Jane Johnson: When you've started a book of poetry, do they consider each poem a chapter?
    nor84: No. When you post a chapter to a novel, you sign that it is part of a novel and cannot stand alone. That would not be true of poems. You can put them in a collection, but they are stand-alone posts, not book chapters. -
    Jane Johnson: Thanks! Yep, that is confusing, because when you put something in a book here, it automatically lists it as a new chapter, which freaks me out...because I don't think of a poem as a chapter either. That's what I thought. -
    Jane Johnson: Tried writing a script tonight. Never really thought I would go to such lengths, but then heck why not? So, we'll see what happens. Certainly not looking to be a screenwriter, but then you never know. -
    Jane Johnson: So I got my book of poetry ready and marked it complete. Now what do I do? Do I have to notify someone to review it, or do they just get messages that someone has marked a book complete? -


Jane Johnson: You'd have to laugh! I woke up this morning and got on the computer to see what the new prompts and contests were on FanStory. A clarity poem? Yea. Last day to enter. So, I got busy and wrote one. Worked on it about an hour until it got to where I wanted it, went back to submit it and you could no longer enter a poem in the contest! I was so disappointed! So, I guess I'll save it for the next one. hahaha
    adewpearl: that is the one up side to the constantly repeating prompts - there is sure to be another Clarity poem contest in the next few weeks :-) -
    Jane Johnson: Well Adewpearl that's what I was thinking, so I saved in on my computer...waiting with bated breath. hahahaha -
    Jane Johnson: You know I expect people to judge my writing on its' quality, on the subject, on it's rhyme and rhythm, on its' flow; not whether you necessarily like it or not or approve of the subject. If that is what is going on here, I have given way to many 5's and I will need to change that. Maybe I will start rating people on whether I like their poem or not. Is that what I'm supposed to do here? Most of you are careful with your criticism and remarks, but others are just down right rude and nasty! I have many times ran into someone that has misspelled a word throughout. Spell check doesn't always pick it up, because it is a word with more than one spelling. That doesn't make my poem bad or distasteful and deserving of only what your conscience will allow. After being a word processor for 15 years, an editor, and a desktop publisher....I DO KNOW HOW TO SPELL!!!! I have never given anyone a three or four on a writing, because they made a spelling error. PLEASE! But, I did explain to them that it was spelled wrong and let them fix it and graded them based on the idea that they knew how to go back and fix that mistake. Wow! I would prefer if you don't like what I'm writing about, skip over me, because I don't respond well to pissy, snide remarks. That is not considered kind or constructive for anyone.

    People need to be really careful with what you type in messages; when you can't see expressions on faces, words can be very hurtful.

    My other suggestion is to newbies. If you are reviewing someone's poetry or story and you don't like it, maybe it's just because you don't understand the meaning behind it. There are a lot of very good. serious writers on here with much experience that have published books all ready. It pays to go to the right side of the screen and view ratings before you write, as you may have not understood what you read. It happens. -
    garrymc5: On the other hand, if people write badly, why not do them the favour of pointing out how, where and maybe why? Givin a four for poor writing is helping none. -
    Jane Johnson: I always do that! I seldom ever give anyone a four or less. I think you need to give your opinion about how that writer can change the verse to make it sound better. I don't care for rude people. I think everyone puts a lot of time in what they do and deserves to be treated with respect. -


Jane Johnson: I have written quite a few poems now and have gotten quite a few best quality awards and won a few contests, but how do I know when I've written a poem good enough to have it reviewed by FanStory for professional quality?
    redrider6612: You can't submit just one. You have to put at least 5 poems of a common theme with a total of at least 100 lines into a book and mark it complete. As for the question are you ready? You never know until you try. -
    Jane Johnson: Well I have about 50 poems written here, so I think I could come up with that. Then what do I do next? -


Jane Johnson: I just started my first book of poetry and short stories called "Dandelion Wine and Summer Roses." I am so excited!
    Titan Black: HER FIRST BOOK IS BEING WRITTEN. CAN SHE SEE IT HITTIN? FITTIN IN? THERE WILL BE NO SUCH THING AS "SHE DIDN'T WIN".

    WHICH MEANS THAT ITS FORSEEN THAT SHE WON'T CRY. DON'T LIE WHEN YOU USE YOUR IMANGINATION.
    DON'T ABUSE YOUR CONGRADULATIONS.

    FOR, YOUR FIRST BOOK IS THE START OF A LEGACY.
    AND WITHOUT FANS, THERE'S A VACANCY WITHIN THAT LEGACY.

    OFFICIALLY A POETESS. BUT BEFORE YOU WRITE THAT BOOK, YOU SHOULD KNOW THE RISK. IF ITS NOT POETRY IN MOTION. WHERE WE CAN GO TO SEE THE OCEAN. A FLOW SO DEEP, THAT THE OCEAN IS POETRY IN MOTION.

    SOME WILL SAY YOUR A FLUKE. OTHERS WILL DISCOVER THAT THEY HAVE WAYS TO REBUKE.
    SO, YOU'LL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR A POETESS. AND THAT'S POSITIVELY A LOT OF KARMA. AND IT WILL HELP YOU FIGHT THROUGH THE DRAMA. LIKE BULLET PROOF BODY ARMOR.

    SO, I SAY HER FIRST BOOK IS BEING WRITTEN. AND I CAN SEE IT HITTIN. JUST AS LONG AS WRITES FROM THE HEART. AND GETS LIGHT FROM HER ART. MEANING, STAY TRUE TO THE ART, AND IT WILL STAY TRUE TO YOU.

    CONGRATS: TITAN BLACK -
    Jane Johnson: Thank you! I am so excited and happy about that win! I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep and decided to get on FanStory and check out their writing prompts and contests. This disco inferno contest looked kind of interesting, so by 7:00 in the morning, I had written this poem and went back to bed. It came to me quite easily and I'm sooooooo pleased that it came in first. Thank you guys so much for your support! -
    Jane Johnson: Thank you Titan Black and Anupam sharma for your kind words. I appreciate it and it motivates me to keep trying harder to reach my goal. :) -


Jane Johnson: My last sibling and immediate family member died yesterday. He had just turned 66 in December, so I'm sure there are words brewing into something here soon. I've lost my whole family since 2007 from various things, so I'm feeling a bit beat up emotionally. One of these days, the words will start to flow again.....
    Grammies: Just think of all the angels watching over you! May your burden lighten with each day. -
    Lisa Charlie: I am sooo sorry to hear this. Please accept my sincere condolences. -
    Jane Johnson: Thanks to all of you for your well wishes and condolences. Just part of life I guess. -
    Jane Johnson: In memory of my brother that just passed on the 18th of this month, and my 62nd birthday today, I found this beautiful poem:

    "The Station"

    Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision.
    We are traveling by train, out the windows,
    we drink in the passing scenes of children
    waving at a crossing,
    cattle grazing on a distant hillside,
    row upon row of corn and wheat,
    flat lands and valleys,
    mountains and rolling hillsides
    and city skylines.

    But uppermost in our minds is the final destination.
    On a certain day, we will pull into the station.
    Bands will be playing and flags waving.
    Once we get there, our dreams will come true
    and the pieces of our lives
    will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle.
    Restlessly we pace the aisles,
    damning the minutes - waiting,
    waiting, waiting for the station.

    "When we reach the station, that will be it!"
    We cry. "When I'm 18." "When I buy a new 450sl Mercedes Benz!"
    "When I put the last kid through college."
    "When I have paid off the mortgage!"
    "When I get a promotion." "When I reach retirement,
    I shall live happily ever after!"

    Sooner or later, we realize there is no station,
    no one place to arrive.
    The true joy of life is the trip.
    The station is only a dream.
    It constantly outdistances us.
    "Relish the moment" is a good motto.
    It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad.
    It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow.
    Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
    Regret is reality, after the facts.

    So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles.
    Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream,
    go barefoot more often,
    swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less.
    Life must be lived as we go along.

    The STATION will come soon enough.

    by Robert Hastings
    -
    rwilliam: Oh wow. how beautiful. This is so well written and full of emotion. A great message. I'm so sorry for your loss. Hugs across the miles. May you feel the Lord's arms around you in this time. -
    steevie : My condolences, Jane! I'm sad for you, but rest assure that you have some nice friends on this site that will support you in any way that you need. Take care
    steve m -
    Jane Johnson: Thanks Steve. Haven't heard from you in a few days. Maybe you decided to go fishing after all! -


Jane Johnson: Thank you so much for making me the contest winner for the Are you, you are contest. I am so honored and happy! It motivates me to keep trying.


Jane Johnson: Yes! finally figured out how to get my picture on here and my story. I hope you like it!


Jane Johnson: I appreciate all of your great reviews and comments; however, if you notice me copying and pasting the same response over and over again, it's because I've read each of them and tried to write something that pertained to all. I have a rotary cuff injury right now from moving and my fingers are numb on my right hand, which is my predominant hand, so it's hard for me to type. I appreciate your understanding. It is painstaking for me, as I've been a typist all my life and now it's the one thing I'm having trouble with and I don't like it! Thanks for understanding. Jane


Jane Johnson: Have been taking a little break from writing. I got my days and nights so mixed up, I couldn't sleep anymore.
    BOWLED300: Jane thanks for the warm welcome and for checking out my poems. Look forward to learning to write better thanks John -