Writing – Page 3 – Finious's Folly

‘Non Vi Sed Arte’ – What does it mean to me?

“Non vi Sed Arte” is Latin for “Not by Strength, by Guile”. It is the motto on the “coat of arms” of Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, the first Earl Beatty (1884-1927). It was also used by a couple of different military units. For example it was the unofficial motto of the Long Range Desert Group, a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during WWII.

I always liked the saying. But my take on the slogan has changed as I have gotten older. When I was younger, not being the strongest of guys and having perhaps an excessive opinion of my intellect, I liked the idea of success due to mind over body. But as I grew older this “take” on the slogan not only grew to lose its appeal, but I began to feel a negative reaction to the slogan. Why be proud of a lack of strength or determination? And most dictionaries define guile as a treacherous cunning or skillful deceit. Did I really want to use that as some kind of guide or brag about my character? Continue reading ‘Non Vi Sed Arte’ – What does it mean to me?

Today was a good day

Tucson Sunset HDR Panorama 1/4 size
On vacation visiting family in Tucson, Arizona. After a fun day at the Pima Air & Space Museum (& taking tons of photos), I was treated to this beautiful sunrise out my parent’s back door.

Pull the Shade on the Night

poem © Jeffrey Beaty
written Dec. 31, 2015
24 lines

Times change, and so must I. Appropriate for the beginning of a new year.

This poem began like many of my poems, as a bit of negative maudlin dribble. And then it took a turn for the better. That positive spin was a little bit a conscious choice, but also kind of where I’m at… Trying to break the habits my brain likes to get into and drive outside the “ruts” my grey matter likes to follow. But this turn was also a little what actually occurred, and shows that nothing always stays the same. And if you look hard you can find something to enjoy, be happy or thankful for even in the worst of times. Read the Poem

The Still Point of the Turning World…

I discovered the poem “Burnt Norton” in a recent post from Brain Pickings, a blog I have really found engaging on multiple levels. So many thoughts and literary works it has brought to my attention that I have wanted to pursue. But there is so much to read, so little time, and I DO so love my Sci-Fi & Fantasy escapes.

Anyway, back to the point. Below is a bit of the poem “Burnt Norton” by T. S. Eliot which is all about Time and our perception of it, and a little about writing & poetry, and how the universe and our bit of time in it, does have an order (Logos), and that writing and poetry is our attempts to encapsulate a bit of that order, that bit of time, into our own mutable words. I need to study this poem much more, as there are parts that I don’t quite grasp but “feel”. Continue reading The Still Point of the Turning World…

Short Story: Red Friday

I’ve been working on this short story off and on for about a month and a half. I just now finished it and am scrambling to publish it here today as it is of course very appropriate for the “season”. The original idea came from another writing exercise from my local writer’s group. The group was to meet this time just before Halloween, so the organizer decided we should all write a story that had to incorporate a specific quote from Stephen King. The quote in question made me immediately think of… well, Black Friday. The reason why is another story entirely.

But hopefully you will enjoy this story. It’s a bit of a tribute to Stephen King, the Evil Dead series, and basically incorporates the way I feel about the commercial nightmares the holiday seasons have become. Read the Short Story

Thunder in the Night Redux

poem © Jeffrey Beaty
November 5 rewrite of a “first draft” written November 4, 2015
8 lines

Looking at the original version of this poem that I wrote and published yesterday, an idea occurred to me about its arrangement that I wish I had thought of earlier. So I edited it to this version which I like a LOT better. Read the Poem

Thunder Grumbles in the Night

poem © Jeffrey Beaty
November 4, 2015 — 10pm
8 lines

[UPDATE: check out the much better final version of this poem.]

Listening to a brief autumn thunderstorm move through tonight had me feeling a bit maudlin and inspired me to write this very short bit of poetry. Read the Poem

Short Story: The Skeleton’s Story

Another writing exercise turned short story. This one was to somehow incorporate the Halloween-like concept described in a recent viral news item about a midieval skeleton found dangling from the roots of a fallen tree.

I’ve always been fascinated in Scottish and Irish history. Exploring the time period this Irish skeleton was believed to be from, I became interested in the Battle of Clontarf, a large battle that brought an end to the reign of Ireland’s first High King. Read the Short Story

Short Story: The Ferry

Another very short story inspired by a writing exercise for an upcoming writer’s workshop I attend. This time the group picked three random elements that we were to incorporate in some manner into a 500-“ish” word story. The three elements picked were a boat, a racist, and a Shakespeare quote. The group organizer named this exercise “The Not-Love Boat”. 🙂
Read the Short Story

Short Story: Through Someone Else’s Eyes

Here’s the first short story I have written in a long time.

I joined a writing workshop recently. One meeting’s optional exercise was to be a short 500-“ish” word snippet written from the point of view of “The Other” — trying to see something through “someone else’s eyes”. It was intended to explore how a person’s personal perspective changes the way they perceive a situation. An exercise in trying to put yourself in the mind of “a fictional someone you don’t understand or agree with”.
Read the Short Story