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Debbie Guzzi's Blog

About Debbie Guzzi
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Biography

 

Deborah R. Guzzi was born in Maine, U.S.A. Currently living in Connecticut. Raised in an interfaith family with Christian and Jewish roots.  She has spent many years examining the foundations of belief in higher power.  Her insights come from study and travel in the U.S., the European Union and Asia. Her credentials range from B.F.A.  in Fine Arts, with a Minor in Shakespear to Master’s Degrees in both Tae Kwon Do, and Usi Reiki.  First published at the age of sixteen, now 64, she has been published in the 2000 & 2001 literary journals of Western Connecticut University’s Helix. In the early 2000's, she self published two book available at empathic-touch.com. The first book is titled “The Healing Heart” and is a sampler of three distinct styles of her writing. The second book “Heaven and Hell in a Nutshell” focuses on love, when it’s Heaven, when it’s Hell, and when it’s undeniably present as a gift of God. She owns and operates Empathic Touch an alternative healing site.  Empathic-touch.com
http://empathic-touch.com

 


 

Most Recent Blog Post


Editing Info.
Blog Posted:3/11/2013 6:59:00 AM

 

I remember years ago, when I first started running contests, folks were really upset with me for asking for punctuation in their poems. I even have a nickname here [a fond one now] Head Mistress. I thought you might be interested in hearing how PICKIE editors who judge your work REALLY are.





This was put up by one of the magazines..good info!
1.  Dashes: All dashes should be "em dashes," like this — with space before and after the dash.
2.  Ellipses: Use space before and after, like this ... but, generally, no ellipses are needed at the beginning and end of a direct quote (unless required to avoid misrepresentation).
3.  Line indents: Consistency within each piece is always preferred.
4.  Paragraph indents: Entire blocks of text may be indented for a purpose (e.g., to display a letter within a piece of fiction or a long quotation within a review). Consistency of indent size is preferred for all pieces.
5.  Single or double quotation marks: The American style is for double as the first order, and then single within double. The British style is the reverse. Canadian style accommodates either preference (but tends toward the American style). For TAR, either is acceptable but within a piece "consistency" is desired (not 'mixed' quotation order).
6.  Italics is preferred for book titles even if the author uses quotation marks.
7.  Curly rather than straight quotation marks and apostrophes are preferred in all cases.
8.  Spelling choices: Consistency with American or British within a piece, but flexibility among pieces is desired. If mixed within a piece, choose the most predominant usage (e.g., Webster, Oxford, or Canadian Oxford). If there is no obvious spelling style in a piece, use Canadian Oxford as the dictionary of reference. Canadian spelling is the preference of the TAR editorial staff.




Words don't bleed, CUT them. The circular file is the trash can. It could take a 100 rejections to get one acceptance are you ready for that? NO CRITIQUE is a bad critique, anything else is a good critique.

So is anyone got any ideas, suggestions? thoughts or are we only playing?


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  1. Date: 3/12/2013 1:29:00 PM
    Deb - Like Vicky, I use a lot of slang and purposely mis-spelled words, mostly in humorous and rhyming stuff...'Red-neck slang' (basically the way I talk) Microsoft word has automatic spell and grammer check and it can be rather irritating..I just submitted three poems to 'Poetry Magazine' and three more to 'Parcel Magazine'...very simple procedure!... Probably don't stand a chance with the first but maybe (?) the second - Tim

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  1. Date: 3/12/2013 1:11:00 PM
    I remember having to learn these in school, but do not recall most of them. Appreciate the info.

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  1. Date: 3/12/2013 9:51:00 AM
    Lots and lots of folks here are writing rhyme [I have no idea if the magazines will even look at grand old rhyme forms like sonnets or ballads] from what I see NO ONE is publishing rhyme. [Or poems about horses, or cats, or fairies, or angels, no velvet Elvis' either! Cutsie tootsie is not IN]

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    O. Avatar Ruben O. Date: 3/12/2013 12:36:00 PM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    : D
  1. Date: 3/12/2013 2:11:00 AM
    Brilliant bit of info here , thanks Debbie xx

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  1. Date: 3/11/2013 11:26:00 PM
    WHAT??? Debbie, this IS disturbing. Personally, I intentionally mess with punctuation and capitalization to reflect the voice in my head. DON’T TELL me that’s considered a disadvantage. I mean, who else is allowed to manipulate language if not poets(and lawyers of course)? AAaaaargh!!! I guess I shouldn’t expect to win any contests, huh?...ooh well…

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    Guzzi Avatar Debbie Guzzi Date: 3/12/2013 9:48:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Vicki..I guess the unwritten rule is you have to have NAME for yourself to do as you please, ex: no one here is e e cummings: It's a sad state of affairs I agree BUT then again almost no one is paying me for anything YET! and I guess it does depend on the audience too, so Strange Horizons should be a good place to try out your water wings
  1. Date: 3/11/2013 3:09:00 PM
    Yes Rueben there certainly IS a time for play! I don't intend to stop writing here [I think I'm HOOKED..wish I could say LOL] but actually most of what I concider my best work gets little read, few comments and mostly I think folks are going HUH? BUT I am going to try to take Chris's advise and write here for fun & to HELP. I enjoy helping.

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    O. Avatar Ruben O. Date: 3/11/2013 4:16:00 PM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Im guilty! Im not visiting my talented friends (and you're one of them). Dont you ever think of leaving us!
  1. Date: 3/11/2013 3:09:00 PM
    Thanks Yassie and Catie I will post for everyone in my blogs things which we learn which others might like to know!

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  1. Date: 3/11/2013 2:06:00 PM
    I have saved this on to my computer for future reference. Thanks, Deb. :) love and hugs, Catie :)

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  1. Date: 3/11/2013 11:04:00 AM
    I didnt know about the space before the ellipses!! : ) I think we can be both: playful and serious. Im 100% pro-critique.

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  1. Date: 3/11/2013 10:39:00 AM
    This is fantastic education for me..lots of things I had doubts about are cleared by your blog , thanks Bet.

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  1. Date: 3/11/2013 9:00:00 AM
    A critique which is done with the intent to strengthen work, is offered by someone with either an experienced eye or an instictive understanding of the art AND gives constructive suggestions/redirection and/or resources to aid in editing IS GOOD. ALL else MAY be harmful, unconstructive and crush a newer writer. But you are onto something, keep going! PS ... there is a "hierarchy " to rejections which I hope to discuss on a blog in the next few days. ANY EDITOR WHO SAYS TO YOU, CLOSE, NOT QUITE, TRY AGAIN IS TELLING YOU THAT YOU ARE WORTH HER/HIS ATTENTION AND IS TRYING TO HELP! Ego must be left at the door! xoxx Great blog

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  1. Date: 3/11/2013 7:38:00 AM
    I didn't know [nor do I really care] about any of it EXCEPT I don't like my content get tossed because of something so STUPID!

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    MACMILLAN Avatar CYNDI MACMILLAN Date: 3/13/2013 6:44:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    You, too BOTH know that AIN'T (ha ha) me. It's always been about, it will ALWAYS be about the content- the language, insight and imagery - which is why I've been mocked for my placements. "Oh, she placed a rondeau that high, and yet it missed one line? But I had all my ducks in a row!"
    O. Avatar Ruben O. Date: 3/11/2013 11:09:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    It's always the same story. Here, we have Contest sponsors who dont place a poem with mispelling ... (ellipses, space before and after), no matter how good is the poem. What can I say?
  1. Date: 3/11/2013 7:30:00 AM
    This is really helpful, Debbie! Thanks for posting. I didn't know you needed to use a space before and after Ellipses.

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My Past Blog Posts

 
So Many Forms SO Little Time
Date Posted: 4/22/2013 7:19:00 PM
April is National Poetry month
Date Posted: 4/16/2013 8:05:00 AM
Heads Up
Date Posted: 4/14/2013 6:37:00 PM
Serious Work Pays Off Kinda [Aol hack, uh huh]
Date Posted: 4/9/2013 7:25:00 AM
It's a Fact
Date Posted: 4/4/2013 1:37:00 PM
Spring Funnies
Date Posted: 3/31/2013 8:53:00 AM
You GO Gal!
Date Posted: 3/23/2013 4:37:00 PM
Christian Writers
Date Posted: 3/15/2013 7:03:00 AM
Editing Info.
Date Posted: 3/11/2013 6:59:00 AM
Seeking the Serious
Date Posted: 3/5/2013 8:14:00 AM
Getting Out There and Getting Paid
Date Posted: 3/3/2013 8:04:00 AM
I found something!
Date Posted: 2/8/2013 7:08:00 AM
Haibun Prose Poetry and haiku
Date Posted: 2/5/2013 3:54:00 PM
Epiphanies
Date Posted: 1/7/2013 7:24:00 AM
Art and the Artist
Date Posted: 1/3/2013 7:31:00 AM
Peru, The Dark and the Light
Date Posted: 1/1/2013 8:07:00 AM
Home Again, Home Again Jiggedidy JIg
Date Posted: 12/28/2012 3:43:00 PM
I am NOT eating Guinea Pigs [No red meat for Ma]
Date Posted: 12/16/2012 12:46:00 PM
St. Nicholas
Date Posted: 12/11/2012 1:59:00 PM
The Highwayman
Date Posted: 12/10/2012 1:45:00 PM
Hard to Believe We Began the 20th Century Like This..
Date Posted: 12/9/2012 7:40:00 AM
The Beauty of Wordsworth
Date Posted: 12/8/2012 7:34:00 AM
New Contest
Date Posted: 12/5/2012 11:47:00 AM
See the Goodness in All
Date Posted: 12/3/2012 2:29:00 PM
Holiday Thoughts and Hope's for The New Year
Date Posted: 12/2/2012 3:13:00 PM

My Poems

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Date PostedPoem TitleFormCategories
5/15/2013Hot MixturesSenryulove,
5/9/2013Child AbuseVersechild,
5/3/2013Bacchus The God Who Loved His GrapesHaikunature,
4/25/2013TypewriterProse Poetrynostalgia,writing,
4/23/2013Shield MateFree verse (vers libre)courage,life,love,men,
4/21/2013UFO's Believe It or NotAcrosticmythology,
4/21/2013Ragnar Two AxFree verse (vers libre)men,
4/16/2013haiku 39Haikunature,
4/13/2013haiku 38Haikunature,
4/11/2013Sweet DreamsQuintain (English)adventure,fantasy,prayer,
4/11/2013haiku 37Haikunature,
4/11/2013Life Is Just a Bag of OnionsFree verse (vers libre)life,woman,
4/9/2013Hunger ReinsRondeauintrospection,
4/8/2013haiku 36Haikunature,
4/7/2013Petals FallRhyme royalnature,
4/4/2013Click, Click, HuhVerseloss,
3/30/2013Spring ShowersFree verse (vers libre)nature,rain,rain,
3/28/2013Bubba's ClubLimerickhumorous,
3/25/2013Tweedle's Dum and DeeRhymefor kids,
3/25/2013What Lurks Within - CorneredVillanelledark,for her,for her,life
3/25/2013Clap TrapGrookallegory,
3/23/2013The BlowhardVersewrite,
3/22/2013Carrie OnVersecaregiving,
3/20/2013The Windmiller's GuestBalladadventure,love,
3/19/2013Kick the Can Hard-Bucket ListFree verse (vers libre)journey,life,prayer,
12345678

My Photos


Fav Poems

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GodFree verse (vers libre)life,mystery,
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PetalVerselove,
3 MasksList people,sad,beauty,beauty,
Defender of the WastesFree verse (vers libre)art,life,parody,world,
BirthImagismchildhood,life
this is why i woo wordsVerseart,inspirational,philoso
ForbearFree verse (vers libre)sad,
BelongingsRhymeloss,love,mother,peacewor
Gold FeverFree verse (vers libre)faithfaith,political,
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EchoQuatrainlost lovewords,love,
Bells (after Poe)Lyricpassion
Respectfully, Emily DickinsonLyricintrospection
Give the End Back to the BeginningFree verse (vers libre)dedication,faithme,
The Bruised and Rotting PearCoupletfaith,hope
flyFree verse (vers libre)animals
ABC's for a Young CaptainABClife
Not Entirely About Living In New YorkFree verse (vers libre)lifeworld,light,light,
WoodcutterI do not know?warold,old,
DreamsFree verse (vers libre)faith,forgiveness
A Feed of ChipsNarrativefunny
Weep O WillowsVersedeath
Harlem BluesFree verse (vers libre)black-african amerchildre
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Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
Carolyn Devonshire United States Flag United States Read
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Deirdre Omaidin Ireland Flag Ireland Read
Andrew Crisci United States Flag United States Read
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Debbie Guzzi United States Flag United States Read
Nigel Fawcett Italy Flag Italy Read
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