Well, it was a good run...

But I'm afraid it's over. I was out of town and missed writing the sonnet of the day for Saturday and Sunday. The second cycle of 365 in a row is and will be incomplete.

I toyed with the idea of making it up and going on like nothing happened. But that's against the rules, and besides, I'll admit that I have not felt inspired to continue. In fact, it's kind of a relief to not have it hanging over my head for a change. Which I think says something about my motivations, or lack thereof. So ending it now is, I think, the right thing.

I'm proud to have managed so many in a row, even if I think I could count on my fingers the poems that were really good this time round, and still have digits left over. In a way, it makes me even prouder of my first time through: not only having completed it, but in the process producing some of what's likely my best work. Unfortunately I'm not in a place where I can repeat that now--in fact, I probably never will be. And that's okay.

To anyone who has been reading, I'm sorry for the anticlimactic finish. I don't think I'll stop writing sonnets altogether, and should I produce something I think is worthwhile, I'll definitely post it here. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and best wishes.


Scott

On Vacation

Just a quick note for anyone who might be reading--I'm going to be on vacation for the next week, and while I do plan to continue to write a sonnet every day, I may or may not be able to post them every day, depending on wifi availability, time of getting in, etc.

I'll try to post every day if I can, but if not I will post the tardy sonnets asap--next week at the latest.

I need the holiday. :P

S

Supplemental: An Apology for the Previous Poem

I know the poem I wrote today was bad
I really thought about taking it down.
The thing is feeble, childish, ugly, sad,
and scatological. It made me frown.

But if I take down every poem I write
that doesn't live up to my lyric dream,
I'll scarcely have a sonnet left. I might
as well just quit and go out for ice cream.

Not every dog's a champion of its breed.
Some smell, some bite, some might be blind or worse.
Put them to sleep for that? Too cruel indeed;
I feel the same about my mongrel verse.

So let's move on. I fully realize
it sucked. And for that, I apologize.

:)

Happy Anniversary to The Sonnet Project

I just realized that yesterday was the 7-year anniversary of the first sonnet of The Sonnet Project, and thus the 6-year anniversary of the original project's completion. I'm still very proud of that year of sonnets, and am kind of amazed it's been so long ago since it all began. Here's hoping Volume 2 will give me the same occasion for pride, once it's done.

Oh, and also yesterday: the birthday of William Shakespeare--definitely one of the greatest inspirations for anybody still writing sonnets in English. Happy birthday, Will.

--SS

Update, and Something New

So the Sonnet Project is done, restarted, and done again, but I still can't seem to stay away from the place. I don't flatter myself that anyone is still checking in here at all, though a few might stumble across the monument to past achievements it's become thanks to web searches for "bad sonnets" or some other vagaries of the Google. But just in case anyone *did* happen to wonder: I'm alive, physically if not creatively. I haven't written much poetry in the last several months, despite my desire to do so. I toy periodically with the thought of starting the Project yet a third time, but haven't had the energy or impetus up to now. Maybe that will change.

But until such time as it does: because blogging abhors a vacuum, I thought I might do something new with this space to keep it from sitting here disused and depressing. Over time I have collected a large number of poems that I like a great deal by people other than me, both online and in anthologies. Since I do love poetry even when I'm not actively producing it, I thought I could use the blog to share these with any readers who might chance to wander by. I also like the idea of discussing these poems and Poetry in general with any interested readers, or even just life, philosophy, and everything.

So anyway, that's the idea. I'll be posting one or two of these poems a week, either until I start writing my own stuff again, or till I run out. If anybody finds them, I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to comment--I'd love to get discussions started with like-minded folks.

Poetry News, At Last

My free verse poem, "Haunt," has just been published in ChiZine, the online journal of horror fiction and poetry. You can read it by clicking the link below:

"Haunt" by Scott Standridge on ChiZine

The End, Again

So yesterday, I didn't write a poem. I thought about it early in the day, figured I would do it later, and then it didn't occur to me again till this morning. So the streak has ended.

I take this as a sign. When I was doing the first Sonnet Year, it was always on my mind--I sometimes had to force myself, sometimes had to sweat it out, but I *never* just forgot about it. It was important to me.

I've enjoyed writing the sonnets again since I restarted a couple months back, but I'm just not feeling the importance of it anymore. I think it's time to do something else. Or just stop entirely.

Anyway, I"m proud of what I've done here, and should I write other occasional sonnets in the future--and let's be honest, I can't really see this *not* happening--I'll probably post them here.

Thanks to everyone who read, and the smaller number of those who cared.

SS

Pub or Perish 2009: Sonnet Boy Reads Again

Last night I read at the Arkansas Times' annual Pub or Perish reading, held this year at Sticky Fingerz in downtown Little Rock. It was a great time, and my poetry seemed to go over well. Dorothy Allison, author of the 1993 National Book Award finalist Bastard Out of Carolina and the featured reader of the night, made a point of telling my my sonnets were "wonderful." So that was nice. :)

But why take Dorothy's and my word for it? Pushing the Sonnet Project into multimedia territory, I am pleased to offer free for download my complete reading from Pub or Perish 2009 in mp3 format, via RapidShare.com.

Just click on the link, select "free user" (unless you happen to have a Rapidshare Premium account), and wait until the link appears, usually less than a minute. It's about 10 MB big.

Also, I tried to record the kind intro David Koon of the Arkansas Times gave me, but my VR didn't pick it up very well. Once I start reading though, it comes through all right.

And let me know what you think!

CLICK HERE to download Scott's reading from Pub or Perish 2009!

Holy Crap--I've Been TRANSLATED!

Quick, does anyone know German?

http://www.sonett-archiv.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=155

Mine's a little rusty, and Babelfish and Ubiquity only take me so far...but still, I'm really inordinately pleased with this discovery! I mean, I'm always tickled beyond all reason when I learn that someone, somewhere is reading my stuff anyway...but to learn that I'm being read in GERMAN? That's above and beyond!

Like I said, I can't make out very much, but it's fairly clear someone's using some of the Sonnet Project entries for translation exercises...which is a use for my poetry that I whole-heartedly approve! I just wish I knew German so I could tell if they're any good or not... ;)

And Sneaky, my translator, if you're reading this--please contact me! You've made my day!

And Yet MORE Poetry News!

Guess who's the Spotlight Poet for November 2008 over at well-respected and awesome poetry site The Hypertexts? That's right--yours truly, baby.

Editor Mike Burch has compiled a wonderful, extensive online poetry journal with a strong bent toward the classic and the formal, and I'm honored to have been noticed by him and invited to submit some of my best work. Not only that, but now I can say I've been anthologized with such poetry giants as Richard Moore, X. J. Kennedy, Rhina P. Espaillat, and Sonnet Boy's all-time poetry hero Jack Butler! So yeah, I'm pretty pleased and proud about the whole thing.

Check out the lovely write-up poet and editor T. Merrill gave me here, along with no fewer than 12 of my sonnets, some of them newly revised and improved. Let me know what you think!

Another Poetry Sale!

I found out over the weekend that one of my sonnets has been accepted for publication in Dreams and Nightmares, a long-running and well-respected sci-fi/fantasy poetry magazine!

This has been a banner year for my poetry thus far, as this makes the fourth time this year my verse will see publication in one form or another. I'm an overnight sensation after twenty-five years! ;)

No word yet on which issue will contain my versification, nor the publication date, but still, I'm well chuffed. More as information becomes available!

"Noir, #28" in the Current Issue of Measure

The latest issue of Measure: a Review of Formal Poetry is out, featuring the finalists in the Howard Nemerov Sonnet Competition, of which my SP sonnet, "Noir, #28," is one. I didn't make the cover, but that's okay...there's still time. :)

I read the rest of the finalists, of course, and I can only say I'm honored to be among them. I've had fiction published in anthologies and magazines before where I read the other authors and thought, "Jeez, I wouldn't have published that!" but in this case I'm feeling the opposite, like there must have been some mistake that enabled me to slip through the door and hang out with all these awesome, amazing other poems. But there I am, on pg. 88 (eight has always been my "lucky number"--it's true), a published poet at last.

So if you're collecting the entire published works of Scott Standridge, be sure and order a copy from Measure's website. Autographs and inscriptions for a nominal fee--or a beer. Or, you know, we could work something out. *waggles eyebrows*

God, I'm such a nerd.

Happy Birthday to the Sonnet Project!

Just realized today is the two-year anniversary of the beginning of the Sonnet Project. Which means yesterday was the one-year anniversary of its completion. Happy birthday to us!

And Will Shakespeare too! (Belatedly...)

The post where it all began...

Post-Pub or Perish Report

I slayed 'em.

Click here for the full story.

Click here for the set list (scroll down till the poems start.)

Pub or Perish 2008! It's a Barroom Blitz!

Wow. I've never had this much press in my life. Check it out:

I'm FEATURED!

Yep, that's me in the photo from PoP 2 years ago, at the Peabody Hotel. But this year I'm one of the mentioned names, which is more pressure but also immeasurably cool. See details one post below, and come out this weekend! I need the support!

(Also, if you're in LR, check the inside cover of this week's Times. I'm thinking of getting the ad tattooed on my back.)

UPDATE: NEW START TIME! According to the Times ad, the PoP 2008 festivities will start at 6:30pm instead of 7:00pm. If I read it right it's for "pre-show appetizers," but like I say I don't know when my reading slot will be, so just be aware. And please come!

Sonnet Boy Reads His Poetry THIS WEEKEND! Don't Miss It!

If you're in Little Rock and looking for a good time this weekend, drop on by the Arkansas Literary Festival in the River Market district for some literary fun and frolic. And once you've worked up a thirst for beer and poetry, come to the Arkansas Times' annual Pub or Perish fiction/poetry/essay reading, to be held this year at Sticky Fingerz bar & grill and featuring yours truly!

I'll likely be reading some more of my sonnets, and maybe some free verse and a limerick or two just to mix things up. Festivities start at 7:00 pm and go on till 9:00 pm or sometime thereafter, depending on how conscientious the readers are about staying within their allotted time. I have no way of knowing when my time will come up till I get there, so if you want to be a member of the Sonnet Boy Groupie Brigade, best get there early!

Beer, Buffalo wings, and sonnets. What could possibly be better than that? :)

Good Times

A nice little notice for yours truly in this week's Arkansas Times:

Success in the world of poetry and a $5 bill will buy you a cheap hamburger, but bragging rights and publication in a well-regarded journal might at least make the hunger pangs easier to bear. Scott Standridge, a Little Rock writer who programs computers to pay the bills, was a finalist for the 2007 Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award...

Standridge's entry, “Noir, #28,” clothes classically Shakespearean themes in a Humphrey Bogart trenchcoat, describing a man's sensual but deadly encounter with a femme fatale.

It's a publicity blitz! Actually, it's just the fact that I know people.

People who do tings.

Tings like joynalism.

So, Can I Claim This Blog in My Publication Credits?

As my friends and readers know (if there are any of you still checking this blog), I've been kicking it into high gear lately trying to publish some of the sonnets from the Project, and meeting with some success. However, lately as I look at guidelines for possible markets, again and again I'm seeing this:

As far as online publication goes, we do consider something published if, before or during our issue currency, substantially the same work appears (or has appeared) on a publicly accessible website — and that includes personal sites and blogs as well as ezines.

That's from the guidelines for the excellent sonnet-centric e-zine 14x14, which I had hoped would consider some of my stuff--but apparently because I blogged the project while it was going on, I'm shit-out-of-luck. And they're not the only ones.

I have to say, I don't really understand this reasoning. I mean, if I put it in a notebook, and left that notebook sitting out on my coffee table for friends and visitors to read, would they consider THAT published? I know the internet is different, but still, it's not like I'm running a magazine here. And further, if I may be so bold, it's not like most of these places are offering cash payment.

I just wonder if I can now list The Sonnet Project as a publication credit when I write to other magazines--or if they would poo-poo because it's not a real publication (a point of view with which I would agree).

Anyway, it saddens me a little, b/c I think I've got at least a few good pieces here that I'd like to get considered by zines like 14x14 and others, and I feel I'm being punished for keeping a blog record of my poetry. What do you think? Anyone?

Not Rejected After All...

Well, I wouldn’t know it if I wasn’t so vain as to google myself regularly, but apparently one of my sonnets was published online by Modern Drunkard magazine:

http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com/md_poetry.htm

It’s “Whiskey Wisdom, #113,” and it’s sitting at the bottom of the page, about to disappear forever the next time they post new material. Yay, another pub(lication) credit! It would have been nice if the editors had emailed me to let me know it’d been accepted. I assumed weeks ago it was a no-go.

They probably meant to e-mail me, but they were too drunk. :)

My Poem is Up at Aberrant Dreams!

Click here to read it! (Scroll down to mine).

And feel free to read the other content as well. ;)