The Earnest Young Writer

By John Blase | January 11, 2016 |
She approached me as if I was
the good Lord himself and said
     Tell me the best ways to build my platform.
I sighed inwardly, having heard
that honest plea too many times now.
I caught her eyes and answered
     Its a hard business being alive.
     Find someone or something to love
     and love the hell out of him or her or it.
     This will nail down your failure, giving
     you something solid to say to us.
 
I went away grieved for she was young and
lovely, and now disappointed.
 
 

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11 Comments

  1. Samantha on January 11, 2016 at 2:41 pm

    She is me. And you didn’t leave me disappointed …just nodding knowingly.

    Reply
  2. tim on January 11, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    JDB- Happy New Year!
    My “two-cents” is there is a big difference between having a platform as a writer …. and having spiritual authority as a writer. I’ll choose the latter. My encouragement to you Samantha is to keep writing … and re-writing … and re-writing. And truly enjoy the writing process-:)-

    Reply
  3. Ashley on January 11, 2016 at 4:05 pm

    Yes, yes, yes.

    Reply
    • thebeautifuldue on January 15, 2016 at 10:41 pm

      Hi, Ashley. Your comment had to be approved and I didn’t see it until today, sluggard that I am. Sorry about that. You’re approved, and thanks for the yeses!

      Reply
  4. The Keeper of me on January 12, 2016 at 3:37 am

    I am certainly not a writer like many of you are, but I am a wordy girl. A stream of consciousness, a poem or a song. Fluttering moments of brilliance in a sea of mundane thoughts. I scramble my words…sometimes I am heard. I admire the truth of your heart John Blase. You don’t color it pretty. Strength in the lead rope. Thanks for that.

    Reply
    • thebeautifuldue on January 15, 2016 at 10:42 pm

      Thank you, Lynn. If you’re writing, you’re a writer in my book:)

      Reply
      • The Keeper of me on January 24, 2016 at 10:26 pm

        Thanks John…If you have a moment I wrote a poem and your the man about that…It’s called Modern day poet and writer/ love story …if you have any suggestions my teacher I would receive them gladly! I want to get better… Blessings this Sunday

        Reply
  5. Seth Haines | Weekend Review: Shakey Cuts and Smart Guns on January 16, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    […] John Blase and I were emailing a bit this week, and he raised the ghost of Miller Williams, Arkansas poet extraordinaire. I think you should sit with this piece of Williams’ poetry, “A Poem for Emily.” And while you’re ruminating on poetical scratchings, check out Blase’s piece to “The Earnest Young Writer.” […]

    Reply
  6. scriptordeus on February 27, 2016 at 7:20 pm

    Whoever said when writers write, it is like bleeding onto the page, was bang on. It is one thing to love words and the putting down of them, but another to have done the living to have something to put down. Pain is a mighty pen.

    Reply

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