Happy New Year from the Slushpile!

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

Jo Wyton: Is this going to end in a fist fight with 'Y' standing off to one side crying? Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:21

Slushpile note: 'Y' is an agent of considerable renown who rather likes Slushpile poetry

Addy Farmer: I could do swords but hang on, the pen is mightier than the sword. Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:24

Jo Wyton:

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

Addy Farmer: I like the idea of 'Y' crying over us - who will I choose? Waaa, no I'll take BOTH of them! (have had wine which induces fantasies) Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:26

Maureen Lynas: But my pen's bigger than your pen! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:27

Addy Farmer: En garde! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:31

Maureen Lynas: Not fair! You've got all the gear! I submit! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:35

Jo Wyton

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

Addy Farmer: Hasn't anybody ever told you that thing about size? Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:46

Jo Wyton: Bigger is always better? Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:50

Maureen Lynas:

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

Jo Wyton: I'm going to go hide and sulk now... ;o) Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:53

Maureen Lynas: Bored and sulky, oh dear :( Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 19:54

Addy Farmer:

Your pen is nifty

your words come swifty

think I'll look over your shoulder

and risk looking shifty

Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:01

Teri Terry:

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?

Addy Farmer: I think you could put that to music and make a drinking song Sent:Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:08

Maureen Lynas:

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

Maureen Lynas: Aren't we all so talented! Yay slushpilers!!!! Sent: Thursday, 15 Dec, 20:28

Teri Terry:

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!

Maureen Lynas:

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

Teri Terry:

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

Candy Gourlay: (Emerging from Writer's Cave) What's going on? This is EXTREME PROCRASTINATION! This poetry thing is dangerous! Sent: Friday, 16 Dec, 8:03

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

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!!