Delaware OSP Founding Members Honored With Multiple Awards
By Robert Fleming Two OSP Founding Members, Morgan Golladay and yours truly Robert Fleming, won awards at the Delaware Press Association professional communications contest 5/1/2024 in Newark, DE. Escorting Morgan through the entrance, she answered my dress question: “my Old Scratch Press T-shirt is not…
Echoes From the Hocker House Makes Short List
OSP Founding member Virgina Watts’ collection of short stories, ECHOES FROM THE HOCKER HOUSE has made the short list of finalists for the 2024 da Vinci Eye Award and also for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, which announces soon! I worked as Virginia’s editor for…
Small Independent Presses Provide Opportunities for New Voices
Just that small bit of verbal support that says “I like this book” means a great deal to the writer, and the publisher.
INSTANT NOODLES IS UP!
Check out the wonderful writing and art: curated by Old Scratch Press! Lot’s of poetry for National Poetry Month plus other literary delights await you! Just like a great lunch you can get it in an instant!
APRIL is National Poetry Month. Time to Start Celebrating and Sharing Our Favorite Poems!
Do you have a favorite oem or poet? Let us know and we’ll try to post a story….
The Song of North Mountain by Morgan Golladay features Poetry and Art
This book is about connection.
Poems to Read to Your Toddler
A nonsense poem, that makes perfect sense. Young children will love the poem and the book.
By the Time You Read This, You May Be Cooking Dinner
As a human perhaps the toughest task I face is what the heck to feed me, and the spouse and child, each day for dinner. Breakfast everyone is on their own. Daughter, who has a light appetite, has a protein shake. Spouse, who has a…
Poems to Read With Your Kids
By Gabby Gilliam So many people think poetry is serious and difficult to understand. But language can also be fun. There are so many poets that use words to delight readers with something unexpected. Most people are familiar with Shel Silverstein, whose poems are light-hearted,…
What Books Are You Reading? Author Gabby Gilliam Shares Five of Her Favorites
By Gabby Gilliam Author of Drumming for the Dead, Black Hare Press and founding member of Old Scratch Press Every year, I set a goal of reading 52 books before the year ends. In 2023, I went well above my goal, and read 74 books.…
Robert Fleming’s Valentine’s Day Advice
By Robert Fleming On Valentine’s Day, write a sonnet. A sonnet is for love. In the 13th-century, the sonnet was invented by Giacomo da Lentini, a member of the Italian Court of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in Palermo, Sicily. William Shakespeare popularized the…
What I Learned from Poet and Essayist Artress Bethany White
By Virginia Watts Artress Bethany White is a poet and essayist I met during a summer writing conference at Rosemont College. I was fortunate enough to attend her poetry workshop where I learned so much about the craft and art of poetry. Artress is the…
Open for Submissions!
Were excited to let you know that we’re open for submissions to Instant Noodles! STOP BY THIS PAGE to submit. Read INSTANT NOODLES to get an idea of what we’re looking for. Always free to read, and free to submit!
Echoes From the Hocker House Wins!
Kudos to Virginia Watts, a founding member of Old Scratch Press and a talented short story author, for clinching the Feathered Quill Book Award in the Best Anthology category! A National Book Award nominee, ECHOES FROM THE HOCKER HOUSE will keep you on the edge…
Bam, Crack, Klunk: Why Sound Matters in Poetry
“Bam!”, “Crrraack!”, “Klunk!” are just a few on the list of words used in the 1960’s TV show Batman, usually held within a colorful cartoon bubble. We immediately conjure what is trying to be conveyed, and part of that understanding is because of the sounds…
Old Scratch Press Co-Founder Anthony Doyle Needs Your Vote for Story of the Year!
Hi All… Dianne here. Anthony Doyle’s narrative has been nominated for the SPILLWORDS story of the year! unfolds a poignant tale of father and son, delving into the essence of masculinity and the relentless quest for validation. For those familiar with my blog, you’ll recall…
Does Winter Have a Sound? Writing Prompts and Publishing News
This week We are starting off our blog by sharing links for three new magazines on the scene that provide publishing opportunities for poets. Two of the publications, Only Poems and SWIMM Every Day, are on the publishing platform Substack. The third, New Verse News,…
Political Poetry, New Year’s Resolutions & Publishing Opportunities
Writing poetry is a personal, introspective experience, a way to communicate our innermost feelings as art. Enter politics. Around the United States, around the globe humans are in conflict. It doesn’t matter which side you agree with, we all have our opinions, even if our…
Discover Anthony Doyle: A Writer Unveiled
We’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Anthony Doyle, a writer with a captivating journey from the historic town of Wicklow, Ireland, to the vibrant streets of São Paulo, Brazil. In this exclusive interview, Anthony shares insights into his creative process, inspirations drawn from dramatic…
Is that turkey cold, or just cool?
Old Sratch Press members accepted the challenge: to curate the holiday issue of INSTANT NOODLES!
Introducing White Noir by Robert Fleming: A Darkly Captivating Visual Poetry Journal
Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the depths of human existence? Look no further than WHITE NOIR, by Robert Fleming, a mesmerizing black and white visual poetry book that delves into the enigmatic tapestry of life, from birth to death and…
Congratulations to Virgina Watts!
As the kitchen slowly fills with acrid smoke, Hannah considers the details of last night’s dream. All her dreams are similar. They begin with the vultures from Disney’s movie The Jungle Book: Buzzie, Flaps, Ziggy, and Dizzy, those adorable guys with their shaggy haircuts and Liverpudlian accents.…
Want to Get Published? Where & How to Submit Your Work
By Ellis Elliot Sharing your work by submitting it for publication can be a daunting task in many ways, not only because it causes a vulnerability hangover, but also because it can be overwhelming and hard to figure out where to start. I’m hardly an…
Favorite Poet Ted Kooser
By Virginia Watts When people hear that I try to write some poetry, I can tell they are thinking, formulating the common question. I stiffen and get ready for it. “Who is your favorite poet?” I used to respond with the complete truth, that I…
Looking for a good read as we head into winter?
Science fiction envisions the future. The best way to imagine future change is to look at how and when change occurred in the past.
TODAY!!! GABBY ELLIS & GINNY LIVE AT THE ” Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant” TELETHON! 2:25 CENTRAL TIME!
The authors will be live on Saturday, November 4, at 2:25 – 2:50pm Central Time. Tune in to hear what they have to say! And bid on these great items from OSP parent company Devil’s Party Press: EDITING: A DPP BOOK BUNDLE: Don’t miss this great…
OLD SCRATCH PRESS SUPPORTING MNI SOTA THIS WEEKEND!
Participate in the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant 24-Hour Fundraiser! Join us for a dynamic online event: the Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant 24-Hour Live Fundraiser, starting on Friday, Nov 3, at 7pm (Central Daylight Time). This event is dedicated to supporting and…
Poetry Contests You May Want to Know About
Poetry contests are a great way to achieve recognition and several have deadlines coming up soon. Submitting your work, is the first step, so what are you waiting for? Westchest University Poetry Center sponsors the Donald Justice Poetry Prize Deadline: November 15, 2023 The…
Simple Poems That Pack A Punch, Make a List
By Nadja Maril Today I was attending an online workshop led by CNF writer and poet Nicole Breit and she was talking about different writing forms. One of those forms was the list format, which Nicole has used in her essay entitled, Atmospheric Pressure, published…
Visual Poetry or ConCrete Poetry or Graphic Poetry…Try It
Poetry is recited and sung. In some traditions it is committed to memory and orally passed down from one generation to the next. The choice of rhythm, alliteration, words that rhyme, all contribute to the emphasis on how a poem will sound when it is…
GABBY ELLIS & GINNY LIVE AT THE ” Reclaiming Mni Sota Indigenous Writers Grant” TELETHON!
The authors will be live on Saturday, November 4, at 2:25 – 2:50pm Central Time. Tune in to hear what they have to say! And bid on these great items from OSP parent company Devil’s Party Press: EDITING: A DPP BOOK BUNDLE: Don’t miss this great…
Telling Halloween Stories with Scary Poems
by Nadja Maril Halloween. The weather turns cool. Leaves on the trees change colors, fall to the ground, and orange pumpkins are set out on porches. As a child it was a big deal to decide, what sort of costume I’d find and wear, for…
Submissions Still Open For Winter Issue & READ the Latest Issue of INSTANT NOODLES LITERARY Magazine
Hello fellow literary enthusiasts, We are thrilled to bring you the fall edition of the Instant Noodles Lit Mag! Get ready to dive into a world of literary delights: https://instantnoodleslitmag.com And for this issue celebrate the circle of life, the circle of the seasons as authors and…
Do Poets and Writers of Short Prose Need an MFA?
By Nadja Maril Attend any writer’s conference or weekend of workshops and invariably a topic raised amongst the attendees, (those aspiring to be published writers), is a discussion on the value of an MFA. Will an MFA is help me professionally? Will graduate school provide…
White Noir by Robert Fleming: A Darkly Captivating VIsual Poetry Journey
Old Scratch Press is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of Robert Fleming’s newest poetry chapbook, White Noir. Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the depths of human existence? Look no further than WHITE NOIR, by Robert Fleming, a mesmerizing black…
Discover Meaning in ~Break the Field~ by Ellis Elliott
Ideas and experiences that, while very intimate, will resonate with readers from all walks of life.
The Not So Secret Lives of Poets! Fun Facts ABout Old Scratch Collective.
How well do you know the contributing editors to Old Scratch Press?
Writing Poetry, Publishing Poetry. When and How to Share Your Work.
By Nadja Maril For many decades, my poetry writing was a private pursuit. By limiting word selection and phrases to focus only on what really mattered, poetry served to capture my observations and innermost thoughts and months later I could revisit those thoughts and perhaps…
The Secret Histories of Some of Our Poets
Writers and poets are complex individuals. They are not afraid to take risks. They reveal their innermost thoughts in their poetry and prose and they also like to have fun. How well do you think you know the members of the Old Scratch Press Poetry…
A REVIEW OF ELLIS ELLIOTT’S BREAK IN THE FIELD BY R. DAVID FULCHER
This book is not for the faint of heart. It can be heartbreaking, gut wrenching, and bleak. At the same time, it is loving, faithful, soaring and inspiring. A constant theme emerges – the fierce love of a mother for her son. But the intensity of…
All Author Interview with OSP Author Anthony Doyle
“I can safely say I learned how to write from translating other people’s work.”
The Power of the Short Poem
Gabby Gilliam, a fellow member of the collective who like myself lives in the Greater Washington D.C. region which encompasses Northern Virginia and Maryland, recently posted a link on social media about the Second Annual Short Poem Edition just published by the nonprofit Washington Writers…
We’re Not Only Poets: Drumming for the Dead
I am a fan of dystopian genre. Not usually a fan of zombies – I am now a fan.
Publishing Opportunity for Poets and Prose Writers. Old Scratch to curate Instant Noodles.
Can you take the challenge?
TODAY ONLY!! ELLIS ELLIOTT LIVE @ STONE SOUP 7pm Eastern
Ellis will be reading from her newly released collection from Old Scratch Press: BREAK IN THE FIELD. BREAK IN THE FIELD is still available at special pre-order sale price, with a custom-made and signed bookmark created by Ellis! To find out more about tonight’s reading…
We’re Not Only Poets: Hibernaculum Is Out
“Doyle has hit on something rare: an original approach to climate fiction.”
Patricia Smith and Dorothy Parker two Favorite Poets
As evidenced in this week’s post, constantly reading poetry helps to cultivate the poet in all of us. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been writing poetry for years, there are always new poets to discover and poets from previous centuries to rediscover! My…
Ellis Elliott is up @ SHEPHERD
I have been a dance teacher all of my adult life, and a poetry and word-lover even longer.
GABBY IS LIVE!
If you don’t know writing by Gabby Gilliam, you sure should. She is a fantastic and surprising and original author.
TOMORROW IS THE DAY!
If you don’t know writing by Gabby Gilliam, you sure should. She is a fantastic and surprising and original author.
Stay Connected with the Writing World By Following Some Great Blogs…
Are you following Authors Electric in general? There are so many good writers there with interesting stories from the writing life. Why, just this week, Dianne has uploaded a new post there! Which may be a reason to follow it that is more specific… ;)…
Favorite Poem Series Continues with Emily Dickinson
By Ellis Elliot When Old Scratch Poetry Collective Members were asked to write about a favorite poem, I knew my choice would be my first poem love affair. Before this poem, which I was introduced to in college, I had a healthy love of words,…
A Favorite Poem and Thoughts on Metaphors
Our series on “Favorite Poems” and why we think about them over and over again, continues with a post by Contributing Editor Virginia Watts. Perhaps the World Ends Here by Joy Harjo The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat…
Prize Winning Poem to Think About
Congratulations to OLD SCRATCH PRESS founding member Robert Fleming, whose poem “we were before waring,” featured in impspired was a Delaware Press Award winner. WAY TO GO ROBERT! we were before waring we were before waring we wore hair keratin like baboons &knocked our chests…
How One Poem Can Touch Our Lives
Levine uses this poem to tease out the thorniness of family connections.
INDIE PUBLISHER DEVIL PARTY PRESS LAUNCHES NEW IMPRINT
IN THE NEWS Old Scratch Press will feature original chapbooks and short-form prose For Immediate Release June 15, 2023 – Los Angeles: Devil’s Party Press of Los Angeles announced the launch of a new publishing imprint, Old Scratch Press. This new imprint, based in southern…
Poetry Postcard Fest Invites Poets to Participate
As writers and poets, many of us have been trained to write with an aim to edit and revise, seeking to choose the right word, the right sound, the right meter, and rhythm to capture our thoughts. But there’s a different kind of writing, spontaneous…
Introducing Collective Member Nadja Maril
Her working title for her chapbook, tentatively scheduled to be published by Old Scratch Press in 2024, is Recipes from My Garden: herb and memoir short prose and poetry.
Introducing Collective Member Janet Holmes Uchendu
Ten dedicated writer poets comprise the Old Scratch Short Form Collective,with the goal of working with the Devil’sParty Press, a small independent publisher, to bring to fruition theconcept of publishing chapbooks of poetry and short form prose under theimprint Old Scratch Press. This week we…
Introducing Collective Member Alan Bern
For writer, poet, photographer and performer Alan Bern, pairing of images and words, what are termed photo-poems is a daily practice. As he states in his introduction to his work “next S-s-startle” published in Mercurious : “Creating photo-haiga is a central part of my daily…
Introducing Collective member R. David Fulcher
In 1993, while still a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, R. David Fulcher founded a literary magazine. As he writes in an article, this is how it all began: “During my studies I came across the Buddhist concept of samsara, the continuous…
Introducing Collective Member Morgan Golladay
How does one convey the feeling of a place? Twice-recognized by the Delaware Press Association for her poetry, Morgan Golladay gathers images and thoughts into a story of living in an area where rivers and mountains converge into dreams and memories. Destination by Morgan…
Introducing Collective Member Anthony Doyle
This week we are introducing founding member Anthony Doyle.
CAST A VOTE FOR ANTHONY DOYLE!
And YOU could put Anthony Doyle over the top! Anthony Doyle is a fabulous writer whose writing deserves all the recognition and all the readers it can get! Help a fellow out! VOTE NOW! TODAY IS THE LAST DAY (Saturday, April 29th).
Introducing Collective Member Virginia Watts
“My prose and poetry is about daily human life, the small moments in the hometowns of contemporary America,” says writer and poet Virginia Watts. “Through my work, I hope to celebrate the unique characteristics of close-knit communities, shared family histories, local war heroes, larger-than-life characters.…
INTRODUCING COLLECTIVE MEMBER GABBY GILLIAM
The working title of Gabby Gilliam’s first chapbook of poems is No Ocean Spit Me Out.
ANTHONY DOYLE, OLD SCRATCH POET, ON SPILLWORDS
Anthony Doyle, poet, and author of HIBERNACULUM, is one of the ten founding members of the Old Scratch Press Short Form and Poetry Collective. A person of many talents, he writes a great story. Check out his short story on Spillwords. If you enjoy Anthony’s…
Daffodils and Mud Inspired Poetry
Welcome to Week Two of National Poetry Month. The four seasons of the year are the subjects of many different types of poetry from traditional sonnets to exuberant free verse sprawled out across the page. So to start this week we are sharing two poems…
HORROR POETRY ANYONE? NATIONAL “ALL KINDS OF POETRY” MONTH
Horror poem: Now I lay me down to sleep, and thinking ’bout dismembering sheep….
National Poetry Month A Time For Reading-Out- Loud
Discovering new poets and rediscovering forgotten favorites, is part of the fun of National Poetry Month.
POETS & WRITERS DIRECTORY
Old Scratch Press is now listed in Poets & Writers Directory and you could be too. It’s a great way to further network with fellow writers, poets, editors and publishers. What are you waiting for? Here is the information below: Increase your “street cred,” and…
INTRODUCING COLLECTIVE MEMBER ROBERT FLEMING
Robert Fleming a member of the Old Scratch Poetry and Short Form Collective uses words and graphics in his work.
Introducing Collective Member Ellis ElLiot
Ten dedicated writer poets comprise the Old Scratch Short Form Collective, with the goal of working with the Devil’s Party Press, a small independent publisher, to bring to fruition the concept of publishing chapbooks of poetry and short form prose under the imprint Old Scratch…
New ways of seeing
My name is Ellis Elliott and I am proud to be a part of the Old Scratch Poetry Collective. I recently read Ben Weakley’s first poetry collection, Heat + Pressure. Ben is an Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. I am not one normally drawn…
“The Day Arose Cold”
Congratulations to OLD SCRATCH PRESS founding member Morgan Golladay, whose poem “The Day Arose Cold,” featured in Solstice, was a Delaware Press Award winner. WAY TO GO MORGAN! The Day Arose Cold The sun roseinto a pink sky, pausingto gain strengthbefore entering this frozen day.Yesterday’s snowis…
Grateful
Hi All. Virginia (Ginny) Watts here. I am excited and honored to be a part of this new poetry collective. Poetry is good for the world and good for our souls! Sometimes people ask me what my favorite poem is or favorite poet. I have…
WELCOME TO OLD SCRATCH PRESS
Hi~ Dianne from Devil’s Party Press (DPP) here. Did you know I studied the writing of poetry when I was in college? I love poetry, and there is a growing interest in it, but still not enough places to share it. I reached out to…
Welcome to Old Scratch Press
Old Scratch Press, specializing in poetry and short form prose is an imprint of the Devil’s Party Press, LLC family. We’ve set up this website, administered by members of the Old Scratch Short Form Collective, to share our love for poetry and short form prose…
OLD SCRATCH PRESS 