Tag Archives: poetry

Quote For The Weekend (Roadtrip Edition)

Posted on April 19, 2012 by PB Rippey

What is the feeling when you’re driving away from people, and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? -it’s the too huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Poetry, Writer's Angst, Writing | Tagged 2012, Jack Kerouac, On The Road, poetry, USC, writing | 3 Comments

Tulip Red Umbrella

Posted on April 17, 2012 by PB Rippey

In case you missed it, Carol Muske Dukes has an appreciation of Adrienne Rich right here, in the Sunday, 4/16/12 edition of the LA Times. There you will find reference to a tulip red umbrella and its owner. Speaking of Carol, … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Writer quotes, Writing | Tagged 2012, Adrienne Rich, Carol Muske Dukes, Kindle Fire, LA Times, Pink Tuxedos, poetry, preschoolers, Rita Dove, Rocklin, Spring Spirit 2012, YA Muses | Leave a comment

Switched Hats

Posted on April 5, 2012 by PB Rippey

All week I’ve taken a break from my children’s novels in order to scour my grownup novel—a few chapters a night. I have revised as I’ve read (of course), refusing to backtrack until I make it to The End. Or—something mostly kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Children's Books, Fiction, ocean related, Poetry, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2012, beach, children's literature, fiction writing, ocean, personal goals, Plot and structure, poetry, preschoolers, writer's block | 3 Comments

Quote For The Weekend (Rich Edition)

Posted on March 31, 2012 by PB Rippey

Sleeping, turning in turn like planets rotating in their midnight meadow: a touch is enough to let us know we’re not alone in the universe, even in sleep… —Adrienne Rich Diving Into The Wreck made such an impression on me … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Quotes, Writer quotes | Tagged 2012, Adrienne Rich, Diving Into The Wreck, poetry, writing | 2 Comments

Brief Blog Break

Posted on March 27, 2012 by PB Rippey

I am stamping the blog with a poem instead of PB’s impressions as I prepare to hoof it out of town. Hoping that this get-away reboots my brain and produces thousands of words as I work on a certain bit of sequel. T … Continue reading →

Posted in ocean related, Poetry, Santa Barbara, Writing | Tagged 2012, beach, fiction writing, poetry, preschoolers, Santa Barbara, writer's retreat | 1 Comment

Quote For The Weekend (Poem Edition That May Last Until Next Weekend Due To Secret Project, Beautifying The Ponderosa & After Effects Of Polishing Off Box Of Birthday See’s Candy & Snickers Bar Cake—Which Created The Most Hyper Preschooler On The Planet)

Posted on February 24, 2012 by PB Rippey

This poem won me a fellowship to the Abroad Writers’ Conferences. I debated thoroughly utilizing the generous benefits of my fellowship and hightailing it to Thailand, especially as my dear, cool, ever-fascinating friend Chris Abani was a workshop leader and how … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Poetry, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2012, Abroad Writers Conferences, Chiang Mai, Nightmares With Moons, poetry, preschoolers, Pudding House, Thailand, writer's retreat, writing | 1 Comment

Speaking Of Poetry

Posted on January 23, 2012 by PB Rippey

Askew , a poetry journal, accepted a poem of mine for their May issue. It’s nice to have an acceptance so early in the year, providing me with impetus to keep submitting my work even when the day starts at … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2012, Askew poetry, Marsha de la O, personal goals, poetry, Ventura, writing | 4 Comments

I Told You So

Posted on January 16, 2012 by PB Rippey

We hit town late afternoon-ish and I immediately honor the request for the museum and its entertaining dinosaur footprints indented in cement, pgymy mammoth bones, taxidermied (the fraying sort) mountain animals and vultures, buttons igniting barn owl shrieks and snake … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, ocean related, Poetry, Santa Barbara, Writing | Tagged 2012, beach, children's literature, fiction writing, ocean, poetry, preschoolers, writing | 1 Comment

Quote For The Weekend (Another Sunday Late Edition Blrrrrgh)

Posted on January 15, 2012 by PB Rippey

The blood jet is poetry/there is no stopping it. —Sylvia Plath I could stare at this photo for hours…

Posted in Poetry, Quotes | Tagged 2012, poetry, Poets, sylvia plath, writer, writing | 1 Comment

Writer, Activist, Leader (And The List Goes On)

Posted on December 18, 2011 by PB Rippey

RIP “I would be glad if it was felt that I have done something generally useful. I don’t care much about personal fame or popularity. I would be satisfied with the feeling that I had a chance to help with … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Poetry, Quotes, Theatre, Writing | Tagged 2011, poetry, Vaclav Havel, writing | Leave a comment

See? Not So Proud

Posted on October 11, 2011 by PB Rippey

Tripping on stage at the very end of a performance, during the denoument, the final vital monologue. Tripping. So hard, so clumsily, there was no hiding it. Tripping. So that everyone in that theatre was yanked out of their suspension of … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Fiction, Me and Us, Poetry, To Explain, Writing, WTF | Tagged 2011, acting, agatha christie, bread loaf writers' conference, children's literature, erica jong, JRR Tolkien, middle grade writing, poetry, sylvia plath, writing | 5 Comments

Pass The Cognac, Baby

Posted on October 3, 2011 by PB Rippey

My husband and I are parents not used to going out in the evening together—just us— no preschooler in tow. I may hit a book club or Target by myself around 8p.m. My husband may work late one or two … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Me and Us, Poetry, poetry reading, Santa Barbara, To Explain, WTF | Tagged 2011, Beyond Baroque, book club, cognac, date night, panic, poetry, poetry reading, preschoolers, writing | 4 Comments

The Elusive Palomino

Posted on September 29, 2011 by PB Rippey

As I was writing/editing and avoiding my laptop’s Internet connection in my bed office yesterday (see canny Zadie Smith quote from previous post), utilizing the sweet patch of me-as-writer time following leg-destroying yoga and before I was to pick my son up … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, books, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, poetry reading, Quotes, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2011, fiction writing, middle grade writing, Modern Family, palominos, personal goals, poetry, preschoolers, TV, writer's angst, writing, Zadie Smith | 3 Comments

DUMMY

Posted on September 19, 2011 by PB Rippey

I have a new special writing/revising trick. Starting with the first three chapters of my novel, I copy and paste them into a brand new fresh document, print, then edit/revise/correct/read-aloud/enhance/make-marvelous, etc. I throw the hardcopy edits into the brand new … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, books, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, poetry reading, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2011, children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writer's angst, writing | 4 Comments

Free Hugs

Posted on September 11, 2011 by PB Rippey

Because even then I didn’t have TV and iphones weren’t invented yet, I received the news via a phone call from my sister up in Santa Barbara. Shortly after speaking with her, as I sat alone in my little cocoon … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, poetry reading, Writing | Tagged 2011, 9/11 tribute, poetry, writing | 1 Comment

Poetry Reading

Posted on September 7, 2011 by PB Rippey

On Saturday, October 1st, 7:30p.m., I will be reading with other poets featured in The Pedestal Magazine at Beyond Baroque in Venice. Having just come from an extremely sparsely attended reading by the California Poet Laureate, I’m hoping there will … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, books, Poetry, poetry reading, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, Beyond Baroque, California Poet Laureate, poetry, writer, writing | 2 Comments

Quote For The Weekend: Holiday Edition

Posted on July 3, 2011 by PB Rippey

The American Flagfish (captured edition) The best way to enhance freedom in other lands is to demonstrate here that our democratic system is worthy of emulation. —Jimmy Carter

Posted in fish, Me and Us, ocean related, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2011, fish, life, ocean, personal goals, poetry, writing | Leave a comment

When I Write

Posted on July 1, 2011 by PB Rippey

I might wake up many times during any night due to: Nightmares involving fedora-wearing aliens intent on making off with my son. The certainty that I have heard a loud noise, which means rising from bed and checking my son’s room and the rest … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, books, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, cats, chaos, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, labrador, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writer's angst, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Piddlings

Posted on June 10, 2011 by PB Rippey

I printed out a “finished” poem and left it on the chair next to my bed desk. I left the room. When I returned, I discovered that fearless, scratches-inflicting, wild, out of control, great white shark-mouthed and terminally cute Diggory-The-Kitten had … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Me and Us, Parakeet, Poetry, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, cats, chaos, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, labrador, poetry, toddlers, writer, writing | 1 Comment

Fever!

Posted on February 28, 2011 by PB Rippey

I need the sort of writing fever that allows multi-tasking. I need to be able to be ill AND revise a novel and engage the 3 year old and toss the tennis ball for the dog, fold laundry, garden (i.e. yank … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, beach, chaos, cornwall, doc martin, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, flu, guilt, life, middle grade writing, multi-tasking, novels, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Moon Night

Posted on January 31, 2011 by PB Rippey

Shawls of cool sea fog wafted along Anapamu Street just in time for the event, chilling the artists set up on the gallery’s front patio and across the way—in front of the hushed, monolithic library—attempting to capture the full moon … Continue reading →

Posted in Me and Us, ocean related, Poetry, poetry reading, Santa Barbara, Writing | Tagged art, fiction writing, full moon, life, mom's night out, poetry, Santa Barbara, toddlers, writer's retreat | 2 Comments

Writing Fever

Posted on December 21, 2010 by PB Rippey

It’s going to take longer for me to reach my number one goal. I can’t rush this revision, even if I wanted to. Yes, domestics ALWAYS come into play when it comes to writing, such as: My son’s flu, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged cats, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, labrador, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writing | Leave a comment

Poet Distracted By Whales

Posted on November 9, 2010 by PB Rippey

Had to take a break from editing Trouble. Did so by editing a new poem. It’s almost 9p.m. My spouse has once again passed out with the toddler when putting him to bed. There is nothing to distract me from editing … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, Me and Us, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged chaos, children's literature, life, personal goals, poetry, SCBWI, toddlers, whales, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Pack Leader

Posted on October 22, 2010 by PB Rippey

I have not posted of late. See picture on left. We brought him into our pack and I have been adjusting to the dog element as it relates to freaked out housecats and a toddler with beaucoup d’energy. Le French … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged beach, Big Sur, children's literature, dog, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, Henry Miller Library, labrador, life, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writer's retreat, writing | Leave a comment

New Workings

Posted on October 11, 2010 by PB Rippey

Depending on who you talk to (my spouse, Facebook, my infernal muse, ABC.com…) I am working on a new poem. As proof, and in danger of ex-ing myself from the writing genre, here are some lines from this new poem … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, Me and Us, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged domestic bliss, domestics, Facebook, fiction, fiction writing, life, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, Trader Joe's, TV, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment