer than an awesome review. Receiving good reviews is probably one of the best parts about writing. I love to share my work and I find it especially rewarding when someone enjoys my writing and appreciates the presentation and the individuality. The following review was originally posted on Readers’ Favorites and can be found on Barnes and Nobles and Google Books.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Expectations by Regina Horne Beard is a collection of poems that speaks about the common human emotions that we experience in our lives. The poems are all written in free verse and teach us how to go on a path of intellectual, mental, and spiritual growth.
I enjoyed reading the poems. Poetry is always interesting because each poet has their own way of expressing their observations and thoughts. That means, although the emotions are the same, the way of presentation and the way of expressing them will be unique and will reflect the individuality of the poet. The poems stay true to the title, Expectations. All the poems are about relationships and our expectations. The author has managed to deal with the truth and write an emotional collection of poems that is soul-stirring and heart-rending for the readers.

The love poems like 'Desert Prince' and 'Our Life' show the softer and romantic side of the poet. 'Closure' is a beautiful poem on the closing of a relationship. The poet has handled the theme very well without going overboard. The language is crisp, minimalist, and very effective. 'Parcae' has a lot of sadness in it. 'The Enchanter' speaks about passion and desire. That is again one poem where the poet has used minimalism to enhance the powerful emotions.

I would recommend this book to poetry lovers. The emotions are connected and the poet handles a theme that all of us can understand very well.

*********

This is the second review I received that specifically mentions the poems “Our Life” and “Closure,” and the first to mention my favorite poem “The Enchanter.” It’s interesting the poems that people remember and reflect on. About a month ago, I had an extended email correspondence with one fan about “Closure.” He commented that it is often the most painful experiences in life that inspire the best work. After giving it some thought, I had to agree with his assessment. While in college, I studied history and it seemed that during times of trouble and strife, the best works of art and literature were created. For example, after the defeat of the Persians under Xerxes, art, architecture, and literature flourished in Athens, which included the building of the Parthenon. On a more microscopic scale, particular moments in our lives can inspire us to create our best work. I think “Closure” fits into this scenario nicely. “Closure” is a reflection on the darkest period in my life, a time I wish I could forget.

“Our Life” is a happy poem about love. Most of the poems I write tend to be more sad than happy, which is not a reflection on me. I’m a happy person and always smiling and laughing. Love, however, is not always a happy experience, which is why it fascinates me so much. Love can be amazing, but it can also be heartbreaking. Love is a conundrum. “Our Life” is one of those amazing love moments. It describes the depth of every day love. Some may think that this kind of comfortable love is boring but, in fact, every day love is what will sustain you. Every day love is what gives a couple the strength to withstand the cruelty of the world. It is the light that penetrates the darkness. You may not be able to live on love, but love can help you cope with life because this is the kind of love that gives hope. 

“Desert Prince” is a poem I wrote when I was in high school. It is a fantasy poem of a day dream. When I was younger, I wanted to be rescued more than anything. I did not like where I was or where I was going and, as crazy as it sounds to me today, I thought a man could change all of that. My expectations about love and life were quite fanciful back then.

“Parcae” is Latin for the Fates. According to Greek mythology, the Fates controlled the destinies of humans by weaving the Thread of Life on a loom. In this poem, I wrestle with the idea of a love that was destined to end permanently and irrevocably and coping with the pain that followed the breakup. It is definitely an unhappy poem.

“The Enchanter” is a poem about desire and the hypnotic trance a new lover can inflame. It was written in September 2000 for a Creative Writing class I was taking. It is my favorite because it is perfect in rhyme, meter, and theme. The vocabulary and the syntax are all hallmarks of poetry written by me. I view “The Enchanter” as a signature piece.

Mamta Madhavan is the first reviewer to point out that I use minimalism in my poetry. There are many different aspects to poetry that gives a poem its character. It is not only important to choose the correct words, but it is also crucial to use the right sentence length to enhance the emotion of the words. Madhavan understood that, and I appreciate her pointing it out. It’s great to have someone do such a wonderful job reviewing. She read, dissected, and translated my work beautifully. She understood the subtle nuances of poetry and applied them to my poems. Reviews don’t get much better than this!

The book trailer for Expectations:

Masquerade from Expectations

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the definition of “masquerade” is (noun) “a false show or pretense” or (verb) to “pretend to be someone one is not.” How often do we put up a front and pretend that all is well? How often do we pretend to be someone we are not? The poem “Masquerade” is a soliloquy, agonizing over whether I should be myself or pretend to be a shadow of who I am.


For me, being myself is one the scariest things I can do because I have always been a controversial person. I am a liberal and a feminist living in the southern United States where they preach that you’re going to hell for being either. When I was younger, I did not much care what other people thought about me. More often than not, I would follow my heart and the consequences were usually ostracism and isolation. When I am alone, I often think of myself as a fool who’s only defense is to laugh at the comedy of social acceptance.

I have weak moments when my confidence is low and I second guess my behavior. I could pretend to be happy and let the world think I have it all together – that I’m doing what I want and all is perfect. I could also pretend to be morose and unhappy – that the world is beating me up in this tragedy of a life. The third option is I could be dramatic and tell all of my troubles to anyone who comes within three feet of me. All of the scenarios would be a “false show” where I pretend to be someone I’m not. The scary part for me would be the last two lines of the poem:

“Or should I perform on stage as myself alone
And release the phantom from its cage to stalk and roam?”

It is no mistake that I use such vocabulary and that the length of the lines are longer. As I had said earlier, being myself has taught me that harsh consequences will follow. The reaction I get from being myself is usually that I’m some sort of evil demon that should be locked away. I chose longer lines to slow the pace of the poem in this section because this is the heart of the poem. This is where I reveal who I am. I deliberately leave out which scenario I choose because, with each new day and circumstance, I choose a different answer.

I wrote “Masquerade” in 2000 for a creative writing class I was taking in college. The feedback I received from the poem not only encouraged me to continue writing but also shed light on the fact that I’m not alone. We all perform on life’s stage and more often than not we pretend to be someone we are not because it is safer to be what people expect. For example, in high school we pretend to be a certain way in order to fit in. As an adult, we have to maintain an air of professionalism in order to keep a job. Under certain conditions, our behavior changes in order to cope. Because of the expectations of society, we all wear our masks.\

The book trailer for Expectations:

A Mythical Man from Expectations

One of my favorite subjects to write about is the expectations we often put on the opposite sex and on romance.  We all have these ideas of what a perfect mate would be and the characteristics that this person should have.  Often these ideas are unrealistic.  In the poem “A Mythical Man,” I explore this theme using mythology to reinforce the belief that the perfect man does not exist except in fantasy.

In the first stanza, I compare the perfect man with Theseus.  In Greek mythology, Theseus was an Athenian hero who fought the Minotaur, a monster who was half-bull and half-human and lived in a maze on the island of Crete.  Love-sick Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, helped Theseus to escape the labyrinth of the Minotaur by giving him a ball of string.  Theseus defeated the Minotaur and Ariadne led him to a ship and they ran away together.  I chose Theseus to represent the brave aspect of the perfect man.  In the poem, I long for a man courageous like Theseus who will rescue me from a life without love. 

In the second stanza, I compare the perfect man to Hercules who was notorious for his strength.  Having a strong man to protect you is one of those things that women have been told that they need from a man.  For some women, having a chiseled man with six-pack abs is what they look for when choosing a mate, and they do not bother looking beyond the superficial (but that is a topic for another day).  In mythology, Hercules was the epitome of strength because he was the son of Zeus.  His twelve labors were legendary and each of the labors demonstrated his strength, which made him a perfect candidate for “A Mythical Man.”

In the third stanza, I praise the intelligent man by comparing him with Plato.  I used Plato in this poem even though he was a historical figure and not a mythical one.  I used him because of his work on Symposium.  In this dialogue, Plato explores the meaning of love, another favorite theme of mine. The speeches in the dialogue attempt to answer the question “what is love?”  Some of the conclusions and speeches in Symposium are hilarious.  Some of the answers are poignant and close to defining love, but it is Socrates’s speech that clinches the meaning.  The speech I love the most is the one by Aristophanes.  It’s a satire, but I can’t help but love the idea that I have a mate who shares my soul.  I think it’s a romantic idea.  To me, it explains that yearning we have to keep searching until we find that other part of our souls.  The Symposium is a great piece of literature and well worth picking up.

In the final stanza, I compare the perfect man to Homer who is credited for composing two of the greatest epics in ancient history, the Iliad and the Odyssey.  The language and imagery of the Iliad and the Odyssey transforms the story of the Trojan War and Odysseus’s journey back to Ithaca into a poetic epic that comes alive for the reader.  When Homer describes the battles, you can almost hear the swords clash; and when Odysseus travels to Hades, you can imagine yourself there with him interviewing Agamemnon.  Both epics are masterpieces of poetry, which is why I chose Homer as the example of a poetic man. 

The perfect man for me would be brave, strong, intelligent, and poetic.  He would rescue me from a life of loneliness and protect me from the world.  He would be well-read, intelligent, and articulate.  He would know the right thing to say and fill my life with beauty and poetry.  I doubt that such a creature exists and not because I believe that men cannot possess such gifts, but because we are all fallible human beings.  None of us are perfect.  In choosing a mate, it would be a mistake to concentrate on perfection because that leads to disappointment.

You don’t have to have a deep understanding of Greek mythology to appreciate this poem, but it does help to grasp the subtle meanings conveyed in the poem.  To learn more about Greek mythology, visit your local library and check out a book by Edith Wharton and/or Joseph Campbell.  Some of the best stories written were penned by the ancient Greeks.  They really understood the human experience.

To learn more about me and my writings visit my website.  If there are any specific poems you want me to discuss, then drop me an email.

Happy reading!!

The book trailer to Expectations:

Expectations by Regina Horne Beard

Expectations is a collection of thirty poems written from 1989 to 2004 and was published July 2013.  The earliest poem, "Make Believe," was written while I was in high school.  I was one of those geeky girls who carried around a notebook of poetry.  I was always adding a new poem to it - almost daily.  I was also shy and didn't share them with many people.  Most of the poems in Expectations were written while I was an undergraduate for a creative writing course I was taking at the local community college.  The feedback was very encouraging.  I had always known that I wanted to write poetry and stories, but I never really knew if I was good enough to share them on a professional level.  Expectations is the testing ground.  It has only been published for a few months, but the reactions I've received so far have embolden me to write more.

Over the  years I had played with the idea of publishing.  I have stories I've been working on for a while, but nothing worth sharing with the world.  I also wanted to finish graduate school, and to be a published author takes a great deal of time, a valuable commodity when chasing a master's degree.  Early this year I revisited the idea of publishing again and have been enticed by what the eBook community could provide.  Having control over my work is paramount and the opportunity presented itself to make publishing a reality.  I gathered my poetry, placing them in order.  Then I created a cover page.  Once I was satisfied with the aesthetics, I held my breath and clicked on "publish."  Within a few weeks, it was available online for $2.99 from various online book sellers including BookTango, Amazon.com, Google Books, and iBooks - just to name a few.

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to blog about the poetry in Expectations and explain some of the meanings and background of the poems.  If there are any poems in particular you want to know more about, please, don't hesitate to contact me or visit my website.  I'll be glad to talk about any part of my work.

The book trailer for Expectations:


Until then...Happy reading!