The Poetteer

Personal Interpretation of The Tortured Poets  Dear readers, I enjoy reading a song and analyzing the lyrics. I love being able to detect the story she's telling while also interpreting it. I develop my own personal connection. Here's a breakdown why some of the lyrics have become my favorite. no one here to blame, what about your quiet treason. the betrayal brought her depression and she’s attempting to move on but the forced energy isn’t healing. It's about struggling with a traumatic situation alone because no one noticed the changes in you. The narrator is envious of those living peaceful lives and frustrated that friends found better people to be with. I've seen this episode and still loved the show, I've read this one where you come undone, I chose this cyclone with you. Depending on the perspective you choose it's about the guilt and regret for getting in your own way or willing to stay with someone through their mental illness. The voices in his head cal...

 Back in 2014 I wrote a short story with a little twist on little red riding hood. Enjoy!  Once upon a time lived a little girl named Ruqayyah. She lived in a small town with her parents. She didn't like being in big cities because it was busy and dirty. Grimy people were lurking in the shadows. She had the charm to make them good. There was something about her green eyes.  Her mother loved the color red and thought it would go well with Ruqayyah's green eyes. Mom bought red fabric and stitched her a headscarf. Ruqayyah loved it. She wore it every day.  One day her mother said to her: 'Come, Little Red, here are some homemade cookies, fruit, and dates; take them to your grandmother, she is ill and weak, and they will help her. Go before it gets hot, and walk nicely and quietly and do not run off the path, or you may fall and break the cookies or scrape your knee, then your grandmother won't get anything; and when you go into her room, don't forget to say, "Good...

Hello Poetteers,  I'm sharing more poetry books I discovered and am excited to read! March Coming Home to Her By Emily Juniper It is a celebration of being human. It is a coming out journey, an exploration of sexuality, femininity, loving, and being loved. How to Bloom By Tatyana White Jenkins A collection of poems about the enthralling, complex, grueling, and beautiful journey of growth. April The Gravity Inside Us By Chloe Frayne  An ode to whatever it is we carry that pulls us in and out of place, and speaks so insistently of fate. The Medicine That Burns by Molly S Hillery It is a raw declaration on what a life of trauma can look like after the dust settles and the poems have happy endings. It is an unflinching narrative on how hurt is cyclical, how recovery must be redefined repeatedly, and how shame can poison us in the worst ways. I See How You've Kept Me by Aisha Adams A debut poetry book that takes you through a journey of brokenness to reach complete healing. May The...

Hello Poetteers,  Going wide can be overwhelming. Finding a good distributor can help lessen the stress. I started using Draft2Digital to reach ebook retailers unavailable through Smashwords. Like Smashwords and Amazon, it’s free and easy to use. I enjoy using D2D for its features. The interface is easier to use while Smashwords needs an updated facelift. You can schedule sales ahead of time on D2D while on Smashwords you need to set the sale on the same day. On Amazon, you can’t place your book for sale or free unless you exclusively publish with them. Smashwords sales use coupon codes that buyers will have to remember. A benefit from that is you can have a private or public sale. Smashwords can be nit-picky about your book format. If it fails the review, your book won’t be available on the Premium Catalog. D2D helps with table of contents and adding in end matter. It allows you to add a design style. It’s accessible to download MOBI and EPUB. You can pick which retailers you want...

Hello Poetteers,  Self publishing can vary from being free to expensive. It depends on your skills, if you're willing to be self taught and hire out for higher quality work.  Indie author publishing tools A cover designer can run between $150-$300  An editor costs between $200-$400  There are other expenses like formatter and illustrator.  Or you could do the cover and interior by yourself on programs like InDesign which costs about $240 a year. Vellum is $250, a book formatting software for Mac.  Distributors IngramSpark is $50 - to upload a book & then $25 for each revision. Other expenses Isbns $125 - from the Bowker site (for US only). You can purchase an isbn (2 for each: paperback & ebook) to have your name and LLC attached to your book. You can also use a free one through your distributors. Their publishing company will be attached to your book. Also, you’ll have several different isbns for your book through all the distributors you use. Re...

Hello Poetteers, How to know you’re over-editing Something we all worry about is over-editing. It’s bound to happen. Over-editing is when your work is no longer moving forward. It happens when you doubt it's not good enough and are attached to what readers think. You will know when the emotion in the poems are lost and you're not excited anymore. The poems sound the same & you feel tired with the poems. There are no questions left to ask. You're focused on the same section and tiny details. You can't finish because it's hard to let go.  How to tackle it when it happens Remind yourself that you're writing for yourself. Hopefully you are saving each draft. Don’t be afraid to go back to an older version of the poems. How to prevent it Set deadlines. Take breaks in between each round and use a checklist. Send it to beta readers and an editor.  Are you looking for a poetry editor? Check out my services and snag a spot!  Stay inspired,  Fida 

Hello Poetteers,  Editing my own work is harder than editing for my clients. With my clients I see it from an outside perspective. I’m attached to my poems. I may not see the plot holes or may not pay attention to the tone of poem. Editing is a skill you can improve on. Analyze the poems you read and study the songs you listen to. Ask yourself what you like and dislike about the poems? What would you do differently?  Are you looking for a poetry editor? Check out  my services  and snag a spot! 

Hello Poetteers,  There are four options when it comes to editing a body of work. It's best to use all of them. You can't rely on online editing apps unconditionally. It doesn't replace an actual editor. It helps you have a clean manuscript to give to your editor. With that, they can dive deep into your story to give you the copy edits you're looking for.  Self editing : find a checklist and familiarize yourself with the track changes feature on your word processor.  Editing software : services like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and AutoCrit Beta readers and sensitivity readers : they will give an outside perspective and look for accuracy.  Professional editor : hire one that specializes in your genre and provides the feedback you're looking for.  Formatting your work is the next step after editing. Two softwares to consider are Vellum and Indesign. I wish you the best of luck with your work!  Are you looking for a poetry editor? Check out my services and snag...

Hello Poetteers,  When it comes to editing their poetry chapbooks poets print out every poem and rearrange it until it best tells a story and flows well. It's a good method that helps you physically see how the story can work and moves your headspace so that you don't feel stuck.  My body of works are larger and honestly I don't want to waste paper. It could work better for smaller projects. I could possibly focus on the rearrangement by chapter. What works for me is to have a list of the titles, a topic jogger and number it in the order I want them in. Then I go into the document and move the poems. After all that my first step is to read it in full and read it aloud. As I do that I take notes on paper or through track changes. I start with the smaller tasks and move on to the bigger ones.  For Individual Poems: Remove unnecessary words and lines Look up synonyms and rhymes Rearrange lines or stanzas and change POV Expand and personalize: research about the topic, look a...

Hello Poetteers,  I'm here again to compile the upcoming poetry book releases of 2021.   January I Must Belong Somewhere By Dawn Lanuza  Written during her year of rest and travel, this new collection speaks to the indescribable feelings of displacement and longing for the companionship she left behind. If I Tell The Truth by Jasmin Kaur Told in prose, poetry, and illustration, this heartrending story talks about living undocumented and the constant anxiety over safety. Poems for the Dawn by Jen Rogue In her Letters for the Universe Goodreads Choice Nominated poet J.R. Rogue shares intimate poems written lovingly for her readers. Take a journey through the eyes of author and reader as Rogue shares a glimpse into the private task of writing poetry dedicated to readers worldwide. Shine Your Icy Crown by Amanda Lovelace This is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king i...

 Hello Poetteers, I had the honor of editing this poetry collection.  it's past midnigth somewhere by Jamal-e-Fatima My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love the imagery of nature and love. There is a beautiful awareness of cultural identity and faith. It resonated with me. I can feel the pain and pride behind the poems. There are pieces included that empower the reader. Purchase the book !

Hello Poetteers,  Is Amazon publishing worth it? Amazon KDP is the most well know book distributor among indie authors. It’s easy and free. The pro is that it’s a site with lots of traffic. It has a rating system to get your book on their own bestselling lists. Amazon’s sole focus isn’t book distribution. They sell everything. You want to find a company who prioritizes their authors. Places like BookBaby, IngramSpark and Smashwords. It’s important to diversify your marketing. Your book should still be sold on Amazon and also use other distributors to reach retailers like Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, etc. All your eggs shouldn’t be in one basket. You want to expand your reach. When getting ready to publish and promote your book, one important thing is cost. What are the expenses on your book? What is your income goal? As a self published poet I’m competing with traditionally published authors. Traditionally published poetry books (paperbacks) are priced at $8 to $16. Ebooks ...

Hello Poetteers, I recently read The Sweetest Kind of Poison by Katie Wismer and enjoyed it.  She released a new poetry book today! Blurb: If you are underwhelmed by me, please just let me go... Poems for the End of the World is a coming of age collection and exploration of the confusing and disillusioning trek through young adulthood in a broken world. Divided into four chapters—waking up, growing pains, crushing realities, and disappointing beginnings—this collection covers everything from self-discovery and heartbreak to chronic illness and fresh starts. Author Bio: Katie Wismer is a die-hard pig lover, semi-obsessive gym rat, and longtime sucker for a well-written book. She studied creative writing and sociology at Roanoke College and now works as a freelance editor in Colorado with her cats Max and Dean. Her first poetry collection The Sweetest Kind of Poison and her debut novel The Anti-Virginity Pact are available anywhere books are sold. When she's not writing, reading, o...

Hello Poetteers, Original Poem Always when I talk with you, I'm afraid to say everything because I think you might not understand it all because of the somewhat different beliefs we have. Yet you ask questions to help me. And I'm glad you do. We are, together breaking down another wall of isolation. Response Poem I hold back afraid to say anything worried you might not understand because of the different beliefs we have;  you say something that contradicts my beliefs and I shrink back wishing someone else was in place where I didn’t have to explain the cultural expectations before expressing how I feel You are willing to ask questions and learn it feels tiring like there’s no space for me. Behind the Poem I enjoy sharing my beliefs and values. Sometimes I get tired of having to explain my religious beliefs and cultural values, especially before pouring out my emotions. I wish people were more aware and understanding of different cultures and religions. That right there is why...

Hello Poetteers, In part one I talked about controlling the narrative . Writing from a human’s perspective you didn’t experience can be problematic. There are other ways you can write from other perspectives that aren’t your own. Explore and personify emotions, colors, nature, and other inanimate objects like furniture, etc. Writing is exploratory. Within ourselves we have different perspectives on our own experiences. Write what happened but also explore what you wish happened. After you write about a negative moment explore the positives. Write to the child in you then write to the adult in you. After pointing out your weaknesses look for your strengths. Analyze your old poetry and look for a new angle you can use. You may just surprise yourself. stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers, Like any other writer my work has evolved through the years. A to Z Poetry is my first book. Reading from it makes me cringe. There are still some gems in it. I don’t want to unpublish it. I want myself and my readers to see the evolution. For its 7th anniversary I decided to write a few response poems to the book. Original Poem  Everyone has their own guardian angel guiding us always they are here to protect us from everything guardian angels are always there every step of the way. Response Poem My heart should have been hurt but I walked away without a scratch I feel a sense of peace wash over me as I know an angel was watching over me protecting my heart. A to Z Poetry is available for purchase on Smashwords . stay inspired, Fida

The Garden Through the window I see the morning dew  I feel your sunlight  the wind chimes and birds chirp  buds fill the branches  The morning spring light  nourishes the blossoming -  flowers and my soul  The breeze brings  the first fragrance  of freshly bloomed flowers  bringing vibrant colors to the earth  watching clouds float and shape-shift  perfect for bare feet and day dreams  I sit in silence, unmoved  two little birds were chirping loudly  playing in our garden  chirping to their friends  I hear their wings flutter and dance in the bird bath  the flowers you water pray for you  the birds you feed pray for you. Behind the Poem The poem wasn’t written in one sitting. It started as three haikus in response to some April prompts . In June I wrote a garden poem. I noticed one stanza had the same line as one of the haikus: " Enjoy the little joys  the breeze brings wind chimes and ...

Hello poets, I've noticed people reading poems from male 'she' poets. It’s frustrating. Its tiring. Men plagiarizing women’s work. Men mistranslating other poets' work. Men writing about women’s trauma. They should not be writing about women's experiences. Men should not be writing about female trauma or beautifying mental illness. They can’t tell women how they should feel and deal with their mental illnesses and trauma. You can write dark pieces and about mental illnesses without "romanticizing" it and being harmful. Leave females to write about their own traumas and their own stories. Have you ever read a poem about their personal human experience? Do you notice who they refer to in their poems? If they never talk about their own experiences and always share someone’s else narrative it can be problematic. We shouldn’t be writing about a human perspective we haven’t experienced. We should control our own narrative and pass the mic to the other necessary ...

Hello Poetteers, Communication is vital. When hiring an editor here are a few things to keep in mind:  read their service page request a sample edit to see if we are a good fit discuss the kind of feedback you need and ask how they edit figure out and be clear about the payment plan. It varies between editors how they calculate the cost. ask how long will the editing take? (and their timeline. De clear if you have your own deadline.) be aware that there may be an up-charge for extra tasks.  Lastly, editors want to know the genre of your work and the length of your manuscript.  Stay inspired, Fida Message me when your poetry is ready to be edited and you're interested in working with me. 

Hello Poetteers, I decided to do a different and fun post for this week. I'm sure a majority of us including me have been listening to 'Folklore'. I love a really good lyric. It's relatable and up to the reader/listener's interpretation. I want to breakdown why some of the lyrics have become my favorite. cardigan:  "I knew you'd haunt all of my what-ifs"  Listening to this line I think of anxiety.  the last great american dynasty: "She had a marvelous time ruining everything." I love the change in POV. This particular line makes me think of loud woman breaking cultural and societal expectations. exile : "you're not my homeland anymore."  I love the two voices in this song. There is another lyric that I love the alliteration in but this particular line pulls at my heart because it reminds me of those in diaspora.  my tears ricochet : "I didn't have it in myself to go with grace." I think of my self doubts, overth...