Tag Archives: #writingcommunity

Thank You, Autumn Sky Poetry Daily

I maybe have shared when my poem “Waterland” was first published by Open: Journal of Arts and Letters. Then it became part of my new full-length collection Rooted and Winged. Today I’m really tickled that editor Christine Klocek-Lim has published it in Autumn Sky Poetry Daily. She expresses her thoughts about the poem at the end. I’m grateful for her enthusiasm for the poem.

https://autumnskypoetrydaily.com/2023/02/21/waterland-by-luanne-castle/

This is the photo that inspired me to write this poem. Yes, that’s baby me with my pretty mom.

Leave a comment

Filed under #poetrycommunity, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Publishing, Rooted and Winged

Write Me a Poem: Poetry and AI (Let’s Discuss!)

Yesterday I posted about asking the new Microsoft ChatGPT to write a blog post about art journaling. I felt a little sad that it could produce a decent freshman essay. But then Amy at https://brotmanblog.com/2023/01/10/time-for-a-break-2/ challenged me to ask it to write a poem. So I decided to have it write poems in the styles of different poets. I asked for a poem about a cat in the styles of Rupi Kaur (who writes simple little ditties that are very popular on Instagram), Sylvia Plath, Walt Whitman, and Luanne Castle (haha). [You see that haha right there? ChatGPT would never do that!]

I am going to post screen shots of the results, although I don’t expect you to actually read them all. But skimming them might be eye-opening as to how AI works.

First here’s Rupi Kaur.

If you know what Rupi Kaur verse looks like you know this doesn’t look like her writing. But there are hints that AI is trying to make this a Rupi poem: “that there is beauty / in simplicity,” for instance.

Now let’s see a Plath version.

Wow, the poem LOOKS the same, but the language is different. It’s dark and sad and somewhat angry. It doesn’t always make sense: “A hunter who leaves nothing dead.” What the heck does that mean? Again, there is no attempt to mimic the form of the poet’s work, but AI seems to have grabbed phrases from the internet and made its own mishmash with a thesaurus.

Here is in my style:

This is quite a change from the Plath. I would say it has a more inspirational tone to it. And some of the language makes me think that AI picked up on my blog posts maybe more than my poetry.

Finally, here is “I Sing Myself” Whitman.

There you go: Whitman’s poem really does sound like an ode to the cat. But same form. All the rhyming, including off rhymes.

Poetry, as we know, tends to be complex, using many poetic techniques, creating multiple “threads.” Poetry can also contain imagery and ideas that are quite idiosyncratic or personal, but rise to a new level in the poem itself. This analysis, if you can call it that, does show me more about how AI works. No way can AI do what poets do.

35 Comments

Filed under #writerlife, #writingcommunity, Reading, Writing, Writing Talk

What Do You Think About All This?

I thought I would share with you about the practice of art journaling. But first, here is a little water journal I made about three weeks ago. It’s made up of scraps of junk that are colored on a bit and then soaked in water. I love this little thing and keep flipping through it.

Please be patient. Ultimately this post is not really about art journaling.

***

Art journaling is a creative and expressive way to combine art and writing in one space. It’s a personal and flexible form of self-expression that allows you to explore your thoughts and emotions through visual and written means.

Art journaling can take many forms, from drawing and painting to collage and mixed media. You can use any materials that you have on hand, such as paints, markers, pens, scrapbook paper, and magazine clippings. There’s no right or wrong way to create an art journal, which is what makes it such a liberating and therapeutic practice.

One of the main benefits of art journaling is that it can help you process your feelings and thoughts in a non-linear and non-verbal way. You can use colors, shapes, and images to convey emotions that may be difficult to express in words. Art journaling can also help you identify patterns and themes in your life, which can lead to greater self-awareness and personal growth.

Art journaling can also be a form of mindfulness practice. When you’re creating art, you’re focused on the present moment and the act of creating. This can help you reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mood.

***

Mindfulness is so important to me. And I get that through art journaling. I also get it through blogging. But I might be out of a “job.” The above section was written by Microsoft’s ChatGPT!!! I asked it to “write a blog post about art journaling.” Here is the rest of the “post.”

***

To get started with art journaling, all you need is a blank notebook or sketchbook and some basic art supplies. You can start by making simple marks and lines, or you can jump right into more complex drawings and paintings. There are no rules, so let your creativity guide you.

Some people like to set a specific intention or theme for their art journaling, while others prefer to let their intuition guide them. You can also use prompts or exercises to get your creative juices flowing. For example, you might try drawing your current mood or creating a collage of images that represent your goals and aspirations.

Art journaling is a personal and intimate practice, so it’s important to create a space that feels safe and comfortable. You might choose to journal in a quiet space or with music playing in the background. Some people find it helpful to set aside a specific time each day or week for art journaling.

In conclusion, art journaling is a powerful and accessible tool for self-expression, self-awareness, and personal growth. It allows you to combine art and writing in a way that feels unique and authentic to you. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a complete beginner, art journaling is a creative outlet that can help you connect with your inner self and express your thoughts and feelings in a meaningful way.

***

I couldn’t have written more cohesively and comprehensively myself, although I would probably have shared photos and added personal comments.

The next way I engaged with ChatGPT was to ask it to “buy my books available on Amazon.” It responded that it doesn’t have the ability to purchase products on Amazon or any platform. Then it went on to give me advice on how to promote my books through Amazon.

So what do you think? New best friend or Trojan horse enemy? Personally I think we are DOOMED. Upper Case for emphasis. I bet ChatGPT can’t make that choice!

54 Comments

Filed under #writerlife, #writingcommunity, art journaling, Reading, Writing, Writing Talk

A Poem for Turkey and Syria

Here is the poem a lot of poets wanted to write this week—me included.

30 Comments

Filed under #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Poetry, Writing

A New Interview and a Worthy Journal (and a flash)

Thimble Magazine was founded by the multi-talented Nadia Arioli. Nadia, a poet and artist, is also editor-in-chief of the journal.

Check out Thimble’s interview of me in their newsletter of Patreon supporters. It was really fun to respond to some new questions!

https://mailchi.mp/6f9b64c0d540/five-questions-with-luanne-castle

If you would like to help support (for as little as $1/month) a deserving poetry journal, I can’t think of one I enjoy more than Thimble. Nadia is a delightful person with excellent taste in poetry. I think the statement on the journal’s website is very telling: “THE THIMBLE LITERARY MAGAZINE IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT POETRY IS LIKE ARMOR. LIKE A THIMBLE, IT MAY BE SMALL AND SEEM INSIGNIFICANT, BUT IT WILL PROTECT US WHEN WE ARE MOST VULNERABLE.” https://www.patreon.com/thimblelitmag

Thimble seems a magazine by the people for the people. I love it.

Speaking of literature journals, I’m part of the community surrounding the magazine Verse-Virtual. VV held a book party the other day for VV poets who have new books out. I read from Rooted and Winged. Nine others read from their books as well, and thanks to that reading, I bought four new poetry books! I start to read at 2:20: https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2xh0R1rNEpauOqIscRoZsbOcBbODRNsTEveIjcej0ApPq-jP8z5Z58qLQ&v=nLYpTk-HAQQ&feature=youtu.be

Guess what I just discovered? I wanted to start to submit to Visual Verse to practice writing ekphrastically. So for my first try I wrote a flash piece about the art Visual Verse used as a prompt. I didn’t know they published mine, but I just found it: https://visualverse.org/submissions/the-mess-of-mindfulness/

Without saying anything else (because what can be said is endless), I just want to place this link for Tyre Nichols’ photography.

https://thiscaliforniakid2.wixsite.com/tnicholsphotography/portraits.

27 Comments

Filed under #amreading, #amwriting, #poetrycommunity, #poetswithcats, #writingcommunity, Cats and Other Animals, Interview, Literary Journals, Poetry reading, Rooted and Winged, Writing

Merril D. Smith Reviews Rooted and Winged

I love this review of Rooted and Winged by Merril D. Smith. Thank you so much, Merril.

10 Comments

Filed under #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Blogging, Book Review, Inspiration, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Rooted and Winged, Writing

Suanne Schafer Reviews Rooted and Winged

Thank you to novelist Suanne Schafer’s review of Rooted and Winged.

https://suanneschaferauthor.com/book-review-rooted-and-winged/?fbclid=IwAR0izd8PeAZVPM_Qu5uggL9Z1noinxYST0VptmAH9m3Ynr-9jiTk6gBOa_M

You can find Suanne’s novels here: https://suanneschaferauthor.com/bibliography/

15 Comments

Filed under #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Blogging, Book Review, Inspiration, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Rooted and Winged, Writing

Elaine Pinkerton Coleman Reviews Rooted and Winged

Thank you, Elaine Pinkerton Coleman, for the review of Rooted and Winged and other books on her blog. Her blog is a wonderful mix of posts about travel, New Mexico, and adoption.

https://elainepinkerton.wordpress.com/2022/12/12/reading-the-nights-away/

7 Comments

Filed under #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Blogging, Book Review, Inspiration, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Rooted and Winged, Writing

Superstition Review Blog

Superstition Review is supporting Rooted and Winged on their blog. Check out their post:

https://blog.superstitionreview.su.edu/

If you supported me by purchasing a copy, please remember to leave even a tiny review on Amazon and/or Goodreads!

Leave a comment

Filed under #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Blogging, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Rooted and Winged, Writing

The Rooted and Winged Blog Tour Links

The Rooted and Winged blog tour has been a lot of fun. I thought I would put all the links to early reviews, as well as the interviews and guest posts.

REVIEWS

By Carla McGill: https://www.harbor-review.com/rooted-and-winged

By Sheila Morris: https://iwillcallit.com/2022/10/02/rooted-and-winged-poems-by-luanne-castle/

By Jade Nicole Beals: https://jadenicolebeals.com/2022/10/08/rooted-and-winged-by-luanne-castle-standing-so-your-familiar-setting-takes-flight-with-you/

INTERVIEWS AND GUEST POSTS

Review Tales – Interview with Luanne

The Bookish Elf – Interview with Luanne

The Bookworm – Luanne Castle guest post

Anthony Avina’s Blog – Luanne Castle Interview

The Book Connection – Luanne Castle Interview

Celtic Lady’s Reviews – Luanne Castle Guest Post

The Soapy Violinist – Luanne Castle Guest Post

I would love to do more interviews or posts in the future. If you leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads I would be so thrilled.

1 Comment

Filed under #poetrycommunity, #writingcommunity, Blogging, Book Review, Inspiration, Interview, Poetry, Poetry book, Poetry Collection, Rooted and Winged, Writing