Anne Bender wrote about this nifty site where writers can go to find out who their literary influences really are. Or not, considering she learned that her writing was reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s. Anne may be the only person left on the planet who has never heard of Neil Gaiman. I couldn’t resist trying it. What to feed the machine? How about a little bit of everything?
I’m going to have to read more of this man’s work. Apparently, my blog post about a hungry lizard and my daughter’s backbone indicates that…
Started out as a horror story and ended up being part horror and part social commentary. Statistical analysis tends to show that…
Time-Out: Self-control vs punishment
A non-fiction article on time-out as a child’s tool for self-discipline, rather than a parent’s tool for punishment. And the answer is…
Seriously, what the heck? Let’s try that again…let’s feed it:
An fantasy inspired by online role-playing games, computer addiction, and science fiction. Now the darned thing says I write like…
Why?? Because it has the word “demon” in it?
Am I going to have to rewrite my bio? I love these authors, but my human readers usually say things like, “Anyone ever tell you you write like Spider Robinson?” Or, “Oh, those twist endings – you and O. Henry!” Or, “Your sense of humor reminds me of Erma Bombeck,” or “That’s like a feminist version of Poe’s Cask of Amontillado, isn’t it? I wasn’t expecting that at all.”
Let’s try Eradicating Edna! Oh, great Oracle of Literary Comparisons, what say you? Oh, for Heaven’s sake…
A tale of reckless adventure and romance. How much would you risk for love? Just…don’t look down. Because, apparently, there be vampires…(not!)
Okay, so now, what if I got really sneaky? I wonder if Bram Stoker writes like Bram Stoker? Apparently not. I uploaded a hefty exerpt of his The Jewel of Seven Stars (1904), and apparently Bram Stoker writes like…
Okay, so now I’m just feeling silly and perverse: Who knew that Agatha Christie wrote villainous villanelles? If Agatha wrote poetry, this is what it would look like:
Amusement Park II
Oh, I have scribbled a mile of ink over hill and Dale to hell
Embracing rhymes that have no reason, when meter’s out of season
As mockingly I mutter, “Why not teach the Villanelle?”
Elusive metaphor and simile, the meaning’s lost, as well
But still I scritch and scratch in vain to pen a verse that’s pleasin’
Oh, I have scribbled a mile of ink over hill and Dale to hell
It’s fine good sport, and this I know to call my poems doggerel -
“You know I’m grateful for critique; of course I know you’re teasin’!”
As mockingly I mutter, “Why not teach the Villanelle?”
It’s easier to write a Little Willie, Little Nell,
Than to dig the soul for deeper meaning, and the mind for reason
Oh, I have scribbled a mile of ink over hill and Dale to hell
I should’ve stopped, I was ahead – why didn’t I heed the warning bell?
You artistes go right ahead – just scoff and call it treason
As mockingly I mutter, “Why not teach the Villanelle?”
I’m laughing just to think of April, that you can surely tell -
As from this useless verse, the last drop of rhyme I’m squeezin’
Oh, I have scribbled a mile of ink over hill and Dale to hell
As mockingly I mutter, “Why not teach the Villanelle?”
About the Author Holly Jahangiri
Holly Jahangiri has decades of experience in tech writing, freelancing, fiction, poetry, and editing. Writer, wife, and mother, Holly is the creator of Trockle and instigator of the Puppy-Guppy Rebellion.
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[...] the beasts have taken over like the Orwellian creatures that they are. I have nothing to offer but my dog, and he’s a mangy cur that can hardly be called “mine” simply because he has taken to [...]
[...] the beasts have taken over like the Orwellian creatures that they are. I have nothing to offer but my dog, and he’s a mangy cur that can hardly be called “mine” simply because he has taken to [...]