May/June2013 Issue
May/June Issue
Writer's Digest Magazine
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Author Archives: Robert Lee Brewer
5 Ways to Revise Poems
My blog spends a lot of time on the creation of poetry, but I haven’t dedicated anything to revision in more than a year. While I’m always writing and revising poetry, I … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 209
For this week’s prompt, write a poem somehow influenced by an animal. The animal could be the title of the poem, the subject of the poem, a bit part in the poem. … Read more
WD Poetic Form Challenge: Rondel Winner
I have a couple apologies to make. First, I don’t have the November PAD Challenge finalists and winner decided just yet (though I’m shooting to have it finished by Valentine’s Day). Second, … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 208
For this week’s prompt, write a forever poem. The poem could be about things that last forever, take forever, or play on the concept that nothing lasts forever. So many possibilities exist … Read more
Traci Brimhall: Poet Interview
I’m always excited to find a fresh voice, and that’s the case with Traci Brimhall. I’ve had her collection Our Lady of the Ruins (Norton) next to my desk for months, but … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 207
For this week’s prompt, write a fragile poem. That is, write a poem that’s either delicate in its construction or is about a subject that is delicate–literally or figuratively or whatever-ly. I … Read more
Carmen Calatayud: Poet Interview
(Quick disclosure: My first full-length poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems, will be published by Press 53 on September of this year. However, I don’t want anyone to feel my interview with … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 206
For this week, write a measured poem. I’ll let y’all decide what that means. Possibly the poem takes physical measurements or measures one person vs. another. Perhaps it is measured in syllables … Read more
Barton Smock: Poet Interview
I first met Bart years ago on MySpace–a fellow poet, a fellow buckeye–and immediately fell in love with his unique style of poeming. In fact, I chose him as my referral poet … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 205
Before we get into the prompt, I just want to share my big news: My debut full-length poetry collection, Solving the World’s Problems, is going to be published by Press 53! Click … Read more
Erica Wright: Poet Interview
Please welcome Erica Wright to the Poetic Asides blog. In addition to being a new resident of Atlanta, Erica is the author of Instructions for Killing the Jackal (Black Lawrence Press) and … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 204
It’s time to poem like it’s 2013, because, well, it’s 2013! For this week’s prompt, write a resolved poem. The poem can list new year resolutions, show a person resolved to do … Read more
WD Poetic Form Challenge: Rondel
(Quick note: My earlier sample messed up the rhyme scheme of the rondel, though the instructions have always been correct. Please make sure your rondels follow this rhyme scheme: ABba/abAB/abbaA. Happy poeming!) … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 203
OK. Here’s the better late than never Wednesday Poetry Prompt. Beginning with my grandmother passing away on Friday morning, this past week has been a whirlwind–and I only realized today was even … Read more
2012 April PAD Challenge: Poetic Asides Poet Laureate and Top 25 List
Yes, I know I’ve failed spectacularly to provide the results of the 2012 April PAD Challenge in a timely manner. And yes, I realize that I’ve cut the Top 50 list down … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 202
For this week’s prompt, I was inspired by the recent Heather Bell interview: Take a true event (whether in your life or another’s) and fictionalize it. You can determine how far to … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 201
So today is 12-12-12. If you remove the second 2 from 2012, you have today’s prompt: 201. Or rearrange the prompt number and you have 012. What does it all mean? I … Read more
Heather Bell: Poet Interview
It’s been a while since I’ve interviewed some poets. Too long, in fact. So I’m going to start sharing some new voices, and I think I’ve found the perfect person to get … Read more
Rondel Poetry Form
Anyone who’s followed this blog for a while knows that I love the French poetic forms, so it’s about time I covered the rondel, since it’s a close cousin to the rondeau … Read more
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 200
OMG, it’s been a month since my last poetry prompt! And it’s the 200th Wednesday Poetry Prompt ever! I guess I’d better quit using exclamation points, eh? For this week’s prompt, take … Read more
2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 30
Okay, today is the final day of the poeming part of this challenge. Beginning tomorrow (if not already), you’ll begin the process of revising and assembling a 10-20 page poetry chapbook manuscript. … Read more
2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 29
Today’s prompt comes from Bonita Jones Knott, a poet I met earlier this year in Colorado at a writing retreat. Here’s Bonita’s prompt: Write a birth poem. Write a poem on the … Read more
2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 28
Today marks 4 weeks in (with 2 days to go), and today’s prompt comes from Jonathan Edward Ondrashek. Here’s Jonathan’s prompt: Write a poem illuminating how it feels to stand up for … Read more
2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 27
This month’s final two-for-Tuesday prompt comes from Paula Wanken. Here are Paula’s prompts: Write a hero poem. Write a villain poem. Robert’s attempt at a Hero and Villain Poem: “Heroes and … Read more
2012 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 26
We are really into the final days of this challenge now. I can’t believe how fast November has swept in and is trying to sweep out already. I hope everyone survived the … Read more
