The band,led by noted music scholar and pianist Dr. Guthrie Ramsey just released the new single “Stolen Moments” from their upcoming album, The Colored Waiting Room.

The band puts a neo-soul/funky spin on the jazz standard, originally composed by Oliver Nelson, but it is jazz singer Denise King, who’s seductive, yet graceful vocals make the song so appealing.

The group has been keeping the rest of the tunes from the new album under locks, but if they are anything like the first single, then it surely will be an exciting musical experience for all listeners.

Dr. Guy’s MusiQology was formed and 2003 and released their critically acclaimed debut album, Y the Q? in 2007.  Their music incorporates a clever mixture of R&B, funk, soul, Latin, and hip hop.

To find out more about the Dr. Guy’s MusiQology and their new project The Colored Waiting Room, check out musiqology.com/

Check out the new single: “Stolen Moments”

And check back every week for new tunes from Roots, Rhythm, and Rhyme.

Keepsakes like a breath

  
We Write Poems:
Gautami Tripathy offers us this beautiful prompt for this week.  She writes, “I wrote a poem out of nothing and everything.  We hoard keepsakes of material things apart from our memories.  And I tried to create a poem from that memory, keeping out material things.”  Her resulting poem stolen moments well demonstrates her prompt suggestion more than can otherwise be easily described.  Please read her very evocative poem and take that as your seedling inspiration for what you write yourself this week.

Yes, we keep material tokens of moments we recall, yet they are only mere visible tips above the sea beneath wherein lay the actual feelings and memories held in more silent fondness and regard.  Find those elements inside yourself, let them come drink some light.  There’s our prompt.

Thank you Gautami for this writing prompt!

Come back next Wednesday when you see, “It’s Post Your Poems Day!” and leave a link to the poem on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, then please, post your poem in the comment itself. *** You are invited to respond to the prompt given here, but if you have something else you’re just itching to share, please feel welcome in doing that. Our first desire here is to encourage you to write and learn and share. *** When leaving comments to other’s poems, please be appreciative and encouraging. We are not a poem “critique” site (unless someone specifically asks for that). Be kind with each other (and yourself!). *** Please consider including a link with your blog poem back to the prompt response here at We Write Poems so that others may see and join our community. More participants do make better soup!

ahmad jamal, photograph by unknown

Many writers aren’t like Richard Castle with styling offices and ability to write full-time. Most writers I know work full-time inside or outside the home, care for a family, have church responsibilities, act as the family chauffeur, battle dust bunnies from overtaking their homes, and try to squeeze in a decent night’s sleep.

Who has time to write? Well, many of them may not have time to write, but the majority of them MAKE the time to write.

I’m a stay-at-home-work-at-home-mom who owns and operates an in-home family childcare program. Not working isn’t an option. With my My Book Therapy responsibilities, book contracts, family and church commitments, life can be a bit crazy.

A schedule and stolen moments help me find time to write. Also, I’ve encouraged my family to help with housework, laundry and cooking. Plus I use my Crock Pot and bread machine a lot. I write in the evenings so Hubby runs errands and chauffeurs our son.

If you don’t have evenings to write, do you have 15 minutes in your day? The Fly Lady has a great site to help people get their homes and lives in order. One of her principles is you can do anything in 15 minutes … including writing.

I downloaded an egg timer for my computer. When I’m stuck on a scene or needing motivation, I set timer for 15 minutes and free write without editing. When I’m writing my rough drafts, I use my timer to increase my word count. After all, rough drafts are allowed to be rough.

If you are serious about your writing and want to make progress, enlist your family to help out. Delegate household duties, grab the timer and have everyone work for 15 minutes.

Another way to get some writing time is to ask your spouse to take your children for an hour or two each evening. The children and spouse will have a special bonding time and you will have time to write. Turn off the Internet and focus on your manuscript.

If you don’t have a spouse, consider doing a play date swap with a friend or neighbor. Ask a high school student to entertain your kids for an hour or so. Or write after your kids go to bed. If that won’t work, get up an hour earlier in the mornings. If you work outside the home, write during lunch. If you have to chauffeur your kids, take your laptop or a notebook and write while you’re waiting.

Set a daily writing goal and use stolen moments to build your word count. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect.

Balancing life with work, family and writing can be a juggling act. Find what works for you. If you don’t take your writing time seriously, no one else will either.

**A bit of self-promotion: My debut novel, Lakeside Reunion, releases today! I’m having contests to promote my book. Visit my Lakeside Reunion Contest Page for more information. The token for this blog is a novel.

Your Turn: Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? How do you find time to write?