Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Introducing the Fishbowl

Writing is usually considered a solitary pursuit. One exception to this is a fascinating exercise called a "fishbowl." This has various forms, but all of them basically involve some kind of writing in public, usually with interaction between author and audience. A famous example is Harlan Ellison's series of "stories under glass" in which he sits in a bookstore window and writes a new story based on an idea that someone gives him. Writing classes sometimes include a version where students watch each other write, often with students calling out suggestions which are chalked up on the blackboard for those writing to use as inspiration. Something I'd like to try at a convention someday would be to take some other speculative poets and a whiteboard out into the atrium, and sit there with the bunch of us writing poems based on what bypassers suggest.

It occurs to me that this blog would also be a terrific venue for writing audience-inspired poetry. So, I'm going to host a Poetry Fishbowl here on Wednesday, November 21. This time the genre will be speculative poetry. I'll be soliciting ideas for settings, characters, actions, and poetic forms in particular. Chances are I'll spend a good chunk of the day, from mid-day to evening or more, alternating between this site and doing stuff offline so my back doesn't weld itself to the chair. I will post at least one of the resulting fishbowl poems on the blog for everyone to share. The rest will go into my archive for magazine submission.

If you enjoy my poetry -- or if you just love poetry in general, or want to promote speculative poetry -- please mark the fishbowl date on your calendar. Drop by and give me some ideas, comment on the posted poetry, encourage people to come look, whatever tickles your fancy. I hope to see you then!
Tags: fantasy, fishbowl, poetry, science fiction, writing
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  • 5 comments
haikujaguar

haikujaguar

November 19 2007, 21:12:55 UTC 13 years ago

Squee!!
ysabetwordsmith

ysabetwordsmith

November 19 2007, 21:45:35 UTC 13 years ago

I'm glad you're excited about this project. I really hope that you have some time to come and play on Wednesday -- I'm sure you'll chip in some wild good ideas.
anamacha

anamacha

November 20 2007, 02:17:20 UTC 13 years ago

so -- are you going to be the only one writing? My reading of this post tells me this is a wonderful idea, but I am unclear on the details.
ysabetwordsmith

ysabetwordsmith

November 20 2007, 03:00:26 UTC 13 years ago

I will be writing. I hadn't really thought about whether other people would like to write too. *ponder*

*unfolds a few virtual chairs* If anyone else wants to take advantage of the idea suggestions and write some poetry, please feel free to join in.
anamacha

anamacha

November 20 2007, 03:47:19 UTC 13 years ago

I would not mind writing -- loving poetry as I do. No guarantees, though.