Author: erikarowlee

poetry

2018

erikarowlee

What is the distinction between 2017 and 2018?

All that changes is the last number on our calendar

and we start a new cycle around the sun,

but people all over think that makes a difference.

When the clock strikes midnight,

people think their lives will start to turn around

like a fairytale that never made sense to me.

Cinderella didn’t really do much

other than sing to mice and take care of her house

and then BAM –

the fairy godmother gives her a nice dress,

suddenly she has a nice prince,

and they live happily ever after.

 

How does she get such a happy ending?

The animals make her dress and tell her to go,

the fairy godmother gives her a new one

and the means to get to the ball,

and the prince likes her after knowing her

for maybe an hour or so.

She just goes along with it all,

and everything falls into place

like pieces of a puzzle

that weren’t even taken out of the box.

She may deserve it

after dealing with her wicked family,

but happiness doesn’t get handed out

for tolerating those around you.

 

Maybe I missed the memo,

but when the new year comes around,

everyone seems to think that the change

from 7 to 8 summons a fairy godmother

or that the list they make will be achieved on their own.

We’re in the 21st century, not a fairy tale.

There is no fairy godmother.

At the stroke of midnight,

a new year will start,

but a new you takes more time

than clock does to chime.

Push forward into the future

and start writing your own story.

blog

2018 – What I Want to Accomplish

erikarowlee

Screen Shot 2017-12-31 at 4.12.53 PM

Before it strikes midnight and the ball drops, I just wanted to reflect on this year. For me, even with all of the craziness that came into the world, this year wasn’t all that bad. I made a lot of good friends and got a lot of writing done. During the creative writing class I took last semester, I had to churn out a short story every other week for six weeks, and that really pushed me and my writing capabilities. I started this website and got serious about pursuing publication.

Even with all the good things that happened this year, this next year looks like it’s going to be even better! I’m going to be taking a novel writing class this spring while I attempt to finish rewriting the novel I’m currently working on, and for two months in the summer, I’m going to be studying abroad in Shanghai!

I want to pause and, before it’s officially the new year, make a list of goals that I want to accomplish over the next 365 days. I’ve never actually made a list of New Year’s Resolutions, but I think it’ll help me focus more.

  • Read more books. Towards the end of the year, I realized that I was so busy reading assigned books for school and writing that I got away from reading for pleasure. I saw a cool reading challenge on Hope’s blog post that I want to try.
  • Finish rewriting my novel. I’ve been working on rewriting the novel I finished for a few months now, and I really want to finish it.
  • Start outlining the sequel. I’ve got some ideas, but I want to put them down on paper and flush them out more.
  • Publish a short story in a magazine. I’m thinking the magazine at Pepperdine, but maybe I’ll try another one too.
  • Try NaNo again. I’m aiming for Camp NaNo in July since November is right before finals and April IS finals.
  • Keep up social media presence. Being active on Twitter and reading other writing blogs is helping me to see writing from new perspectives.
  • Keep the grades up in school. ‘Nough said.
  • Carry a conversation in Chinese in China. I want to be fluent in another language, and this would be so cool!
  • Multi-class a character for Dungeons and Dragons. Circle of the Moon Druid for one side, still trying to figure out the other one.
  • Work on a Dungeons and Dragons campaign of my own. I’ve always wanted to DM, but it takes a lot work, and I want to come up with a good original plot.
  • Eat a Pizooki at BJ’s. I was too full last time. Not again!

What about you guys? What are your goals for the upcoming year? I’d love to hear about them!

Hope you all have a Happy New Year! I’ll update next year!

 

poetry

December Radiance

erikarowlee

Twinkling

red, green, white lights

poke their beams out,

peeking from under the soft blanket

of snow covering them.

From rooftop ledges, garden shrubbery,

pine trees in people’s homes,

their eyes follow the brightly colored wrapping

scattered across the floors,

overflowing out of trash bins,

and the gleaming smiles

of children and adults alike.

 

Like the stars in the night above,

the lights cheerily continue

to do what they do best –

they shine.

poetry

Late Night Car Ride

erikarowlee

Wind whips through the car window,

rushing through the fingers of hands

that reach past the leather interior

and into the shadows. Flashing past

the scarce streetlight,

our heartbeats speed up to match

the rotation of the wheels,

the pulse of the speakers,

the roar of the engine

as the air pulls our breath away

and leaves the legato notes and laughter

on the pavement behind us

as we continue on,

rushing forward into the night

under the light of the stars.

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Update: 12/16/17

erikarowlee

I’m sorry I haven’t been posting lately. College has been crazy, and I wasn’t able to pull anything together for a bit there. Thankfully, this Winter Break is going to give me some time to time to write more. My goal is to update with either a poem or a story every week, and throw a blog post in the mix every once and awhile.

Thank you all for your understanding – I’ll be back to posting on Monday!