I have been studying haiku for a couple of years now.  At the beginning of this year I set myself a goal to become published in this area.

Three haiku journals accepted my work!

I can only share two with you, as the third will be out in September.

scent of rain
we look for toads
in the dark

haijix, Vol IV, Issue I March 2011

Lake Cherokee an echo in each breaststroke

Acorn #26 (the spring issue)

Thank you to all who have been so supportive!

Image by Bright Meadow via Flickr

I have really enjoyed working with all my writing clients this year. I have the good fortune to work with people that I sincerely like and respect. Communication and creativity flows easily and I genuinely have a lot of fun!

This year, I wrote the outline for a story about an entertainer, based on the true stories of a man who opened for many celebrities. I am also writing a book about a mother’s nightmare of her child’s battle with illness, which was misdiagnosed. Then there is an exciting sci fi novel, about a series of characters living one lifetime after another.

On the nonfiction side, I wrote many articles for Mortgage Match. It’s nice that I can tap into my five years of experience as a mortgage broker to help others navigate the waters of this arena.

I have also been working with a company in LA to write articles about automotive repair. These articles are being used in newsletters around the country.

In the new year, it looks like I have a few more projects queuing up. One is a story about a man’s experience dealing with the murder of his brother. There was a TV show produced on this story.

Next I have a new client with a series of mafia books which need to be written. These will hit this subject from a new angle!

I also became truly enamored with haiku this year and have been enjoying working with the Haiku Foundation to introduce this ancient form of poetry to others.

Visit our new forum. You’ll need to register to post comments and see all the discussions, but it is free. If you’re new to haiku, there are places to post questions or request help with your haiku. Please join us!

Thank you to all my clients for making this my most successful writing year to date. I look forward to beating this record in 2011!

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve been learning a lot about writing haiku through my article series, Quicksilver, on The Haiku Foundation (THF) blog, troutswirl. This column has been amazing for me.  The advice I get from the readers is incredible.

Lorin Ford, award winning haiku author, recommended a great article for me, so that I can better understand the “rules” of haiku.  Seeing all the rules side by side, one can really see how they conflict and that I can really pick and choose which to use.

I’ve been learning to write about my personal experiences.  I enjoy looking around at the world through haiku eyes and am discovering new details that I had missed before.

I’m on vacation here in NC.  Yesterday we went for a swim in one of our favorite spots.  I wrote this haiku:

pine trees line an arm
of Lake Hiawatha
breast stroke echoes

I noticed that as I swam, I could hear the faint echoes of my breath.  It was such a wonderfully tranquil moment.

I wrote this one based on many experiences going to Honeymoon Island beach near my home:

a cry rends the air
the circling seagull snags
her last cookie

You should hear the cry of my three-year-old daughter when the seagull snags her cookie.  Then she runs after them and shouts, “THAT’S NOT OK!!”

Image by melolou via Flickr

I have been extremely fortunate to be allowed to work with the Haiku Foundation on an interesting project.  As you might know I have been exploring haiku.  It is a fascinating art form, one that I have admired for some time.

I would imagine that many other writers who are probably in a similar position – they want to learn about haiku, but don’t know how to proceed.  There is only so much that one can get from a book or an online article.

Last Friday, we debuted a new article series called: Quicksilver HG1.  The idea being that I’ll document my journey into learning haiku and invite others to comment.

The first article is called “New to Haiku” and can be seen here:

http://www.thehaikufoundation.org/2010/05/27/quicksilver-hg1-new-to-haiku

The comments are fascinating to read.  Amazingly insightful and helpful to me.  If you are interested in haiku, you’ll love reading the advice of some of the English Language Haiku experts.  Many have written in, giving me encouragement and successful actions that have served them well.

I invite you to add your voice and post a comment.  Share with me your ideas of haiku and feel free to critique my poems.  I’d love to hear your feedback!

Image by TomStardust via Flickr

As I explore haiku I realize that the 5-7-5 syllable structure is not necessary.  Although that is the most widely known form of Haiku, it isn’t the only option.

Escaping the confines of the 5-7-5 structure, I wrote these haiku:

sand shapes
always shifting
filling in footprints

untouched rainforest
tent staked to ground
touched

lizard’s heart beats fast
tailless he watches
his tail twitch

worn old maple tree
peg by peg children climb up
secret hiding place

stems hang by a thread
dangling pre
                     car
                          ious
                                 l
                                 y
october puppets

ancient tree roots drink
dregs left by its rain soaked leaves
nature’s harmony

Image via Wikipedia

A friend introduced me to a cool “Haiku Challenge” taking place on Twitter. @Baffled (a user there) started this concept. The idea is that you must write a Haiku each day around a word that he chooses.

For more information you can go to: http://haikuchallenge.tumblr.com/ .  You can also search “#haikuchallenge” on Twitter to see other entries.

I started playing a few days ago.  Here have been my contributions:

Word: "Pare"

leaves of many hues
pressed between worn white pages
pared from parent’s limb

Word: "dwarf"

tiny lions pounce
on fleeing prey that they dwarf
practicing their skill

Word: "barge"

winter winds barge in
swirling hail slams chunks from trees
chipmunks burrow in

Let me know if you play and feel free to submit your entries here in the comment section!

Image by kevindooley via Flickr

The skies of Florida are beautiful.  The clouds are often dramatic, the patterns unique and striking. 

If you saw them in a painting you’d probably lean over and whisper in your friend’s ear, “I like this painting, but the sky isn’t very realistic looking, is it?”

Here are two Haiku I wrote recently, inspired by the clouds above:

white waves in the sky 
sweeps across the blue canvas 
teases of summer

gray lines streak the sky
   coarse strokes uneven unreal
new buds wait with thirst

Here are two more Haiku for you!  I am learning that punctuation is a bit controversial.  As I experiment, I thought I would try eliminating these elements.  I welcome your feedback on this!

Science Fiction Haiku:

tinkling silver trees
shimmering in the two suns
makes me nostalgic

Romantic Haiku:

slivers of lightning
shoot across the pitch black sky
lovers spotlighted

Image by ZEDZAP-Nicholas via Flickr

I recently decided to explore Haiku.  It is a beautiful form of Japanese poetry – simple, creative, evoking emotion in only 17 syllables.

Haiku is non-rhyming and most typically, traditionally, speaks of seasons and nature. It is structured with three lines, having 5-7-5 syllables respectively. Some more modern Haiku branch from this, but I have chosen to stick with the traditional way.

There is a lot more to this ancient art form. As I learn, I will write more.  For now I thought to share with you my first creations:

Winter winds bluster.
Wrapped in a thick woolen coat,
My trembling lips smile.

Rose petals open,
Embracing Earth’s elements,
Flourishing with joy.

Snowflake lands softly,
Uniquely on my mantle,
Sharing her design.

Clouds weep steadily.
Trees wave limbs furiously.
Roofs ripped – no mercy.