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Your Purpose - The Grahamburglar's Blog

About The Grahamburglar

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The Grahamburglar is not my real name. Please try not to look so shocked. There's not too much to know about me. I have always (ok, ok, not ALWAYS) enjoyed writing. I feel that it comes quite naturally, and while I am certainly not an expert poet, I enjoy playing with words, experimenting with new ways to describe or think about something, and I enjoy reading the work of others for inspiration. My life tends to alternate between too busy and too uneventful. Most frequently, it is during the lulls that I do my writing. I hope on occasion you find in my work something of value, and if not, well...

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Your Purpose

Blog Posted:5/2/2016 8:23:00 PM

Hey All,

I know I am not well known on the site, sadly, my very hectic schedule makes it difficult to write as often as I would like. Today, I was thinking about why I write. I don't really know that most of my poems set out to accomplish or convey anything particular, but as I start creating them, they kind of take on a life of their own.

So here are the questions: when you sit down to write, do you start with a purpose in mind? Do you have goals for your write before you start, or, like me, do you just kind of let your mind improvise the purpose as you go? On a bigger scale, is a there a larger message, or unifying purpose, that tends to run through several, most, or all of your writing? If so, what is it? Do you put it in there intentionally, or do you tend to just wind up writing about a certain subject without really meaning to?

I guess I'm just curious about the process of writing that others engage in. So share your methods. Share your process. If you're comfortable, share your muse. I'm genuinely interested.

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Tom
Quigley

Date: 5/4/2016 9:06:00 AM

Here's a window into my process: http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/poetus_interruptus_771801 Pretty much it. Poetry on a schedule, write it down before it goes away, put it together later. :-)

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/4/2016 4:47:00 PM

That's a good one Tom. I can certainly relate. Do you find that your writing tends to follow a theme, or do you just write whatever you can, when you can?

Charmaine
Chircop

Date: 5/4/2016 8:12:00 AM

Its hard to just sit and write for me : ).. Manytimes, a word or a statement or a song hits me unexpectedly..I get inspired to write what I feel at that moment..I scribble some words and build up a poem around those words.A poem can take an hour..it can take a day..or I can forget about it ..then get o it later...days after..Its not always the same.Btw- Nice to have you back here...Hope I ll have some good quality time to visit your posts soon.

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/4/2016 4:43:00 PM

Yes. I think what you've described is how it is for me most of the time. Unfortunately, I seem to get my best ideas while cruising down the highway...haha, not an ideal time to jot down notes, so I often end up forgetting...then recalling much later and trying to piece it back together.

Charmaine Chircop
Date: 5/4/2016 8:13:00 AM

Im always editing and editing..At times I wish to edit even after I see my poem published : )

Nette
Onclaud

Date: 5/3/2016 4:34:00 PM

i go by instinct and spontaneity using the tenet of natalie goldberg--- just write without editing, keep the words fresh and allow the images to just flow; then look at the whole piece where a gold mine lies.. after this, allow the poem to take its shape and edit... her book, " writing down the bones is like a bible to me... huggs

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/4/2016 4:51:00 PM

Sounds like I should be shopping on Amazon right now...haha, maybe I'll look for it after finals. Thanks for sharing. -G

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 4:37:00 PM

I LOOOOOVE writing down the bones! Yes!!!! I lent it to another writing friend. LOL... never to be seen again!

Carrie
Richards

Date: 5/3/2016 10:14:00 AM

Everyone here has explained beautifully, how their poems are created, and can take a life of their own, sometimes beyond our expectations. The challenges help create ideas, especially when I feel I have wrung myself dry,...however the ones that usually turn out the most satisfying are poems that simply erupt, fast and furiously in a rush of words without too much analysis.., just rushing through my head. Then, I'll go back and try to make sense of it all.....then refine, refine, edit and edit, until it feels right. I never seem to stop wanting to make it better than it was, however the first draft that came from the unconscious, is the spark that lit the fire.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 4:45:00 PM

YES! Exactly! Love this, Carrie!

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 4:30:00 PM

I agree, I love it when that flood of inspiration hits. I find that carrying my journal helps me get more ideas because when I start thinking about something interesting, I can jot down a few ideas, which I come back to later. Anyway, yeah, I think it's most satisfying when the poems just sort of start flowing, almost on their own.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 5/3/2016 9:10:00 AM

Great blog topic! A long time ago I struggled to write poems. I did not know what to write about after I exhausted family and my favorite experiences. Then someone told me, something that changed my life forever. They said, "Do challenges. Just sit down and make yourself write." This was back in 2003. I sat down and did a challenge. I thought a while about the topic until the correct "Form" to write in came to me. I only need one phrase in my mind to set me off in a good direction. Sometimes the body or ending of the poem comes slowly. Other times I know very soon how it is going to end and I work toward that goal! It is magical and I pray it never stops.

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/4/2016 4:53:00 PM

Yeah, I don't care much about the contests being actual contests, I just appreciate them because they provide a list of ready-made writing prompts. Getting recognized at all is just gravy. =p

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 5/3/2016 3:18:00 PM

EXactly! the contests are perfect for motivating us. I know some people think it's all about writing for ourselves, etc. well, i am a competitive person and my personality type enjoys contests and challenges. (aerobics "just do it" kind of gal vs. Yoga and meditation types). I think the mind follows the body and how we work it!! We are all so different! If we feel confident and just tell ourselves, "I WILL write something for this challenge", nine out of ten time it HAPPENS. But once in a while I honestly am stumped and I finally will ditch that topic if nothing comes to me. Some people believe in numerology or where the moon or some other planet is "in their chart" I wonder if we are somehow influenced by our astrology?!! (On certain days I am so empowered to do several poems instead of just one)

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 12:28:00 PM

I should add, that in my dry spells, I've found this site to be a way to grease up the rusty gears. The contests with their built in writing prompts are a perfect way get things going again.

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 9:38:00 AM

Do you find that the more you write, the easier it is to come up with things to write? Sometimes, when I haven't written for a month, let's say, I find it much harder to get those wheels turning again. But when the mood strikes, sometimes I almost can't stop, and I'll write several poems in a couple of hours.

Robert
Lindley

Date: 5/3/2016 5:48:00 AM

I write about the many various subjects that strike me, about my past life, future hopes/dreams etc. Always with the intent to reveal/inform, we are all human and make mistakes. Imparting wisdom and lessons learned to others as well as therapy for my addiction to this writing curse/blessing.. Yes, an overall purpose is to give to others and maybe let some know no matter how bad life gets there is always future hope to cling to, as is evidenced in my long life and current blessed living with loving wife, family and friends. As a poet , I believe writing should have a purpose (message), even if its only to entertain or say to the world- Hey, I exist..

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 9:45:00 AM

I agree with you Robert, that there is a sort of unwritten law, perhaps implied in the very act of writing itself. When something is written, it should communicate, otherwise, the writer is stealing time and energy from the reader, and giving nothing back in return. I've actually toyed with the idea of trying to write something beautiful, that literally conveys nothing. I haven't figured out quite how I want to do that yet...

Anthony
Mark

Date: 5/3/2016 5:01:00 AM

i just write without any thought to the outcome ( hence i get chewed over grammar and puntuation) i write as quick as the reader reads and quite often put it into a contest or just on here without actually reading it... i find that to be quite scary and exhilerating, to read my write for the first time,..then again i am plain weird, a song , a sentence, a throw away word all steer me to write in THAT! moment, i have no set subject, except the darker side of human nature which intrigues me , my personal philosophy is if you have to spend more than 3 minutes on a write, it becomes a task, one that may reap rewards, but not a captured moment... great blog

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 9:50:00 AM

I do this too from time to time, but perhaps not quite as extreme. Unfortunately, I am too pedantic to just throw grammar and punctuation to the wind, unless it's an intentional act. But, I almost never spend less than three minutes...I think that is a real talent if you can translate your thoughts that quickly and still produce something coherent! The notion of capturing the moment is definitely an interesting intention.

Stephen
Pennell

Date: 5/3/2016 2:26:00 AM

No I start with good intentions usually a competition but if some thought pops in my head I go off on a tangent stepphen

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 9:51:00 AM

Yes...this is exactly like most of my writing. I feel a little aimless sometimes, hence my line of questioning. I wonder if I were to have a more defined intention, or purpose, whether my writing might become more meaningful, either for me or others. Not sure though.

Rob
Carmack

Date: 5/2/2016 10:13:00 PM

Really no formal process or method, it just happens when I see something that inspires me. I never know when it is going to happen, but when I see something, the right something, I know it's time. Before joining this site, those somethings could be years apart.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 4:35:00 PM

I am working towards becoming a professional writer (I was asked by a major Canadian publisher to rework a picture book manuscript and turn it into a first chapter book. I've done so and mailed it priority post on Monday. Hopeful, but not overly-confident. STRESSED would be the word...lol

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 9:55:00 AM

I agree! This site has been a bottomless well of inspiration. The community here is also very supportive and quick to offer their insights or give positive feedback. I really enjoy hearing how people interpret some of my writing...and very frequently, I will read a line, or an idea from someone else's work that ignites that little spark, and off I go. It's great.

Rob Carmack
Date: 5/3/2016 7:54:00 AM

Stephen, one of the things I like about this site, so much to observe and learn and you never know when inspiration is going to hit you.

Stephen Pennell
Date: 5/3/2016 2:31:00 AM

rob spot Im the same my poems usually had a theme something happened in my world or the world ! never wrote so many since joining the soup lol

Cyndi
Macmillan

Date: 5/2/2016 8:48:00 PM

Interesting blog! How I write and why I write is never stagnant. Sometimes, a poem has been 'lodged' in me for years, even decades, and I finally have been able to release them. Other times, I become aware of something and the words tumble out (I recently wrote a poem about the Geneva Free port and how priceless works of art are put into crates. Monets, Picassos, Matisses ... CRATED. I had to write about it) I revise my work almost neurotically and I submit my work to journals. Some poems are written for my daughter... little love notes to the future her. Like all writers I've met, I write because I must. It is as much for self-preservation, as for self-expression. Cheers. Cyndi

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/4/2016 5:19:00 PM

Hey, good luck with your book! I hope it makes you rich and famous. And thanks for sharing your process...it seems that we're all busy people just squeezing our writing into our schedules when we can, haha.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 5:16:00 PM

Lastly, as far as the poetry ideas that stew for years, most of these deal with specific memories/key events in my life that somehow marked/marred me forever. It's like they are there, but refuse to come out... they are scared to come out...

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 4:44:00 PM

Three of my poems have been accepted by Room, a literary journal established in the 1970's in Canada. The poems they accepted ROARED out of me. They were revised, but their core philosophy immediately formed on the page.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 4:41:00 PM

So my file simply said, "colour blindness poem to be" I added images and words.. like a brainstorm... just slapped them on the page... later... it became a poem.This works for me (as the mom of a young girl, I do not get to write when I want to write)

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 4:40:00 PM

I sometimes write one word into word and just title it about the idea... like... hmm.. okay, recently I had an idea about colour blindness. When I realized what it truly meant, it haunted me. I knew what I wanted to say, but I needed more time.

Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 5/3/2016 4:36:00 PM

The Grahamburglar
Date: 5/3/2016 10:00:00 AM

I recall in school being told to outline, then write, then revise, revise, revise. Take a break. Then come back and revise some more. I was far too much of a procrastinator for that method to be useful. Are you a writer by profession? How do you keep track of your ideas? Particularly, the ones that you stew on for years or decades?

My Past Blog Posts


Your Purpose Date Posted: 5/2/2016 8:23:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
4/3/2020	Do What You Must	Free verse	adventure,earth,freedom,n
3/16/2020	I'Ll See Myself Out	Free verse	addiction,depression,disc
8/5/2019	Dam It All - Sos	Free verse	abuse,america,betrayal,ch
6/3/2018	Yesterday's Gristmill	Free verse	environment,memory,music,
5/7/2017	I'M Here	Lanterne	baby,care,children,family
4/14/2017	Requiem of a Phoenix	Free verse	animal,birth,death,fire,m
4/7/2017	Butterfly Dreams	Rhyme	animal,bird,butterfly,fan
11/11/2016	The Shoes of Another	Free verse	anxiety,betrayal,freedom,
10/27/2016	Rise Up	Rhyme	celebrity,character,class
10/25/2016	Orphaned	Free verse	corruption,crazy,fear,psy
10/14/2016	Schutzstaffel	Quatrain	heaven,holocaust,horror,h
10/13/2016	Lost Battles	Rhyme	conflict,corruption,loss,
10/11/2016	Immortality	Kimo	analogy,character,growth,
9/18/2016	The Lament	Free verse	america,animal,memory,men
9/18/2016	Lest I Should Falter	Rhyme	addiction,anxiety,death,d
9/4/2016	In Emerald Shadows	Couplet	abuse,analogy,betrayal,da
8/21/2016	Galactic By the Gallon	Couplet	funny,humor,nonsense,spac
8/21/2016	Lacking	Couplet	america,conflict,judgemen
8/19/2016	Evening Prayer	Couplet	funny,humor,humorous,inse
8/18/2016	The Truth Stood Downcast	Quatern	goodbye,heartbreak,lost l
8/14/2016	War Machine	Free verse	age,forgiveness,remember,
5/14/2016	Summer Carousel	Monorhyme	beautiful,bird,magic,summ
5/13/2016	Nature Prayer	Monorhyme	beautiful,beauty,blessing
5/5/2016	Listen To the Warm	Prose	cute love,dedication,feel
5/5/2016	Growing Pains	Haiku	childhood,children,family
4/30/2016	More Than the Eye Can See	Free verse	truth,universe,
4/30/2016	Where Pomegranates Grow	Lyric	confidence,courage,creati
4/6/2016	Someone To Love	Free verse	best friend,childhood,dev
3/17/2016	Rough Stream of Thought	Free verse	life,psychological,truth,
2/21/2016	Pink Sky At Night	Couplet	childhood,children,funny,
2/20/2016	Delicious Self Empowerment	Free verse	introspection,
1/22/2016	Breathless -- Collaboration With Mystic Rose	Quatrain	addiction,beautiful,beaut
1/20/2016	Spiked Punch	Monoku	animal,dance,innocence,sc
12/20/2015	Christmas Magic	Acrostic	christmas,giving,holiday,
12/18/2015	Happiness-Acrostic	Acrostic	beautiful,child,children,
12/13/2015	Where Echoes Hide	Free verse	introspection,
12/13/2015	Avalanche	Couplet	addiction,allegory,beauti
11/18/2015	What More Am I	Free verse	child,christian,dark,hear
10/18/2015	Rusted Horn	Free verse	introspection,music,night
10/11/2015	Climbing Trees	Quatrain	change,flying,freedom,lon
9/30/2015	Thinker	Free verse	write,writing,
9/2/2015	Expedition	Free verse	adventure,happiness,innoc
8/31/2015	Shrug It Off	Free verse	anxiety,
8/30/2015	Sense of Touch	Free verse	bird,blessing,death of a
8/29/2015	Beautiful Wind	Couplet	wind,
8/22/2015	Quietly In the Night	Free verse	anxiety,dark,death,fear,n
8/22/2015	You'Re Old	I do not know?	appreciation,power,space,
8/22/2015	Quaking Aspen	Personification	autumn,earth,nature,sun,t
8/20/2015	Tin Man	Free verse	abuse,anger,betrayal,brea
8/16/2015	Puttin' On the Ritz	Free verse	beauty,celebrity,class,cl
8/16/2015	Love Thy Brothers	Couplet	anti bullying,blessing,ch
8/13/2015	Memory Lane	Couplet	anxiety,child,crazy,gende
8/13/2015	Laissez-Faire Lovers	Couplet	care,change,emotions,feel
8/13/2015	Nowhere To Hide	Free verse	age,destiny,future,lonely
8/1/2015	Summer Nights In the South	Quatrain	america,august,beautiful,
7/31/2015	Forgotten Hero	Bio	growing up,hero,identity,
7/30/2015	Scorn	Quatrain	betrayal,death,evil,money
7/30/2015	Rugged Path	Free verse	allegory,change,christian
7/26/2015	False Reality	Lyric	addiction,anxiety,confusi
7/26/2015	The Crosses In Your Eyes	Free verse	betrayal,depression,devot
7/25/2015	Grave Robbers	I do not know?	art,betrayal,boat,grave,n
7/19/2015	Enter Your Plea	Free verse	bullying,computer,judgeme
7/19/2015	Tied Up	Free verse	culture,freedom,life,work
7/18/2015	The Window	Free verse	memory,
7/16/2015	Fallen Star	Quatrain	earth,hate,heaven,life,li
7/12/2015	I See You	Couplet	confusion,corruption,emot
7/9/2015	Morning Dew	Free verse	good morning,water,
7/3/2015	Too Many Yesterdays	Free verse	lonely,time,
6/21/2015	The Crone	Quatrain	courage,dedication,fantas
6/20/2015	The New Hire	Couplet	girlfriend,humor,love,mon
6/17/2015	All the Stuff	Shape	addiction,earth,nature,si
6/14/2015	Piliferous Beast	Free verse	adventure,best friend,cra
6/14/2015	Dancing Bears	Personification	dance,humor,humorous,sill
6/14/2015	Sweats and Sweets	Triolet	angst,break up,chocolate,
6/13/2015	Ageless Eyes	Free verse	beauty,best friend,muse,n
6/13/2015	Once a Poplar	Quatrain	abuse,corruption,death,ra
6/12/2015	God's Realm	Free verse	god,
6/12/2015	Advice For New Writers	Free verse	wisdom,words,write,
6/8/2015	Eleanor	Free verse	bird,cat,life,time,today,
6/5/2015	Jester Dreams	I do not know?	dream,
6/5/2015	My Cloud By Preston	Free verse	angst,silver,sky,perspect
5/31/2015	A Child's Prayer	Free verse	bereavement,child,heartbr
5/31/2015	Ah, Bite Me	Rhyme	abuse,anger,break up,bull
5/31/2015	Allure	I do not know?	beautiful,beauty,flower,l
5/28/2015	Adopted Pluto	Free verse	childhood,fun,imagination
5/27/2015	Election 2016	Couplet	bird,change,earth,funny,h
5/27/2015	Surf	Triolet	blue,love,love hurts,ocea
5/24/2015	The Bard	Couplet	hero,language,poems,poete
5/22/2015	Sand	Free verse	introspection,psychologic
5/22/2015	Lost Touch	I do not know?	introspection,
5/22/2015	Squiggles	Free verse	words,
5/22/2015	Gold For Silver	Free verse	blue,confusion,dance,dark
5/16/2015	The Reverends Yacht	Monorhyme	corruption,dedication,dev
5/10/2015	The Red Crayon	Rhyme	child,childhood,children,
5/10/2015	Daylight Burning	Quatrain	children,fun,funny,games,
5/9/2015	Battle the Bees	Rhyme	autumn,change,dedication,
5/9/2015	Bitter	Free verse	allegory,appreciation,cul
5/8/2015	Lady Fingers	Prose	adventure,brother,childho
5/7/2015	When Clouds Hung Low	Rhyme	allegory,bird,storm,symbo
5/7/2015	Auctioneer	Free verse	corruption,culture,hurt,m

My Photos

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Can Poetry Matter	Verse	bird,humor,insect,love,me
Fortitude Ye Old Hero	Rhyme	devotion,faith,strength,
Essence of Being	Free verse	hope,identity,life,light,
Beauty and the Beast	Epic	adventure,animal,beautifu
A Long Loud Sigh	Free verse	introspection,drug,
Gift To Myself	Free verse	break up,emotions,identit
Shattered Lives	Rhyme	best friend,betrayal,hear
Somewhere In Between	Rhyme	life,memory,
September	Terzanelle	nature,sad,sun,time,
In the Reflection of the Shadows	Free verse	deep,nature,
Shotgun Lullaby	Free verse	absence,anger,angst,death
Snow -A Sleep	Rhyme	metaphor,
A Friendly Goodbye	Free verse	beauty,
Rose Oracle	Romanticism	longing,lost love,love,lo
Ancient Pose	Free verse	beauty,death,devotion,lov
Conquering the Blind Scales of Patriarchy	Iambic Pentameter	abuse,change,conflict,ins
My Cloud	Free verse	bird,garden,peace,
Pirate of My Heart	Narrative	fantasy,
Campfire	Free verse	analogy,animal,earth,fire
Acid Rain - For Contest	Free verse	loss,
Tonight I Could Paint a Moonlight	Free verse	emotions,journey,life,
Rain	Rhyme	metaphor,rain,spring,
Avoiding Beautiful September	Verse	beautiful,care,god,life,m
Peacocks and Predators	Imagism	animal,identity,
While Feeding the Ducks	Free verse	lost love,nostalgia,
My Words Washed You Away	Couplet	goodbye,lost love,ocean,s
Soul of Iron	Quatrain	death,grief,longing,sad,
Fading Glory	Sonnet	age,dream,introspection,n
One Brief Moment	Rhyme	imagery,nostalgia,

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Bill Yates	United States	Read
A. H. Sewell	United States	Read
Arthur Vaso	Canada	Read
Constance La France	Canada	Read
Poet Destroyer A	United States	Read
Paul Callus	Malta	Read
Charmaine Chircop	Malta	Read
Gerald Dillenbeck	United States	Read
Olive Eloisa Guillermo - Fraser	Philippines	Read
Viv Wigley	United Kingdom	Read
Andrea Dietrich	United States	Read
J. I. Thomas F.	United States	Read
Robert Lindley	United States	Read
Judy Konos	United States	Read
Michelle Mac Donald	Canada	Read
Becca Teagan	United States	Read
John Fleming	United Kingdom	Read
Earl Schumacker	United States	Read