The Wordsmith's Forge

 Some thoughts on names.

This is an advance announcement for the Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Poetry Fishbowl. This time the theme will be "alternate history." I'll be soliciting ideas for historical figures, historians, time travelers, ancient objects, probability machines, time machines, books and other records, things associated with a specific point in history, time periods, cultures you'd like me to feature (if I haven't promoted your favorite one to world domination, now's your chance), battlefields, laboratories, schools, other places where historical events occur, turning points in history where things could've gone quite differently, events that inspire people to want changes, and poetic forms in particular. 

Alternate history is an interstitial genre existing at the crossroads between historical fiction ("How was?") and speculative fiction ("What if?").  It usually relies on identifying a key moment in history and asking what could have changed and how that would have affected the outcome, although there are different approaches as well.  AlternateHistory.com has a discussion forum for this.  Uchronia lists books and stories in this genre.  Other Timelines has a "Today in Alternate History" feature along with other resources.  This genre also works well with ethnic history, gender history, and other under-represented groups.  Tell ALL the stories!

Also, I need a volunteer to host the linkback poem.  Please contact me if you're willing to do that; it will get you on the Donors list. dreamwriteremmy will be hosting the linkback poem.

If you're interested, mark the date on your calendar, and please hold actual prompts until the "Poetry Fishbowl Open" post next week.  (If you're not available that day, or you live in a time zone that makes it hard to reach me, you can leave advance prompts.)  Meanwhile, if you want to help with promotion, please feel free to link back here or repost this on your blog. 

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 Check out the Poetry for the Masses project.  Prompts and tips are welcome.

poetree is doing a multi-hosted QUILTBAG Pride week in honor of the anniversary of the Stonewall riots.  Everyone should be able to love whom they want, as they want, if they want; and not be persecuted for those choices.  

Today was my day to host.  You can read my posts featuring "Queer Poetry" and "Some of My QUILTBAG Characters."  It's a good way to find my characters who are various flavors of queer.

Do you write or read poems about QUILTBAG characters?  Drop by poetree and comment on the posts.  We love discussions.