References!!!! Don't sew me please i am a poor student...

Phace – Rational. (May 17 2008). Retrieved 22 September 2008, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfSFN5sRm8M

Phace, Noisia – Levitation. (June 27 2008). Retrieved 22 September 2008, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpfaq7Y0H84

Forest in Emmet County after a fresh snowfall.(n.d.) Retrieved 4 November 2008. From http://www.airninja.com/pictures/northern_michigan/snowy_forest.htm

Sylvia Plath reads “The Stones”. (may 10 2008) Retrieved 4 November 2008, from http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=gUpZQMeHumw

Make Nimble Writing Your Marketing USP.(2007) Retrieved 8 August 2008, from : www.verbatimbiz.co.uk/

Lewis Music Library (02/27/08) Retrieved 5 November 2008, from libraries.mit.edu/music/news/406/home.html

Looking back... and ahead..

This is a photo of my closest friend, standing on top of a hill in Waihi, reading a poem from one of her favourite anthologies. It is moments like these that solidify my passion for any form of expressive writing and makes me very excited for what the future holds for me within that industry.

In my proposal I have explained my choice of topic for this blog and have shared with you a bit about my writing history and involvement. I will continue my reflection here now that the end of this particular journey looms...

This course had been a huge learning curve for me and has changed the way I understand the internet world and all its possibilities but also where I fit into this world and how I can use it for my own career and personal advantages. When I first begun this course, I was very anti-technology or computer literate. I preferred (and still usually do) sitting down with a pen and paper to write anything, and then typing it out to be printed; the less time behind a computer screen the better. But now, I have gained such a broader understanding of the technological world and all its possibilities, which are not as negative as I initially assumed. Despite how difficult it was for me to familiarize myself with the course and its content (being entirely computer based), I am grateful to have taken it, for the knowledge I have gained which has opened up doors of possibility I never thought of or saw myself possessing before.

In terms of my project work, I am very pleased with the outcome of my final blog. I was impressed with how easy the program was to use and the options it offers, however I do think it would be better if there were more options in terms of page layout and composition. Also I found it awkward to keep my posts in chronological order as the newest ones are always at the top, so my proposal, which I would have liked to be at the top, is at the bottom. I have tried to delete my newest posts and replace it with my proposal so it always stays at the top but I decided to give up on that, hence why its not at the very bottom.

I have made my project fairly personal, partly due to the nature of my topic, but also because the program allows and encourages (I would say) writers to be on a more personal level with their audiences.I enjoyed the freedom this course allowed me to integrate material and knowledge I got from my other papers such as the creative writing class ‘Storylines’. Posting some work I wrote as part of that class helped me get a better understanding of the work itself as it was instantly on display for the whole world to read, so from that perspective, my writing style changed a bit, so it was more understandable, accessible and enjoyable for people to read. Those were my aspirations when I posted my writing, and I hope they were successful.

From the feedback I have received I would say that my goals were achieved!I enjoyed the course’s general composition; the formative feedback allowed me insight into my progress and where I needed to improve. It is very reassuring knowing that your teachers know and share with you exactly where you are at and what more you need to work on. This helped me get to where I am now immensely.I am very optimistic and excited about the knowledge this course had allowed me to have so that one day soon I can use it to further my writing career and networking.

Lastly, i would really like to emphasise, as i have done throughout my blog, the fun and freedom everyone can get from expressive writing. It does not need to be poetry or stories or anything really, as long as the conscious barrier between mind and hand is learned to be broken, the posobilitied become truly infinite. So for any one's interest as to where to go in terms of being published, or incetive to write for various writing competitions or to simply have an idea of this country's happenings around expressive writing, i will leave you with a link to the New Zealand Poetry Society (but it is not all poem based!). It is what encouraged me and broadened my understanding and network of poetry and writers in the country, and led to my 'Sign Language' poem being published. Here it is, go hard! http://www.poetrysociety.org.nz/

Sylvia Plath reads - 'The Stones'

This is a poem read by the famous poet who took her own life, Sylvia Plath. She was one of the first poets that unlocked the door to writing for me and her work is truly amazing. Some of her most succsessful and popular works are "Lady Lazarus", "Daddy" and "The Bell Jar". She has an eary, dark tone in all her writing, and hearing it read by her own eary voice is uncomparable to any I have heard before. I hope you enjoy it.

Sign Language

This piece was published in the November 2007 addition of 'A Fine Line'; the Magazine of the New Zealand Poetry Society. I wrote it last year whilst at Uni, feeling rather miserable and caged in especially thanks to the surplus ammounts of "do not" this and "please put" that signs in every corner that my eyes searched for some solace. None came sadly, but this poem did.

Sign Language

The sign reads
'Please Put Your Rubbish in the Bin'
-as if there could be
no gretaer sin
than a Snickers wrapper
which was not put in a bin.
Another wall yells
'No Smoking' here
so that every man
shal fear
the toxic cloud
drawing near;
the nicotine bomb can't go off here
where perfect people dine
and drink red wine
and carelessly chat
of their jobs and lives and
'Did you hear the news?
They're sending away more troops,
Oh! Darling...are those new shoes?'

As bizzare my choice of video may be, there is a valid explanation i promise you. Firstly, this genre of music (Drum and Bass) is my passion, personal career (Dj and producing in the very near future!) and generally a huge part of my life - past, present and definitely future.

Secondly, this kind of music is my perfect companion to writing and getting my creative juices running.So much room to roam free... I hope you like it. The whole package.

Also, I'll be changing songs regularly so keep a look out if you like what you hear. I will be keeping a list of the artists and songs that have featured on this blog.

(1) Ed Rush and Optical-Cybertron (2) DJ SS -The Lighter (3) Phace-Rational (4) Phace/Noisia-Levitation

I will Also Attach my C.V. in this section as music is a large part of my present and future.

CV
Contact Details
Name:
Eva Vemich
Mobile
0212378741
Email Address:
lil_othello@msn.com

Career Objectives
Summary:
I am an experienced sales assistant, looking for a lively and challenging sales or assistant manager position to which I will bring commitment, enthusiasm, great willingness to learn and modest hard work.

Education/Qualifications
Institution:
Glendowie College
City/Country:
Auckland
Qualifications:
NZQA levels 1,2 and 3.
Completed:
2006

Employment History

Sir Edmund Hillary Retirement Village
Start Date: Mar 2008
End Date: July 08
Position/Title:
Housekeeper, Laundry, Kitchen

Responsibilities/Achievements:

Ceaning an entire floor with 30 or so residents, often helping colleagues on other floors, vacuuming, full toilet cleaning, changing rubbish, dusting and polishing all living and dining areas and staff rooms.
Washing, drying and folding all laundry. Towels collected from the resident hairdresser, residents' personals folded and sorted, all towels folded and delivered to laundry rooms.
Mopping kitchen, hand and machine wash dishes, trays, trolleys, wiping down benches. This was a fast-paced, one person job.
Working with the old and sick required a great deal of maturity, patience and efficiency in absolutely all areas of work.

JayJay's
Start Date:
Jan 2007
End Date:
Aug 2008
Position/Title:
Sales Assistant

Responsibilities/Achievements:

Very fast-paced customer service, phone operating, late Thursday nights, vacuuming, meeting daily targets, budget keeping, stocktake.
Put in charge of running a couple whole days when managers were sick.

Sterling Sports
Start Date:
Apr 2006
End Date:
Feb 2007
Position/Title:
Sales Assistant

Responsibilities/Achievements:

Thorough knowledge of all stock, regular product tutorials, ordering of stock, basic merchandising, meeting daily budget targets.

Gretel Jack Wholefoods
Start Date:
Aug 2005
End Date:
Dec 2005
Position/Title:
Food Packing

Responsibilities/Achievements:

Weighing various dried foods and nuts, packing, using sealing machinery, label printing, stocktaking, stacking shelves, and food tasting plates.

Skill Summary
Non Technical Skills:
Various sales techniques, honest, creative, reliable, hard working, lively, approachable, determined, ambitious.

Other:
Auckland University student 2007 and first half of 2008, studying BA majoring in Philosophy minoring in English. Necessary skills learnt were time managment, organization, dedication and critical thinking/argumentation, among many others within the covered disciplines.

Languages
English, Serbian

Interests
Music, playing (DJing) Drum and Bass, poetry (all forms of creative writing), art, nature, theatre, all sports.

Other Information
I am a very outgoing and hardworking person that can fit into any group or situation. I prefer a busy, challenging work atmosphere with room to grow and think for myself.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

-Robert Frost-

Picture provided by http://www.airninja.com">Air Ninja - helping you save with discount airlines.

Proposal

I have chosen Poetry as the backbone of my blog. I wish to present to readers the essence and power of this unique yet broad style of writing. There is a definite dark cloud hanging over poetry, especially rhyme. Stigmas have leached on to its’ bandwagon since primary school and unfortunately most people never lift this barrier in their minds to accept and understand the true essence of poetry.

I first uncovered my passion for Poetry in 5th form when a new class was introduced to the school called “Writing for Publication.” This was one of the first classes of its kind to be offered to such young students in the country. My teacher Rosalind Ali was inspirational to say the least.
I started the class off like a dog with tail stuck between the legs. Every ounce of feedback I received was rough, “show more, don’t tell’, ‘less is more’ and so on. A few months later it was ‘Good, but we can’t understand what you are trying to say, too abstract, tell more..” So it was a bitter-sweet love affair that started things of for me.

Today, poetry is my oxygen, my trip to Fiji, my bowl of warm soup on a winter’s night, my nightmare revisited, my alarm clock rattling me awake in the bitter morning; my one way to release the pollution of this world and society from my lungs and turn it into an alley down which many more can roam free, boundless. Poetry is freedom in this sense.

The topic of poetry is a very broad one, so for this blog I will focus on the journey of a writer, my journey, through the depths and shallows of this reality. There will be an ‘upcoming works in progress’ section where readers can give me feedback, there will be old writing, new writing, advice from other writers, quotes, my top ten influences, recommended writers and books. I will upload a video (if I can find) of one of my favourite poems read by the writer himself, or perhaps clips from the movie “Sylvia Plath” as she was very influential to my understanding and style of writing.

Upcoming Works in Progress

Here is where I will be regularly uploading my writing. Please feel free to give any feedback as this is invaluable for any writer and it also provides good critical practise for any other writers out there.

#1 I really enjoyed writing this although it only took maybe one minute to write and the editing consisted of changing one word. There is an irony here to do with the abstract if you can pick up on it and without giving too much away when i say 'jungle' i don't mean the green bushy one...

Abstract

The abstract
glimmers
between prison bars-
it cools the air
in its gray
coat.
It sits above
looking below;
red squares
many squares
here and there
and maybe over
there
by the fountain
of fizz
where gremlins
spring
and to the children
they sing-
in the ivy bush,
in the jungle.

#2 I wrote this one the other day whilst having breakfast outside (coffe and ciggy) and the sun was shining through the smoke so i ran up to get my book and ended with this.


The Sun Shines Through The Smoke

The sun shines through the smoke
but it lingers still,
perhaps waiting for the right gust-
yet some gusts never come,
like the new-born gulls that cry
when their mother is scared to fly
in the gust not called hers.
But has she no wings
nor clever eyes?
And even more
does she not own the skies
through which invading gusts crawl?
Yet her chicks still cry
until those who live
to see the day
when they begin to fly.

#3 This is one of my later edittions. It has a darker tone to it than most my published works. I usually don't have trouble with the layout it just works and flows naturally but with this piece I'm unsure wether the structure aids or distracts from the writing and tone.. Let me know what you think I would love some critical feedback. Enjoy!

Toxic Tears

Toxic tears
Burn holes
In my cheeks
As she speaks
‘You can’t change the world’
And all I can think is
‘why must we spend
All our lives
Changing to fit?
While the world’s
Sinister engines
Continue to pump
Future generations
With toxic tears
That have burnt through my eyes—
Finally,
I see no more!

#4 This next poem was actually an exercise we had to do for our Creative Writing class (actually it’s called ‘Storylines’). We had to write an observatory poem, that is, observe a complete stranger and try come up with a thorough piece of writing that goes somewhere, that has some kind of point to it, an ending. I have been doing this for years, whether on the bus or in the cafe; there is a little red book I carry with me everywhere and all my ideas and observations go in it. For any budding writers out there, this is a great thing to have because any topic is a writable topic as is any idea you may get on your daily travels.
* Ive made one change in it since posting it here by taking out a line. I thought it wasn't necessary nor did it fit the tone.

Sick Slick


Look at you
So proud
All suited up
-- all black.
Your shoes stick out;
Disturbing squares
Pointing upwards,
All importance
With your folder,
All suited up
-- all black.
She waves at you
from her car
as you text away
frowning
at her disturbance
-- the lights go green.
Look at you
Standing there,
All suited up
With your folder
-- all back.
Who do you aspire to be?

#5 The third piece also arose from an exercise we were given in ‘Storylines’. All we were given is the phrase; “Strange what you don’t forget”. I purposefully changed it to Funny and as you read it, hopefully you will see why I did this, or give your own views as to why I might have changed it.

Black Humour

Funny, what you don’t forget;
The smell of a rose,
The step of a cat.
-- The bigger the will
To not be forgotten
The smaller the memories
That go rotten.
Not the pictures taken
Of the grand statue
But the scent of summer
Or a stone in the shoe.
Funny, what you don’t forget;
The sting of you slap,
The step of a cat—
And now you lie
With closed blue-eye
-- Funny, what you don’t forget
-- Worse when you try.

#6 Here is one I've had for atleast a year tucked away into some dusty book, and with some editing it became worthy of featuring on my blog. I have put it in the "upcoming" section because I still consider it a 'new' piece of writing. I really don't even remember writing it. This one is especially in need of some critical feedback, so go for it.

Dance

A dream plagues the night-
your eyes ilight
two stars for me to pluck
I do.
A wave washes in
again
on my skin, your hand -
mooves across
the sand; drenched.
The sweep of summer's
breeze
tingles pink
where your lips
burn
on my cheeck.
A buterfly lands
on my skin, my hand
and mooves across
the sand; drenched
as we fall
to face the sky
yet nearer still
you sweep
along the sand,
my hand; drenched.

A Rhyme is a Rhyme

This poem is one of those bits of writing you just seem to vomit onto paper and it kind-of works. Spur-of-the-moment poems in rhyme, for me, usually end up with the best flow and bounce as it comes fresh from whatever creative juices are within. This poem is also, in a nutshell, what I am trying to show people in this blog. Poetry and ESPEIALLY rhyme is playfull, sophisticated and alive; it should never be stiff (unless intended, in which case the 'stifness' will still flow).

A rhyme is a rhyme,
Is a timeless chime
Of a man and his dog
And the city in fog
That sings and rings
And dances with might
That laughs and cries
And alters your sight,
A rhyme is a rhyme
Is a timeless chime
Of the man who ran
And the boy who knew
Not what life was
For him or for you.

Eva Vemich