Hello orkneyman, Congratulations for winning our February 2018 Contest! Thank you for agreeing to speak with us!

PP - Would you tell us a little about yourself?

orkneyman -

I am a 23 year-old; I am trapped in a much older body.

I love driving, just the sensation and the rolling of the wheels.

I enjoy speed, velocity-wise that is ; meth makes my teeth ache.

I like to see what's around the next curve, over the next rise, beyond the horizon; I love reading, and I love writing, to see what words come, what thoughts occur, what inspirations and joy might be discovered.

PP - How long have you been on Wattpad?

orkneyman -

Approximately 3 years.

PP - What do you enjoy most about the PoetsPub?

orkneyman -

Because I know I will find generous and creative companions, it keeps me off street corners.

PP - How long have you been writing poetry?

orkneyman -

-since the winter of 1969/70...1st one was a love poem, like most young people; started with a poem to my girlfriend.

PP - Where do you find inspiration for your poetry?

orkneyman -

For me, the question becomes how? more than where? I get a lot of my inspiration mostly just from reading, from words, other people's words, written or spoken.

I start playing a game of 'associations'...within what other contexts might this phrase, or these few words, be used?

The possibility to be inspired is in all you see, all you hear, smell, touch, and taste, in every thing and every one you encounter ...a mountain...what words,  other than majestic  beautiful and big,  will your experience lend you to wax poetic upon its grandeur; what special knowledge might you possess to create concrete images?

  I have no idea where inspiration comes from...that piece of the creative process eludes me. Perhaps, the where is inherent in that playing of the literal associations against my imagination and experience...

PP - Is poetry your main genre or do you write other things? If so what else do you enjoy writing?

orkneyman -

It's pretty much poetry. I have dabbled in short short stories.

PP - What advice would you give to poets who are just starting out?

orkneyman -

Read.

Keep a dictionary and a thesaurus at hand; use them.

Read. Write.

If a poem starts leading you in unforeseen directions, let it.

Edit mercilessly. Keep it simple (not simplistic); in poetry, less is more.

PP - Do you have a favorite author on Wattpad? What about outside of Wattpad?

orkneyman -

My favourite author is Robert A. Heinlein

PP - You are throwing a dinner party and you can invite any 10 authors, living, dead or fictional. Who do you invite?

orkneyman -

Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Tom Clancy, Ursula K le Guin, Anne McGaffrey, Frank Herbert, Ray Bradbury, Dylan Thomas, Kurt Vonnegut, Bob Dylan

PP - Thank you so much for speaking with us. Is there anything else you would like to add?

orkneyman -

To all my followers, to all my visitors, to the judges, I offer my thanks. To you, Myna, I offer my deep appreciation of your generosity of spirit and helpfulness.

To All: may you always write good :))  Brian