The Wordsmith's Forge

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "By the People's Voices"
Poem: "The Consequences of Their Own Neglect"
Sunday Yardening
Poem: "Faces in a Mosaic Mirror"
Poem: "The Blue Bird of Happiness"
Poem: "To Repair the Damage of the Lumberman"
Emotional Intimacy Question: Positives
Wednesday Yardening
A Bad Take on Going Nonverbal
Hard Things


 Look on the sale page to find all the sponsored poems.

The April crowdfunding Creative Jam was this past weekend. See what I wrote.

I posted about the Notre Dame Cathedral fire and an update afterwards.


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are two open epics.

"Learning the Vocation" belongs to Path of the Paladins. Shahana and company play games in the common room.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses and has 20 new verses. Kenzie tells Pretty Ears what is bothering him.


Weather here has been mild with occasional rain. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a flock of grackles, a small flock of sparrows, a small flock of mourning doves, two pairs of house finches, a pair of cardinals, a pair of goldfinches in summer plumage, a brown thrasher, a robin, and a red-winged blackbird. Currently blooming: violas, daffodils, hyacinths, purple grape hyacinths, forsythia, violets, tulips, redbud tree, pear tree.  

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Sunday Yardening
Saturday Yardening
Community Building Tip: Gathering
Rock-Paper-Scissors Plus
Sperm Whales Clicking
Friday Yardening
Rainbow Fudge
Thursday Yardening
Emotional Intimacy Question: Grateful
Yeti Bear?
Poem: "The Doors of the Mind"
Poem: "These Three Forces"
Tactile Easter Egg Hunt
Cuddle Party


The fishbowl was quite lively. I got a lot of prompts!

My parents have sponsored the following poems. I'm still writing, so it may take me a while to get all of them up.

"If Your Actions Inspire Others"
"Designing an Experience"
"Growing Slowly"
"Climbing the Tree of Knowledge"


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are two open epics.

"Learning the Vocation" belongs to Path of the Paladins. Shahana and Ari meet some old acquaintances in Three-Town Fork.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.


Weather here has been mild. It's been raining off and on. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a small flock of sparrows, a small flock of mourning doves, a small flock of dark-eyed juncos, a small flock of house finches, two pairs of cardinals, a pair of brown thrashers, a male rufous-sided towhee, a female downy woodpecker, a robin, a rabbit, and a squirrel.  I saw a tufted titmouse above the hopper feeder.  They're in the area, but rarely come to our yard anymore.  :D  We also startled a turkey vulture out of the yard!  He flew very close to the car so we got a good look at his bare red head. \o/  Currently blooming: snowdrops, miniature iris, violas, daffodils, Cornelian cherry dogwood, scylla, hyacinths, and purple grape hyacinths.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "Sky Blue and Grass Green"
Sunday Yardening
Poem: "Zhen, Shan, Ren"
Cascading Collapses of Wildlife Populations
Saturday Yardening
Asexual Archiving
Friday Yardening
Flood Recovery
Eating Endangered Fish, or Worse
Emotional Intimacy Question: Favorite Quote
Icicles
Good News


fuzzyred has been updating the Shiv thread page, with several rounds of addition over the last week. It's not all the way caught up yet, but it's making great progress.

The half-price sale in Shiv went quite well. The pool came through, so I've got several things to post. Those are all marked on the sale page, which you can watch for further updates.

We painted rocks for Ostara. I made several posts on this topic, all of them linked here.


Poetry in Microfunding:

There is one open epic.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.


Weather here has been mild.  We got some rain.  Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large flock of sparrows, a large flock of mourning doves, a small flock of dark-eyed juncos, a pair of cardinals, a female downy woodpecker, a rabbit, and two squirrels. There were several house finches, at least two pairs and possibly an extra bird or two.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poem: "A Thousand Faces"
Community Building Tip: Welcome
Saturday Yardening
Things You Can Do About the Christchurch Shooting
Spring Planting
Poem: "The Queen of Crows"
Poem: "The Diary of the Human Race"
Fanworks Meme
Low-carb Meatloaf Recipes
Today's Adventures
Emotional Intimacy Question: Time Period
Moment of Silence: Raven Grimassi
Cuddle Party


This week there is a half-price sale in Shiv. It runs through Sunday.

The crowdfunding Creative Jam ran this weekend. I wrote two poems. Someone else has a piece in progress based on one of my prompts.


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are two open epics.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.

"So Many Notes and Colors and Flavors" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Shiv and has 57 new verses. Heron and Shiv talk about the creative aspects of cooking.  This only needs $6 to be complete.  Now complete!


Weather here has been milder.  Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large flock of sparrows, a large flock of mourning doves, a small flock of dark-eyed juncos, a pair of cardinals, a male downy woodpecker, a rabbit, and three squirrels. The house finches have emptied the thistle feeder; I refilled it today.  :D

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Marriage and Health
Community Building Tip: Movie Night
Distinguishing Character Alignment
The Fridge Problem
Bingo
Poem: "The Perfect Way of Moving"
Poem: "Cut With Our Own Dust"
Poem: "How We Correct Them"
Poem: "The Courage to Admit Them"
Meet Ugly Bingo Card 2-28-19
Young Sign Languages
Emotional Intimacy Question: Craziest Thing
Poem: "Like a Hand-Sewn Quilt"
New Game: Hako Onna
Sac Noir
Good News


Winners have been posted for the 2019 Rose and Bay Awards. Thank you for your support.

The next Poetry Fishbowl will be on Tuesday, March 5 with a theme of "Easterns as a Genre."


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are two open epics.  That means you can open a new one during the fishbowl if you wish. 

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.

"So Many Notes and Colors and Flavors" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Shiv. Heron and Shiv are comfort-cooking, and not everything goes smooth.


Weather here has been variable.  It was mild for a while, then we got a little snow, and now a cold snap.  Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large flock of sparrows, a large flock of mourning doves, a small flock of dark-eyed juncos, a pair of cardinals, a female downy woodpecker, a male downy woodpecker, a rabbit, and a squirrel.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Refugees Then and Now
Poem: "Experience Stinks"
Community Building Tip: Community Garden
Moment of Silence: Miguel Civil and "The Scribe of the Evening"
Heating Patches for Clothes
Declining Life Expectancy
Emotional Intimacy Question: Thanks
Why Challenger Failed
Hard Things


The crowdfunding Creative Jam ran this weekend.

There will be a half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics this week.


Voting is still open for the 2019 Rose & Bay Awards. Please vote for your favorites. Review the nomination posts for more information about the nominees if you need it.

Art: ysabetwordsmith Nominate art! Vote for art!
Fiction: ysabetwordsmith Nominate fiction! Vote for fiction!
Poetry: ysabetwordsmith Nominate poetry! Vote for poetry!
Webcomic: ysabetwordsmith Nominate webcomics! Vote for webcomics!
Other Project: ysabetwordsmith Nominate other projects! Vote for other projects!
Patron: ysabetwordsmith Nominate patrons! Vote for patrons!


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are four open epics.

"Only If It Is Embraced" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Damask and has 25 new verses. Pain's Gray has another talk with Clement about the importance of not mistreating Keane.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.

"Love Unflinching" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies." An ethical consultant arrives in Easy City, adopts a buggle, and meets Stylet.

"So Many Notes and Colors and Flavors" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Shiv. Heron and Shiv are comfort-cooking, and not everything goes smooth.


Weather here has been mild. We got a little snow, but most of it has melted off quickly. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large flock of sparrows, a flock of dark-eyed juncos, a small flock of mourning doves, a pair of cardinals, a yellow-bellied sapsucker, a Bewick's wren, and a squirrel.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Wildlife News
Community Building Tip: Block Party
Valentines Bingo Cards 2-1-19
Emotional Intimacy Question: Sabbatical (survey says: Travel!)
Unsold Poems for the January 22, 2019 Poetry Fishbowl
Poetry Fishbowl Report for January 22, 2019
Cuddle Party


The next Poetry Fishbowl will be on Tuesday, February 5 with a theme of "personal or public ritual." Please mark your calendars, and I hope to see you then.

Voting is now open for the 2019 Rose & Bay Awards. Thank you for nominating projects and patrons. Please go vote for your favorites now. Review the nomination posts for more information about the nominees if you need it.

Art: ysabetwordsmith Nominate art! Vote for art!
Fiction: ysabetwordsmith Nominate fiction! Vote for fiction!
Poetry: ysabetwordsmith Nominate poetry! Vote for poetry!
Webcomic: ysabetwordsmith Nominate webcomics! Vote for webcomics!
Other Project: ysabetwordsmith Nominate other projects! Vote for other projects!
Patron: ysabetwordsmith Nominate patrons! Vote for patrons!


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are four open epics.

"Only If It Is Embraced" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Damask and has 55 new verses. Pain's Gray and Keane head to the support area for mission followup.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.

"Love Unflinching" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Berettaflies." An ethical consultant arrives in Easy City, adopts a buggle, and meets Stylet.

"So Many Notes and Colors and Flavors" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Shiv. Heron and Shiv are comfort-cooking, and not everything goes smooth.


Temperature has varied radically this week, from frigid to mild.. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a flock of sparrows, a flock of dark-eyed juncos, a small flock of starlings, a small flock of mourning doves, a pair of cardinals, a pair of downy woodpeckers, a Bewick's wren, and a squirrel.

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Peacemongering 101
How to Feel Less Shame
Nonmale, Nonwhite, Nonbinary Characters
Resources on Kindness
How to Care Less About What People Think
Fainting(ish) Men
How to Deal with Writer's Block
Sustainability for Beginners
Snowflake Challenge Day 6: Fannish Wishlist
Mental Load
Burned-Out Millennials
Snowflake Challenge Day 5: Promote Others
Community Building Tip: Know Your Neighbors
Snowflake Challenge Day 4: Interact (57 comments)
The Other Gifts
Now in the Public Domain
Snowflake Challenge Day 3: Favorite Piece of Canon
Emotional Intimacy Question: Bucket List
Snowflake Challenge Day 2: Rec Fanworks by Someone Else
Hard Things
Snowflake Challenge Day 1: Happy Place


Nominations are now OPEN for all categories of the Rose & Bay Awards for excellence in crowdfunding. Please nominate your favorite projects and patrons. These are the handlers for the 2019 award season:
Art: ysabetwordsmith Nominate art! Vote for art!
Fiction: ysabetwordsmith Nominate fiction! Vote for fiction!
Poetry: ysabetwordsmith Nominate poetry! Vote for poetry!
Webcomic: ysabetwordsmith Nominate webcomics! Vote for webcomics!
Other Project: ysabetwordsmith Nominate other projects! Vote for other projects!
Patron: ysabetwordsmith Nominate patrons! Vote for patrons!

I have a lot of new readers from snowflake_challenge, addme, and other sources over the last month or so. I encourage you to look around now, because it's going to get a lot busier tomorrow.

The next Poetry Fishbowl will be on Tuesday, January 8 with a theme of "That's not a mistake!" (It's normally on the first Tuesday of the month, but I bumped it later figuring nobody would be available on January 1.) Mark your calendar so you can come give me prompts, or just enjoy the crosstalk and watch for free poetry to appear. Donations are welcome but not required, and prompters get a free backchannel copy of what they inspire. If you have any questions, ask me today because tomorrow I'll have my hands full with writing poems.


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are two open epics.  That leaves a slot open in case anybody wants to open a new one tomorrow.  \o/

"Only If It Is Embraced" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Damask and has 3 new verses. Pain's Gray and Clement discuss first aid.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.


Today is gray and blustery. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a big flock of starlings, a flock of sparrows, a flock of dark-eyed juncos, several robins, a pair of cardinals, a pair of mourning doves, a red-bellied woodpecker, and a rabbit.  The plant catalogs are beginning to arrive.  

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Unsold Poems for the December 4, 2018 Poetry Fishbowl
Poetry Fishbowl Report for December 4, 2018
Poem: "Holiday in Handcuffs"
Poem: "Whatever You Seek"
Read "A Little Left of Normal" by Dialecticdreamer
In Praise of Leisure
Read "In Winter's Depths" by Siliconshaman
Yearcompass Booklet
Poem: "If You Have Almost Nothing"
Emotional Intimacy Question: Giver, Taker, Matcher
Bushfire Safety
Irresponsible Storytelling (54 comments)
Review: "Into the Spider-Verse"
#joinin
Read "Returning to Normal" by Dialecticdreamer
Good News


Poetry in Microfunding:

There are two open epics.

"Only If It Is Embraced" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Damask and has 3 new verses. Pain's Gray and Clement discuss first aid.

"A Cave Swarming with Strange Forms of Life" belongs to Polychrome Heroics: Iron Horses. Kenzie goes to Pretty Ears for counseling.


It's raining here today.  Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a big flock of starlings, a flock of mourning doves, a flock of sparrows, a flock of dark-eyed juncos, several cardinals, a red-bellied woodpecker, a robin, and a squirrel.