We hope you enjoyed our Countdown to Christmas series (view all the posts again here). Pulling it together was great fun, but there were flurries of emails, last minute schedule changes and chasing up contributors. The stress may have got to us a little in the lead up to Christmas, though ... here is a little peek at the behind-the-scenes madness.....
Addy Farmer: Just had an e-mail from 'X' to say she's sending something tomorrow! Sorry for the flurry of worry! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 18:12
Teri Terry: 'Flurry of worry' should be made into a poem, I'm sure! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 18:17
Maureen Lynas: I'm on it! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 18:30
Addy FarmerGet off, Maureen - it's mine! Actually, having just read Jude's post, thinking I might make a pic book... Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 18:59
Maureen Lynas: Done it! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:11
Addy Farmer: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! You beat me! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:20
Addy Farmer: We could have a poetry write-off! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:21
Slushpile note: 'Y' is an agent of considerable renown who rather likes Slushpile poetry
Not as exciting as a fight,
But if you insist, alright.
Just make sure,
You don't sadden or bore,
Or give 'Y' a fright.
Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:25
Pens at the ready! Get ready to show
Us all what you are made of.
Synopses - who cares? Plot plans - not me -
It's all about the Slushpiler pen-off!
Man, I'm really bored... can you tell? Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:45
With pens at the ready
the authors stood steady
They clicked and turned
pages so white
Words they did scrawl
They were having a ball
As story and plot they did write
I'm finished cried Addy
Maureen was maddy
And so she squared up for a fight
She won
Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:51
your words come swifty
think I'll look over your shoulder
it is impossible to rhyme
when your wine glass is empty
I'd have a much better time
With a wine glass of plenty
Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:05
Jo Wyton: Wahay! Shall we get you one of those wine glasses that holds a whole bottle for Christmas?! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:07
Slushpile note: YES please. Oops. Am I giving away my secret identity?
I wear shoulder pads
from Dallas no less
They're heavy and cause me distress
But wear them I do
to foil those who try
To peek, pink, copy 'borrow' or spy
I should be ironing! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:10
Addy Farmer:
Sword stabs,
fists fly,
gun shoots
rope ties
but tippy tap of black on white
mean words will win the war outright
Hmmm, bath time for Wilf and Christmas wrapping! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:26
The neighbours are drunk
the wine is all gone
I look at my watch
but they just won't go home
Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:31
Slushpile note: if any neighbours happen to see this, poetic license! I wasn't REALLY looking at my watch, honest!
There is no Teri Terry
On the internet today
So all the emails in my inbox
Are not from her, no way
Off to bath with a gin and tonic. Bye :) Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:38
Slushpile note: Teri had earlier in the day claimed she'd have the internet off all day whilst editing! We were skeptical
Red Wine And Poetry Do Not Mix
If I have this glass of wine
I know I’ll find the perfect rhyme
And follow on to two or three
it’s sure to help my poetry
Metaphors will lightly spring
enjambment will take true wing
One more luscious red to sip
until I find the perfect quip
When morning comes, I fear and dread
the bleary eyes, the painful head
And hands do shake as page unfolds
what Masterpiece will now be told?
Oh no, it sucks! My deepest fear
perhaps tonight I’ll stick to beer
Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:42
Maureen Lynas: And the prize goes to Teri Terry!!!!!! If she is actually on the internet. Now I'm going in the bath. Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:44
Addy Farmer: For my part (and I have my suspicions about Teri and Jo), wine had been drunk. Sent: Friday 16 Dec, 8:08
Candy Gourlay: And ... "Maureen was MADDY?"Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 8:05
Maureen Lynas: Addy, I was stone cold sober! Candy ... Maddy? You find something to rhyme with Addy in five seconds! Anyway, where is your contribution! *taps fingers, waiting* Would make a good post though. Yes. Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 8:22
Jo Wyton: Was thinking that last night! Would be hilarious! Only writers can occupy themselves for that long by having an email conversation in verse. Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 8:27
Teri Terry: How about as a NY eve post? Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:06
Jo Wyton: Good plan, poetic Batman. Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:10
Maureen Lynas: That would be very funny! Drunken wishes! Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:12
Maureen Lynas: Get off the internet! Edit! Edit! Edit!!!
Jo Wyton: Was thinking that last night! Would be hilarious! Only writers can occupy themselves for that long by having an email conversation in verse. Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 8:27
Teri Terry: How about as a NY eve post? Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:06
Jo Wyton: Good plan, poetic Batman. Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:10
Maureen Lynas: That would be very funny! Drunken wishes! Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:12
Slushpile note: the keen reader may have noticed that earlier, Maureen claimed to be sober through out; yet she did mention gin and tonic in the bath....
Teri Terry:: I'm on it! Another minute or two (or three) of editing procrastination... Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:42
Maureen Lynas: Get off the internet! Edit! Edit! Edit!!!
Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 10:49
From all of us at Notes from the Slushpile: Happy New Year!!