Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Short Biography of a Poet
The Poet: Octavio Paz
By Pollux Parker
A prominent figure in Mexican literature, Octavio Paz was known for his surreal works which were mostly poems and essays. Some of his writings were also influenced by Marxism. His interest towards literature was said to have sprung from his exposure to the library of his grandfather, also a prominent liberal and a novelist.
Paz started writing at an early age and was said to be influenced by poets such as Gerardo Diego and Juan Ramon Jimenez among others. One of his longest poems was Entre la Piedra y Flor (Between the Stone and the Flower), which was about the oppression experienced by Mexican peasants under their landlords. Other notable works of Paz include El Laberinto de la Soledad (The Labyrinth of Solitude), which speaks of the Mexican identity, and the El Mono Gramatico (The Grammarian Monkey) and the Ladera este (Eastern Slope) which he both wrote in India where he stayed as a Mexican ambassador. Aside from India, Paz also travelled to Spain to express his opposition to fascism, to U.S.A., Tokyo, and Geneva.
Paz founded many literary newsletters such as Barandal (a literary review) in 1932, Taller (co-founded) in 1938 and the magazine Plural in 1969 together with other Latin American writers. He also founded Vuelta after the Mexican government stopped the publication of Plural.
Many of his works were translated into different languages. In 1990, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Prior to that, he received the Cervantes Award in 1981 and the American Neustadt Prize in 1982. The poet lived for 84 years and died on 1998 from cancer.
Pollux Parker is an adventurer who loves discovering secret island getaways in each country he visits. Pollux also likes to collect Mexico flag and buy cheap Mexico flag.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pollux_Parker
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Poet:-Octavio-Paz&id=5274676
Labels: biography of a poet, biography of Octavio Paz, Octavio Paz, poet. biography
Friday, October 08, 2010
Are You a Beginning Poet? Tips for Beginners.
By Joseph Pressley
One of the methods wherein you can express what you think and feel is by writing poems. Some people use it as a profession and make money out of it while others just consider it as a hobby. If you are just a beginner in this kind of craft, you might need to follow this brief guideline on how to effectively do it. In time, you will get used to it and you will realize that it is a fun and healthy form of release.
As a beginner, before you will start writing, you must first specify what you want to write about. The entertaining thing about poetry is that you can write about anything. You can talk about your latest experiences like the feeling of going to college and how you were surprised when your mother gave you a pink stun gun. Other than that you can also write about what you feel today. Whether you are in love, sad, mad or happy, these emotions can be your source of motivation to write a poem.
An outline of what you will write can be an effective strategy for starters like you. You can construct headings which you think would be a good thing to talk about on the stanzas of your poem. Try to make a list of the possible words that you will use or the descriptions that you have in mind in order to make your poem pleasing to read or hear. A thesaurus near you would be recommended because it can come in handy when you write about anything.
Moreover, you need to know more about the different types of poetry. Just like the stun guns, poems are also designed in different ways and it depends upon the writer on what works well for him or her. Try to know more about how to construct each type and decide which one fits your writing style. But usually, when you are just starting to know more about this craft, you can begin by going for the free-verse type or the one which requires you to rhyme the words at the end.
After that, you can now start writing. Whether you choose to use the rhyming style of poetry or other forms, you must be motivated and inspired to write. Let your ideas flow and just write anything that comes on your mind. Once done, read what you have written all over again and make necessary improvements. You can also read it out loud to a close friend or any member in the family and ask about their opinions. You will be able to hone your skill in writing poems if you listen to the feedback of others.
This is an easy guide that you can follow especially when you are just a novice in writing poems. In time you will be able to have your own style of writing and you are already wise on your choice of words. Just continue to practice and do not be afraid to write about anything.
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Article Source: Easy Guide on Writing Poems for Beginners
Labels: poetry guide, writing guide, writing poems, writing poetry
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Effective Writing - Learning Resources
He begins with the understanding that many wish they could write better, and the idea that better writing skills can be taught. His concept is that learning the basics of writing and then practicing them can help prospective writers increase and improve their writing abilities.
Of course, any bookstore, including online bookstores, have all kinds of books on how to become a better writer. However, for many, there can be just too much information!
Where do you start to learn effective writing? How do you choose the best learning resources which can help you become a better writer?
Stephen Lau has written a simple, yet comprehensive, easy to read handbook for writers. Mr. Lau assumes that most potential writers will proceed best as we did as children, learning to crawl, walk, and then run.
So, who is Stephen Lau, and why does his advice matter?
Stephen Lau was born and educated in Hong Kong. There, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Hong Kong. He then studied in Singapore and the United Kingdom, where he also earned a linguistic qualification from the University of Cambridge.
Prior to coming to the United States, he taught English and Communication at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
He has now lived in the United States for many years. He is married, with one daughter, who is now an attorney in Washington, D.C.
His hobbies are writing, painting, and collecting antiques.
He is also interested in health and has written extensively on that topic. Along the way, he became aware of the difficulties facing those who wanted to write, and wanted to learn how to write well, but were not sure where to start.
This led him to create his book for those who want to learn how to write, and write well: Effective Writing Made Simple.
To learn more about Stephen Lau and many of his works, please visit www.stephencmlau.com.
Labels: how to write effectively, how to write well, learn how to write, learn writing, stephen lau, writing skills
