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Poetry/Questions Answered by Expert Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Help me with poetry | 1/21/2012 |
| Q: I asked you some time ago whether a poem i wrote in iambic pentameter was ok and you said it was ok. ... A: Greetings, Rahul... Try this...just one word removed from line two and a small alteration to one ... | |
| Poetry to approach to song writing | 11/25/2011 |
| Q: I'm doing a research on lyric writing, and the use of poetry as an approach to it. I've asked one of ... A: Rodrigo... It's easier to write song lyrics if you are adept at writing poetry. But, that's not to ... | |
| HELP REVIEW | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I read through your profile and I am a little confused about your concept of poetry. I was never a ... A: Greetings, O'seun and thank you for your question. Not sure where your confusion lies. I don't ... | |
| poem structure | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: In an A - B - C - B rhyme scheme, do the second and fourth lines need to be of equal amount of ... A: David... As I told you before, you're putting far too much stress on your poem being "correct" in ... | |
| The use of "ne'er" in modern poetry | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: If someone is writing poetry, is it O.K. to substitute "never" for the Shakespearean "ne'er", even ... A: Greetings, Xavier and thank you for your question. Unfortunately, poetry is NOT what it used to be ... | |
| author of this poem | 6/8/2011 |
| Q: Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore;I could not love thee, dear, so much,Loved I not ... A: Tricia...though my profile plainly says that I don't answer these types of questions, out of ... | |
| My Poem | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I've been writing poetry for years, 7 actually, but how do I get it published? And am I good enough? ... A: Greetings, Tasha and thank you for your question. Poetry is something that most people can have ... | |
| poetry | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: I am trying to put together a nice and very special present for my friend for her birthday. I was ... A: Greetings, Joe and thank you for your question. What a lucky person your friend is. When writing ... | |
| Can I call a candle "wick" a "wicker"? | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I'm writing a short poem, and it doesn't completely rhyme, but I was hoping I would be able to call ... A: Greetings, Chantelle and thank you for your question. That is one of the downfalls of modern ... | |
| Poem Help | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to write a poem and would like your advice. Apologies as I have no training and don't ... A: Not a problem, Paul. I'm not known for my tact and I certainly don't sugar coat anything, so if ... | |
| Publishing or contests | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: i am 15 and love poetry things that attracts me or irritates me are often found in my poetry but ... A: Greetings, Ishan and thank you for your question. There are many poetry contests and sites that ... | |
| Poem i can't find, read in hs | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: There was a poem i read in high school that was so profound but i have never run across it again. ... A: Greetings Elizabeth and thank you for your question. Although my profile plainly says that I don't ... | |
| Poem appraisal solicitation | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: Andrea. Sorry, I’m here to pick your brains again. Other than punctuation, is there anything here ... A: .. As for your poem, you're making one huge mistake...and that's wondering if you "fit" any type of ... | |
| Poetry | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: Andrea, I hope this is what you do, but I am looking for pointers to deficiencies in this poem - how ... A: Darkest Greetings Tony and thank you for your question. Actually, this looks pretty good. Just a ... | |
| Poem syntax | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: Van Scoyoc, I'm a young Mexican writer who is trying to translate Mexican Poetry to English. I'd be ... A: I do indeed speak Spanish...but not like I used to. My fluency has been eroded over the years by not ... | |
| poem structure | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: Firstly thank you for at least being here. I am at present trying to get into uni. I am 52 and an ex ... A: Greetings Godfrey and thank you for your question. It is indeed a good one. There is no flow chart ... | |
| definition of art.... | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: This time it's not a song, but someone's words, however they are pretty unclear to me, they are ... A: Hey Luke. What U2 means is that people want realism in songs and in words. When he says "they want ... | |
| measure | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I'm just curious what the author of this song meant by "measure"? The author says that at the end ... A: .. In English, the word "measure" doesn't always mean just a mathematical equation. It can also ... | |
| lounge act | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: A musician talks about one of his songs and says:This song wanted to be a "lounge classic". It ended ... A: Hey Luke... Lounge music is that annoying stuff that you hear while sitting someplace and waiting. ... | |
| real thing | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: Do native speakers of English use the phrase "The Real Thing" to mean "truth"? There is a title of ... A: Here is what I take it to mean. Many times, people are fake...they put on an act, they try to be ... | |
| sheer face | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: "A man will rise, a man will fall, on the sheer face of love like a fly from a wall" --- Does ... A: Luke... I agree with you. I think the passage means that when we look at the grand scheme of ... | |
| sheer face | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: "A man will rise, a man will fall, on the sheer face of love like a fly from a wall" --- Does ... A: Hey Luke... This is rather non-sensical but there is a message in there somewhere, which makes it ... | |
| ready for the push | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: One guy said that they talk about babies in the very first song of their album and quotes the ... A: Hey Luke... Remember that song lyrics aren't always cut and dry, meaning that most often the lyrics ... | |
| glorify | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: Just a short"You glorify the past when the future dries up" --- Can I interpret it "dry up" as ... A: .. I take this to mean that when the glitz and glamour of the life you had while in the spotlight ... | |
| Question on poem | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: or hiku etc... A: Greetings and Grace James and thank you for your question. Though I have never heard of this poet ... | |
| give yourself away | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: how are you? I'm only interested in the words "And you give yourself away". How do you understand ... A: .. I think the statement "And you give yourself away" means that the person in the song is willing ... | |
| words | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: This time it's not a song. One guy who's mother died a long time ago now speaks of his friend's ... A: .. You're right but I think it might go a little deeper than that as well. Many people feel that ... | |
| Destiny | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: I've got some lyrics again :) Bob Dylan made up such words, he said to his friends: "I like the ... A: Greetings and Grace Luke. You're right...the lyrics to this song are very simple from my ... | |
| song | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: how are you! I'm only interested in the last two lines of the first stanza, i.e.,: Inside a child ... A: Luke. Unfortunately, when you're talking about song lyrics, there is no such thing as a "literal" ... | |
| song | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: how are you! I'm only interested in the last two lines of the first stanza, i.e.,: Inside a child ... A: ..nice to hear from you again. This song seems relatively easy to me, unlike some that I have ... | |
| one line | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I just wanted to ask you how you understand these words:"in the shadows, boy meets man" (it's a line ... A: Greetings and Grace, Luke and thank you for your question. Song lyrics can be a difficult task to ... | |
| About poetry and freestyle | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: I notice that you say you have no time for freestyle poetry I'm not quite sure what that means . Is ... A: Greetings and Grace, Glenn. Good question. I have found that people have differing thoughts on ... | |
| Poem | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I recently had an abortion for medical reasons. I was told either to have an abortion or give birth ... A: Kimberley... First off, please allow me to express my heartfelt condolences on the loss of your ... | |
| Poetry ID | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I'm writing a novel and wish to include a short poem I've heard my now- deceased (rural) family ... A: Grace and Greetings, Don and thank you for your question. I'm not sure what you're asking though. ... | |
| What does this mean | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: I am a big fan of Pablo Neruda. I can really relate to his poems about love. But i cant quite get my ... A: As my profile states, I have absolutely no use for "Freestyle" poetry (poetry that does not rhyme) ... | |
| format | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: Something I have always wondered about, but have not found the answer to: say, you write a poem ... A: .. It's Andrea...Grace is simply my personal signature. ;) Sorry if I didn't fully answer your ... | |
| format | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: Something I have always wondered about, but have not found the answer to: say, you write a poem ... A: Greetings in the light, Dan and thank you for such a marvelous question! The best thing to do when ... | |
| Research topic | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I am suppose to come up with a topic for my research for my final exam. Major subject being English, ... A: Greetings in light and thank you for your question! I think you have made a good choice for your ... | |
| Louis ManNiece | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: perhaps there is a MacNiece poem with a line "When September comes..." as there is not a poem ... A: As my profile states, I can't answer "What poem is this," or "What poem is this line from," etc ... | |
| Poem | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: There is a poem i knew as a child - cant remember title or author but it goes: And still she sat and ... A: Although my expertise is of the writing of poetry, I may be able to help you with your request. It ... | |
Poetry
Answers by Expert:
Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer all questions on the writing of standard prose (rhyming) poetry, formatting, stanzas and rhyming issues. I have limited knowledge of the writing of freestyle poetry (non rhyming poetry--because I do not see it as poetry and therefore have no use for it) so I may or may not be able to help you with the writing of it, but can help with the formatting of it. My knowledge lies extensively in the workings of standard prose poetry. I CAN NOT help you (so PLEASE do not waste my time or yours) with the following types of questions: 1. "What is the name of this poem/what poem-book, etc is this line from" 2. Where can I find "such and such" book 3. Homework questions. For instance: "Show me an example of", "Define 'this' for me," "What does this mean", etc. These are homework questions easily searchable by the Internet where answers are more than likely already provided. I WILL NOT DO YOUR HOMEWORK FOR YOU!!! My expertise is on the WRITING of rhyming poetry only.
Experience
Acclaimed poet. Published for 20 years.
Poetry Editor for the world famous Chancery House. My poetry appears on their e-cards.
Publications
In the Garden of Death by Michelle Moore. My poetry was used as an accompaniment to her cemetery photography.
My poetry graces the fabulous e-cards for the Chancery House
My poetry appears on the Love in 3-D e-cards
Number of poems published on Sensual Venus
Published in NexGen Pulp Magazine
Education/Credentials
Experienced poet of over 20 years, acclaimed and a recognized name in the industry of prose poetry for many years.
Past/Present Clients
Far too many to name through my magazine Worlds Within Worlds Beyond. I have aided many poetry careers thanks to contributor's work appearing in my magazine.
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