<img src="[link] width="115" height="115" border="0" alt="Twelve Logo 2" align="left"> Issue Three of TWELVE: For Writers has more content than ever, with writer reviews by DSpayre, Elphabastevens, Inennui, Mariamaria, Tmpst24myst, and Utro; a resources section filled with quality literary magazines; the introduction of a section on improving your writing craft; and increased navigability to find back-issues and past featured writers!

If you want to find good reading material, improve your own writing, or get it published, start reading this issue!


<u>November's Featured Writers </u>

DSpayre's Picks:

First Writer
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Fathernye

Unless taken literally, "breathless" is too dull and cliche a word to use for how I feel after reading something by Fathernye. Take it literally. Fathernye has the rare ability to make a profound emotional and inspirational impact on the reader, using the most simple or the most dynamic and eloquent of words.

Featured Piece:
Sealed With a Kiss
<img src="[link] width="115" height="90" border="0" alt="Sealed with a Kiss">

I must say I battled myself for a long time as to whether it would be ethical to feature this particular poem; it is actually a collaboration with Elphabastevens. But I don't think Fathernye would mind my ultimate decision--this piece is remarkably profound and deserves more attention than I can afford it.

Further Suggestions:
Judgement Day
Fleeting Joy

Second Writer
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Greumach

To be perfectly blunt, swords and scorcery, robots and spaceships, typically are not my thing. But Greumach manages to pull me into the fantasy genre (immensely foreign to me) in the same way that William Gibson draws me into sci-fi--effortlessly. Like Gibson, Greumach does not fall into a genre like an abyss, but utilizes it, bringing the refreshing voice of someone who has something to say and knows how to say it.

Featured Piece:
The Siegemasters - Part I
<img src="[link] width="109" height="115" border="0" alt="The Siegemasters - Part I">

In the first part of his seven-part story, "The Siegemasters," Greumach begins with a colorful array of strong characters and an instantly absorbing plot. Follow the vibrant world to the end of the full tale, the classic Part VII.

Further Suggestions:
Anselm's Song For Lileas
A Mask of Mirrors

Third Writer
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Lavenderpony

Lavenderpony is one of the most sorely overlooked writers in this issue on deviantART, exemplifying the reason we bring you TWELVE--to draw talent like this into the open. Though her abilities placed in the Day in the Life prose contest, Lavenderpony is still unknown to too, too many. Go read!

Featured Piece:
A Mass for Oliver
<img src="[link] width="96" height="115" border="0" alt="A Mass for Oliver">

With soft questioning, Lavenderpony slowly leads the reader into immeasurable, contemplative, morose thought and lamentation. This is the poem to read and let sit in your mind until the delicate emotion, the warm sentiment and chilly pain, has fully affected you. Listen carefully. This is a poem to experience.

Further Suggestions:
Of Importance Withdrawing
For the Minoans

Fourth Writer
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Maven-

I came across Maven-'s piece featured in this issue earlier this month and was astonished that it only had received one comment. I finally got around to going through his gallery recently, and found that most of his work, all of which left me in awe, has a disgraceful 1 or 0 comments! His classical, eloquent style and stunningly realistic descriptions lack in only one area--they remain unseen by the deviantART majority.

Featured Piece:
A Woodland Chase
<img src="[link] border="0" alt="A Woodland Chase">

You probably know what it's like to randomly stumble across one work of art or writing that ultimately leads you to staying up all night weeding through an entire gallery. This is one of those pieces. I don't remember how I came across "A Woodland Chase," but I might as well have picked a poet's guide to Imagery from my shelf and flipped to the "How To" section.

Further Suggestions:
The Afterlife
Join Us

Elphabastevens's Picks:

First Writer
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Ost2life

^ost2life caught my eye for one simple reason: no one captures madness quite the way this deviant does. For those of you not-in-the-know, "Ost2life" stands for Official Soundtrack 2 Life, but this deviant doesn't spank anyone for not knowing that. Rather, s/he always has a kind comment or constructive tidbit for hir fellow deviants and contributes both art and amiability to our humble community.

Featured Piece:
He's Mad, Pt. 1 and 2
<img src="[link] border="0" alt="He is mad - Pt1 and 2">

The featured piece, "He's Mad, Pt. 1 and 2" staggered me with its authenticity. While the experience of madness is not universal to all those who suffer it, this work certainly hit a nerve with me. Few writers explore the limbo between sanity and its opposite, choosing instead to leap straight into the abyss of insanity which can seem more manageable for its lack of subtlety. Ost2life masterfully addresses this limbo, and this piece deserves inclusion in anyone's mental reference library. After all, the odds are that if you aren't mad yet, someone you know is or will be.

Further Suggestions:
Making it Real
Sleeping With the Radio On

Inennui's Picks:

First Writer
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Aircrash

How many times have you heard or seen "nice flow" and it's been heartfelt? For a real lesson in this "flow," aircrash has the ability to teach. She is a poetry, prose and photography package to dig straight into. If I were to sum it all up in a single word: lush.

Featured Piece:
Purity of Autumn
<img src="[link] width="115" height="90" border="0" alt="purity of autumn">

"I stood there, feverishly waiting for winter... "
I featured this before in a prose article, but frankly it needs to be hammered into your skulls. Through a combination of romance, bitterness and seasons you are drawn into interaction between two characters. Interplay between the seasons and the human emotional state of being through descriptions. I will have to again resort to: lush.

Further Suggestions:
bitter - for the reserved
cherry manhattan

Mariamaria's Picks:

First Writer
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Zero6ix

Zero6ix writes good stories. Let's not go into character and setting and plot development and the rest of the bullshit. Let's just say that when he tells a story, you're going to listen to it and it's going to yank your chain a little. You're going to enjoy it. That's what I'm trying to say. This isn't the kind of talent that says, "Look at me. I used a big word. This must be art." This is the kind of talent that respects its creation and encourages you to forget the writer, just dive right into the story and fucking enjoy it.

Featured Piece:
Biohazard
<img src="[link] width="115" height="115" border="0" alt="Biohazard">

Drugs + sex + violence = good storytelling elements. Zero6ix wants to add that he's going to hell for writing this. Frankly, we don't care. We're just glad he wrote it. Even if we're going to hell for reading it.

Further Suggestions:
College Night
Revelation

Second Writer
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Epimetheus

I confess that I'm biased. I like prose writers. I like writers who deal with life. I like writers who include drug use and loose women in their stories. I like Bush jokes. Bad me. I like Epimetheus. His gallery ain't that big and a good deal of it is poetry. Expect good things from him. Expect a large range of good things from him. Variety is good. Go read.

Featured Piece:
Iris
<img src="[link] border="0" alt="Iris">

"I am the messenger of god she said, legs spread. My name is Iris and if you love me you will hear him speak ." What this story is really about is sex. Or God. Or sex. Whatever. It's pretty. Go read.

Further Suggestions:
Cowboy Catechism
Dick and Bush

Tmpst24myst's Picks:

First Writer
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Dhk

Dhk hasn’t been around deviantART for very long but his writing has made an impression. He is known by those who have read his work to be somewhat of an abstract poet. He uses a lot of imagery using adjectives to describe the already imagined noun and the way he gambles verbs against nouns is incredible. It’s like he dares you and your own imagination with the words he has given you, to write your own poem, but following his guidelines. Dhk leaves it up to you to fill in the blanks, while keeping his work whole and his ideas flowing into conclusion. I find it stimulating to read between lines and not have everything told to me with clear visuals. It’s good to challenge the minds of your readers and have them tell you what you mean and Dhk does this in some of his writings. Are you up for it? Can you break his code?

Featured Piece:
salt air
<img src="[link] width="115" height="55" border="0" alt="salt air">

In the writer, Dhk ‘s eyes, this has been described as being more or less a random writing that holds no real meaning as to why he wrote it, he just did. It was an image he saw in his mind and wrote what he felt the words should say. This, even it holds no more value than a simple thought, is an incredible piece of work.

Further Suggestions:
dhk 09/09/02-untitled
theoretical theme park

Second Writer
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Martinjross

Some may find his work twisted, others will say it’s brilliantly delicious. There’s no place left to hide once you look inside these eyes and the last sound to drown your ears will be your own bloodied cries. Welcome to the dark side.
His work is consistent with the simplicity of Dr. Seuss rhymes and he has an amazing grip on what horror writing is. He gives you samples of salty sweet flesh in most of his work his creativity has a nostalgic feel to it. The way he describes murderous seduction will surely bring you to perhaps a Jack the Ripper era? Martinjross‘s use of scalpels and long skirts….well, I’m sure you can piece together the rest once Dr. Death has made his first house call to your monitor.

Featured Piece:
Darkness and Light
<img src="[link] width="115" height="73" border="0" alt="Darkness and Light">

This is a first attempt at a Villanelle, as described by Martinjross and it is said to have a classic feel to it by those who have read it. The repetition throughout each verse and the rhyming scheme is quite effective in this as it tells the tale similar to that of ‘One Tin Soldier’ written by Lambert-Potter and performed by Coven. Saddle up boys and girls, Martinjross is about to lead you into victory!

Further Suggestions:
Whispers from the Grave
The Seduction

Third Writer
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Isonica

This next poet has a voluptuous selection of poetry and in spite of being recognized in the community as a recipient of the deviousness award, Isonica has been remarkably overlooked for his talent. I have read over one hundred of his one hundred and eighty one poems and I have witnessed, reading from his first days at deviantART to now, a vast selection in style, structure, category and even ideas. Although, I would have to say that his growth as a poet stands out more to me than his well rounded skill. With a poet such as Isonica, as talented as he is, it surprises me to find as few as zero comments on his work. I was lucky and happened upon him while randomly searching older poetry from names that I wasn’t familiar with and thus far, the only disappointment I have after reading a considerable number of his poems, is that he is not read by more of us.

Featured Piece:
Breathe with Me
<img src="[link] width="115" height="100" border="0" alt="breathe with me">

The first piece of work that I read from Isonica is ‘Breathe with Me.’ This is a beautiful example of graceful writing and adds to my curiosity of why this writer, who has contributed so much to the community, has not received a higher praise for this. The words move into transparency with such ease that it’s saddening. I’ve read this over and over and each time it touches another nerve of tenderness in my heart.

Further Suggestions:
Water down the drain
Gallery

Utro's Picks:

First Writer
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Souf-up

Souf-up writes fiction so convincingly you cannot help but wonder if it's truly fiction. Until you realize she's a 16 year old girl and not a male drowning in the corporate world, nor a beaten housewife, nor a father and husband holding his coma-bound wife while hiding back tears from his son. These are the dark realities behind the characters she creates so vividly. In a collection of short prose, poetry and a novel, Amaia, which combines the two; she reels the reader into her fantasy world that does not glitter, but shines of powerful social statements and gripping melancholic realism that will linger with you long after you read it.

Featured Piece:
Confessions of a Housewife
<img src="[link] width="115" height="108" border="0" alt="Confessions of the Housewife">

In the short prose, Confessions of a Housewife, Souf-up writes in the first-person point of view of a housewife who is caged inside what she, herself, sees as a mashed potato body, never perfect enough for her abusive husband. Through the spelling out of self-criticizing thoughts of a woman, objectified through a love, no longer; this piece speaks of a fictional situation that is fact for so many women who find themselves plucked of their childhood innocence and placed into a trap they never saw coming.

Further Suggestions:
City of Oceans
Hold her Head


<u>Focusing on the Craft </u> by DSpayre

Tip #1: Avoiding Clichés

Clichés are the scourge of any writing, because whether you're writing a short poem or a novel, you want to make a lasting impression on the reader. Using a dull, stock-phrased metaphor or simile such as "blind as a bat" is ineffectual because it lacks the vividness of an original metaphor, and even the strength of a single unmodified word. Consider this:

Though they may only be the tip of the iceberg in poetry so boring you could scream, when you write, you should avoid clichés like the plague. You want your work to stack up, raise the bar and reach new grounds.

Look at the last paragraph. Cliche-ridden? Yep. Sure, it makes sense, but it's awfully dreary and unexciting. Plus, my point could have been more impacting if I eliminated these phrases. Now here's the paragraph without the cliches:

Clichés may not be your only problem, but you should avoid them. You want your work to be original.

Obviously, more than half of the first paragraph consisted of clichés, and by eliminating them we're left with a rather skimpy two-liner. It's poignant, but it could also be livened up a little. Look how it reads when I add some more vivid metaphor and imagery:

Clichés leave many would-be published writers with a volume of stale poetry and a stack of rejection notices. Why? Because in your recent poem about the ocean, the editor wanted to breathe the warm, sodium air--not dusty, mildewed metaphors lining literature's libraries like warehouses.

This will affect the reader far more because I abandoned wordiness where it was not necessary (I could have said a "mile-high stack of rejection notices," but it does not supplement the effect), and elaborated where it was necessary with engrossing imagery. I added a rhetorical question for effect, addressed the reader directly, dropped in some alliteration--but what gets the reader's attention is the contrast between the pleasant ocean air and the not-so-pleasant "mildewed metaphors" on the other end of the dash. By eliminating clichés, the writer has an increased number of ways to formulate paragraphs or stanzas--making such a contrast would be difficult with clichés, and fruitless since the reader's heard both clichés too often to make the connection.

Particularly studious workshopping writers might want to keep an ongoing list of clichés they are prone to inadvertently using, as well as those they hear and read. Then search for these phrases through the "Find" tool in your word processor whenever you write anything of short-story length or longer.


<u>TWELVE Resources For Writers </u> by DSpayre

Last month I featured useful tools for writers to compliment the actual writing process, but what do you do once you've finished that masterpiece? If you're like most writers, you'll want to get it published--whether it's your best poem or four, or a compelling short story, literary magazines can be the best place to start. While publishing lengthy prose is difficult, publishing volumes of poetry is nearly impossible without some prior recognition. Literary magazines will help you do just that--put your name out there in front of a broad audience.

1.) The Melic Review is a distinguished online litmag seeking poems, essays, and fiction "of the highest quality." The Melic Review does not pay, and is only an online E-Zine, but it maintains a high readership.

2.) 3rd Muse Poetry Journal is a publication from 3rd Muse Publishing and Web Design, published monthly online, as well as quarterly in a print edition. All submitted poems are initially considered for the online version of 3rd Muse Poetry Journal only. Selections for the print edition are made from those published online in the preceeding three months.

3.) Swagazine is probably best described in their own words: "Here we examine the dynamic relationship between the mind and the voice; between the conscience of people and the standards of mass society; between the message of the endangered individual and the moronic giant of popular opinion." Swagazine does not offer monetary compensation as it is entirely non-profit.

4.) Pif Magazine is a large, high-scale E-Zine with a very refined interface and--oh yeah, up to $200 for submissions. That might pay a fourth of your rent, but that's an oasis in a literary field. Of course, the bigger the site and the higher the stakes, the lower your chances. Good luck, gamblers.

5.) Interbang, on the other hand, might give you a t-shirt. A bit peculiar, I'll again let 'em describe themselves: "An interbang is a punctuation mark. (i.e., the graphic located in the top left corner of this page). It is an exclamation point/ question mark hybrid used at the end of commonly blurted rhetorical statements, such as 'How’d she do that?', or 'What the f&*k?!'" Yep. Pretty stylish site though, I must say--and they're in print, too.

6.) Renegade Writers might be my new literary magazine, but don't let an inherent hatred for spam stop you. Renegade Writers is accepting high-quality poetry, prose, photography, and artwork for its first issue. Released in socio-political themes, the first issue's suggested submissions should be focal to "World Peace," but it's not required. Online, with an annual print collection.

7.) Eclectica Magazine has a pretty good history. They have had Pushcart Prize, National Poetry Series, and Pulitzer Prize winners, as well as Nebula Award nominees. True to its name, a quarterly Word Wide Web journal devoted to showcasing the best writing on the web, regardless of genre, Eclectica Magazine features all types of fiction, poetry, essays, creative nonfiction, drama, book and movie reviews, interviews and humor/satire. Works which cross genres—or create new ones—are especially encouraged. Appears in print.

8.) The Ivy Vine is a literary magazine with a charitable twist--"Our main purpose is to educate the public about grief, suicide and depression, and offer support for suicide victims' survivors and other people grieving or suffering depression."

9.) Morpo Review is a surprisingly accomidating site, tracking what poetry you have or have not read from the latest release directly on the main page. Around since '94, the established magazine has a rich archive of past contributions.

10.) Pierian Springs is a remarkably stylish and high-quality literary magazine accepting poetry, prose, and artwork. Though it does not ask for a specific genre, Pierian Springs demands high-quality work, which it noticeably contains. And it's just plain fun to look at, too.

11.) Tryst is a relatively new magazine in its second issue. Very visually oriented, Tryst has a wealth of visual and literary art alike, accepting everything from art and photography to poetry and editorials, with an emphasis on strong emotional and intellectual content.

12.) No Alibi Press calls itself the place "where you have the right NOT to remain silent!" Very world- and issue-conscious, No Alibi Press not only accepts social visual and literary art, but also heads up charitable projects.


<u>Miss a Writer?</u>

We have featured the following exceptional writers:

(Issue 1)
Eklipzed
meic2
torn-pages
danstijl12
pisschrist
tax-chan
saintartaud
elphabastevens
chaosboy
prettyheretic
glasscuckooland
h-hour

(Issue2)
ndifference
nonculture
vermillionbird
envygrrl
summerheart
fauxgravity
manadrake
whisperingstorm
thiefofcolours
ladynyk
casualtea
eluzion


<u>Miss an Issue?</u>

TWELVE: For Writers -- Issue 1
TWELVE: For Writers -- Issue 2

<u> Questions? Suggestions? </u>

Contact the editors: DSpayre or Utro.